Suggestions From an Expert: Gilles Mauffras
Concierge Gilles Mauffras is a man of the world. Prior to Bora Bora, he was at Four Seasons resorts in Hawaii and Paris. He has also had stints in the South of France and Munich. With all that travel Gilles is multilingual, speaking French, English, German and enough Italian to send Roman guests off on a day of sightseeing.
Bora Bora justly deserves its reputation as one of the most beautiful islands in the world, and no one knows it more intimately than Gilles. He has his finger on the pulse of the island, and is the ideal guide to beaches, restaurants, shopping, recreation, and excursions—both over the water and undersea. Gilles has made such an impression on guests that he gets more than a few nods from satisfied travellers on TripAdvisor.com. One couple said that thanks to Gilles’s recommendations, she and her family had the best vacation of their lives.
So, if Gilles were asked to plan a day of fun, sightseeing, and relaxation on Bora Bora, what would it be?
His first suggestion is to take a helicopter tour of the island. You can charter a helicopter and fly around towering Mount Otemanu and over Mount Pahia, gaze down into the clear turquoise water below, and spot dolphins and sharks. You can also touch down on a neighbouring island and visit a working black pearl farm or vanilla bean plantation.
Another one of Gilles’s favourite activities is to explore the island’s many snorkelling spots. Charter a boat with the hotel’s marine biologist and you’ll learn about the island’s precious ecosystem, and, if you’re lucky, find yourself face to face with stingrays, puffer fish, parrotfish, lemon sharks, and sea turtles. When you get to the reefs, you’ll see a spectacular display of marine life, from damselfish to urchins to anemones to cucumbers.
Gilles also suggests coming back to the hotel for some much-needed pampering. You can enjoy a smoothing and cleansing body treatment using a naturally exfoliating body scrub mixed with Tahitian black pearl powder and native fragrant vanilla. Couples can also enjoy a treatment for two in a private over-water suite.
That’s plenty for day one. Be sure to see Gilles for day two and beyond. He’s local, he’s an expert, and he’s waiting to help.
