Bora Bora is a bucket list destination for many, and for a good reason — it's a tropical paradise that offers visitors the chance to stay at some of the most luxurious properties in the world, including iconic overwater villas.

If you're considering staying in Bora Bora, you may be trying to decide between two popular luxury hotels: The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort and the Conrad Bora Bora Nui. The choice can be challenging, but we're here to help. Below, we'll dive into which resort may be best for your stay.

The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort

The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort is a Marriott property on 44 acres and is approximately 15 minutes by boat from the main Bora Bora airport. The resort has 90 suites (77 overwater villas), four restaurants, two bars and 24-hour room service.

The resort also offers guests 24-hour butler service. As a Marriott Bonvoy property, you can book with points, although it won't be cheap. A five-night stay can cost more than 1 million points.

Conrad Bora Bora Nui

The Conrad Bora Bora Nui is a Hilton Honors property that features a half-mile-long white sand beach, three restaurants, two bars and complimentary butler service. The hotel also offers guests access to its state-of-the-art gym and the chance to relax in the Hina Spa, which features the sights of Mount Otemanu.

As part of the Hilton portfolio, you can book a basic room for 120,000 points per night. By taking advantage of Hilton's fifth night free for award bookings, a five-night stay can cost as little as 480,000 Hilton points.

Which resort is better for you?

While it's impossible to make a wrong choice between these two properties, we've analyzed what makes them unique and how each property may be best for you.

(Photo courtesy of Marriott/St. Regis Bora Bora)

Choose the St. Regis Bora Bora Resort if:

You'd like a view of Mount Otemanu

Perhaps the most iconic scenery in all of French Polynesia is Mount Otemanu, a 2,385-foot mountain at the center of Bora Bora. While the Conrad Bora Bora Nui does offer a few villas with views of this majestic mountain, The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort directly faces the mountain. As a result, it offers all guests iconic sights of the mountain throughout their stay.

You want a larger villa

The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort offers guests more space for similar accommodations. For instance, comparing the base overwater villas at both properties, the Superior Overwater Villa at The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort is 1,549 square feet compared to the standard Overwater Villa at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui, which measures 1,249 square feet. Likewise, comparing the two hotel's standard beach villas, the St. Regis Bora Bora's room measures 1,808 square feet compared with 1,335 square feet for a similar space at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui.

You have status with Marriott

If you have status with Marriott, you may be better off staying at the St. Regis Bora Bora Resort. Marriott Gold Elite status holders and above get benefits that may include a welcome gift, an enhanced room upgrade and late check-out.

(Photo by Josh Garber)

Choose the Conrad Bora Bora Nui if:

Your budget is a bit more limited

Although not cheap, the Conrad Bora Bora Nui may be a better option if you want to spend less cash on your trip to paradise. For example, we looked at prices for an overwater villa in December 2022. A six-night stay at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui would cost approximately $7,745 compared to $17,405 for the lowest-price overwater villa at The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort.

You have status with Hilton

If you have status with Hilton Honors, you may want to take advantage of the perks Conrad Bora Bora Nui offers. Hilton Honors Diamond members qualify for space-available upgrades, a free breakfast buffet, and a private beach with complimentary cabanas.

You're looking to stay in something other than an overwater or beach villa

While the Conrad Bora Bora Nui and The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort have beautiful overwater and beach villas, the Conrad Bora Bora Nui also offers guests the opportunity to stay in villas that are a bit further removed from the beach. So for example, the King Horizon View Pool Villa is nestled against the hill and offers sweeping views of the water below.

The bottom line

The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort is better for guests who are less concerned about budget, who would like a view of Mount Otemanu throughout the property and who prefer larger villas. It's especially appealing to guests who have status with Marriott.

On the other hand, the Conrad Bora Bora Nui is better for guests who would like to spend less money on their stay, who would like an inland room and who have status with Hilton.

Regardless of your choice, you're bound to have an incredible trip to paradise.