French Polynesia: The Ultimate Celebrity Getaway
French Polynesia, an eight-hour flight from Los Angeles, is a postcard-perfect destination offering an array of luxury experiences. Sienna India, CEO of ultra-luxury travel concierge Sienna Charles, recommends visiting smaller islands, like Tahaa, where Tahiti is vanilla. Many celebrities have visited French Polynesia and stayed at some of the most luxurious resorts in the world.
Ta Island Resort and Spa
Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello have all stayed at the Tahaa Island Resort & Spa. The resort offers over-water beach suites and villas with a range of activities such as swimming with sharks, helicopter rides or yacht cruises, and snorkeling through a beautiful channel of crystal coral garden with a rainbow of tropical fish. The resort recently implemented a sustainability program that significantly reduces plastic waste and completed $2,886-per-night renovations to two Royal Beach Villas, complete with plunge pools, not a bathtub, and outdoor showers.
Dream Island
Island hopping is a popular haunt in the 118 atolls and South Pacific islands of French Polynesia. That’s exactly what Diane von Furstenberg did, gathering Bradley Cooper, Irina Shayk, Andy Cohen, Anderson Cooper, and Allison Williams for a ride on her yacht.
The Adventure of Chelsea Handler
Chelsea Handler rents a yacht for a diving trip with nine friends to the islands of Rangiroa, Fakarava, Nuku Hiva, and Tetiaroa. They dived twice a day in different locations, often with blacktip and whitetip sharks. Handler later returns to French Polynesia for a World Surfing League competition at Teahupo’o where she and her friend, WSL CEO Sophie Goldschmidt, hang out in a beachside shack. From there, they travel to the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, which Handler describes as the most magical place ever. The resort’s three-bedroom beachfront villa is also popular with people in the entertainment industry, who over the years have included Jimmy Kimmel and Jennifer Aniston along with Justin Theroux, who has been friends with friends like Courteney Cox and Jason Bateman.
The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban reportedly occupied a 13,000-square-foot royal villa at The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, the same resort where Kristen Bell, Vince Vaughn, and Batman filmed the 2009 film Couples Retreat. Justin Bieber vacationed at Overwater Royal Otemanu Resort with a pool Huge hanging. The Ultimate Bora Bora Reset is a $20,000 per night package that includes a stay at The Royal Estate Villa, daily private yoga, personal chef, spa consultation, private Polynesian performance, tailored wellness program, coral plantation and sunset sail on the boat. . Complete with champagne saber. Also occupying this gorgeous turquoise lagoon: Conrad Bora Bora Nui, where Paris and Kathy Hilton will be staying in 2022.
private islands
There are also really special islands like Nukutepipi, owned by Guy Laliberté of Cirque du Soleil, and the ultra-exclusive getaway spot that is Marlon Brando’s legacy, The Brando. Located on the private atoll of Tetiaroa, they are surrounded on several occasions by manta rays, sea turtles and even humpback whales. This is where Barack Obama got away after the presidency to write his memoirs, and where DiCaprio, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Pierce Brosnan, Ellen DeGeneres, and Winfrey vacationed. Kim Kardashian spent $1 million there for her 40th birthday amid a pandemic.
The 35 Villa Brando has serious environmental credentials, such as a zero-impact air-conditioning system that cools with deep sea water, an organic garden, a marine science research laboratory, and even a deep-water ice bath experience. In 2021, Rebel Wilson celebrated her birthday at the resort, which was a filming location for the 1962 movie Mutiny on the Bounty, and named it Rebel Island of the Week, while hanging out with friends like Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, and Ariel Kebbell. The group throws a sinking mermaid dinner party, an 80s themed party, swims in a secret lagoon, explores remote islands, and goes snorkeling.
Conclusion
French Polynesia is a popular destination for celebrities who want to experience luxury and relaxation. Smaller islands, such as Tahaa, also offer unique experiences, such as Tahiti Vanille. Resorts such as Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa and The St. Regis Bora Bora and The Brando luxury accommodations and activities such as swimming with sharks, helicopter or yachting tours, and snorkeling through a channel of stunning crystal reefs dotted with rainbows of tropical fish. Private islands like Nukutepipi and The Brando offer a more exclusive experience with serious environmental credentials. French Polynesia is truly the ultimate celebrity getaway.
