Pool
Check availability

Reviews of The Black Pearl! The most luxurious private Over Water Bungalow in Bora Bora!

The Black Pearl! The most luxurious private Over Water Bungalow in Bora Bora!
Vaitape, Bora Bora

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 122 out of 129 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 129 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 129 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 129 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 129 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

William H., Boulder City NV

Liked: Cleanliness
21 Days In Paradise!
We had an amazing 21 days at the Black Pearl - Nir and Taire were incredibly accommodating and helpful throughout our stay. Nir was always available for any questions, and Taire even picked us up at the dock and took us to the rental car location. Check-in was smooth, and Nir provided us with a local phone for easy communication. The location is exceptional, offering privacy compared to other options. Renting a car from Nir is a must for exploring the island. The bungalow was clean and well-equipped, exactly as advertised. We spent most of our time swimming, snorkeling, or enjoying the stunning views from the deck. The Saturday morning outrigger canoe races passing by were a highlight. The amenities, from the comfortable bed to the thoughtful lighting, exceeded our expectations. We enjoyed grilling fresh fish and sampling various restaurants on the island. La Villa Mahana was a standout for special occasions, while Snack Matira offered a more casual experience right on one of the world's top beaches. Overall, it was the best vacation we've had. Highly recommend the Black Pearl. - Bill & Tina
Stayed 21 nights in Apr 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 8 May 2024
Dear Bill and Tina, Thank you so much for your kind review. I am so glad you enjoyed your stay and that everything was as you hoped. I hope to welcome you back again someday! All the best, Richard

10/10 Excellent

Ron B., Denver, Colorado, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful stay!
We celebrated our anniversary here, and enjoyed it very much. The local managers were extremely helpful when checking in and out, and we would definitely recommend renting the car you will need directly from them. Overall a wonderful stay.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Thomas S., Pocatello

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing Overwater Bungalow
The Black Pearl is an amazing place to stay for a couple! Richard, Nir and Taire were all very flexible and helpful. Taire helped us check in when we were able to arrive early on a standby flight. She met us at the ferry drop off with the car and showed us around and gave us all the information. The bungalow itself is about a 10 minute drive from downtown and is amazing! It has almost everything that you need including an incredible view, which is the most important to us! If you’re looking for a place that is absolutely perfect, there are a few cosmetic things that could be improved. None of them made this stay any less fantastic! Having air-conditioning is an amazing extra! The bed was comfortable and the bathroom is fantastic. We woke up every morning and had coffee on the deck looking out at the incredible Motus across the bay, then we would go snorkeling around the corner, so close you could walk. Our first morning snorkeling we interacted with a huge Reef Ray for about 20 minutes, a long gift to us! We also swim with spotted rays, black tip reef sharks, and many many amazing fish. Some of the coral went so deep we couldn’t even see the bottom of it. One morning a huge group of dolphins were playing in the clear water about 200 yards off the deck. We took the kayak out and just sat in the middle of them while they swam all around us. If we hadn’t been at the Black Pearl, these things probably wouldn’t have happened. Location, Location, Location!
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cindy K.

Liked: Cleanliness
We were very happy.
We genuinely enjoyed our stay at the bungalow. We were impressed with the high quality appliances, lots of kitchen accessories. Toaster, blender, storage bowls etc. The wash machine was nice to have as well. The shower was awesome, big and with a rain shower head that had great pressure. Also big fluffy bath towels were included along with 2 beach towels. The King size bed was comfortable. When it got hot, the air conditioner cooled it down quickly. Also if you opened all the windows you could get a nice breeze blowing through. It was fun sitting on the deck, enjoying the fish and beautiful water. I would recommend a rental car, we got ours through Nir, it was a great asset, we were able to grocery shop, go out to eat and go to the beach. The only negative we found was the blinds in the living room were mostly broken, which meant they had to be down the whole time, there was no way to raise them. Although it would have been nice had they worked, it did not hamper our stay.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Greg J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent choice
Great VRBO. Clean, stocked, helpful hosts. Unique location!
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

joanne h.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing stay
The bungalow was wonderful. Very clean and comfortable. So very relaxing, we spent hours on the deck just watching the boats and fish go by. We snorkeled right off the dock. If you go off to the right when you are facing the ocean there are fish. The excursion boats were able to pick us up and drop us off at the dock. Tom was great and very helpful. Would stay here again.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karen H.

