A guest relaxes at the luxurious St. Regis Bora Bora Resort. (Photo by Alison DaRosa)

Filmgoers everywhere who see the movie ‘Couples  Retreat’  are falling in love -  not necessarily with the movie, but surely with the film’s setting.

The comedy, starring Vince Vaughn, takes place on an un-named South Pacific island - at the very upscale “Eden Resort.”

That jaw-dropping South Pacific island is actually Bora Bora - and the exquisite resort, with its tropical fish-filled turquoise lagoons and posh overwater bungalows, is Starwood’s St. Regis Bora Bora.

“You’ll see our name in the credits,” promises Bianca Henry, the hotel’s sales manager.

Hollywood took over the entire St. Regis Bora Bora Resort during October and November last year to film “Couples Retreat.”

I was with a group of reporters who got to tour the resort - and, for an afternoon, live vicariously as the film’s stars did.

Which is how I ended up in Vince Vaughn’s bedroom - and took a rain shower in his ridiculously luxurious bathroom.  And yes, I’ll admit I even sipped champagne in his private swimming pool - the pool suspended out over the lagoon.

Over-water pool villas

An aerial view of the over-water villa, with pool, where actor Vince Vaughn stayed during the filming of "Couples Retreat." (courtesy photo)

Vince Vaughn and his sister (who produced the film) stayed in “Royal Over-water Pool Villas.”  Each 3,455-square-foot unit has two bedrooms and two full bathrooms, two walk-in closets, a spacious living room, a large private terrace with two covered gazebos, two outdoor showers - and the pool.  A stairway from the terrace leads down to the lagoon, where Vaughn and his family could snorkel.

“Mr. Vaughn always had a jet ski at the bottom of the stairway,” Henry confided. “He loved zipping around the lagoon.”

I opted for the tranquility of the terrace — studying a massive eagle ray that glided below in the lagoon, watching the sun sink behind the awesome majesty of Mount Otemanu, the highest peak on Bora Bora.

Jean-Georges restaurant

The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, which opened in June 2006, is situated on three islands (two of them man-made) and spans 44 acres. It offers 91 villas. Guests who don’t have their own private pools share two swimming pools and three “official” beaches.  ”We bring you tropical fruit drinks, spritz  you with cool water, even clean your sunglasses,” Henry enthused.

There’s a well equipped fitness center and a full-service spa.  The hotel provides guests with an array of toys:  kayaks, bikes, sailboats, Hobie cats and of course, snorkel gear.

The resorts three restaurants and two bars are open to the public.

Its signature restaurant, Lagoon, is a shining star in celebrated chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s restaurant empire. Dining here is a pricey, but extraordinary treat. Jean-George created several signature dishes for the restaurant - including an appetizer of rice cracker-crusted ahi tuna with srirracha-citrus emulsion ($44). Entrees run $50 to $60.

Grilled Chilean sea bass at Lagoon, a Jean-Georges restaurant. (Photo by Alison DaRosa)

The restaurant sits over the water, with a stunning view of Mount Otemanu. Visitors from nearby resorts, who might not opt for dinner, can savor the view at sunset, while sipping a signature ginger margarita ($23).

‘Couples Retreat’ package

Now that Hollywood has checked out, Henry said that most resort guests are honeymooners or couples celebrating wedding anniversaries.  Most come from France, Japan or the U.S.

Rates here aren’t for the faint hearted.  Low-season prices (November through Dec. 21 and January through May) start at 107,000 French Polynesian francs per night (about  $1,300) for a standard one-bedroom over-water bungalow.

Vince Vaughn’s two-bedroom over-water pool villa runs about $5,500 per night.

As I wandered the resort, I saw hardly any guests. Henry acknowledged that resort occupancy had plunged to about 30 percent - reflecting the economic times.

The stars of "Couples Retreat" pose at the St. Regis Bora Bora Resort. That's Mount Otemanu in the background. (Courtesy photo)

She’s hoping that the release of “Couples Retreat” will inspire lovers around the world to seek their own retreat at the hotel.

Through March 31, the resort is offering a “Couples Retreat” package that includes accommodations in an over-water bungalow, a bottle of champagne and macaroons on arrival, daily breakfast, a 50-minute couples massage and a candlelight dinner for two. The cost is $1,175 per night, with a four-night minimum.

But hey, if you’re feeling flush, there’s always the resort’s 13,000-square-foot “Royal Estate,” the three-bedroom, five-bath compound where Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban honeymooned.

“It’s the largest suite in French Polynesia,” Henry avowed.  It includes two living rooms, a separate dining room, full kitchen, a private pool, sauna and steam room.  It runs 1.5 million French Polynesian francs per night - around $18, 375 nightly.

“Unfortunately, it’s been quite some time since we’ve had Americans in the Royal Estate,” Henry confided.

Learn more at www.stregis.com/borabora.

Alison DaRosa is SDNN Travel Editor.

Tags: Alison DaRosa, Bora Bora, Couple Retreat, Couples Retreat, Jean-Georges, SDNN, St. Regis, Vince Vaughn

This entry was posted on Monday, October 5th, 2009 at 5:58 am and is filed under Travel, Trippin. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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