Liked: Cleanliness
A week in Paradise
The property is beautiful, stocked with almost everything you'll need. The property owner was extremely responsive to any questions before the trip and the in-country manager was also extremely helpful both before the trip and once we were on island. When you see the proximity to each other of the overwater bungalows at some of the large resorts, you'll really appreciate how private this overwater bungalow is. If you're someone who wants to have have a short walk to shopping or dinner at a restaurant, this isn't the place for you. Most shops and restaurants were a 15 - 25 minute drive, but many restaurants provide free pickup and drop off for dinner. This was a perfect base for both relaxing and exploring the island and would love to stay here again if we make it back to Bora Bora someday!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

William R., Kamloops, Canada

Liked: Cleanliness
The pearl of Bora Bora
We really had a great time here and can not say enough about what a great place it was. From booking to check out it was easy to communicate with the owner and the property manager, everything was seamless. We rented a car from Nir and was picked up at the ferry and dropped off when we were done. Checking into the bungalow was easy. The bungalow itself was great, over the water and far enough from the one next it for some privacy. The inside was nice and had everything we needed, the outside had a nice covered back deck and a walk down swimming platform. Always a breeze on the deck which was good for watching the tropical fish below and the sunsets. We snorkeled right off the platform and had a lot to see, even a small blacktip Reef shark. The location on the island was great for getting around. The Black Pearl bungalow far exceeded our expectations and would highly recommend this to anyone visiting Bora Bora.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kathryne

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I can't say enough good things about this property! It was super clean, well maintained (and I believe recently remodeled), not to mention private. The living room was relaxed with comfortable couch and chairs, the bed was amazingly comfortable, and the bathroom was well beyond my expectations with a large walk-in shower and big soaker tub. The kitchen was clean, and stocked with all the appliances (small and large) that you might need. The back porch was a good size with a comfy lounge chair, outdoor dining set, clotheslines for your wet swimwear and a BBQ. There's a kayak for use, and the snorkeling in the vicinity is pretty nice! We even saw some stingrays gliding past our porch a couple of times! Overall, I couldn't have been happier with our stay! I highly recommend this property to anyone looking for a private, comfortable over-the-water bungalow on the main island without the restrictions (and expenses!) of staying at a resort.

10/10 Excellent

JoAnn B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Overwater bungalow nirvana
Can’t say enough about our stay in the overwater bungalow. From the time mr. Nir picked us up at the ferry dock to the time he dropped us off after our stay, it was pure heaven!! The crystal clear blue water right off our dock was great for snorkeling. The bungalow itself was impeccable with everything you needed. We hated to leave. We would highly recommend this to everyone. Made many lasting memories. Thank You- Dave and JoAnn
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We stayed here for 4 nights and will be unfaithful it I forgot to review about this place. Nir and his wife, Tiare they were so kind and knowledgeable. Any questions always be helping quickly by Nir. He was so dedicated to make us satisfying on anything we asked. I thought if this vacation,we didn’t meet him might we really went to disappointed through 2 places we just left also from Tahiti( 4 nights from Citi Home Tahiti, and 2 nights from Royal Bora Bora). Staying here, we had so much things we need like kitchen utensils, even rice, or oil to cook…Knowing both were seniors, Nir help me take us to the airport for free and together showing how we’ll do next steps. My wife before got headaches so much but when relaxing here, all symptoms were disappear immediately 😊. We’re surely to recommend about Nir and we now understand why we had spent many time to book successful here!

10/10 Excellent

Janette M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing Stay
We throughly enjoyed our stay at the Black Pearl. The house was clean and well stocked. The bed was comfortable. We loved spending relaxing mornings on the deck listening to the waves and boats go past. We used the grill in the evening and enjoyed the quiet at the end of a busy day. Every thing you need in Vaitape is only 15-20 minutes away. Nir was so helpful and kind throughout the whole trip. Having the car from Nir was a must and so convenient with Nir meeting us at the dock and dropping us off after. One of our favorite things was we were so close to the Manta Ray cleaning station that we just kayaked over to it (to the right and around the tip of the island as you face the ocean)and moored to the kayak to the existing ropes. We snorkeled with a Manta Ray all alone before the tour boats arrived in the morning. Incredible. We saw an octopus along with many other fish as we snorkeled right under the house, we also saw a Moray Eel about 30 feet from the bungalow to the right. Staying over the water in Bora Bora at this price made it so we were happy to pay for excursions like a trip to Taha’a to the Pearl and Vanilla farms, and to take the snorkel tour of the lagoons. Truly incredible experiences. Our only suggestion would be the curtains in the bedroom could use updating, but they worked fine. We recommend Snack Matira for good inexpensive lunches right on the beach. Thank you, Nir for your incredible hospitality and wonderful stay.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Phil K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing, private, overwater bungalow!
My wife and I stayed for 9 nights and it was amazing. We prefer private rentals over resorts and this place is everything we expected and more. I cannot say enough positive things about how awesome this property is and the owner, Richard, was very responsive and helpful through the entire process. The manager (Nir) was also super helpful, a great guy, very responsive to our questions and needs. The bungalow was perfect, clean and neat, nice furniture and layout, large bathroom, well-appointed in all aspects, exactly what you see in the photos. We will definitely be back to stay here again! Thanks! Phil and Candy
Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 19 July 2023
Thank you for the kind words. We are all so happy you enjoyed your stay and look forward to welcoming you back soon!

6/10 Okay

karen h., Los Angeles

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful location - Not a great stay
Our 2nd time in Bora staying at the condos-our 1st time at No5. The condo is nicely laid out and the bed was very comfortable. Air works well and the bathroom is nice. The outside grill is good.We rented a car from Nir and it was a great rental(aircond works great too). We did have a few challenges. When we arrived the 2 sunlounges were broken and could not be used. We asked Nir for replacements/loaners for our 10 day stay but never received anything. This was a huge disappointment since the reason you go to Bora is for the sun. There is only one 2-person kayak. On day 2 the toilet broke at 7am.Nir said he would send someone who did not arrive until 330pm. He didnt fix the toilet and we waited until the next morning for the fix. Waiting over 24 hours for the only toilet to be fixed? There are 4 blinds in the living room looking out onto the lagoon. 2 of them were broken 50% of the view was obscured. Nir said he knew about that but never told us and didn’t offer any solutions so again we figured it out on our own. Finally a chair I was sitting in broke and I tumbled over backwards onto the tile floor. This was day 7 and we decided to leave the condo early and go to a resort for the final 3 days. All this time with everything that happened we did not receive an apology or inperson visit from the host. I have communicated with the owner who said I should have called him(he lives in the USA)so why have a host on the island? It was not the luxurious condo advertised unfortunately.
Stayed 10 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 8 June 2023
The guests contacted me even before they arrived and were angry because our manager Nir asked them to take the free airport shuttle to town to meet him and the rental car. The mayor and the President of French Polynesia takes this ferry from the airport. They insisted that they were "NOT LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE" and never took PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. Oh, and that they had more money than the President! They even went off about going to New York city a dozen times and never using the subway. "I only take black Ubers!!" I really felt like this was going to be a problem from the start. I actually considered asking them to stay somewhere else, but hoped for the best. I never heard from the guests once they arrived and had no idea there were problems with their stay. We have had a double Kayak now for years and never had a complaint. The lounge chair was broken from the last guests and Nir immediately ordered a new one from Tahiti, but that takes time to arrive. It is not like the States. Unfortunately it wasn't going to be there in time and Nir kindly offered to bring over his, but they weren't interested. Most people want some of the blinds down for privacy so they are left in that position. Again, never any complaints. PLEASE SEE ALL OF OUR FIVE STAR REVIEWS... The toilet did break and our regular plumber was out of the country, so it took longer than expected, but done first day! And as soon as I heard about it I apologized profusely and asked them why they didn't contact me sooner. They took this as an affront and thought I was accusing them of not reaching out to me first. I was simply stating that I would have done everything I could have to fix any problems they might have been dealing with. Things happen, we are not a resort as clearly stated, but we do our best. As far as my desk chair, it is not broken, they pushed a lever that releases the top of the chair from the bottom and that caused the two parts to separate. I hate that this happened, but it could have been avoided... Again, never any complaints. They wrote me an angry, angry email after they returned (Much angrier than their review). It was the first I had heard of any of this. After I did hear about all of these problems I wrote a long email to them apologizing over and over and even offering them a refund for the nights they didn't stay there, but they didn't acknowledge that offer, or my apologies. I think they wanted a resort to begin with and I am sorry they chose us instead.

10/10 Excellent

jennifer h.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect location!
We really enjoyed our stay at Black Pearl OWB. The location is great -- you can watch both sun rise and sunset! We took lots of nice pictures. And of ciyrse snorkeling, kayaking every day. I saw someone digging out a huge octopus right under the deck! Also a shark swam by one day.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

8/10 Good

Victor F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely house. Needs TLC
The location is great, the house is very nice. We enjoyed our stay overall. The house does need some basic maintenance, the sink doesn’t drain, the gate is broken, the door net keeps falling out on the porch. Things that don’t ruin your stay, but are annoying to deal with.
Stayed 10 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Marvin F.

Liked: Cleanliness
My Bucket List
Thanks, Richard, for your awesome place and location. Debbie and I really enjoyed the stay, location, and community hospitality. The whole process went awesome with no glitches. Nir and his wife also di an awesome job with check-in, area excursions, setting us up with contact information, etc. We do recommend this place for anyone who loves relaxation, scenery, and culture.
Stayed 9 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Almog P.

Liked: Cleanliness
A wonderful experience of Bora Bora mainland
We loved our stay at the Black Pearl and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to explore the mainland of Bora Bora besides just a resort experience. We saw eagle rays from our sun deck every morning, we used the kayak to paddle to the islands across, the location was super convenient, just a walking distance from trails around. The property manager helped us book an incredible snorkeling boat tour with a guide who picked us up right from our deck. Such a beautiful experience!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anthony B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome over water bungalow!
The resorts we wanted were over $2000/night so we gladly discovered the Black Pearl. Zero complaints and we loved our 4 night stay and all the photos we took. We will definitely be back in the next 5 years. Nir and Tiare were excellent and the rental car was also the best price, automatic and with AC. Thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Victoria W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place!
Very cool spot on Bora Bora! We had an awesome week in the bunglalow! Prime spot right on the water. We took a snorkling tour and the boat was able to pick us up right at the dock which was really neat. Great snorkling right outside your backdoor! We even saw some rays by our dock one morning. Features we thought added to the experience -high end appliances -great water pressure!!!! -grill was a huge plus -coordinating with the property manager to Nir made it too easy to vacation on a remote island :) -Richard had amazing recommendations on food and things to do while on the island Thank you and we will be back!
Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Feb 2023
Wow, so happy you enjoyed your stay at The Black Pearl. We really try hard to make it the best experience for our guests! Hope to see you again sometime soon!

10/10 Excellent

Shawn R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Phenomenal view and location
We had a great weekend snowboarding trip. The cabins view and location made this trip just that much more spectacular. Thank you.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Caroline N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful vacation
Everything about this place was fantastic. We loved it from start to finish. The only problem was that it was our time here was too short. Swimming right off the dock was a favourite for us, the area was quiet and peaceful, and Nir was so helpful.
Stayed 11 nights in Jan 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Feb 2023
Hi Caroline! Many thanks for your kind words. We are so glad you enjoyed yourself!

10/10 Excellent

Charles B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Paradise Found
Absolutely wonderful. A beautiful location and property. Better then you can even imagine. Fish, sharks and rays visible from the porch. You can jump right into the water from the porch and swim or snorkel. Yes, you can pay hundreds more to stay over in the resort area huts, but Richard's property, especially the Black Pearl are isolated and much more private. It is beautifully maintained, and furnished and the bed is so comfortable. You can still do all the lagoon tours, jeep rides etc. and they will pick you up right at the hut. And let's not forget the property manager Nir and his wife. They are wonderful, friendly people who go out of their way to make sure you are happy, and your needs met. He gives you a phone to contact him if you need anything. Definitely rent one of Nir's cars. A lot cheaper than the other rental companies. Also contact him to make reservation arrangements for tours as he can get you discounts. If you want to buy black pearls, ask for his advice where to shop. Finally, lots of great restaurants. Richard will send you a list after booking and they were all great. There is probably no more beautiful place on earth then Bora Bora. Charles and Cheryl
Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mark L.

Liked: Cleanliness
christmas in Bora Bora
A very relaxing stay in a beautiful location! The Black Pearl is a a perfect getsway. The view and lagoon is lovely!
Stayed 11 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Reed B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great!
Super!
Stayed 8 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Heidi N.

Liked: Cleanliness
A little bit of paradise
The property was larger than I expected, certainly bigger & more fun than a hotel room. Enjoyed its Polynesian art. Fun feeding bread & french fries to the fish from the balcony & watch them come out of hiding. The host was very friendly & accommodating. He lent us a cell phone for any questions. Definitely need rental car.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

steve s., Benicia

Liked: Cleanliness
Black Pearl stay
The Black Pearl was truly that, what a special place. Nir the manager was great and the place was better than the pics would stay there again for sure!! Steve & Cheri
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 20 Nov 2022
Ia Orana Steve! Thank you both. SO glad you enjoyed your stay and look forward to welcoming you again some time soon!

10/10 Excellent

Warren L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Our time in paradise
Very nice overwater bungalow—one of the best we’ve stayed in. Very comfortable and lots of beautiful fish right below us, like having our own aquarium. Was a little noisy in the morning with both street and water traffic, but nothing we couldn’t live with. Lots of good restaurants nearby, and parrot fish is our new favorite fish. Nir was wonderful to work with. We had such a relaxing and enjoyable stay.
Stayed 9 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Nov 2022
Hi Warren, So glad you enjoyed your stay and our beautiful island! Hope you can make it back one day!

10/10 Excellent

Douglas M., Dallas, TX

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent OvertheWater Bungalow
Place was excellent. Exactly as advertised. Had a great time with the kayak, and close to beautiful snorkeling sites.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tara M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent!
After having to reschedule this trip numerous times because of Covid, we finally made it and by far, this was the best property we stayed at this trip! Could not have asked for a better relaxing place with comfy bed and awesome views. Thanks Richard (owner) for hanging in there with us during all the rescheduling over the last 2 years. Nui was awesome and helped us get settled and Ivan (white house) says to tell you 'hi!' Your property was the highlight of our trip. Thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bryan P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Loved Living Local
My wife & I stayed 8 nights at the Black Pearl for 8 nights and loved every minute of the experience. We grabbed groceries and had everything we needed at the bungalow to make meals & enjoy adult beverages with a million dollar view. The grill on the lanai was my favorite for the fresh fish we picked up at the grocery store. Just sitting on the lanai watching the boats go by or jumping in for a snorkel was our favorite way to spend the days, but we did venture out and explore the island most days (definitely rent a car from Nir so you can get around). The bungalow was clean and had everything we needed, but it's all about the location and that view from the lanai. Richard handled the reservation process and answered questions quickly. Nir met us on arrival with a rental car, helped arrange a couples massage on the lanai (fantastic!!), and was only a text message away if we had any questions. I actually feel sorry for the people trapped at the big resorts who didn't get the chance to "live local" in paradise like we did.
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Vanessa N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Retirement Trip if a life time.
My husband saw his first shark, we celebrated 40 years of marriage and his retirement .
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Brian R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Tropical Island Paradise... Found
A true paradise and fantastic all around place to stay!! My wife and I recently travelled from California, USA to the beautiful French Polynesian island of Bora Bora for our Honeymoon and had the absolute best, most romantic experience of our lives at Richard's amazing Black Pearl Bungalow. It would be impossible for me to express just how much we fell in love with this villa or how much it truly made us feel as if we were in our own home, despite being thousands of miles away. The interior layout is absolutely ideal for a couple looking to get away and yet still have all the luxurious accommodations without the hassle of the resorts. The open layout, the hardwood floors, the spacious king bedroom, the fully stocked and modern kitchen were all ideal. The outside deck with bbq grill, dining table and chase lounges on your own diving platform into the gorgeous sky blue waters, was something we will never forget the rest of our lives. Each evening we enjoyed a glass of wine with dinner as we watched the sunset unfold and the sky turn its brilliant hue of colors. Richard and our island hosts Nir and Tiare were so kind and helpful and made everything seamless and smooth. Definitely recommend renting a car from Nir and Tiare so that you can tour the island and see all the amazing local sites and restaurants and be free to cruise around at your leisure. We loved every minute of our honeymoon and would happily recommend staying at this bungalow. Anybody looking for a bit more of an adventure than the all-inclusive resorts, yet still having exactly the type of luxury and experience everybody dreams of when thinking about traveling to the Tahitian Islands, will be thrilled with this choice. We definitely plan on coming back someday. Until then the memories, sounds, smells and sights will stay with us every single day. Not really anything quite like experiencing the laid back and easy going lifestyle of the amazing Bora Bora locals and their culture. We felt honored and blessed to get to be a part of it. Do not hesitate to book a lagoon tour with a local guide to snorkel with the sharks, rays and beautiful fish - you will not regret it. Thank you so much Richard, Nir and Tiare for making our magical trip one we will remember the rest of our lives. We couldn't have asked for anything more. Sincerely, Brian & Alice.
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Sept 2022
Dear Brian and Alice, Thank you so much for your amazing review. We try so hard to make our guests happy and feel at home on our beautiful island. I am so glad your honeymoon was everything you wished for and that we can welcome you back again some day!

10/10 Excellent

Angela L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing Bungalow
The bungalow was paradise!!! We loved our stay here and didn’t want to leave. Nir met us at the ferry and gave us the keys and a rental car and was a great host and helped us with all the questions we had. All our tours picked us up directly from the bungalow and the water tours picked us up directly from the back porch. The bungalow had Amazon prime so it was great getting to watch movies at night. Another thing I loved was that the house had a security alarm system so we felt very secure staying here. All in all one of the best vacations and places that we’ve ever stayed!!!
Stayed 10 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Sept 2022
Ia Orana Angela! Perfect! So glad you enjoyed your stay on Bora Bora and staying at The Black Pearl... We hope you can make it back again sometime... Many thanks!

10/10 Excellent

Imani M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Better than Photos
My new husband and I spent our honeymoon here. Not only was booking with Richard easy, the entire trip was made simple and the bungalow was better than what we imagined. If we ever make it back we will definitely be booking with Richard again and we will be suggesting this stay to all of our loved ones.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Aug 2022
Dear Imani, Thank you so much for the kind words! I am so happy that you enjoyed our home and your stay on Bora Bora. We hope to welcome you again someday!

10/10 Excellent

Maresa C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Paradise is real
The 5* reviews accurately reflect how amazing this place is and the pictures do not do it justice. The rental is clean and huge, and the deck is amazing. Many many fish can be seen right off the deck. We saw sharks, huge parrot fish, octopus, sting rays, eels and thousand of other fish right there. The coral is a fish nursery for sure. Nir is just incredible, a wealth of information and always available for anything. Rent a car from him he will guide you on trips, restaurants etc. he picked up us and dropped us at Matira beach until we could check in and then gave us the car. Matira beach is a true gem, amazing coral for snorkeling and miles of waste deep perfectly blue bath tub esque water. The snorkeling trip was amazing-manta, eagle, sting rays, sharks swimming by us in 3ft of water. Had it all. We also did a deep sea fishing trip and a trip to tupai, the uninhabited heart shaped private island dubbed the most romantic island in the world. It was an incredible, only Nirs friend has permission to go, not cheap, but truly a once in a lifetime trip.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Aug 2022
Hi Maresa, I am so happy you enjoyed your stay! We strive to give our guests the best experience possible... Nir and Tiare are family and we all love what we do. Many thanks for your kind words. All the best, Richard

8/10 Good

Veronica S.

Beautiful honeymoon getaway
We had a fantastic time at the Black Pearl for our honeymoon. The bungalow was very lovely and fairly private. There is a street directly in front of the home which can often be noisy, but the ocean waves tended to drown out a lot of the sounds. There was also so much sea life living directly under the bungalow (an octopus, a huge eel, hundreds of fish). It was awesome to be able to snorkel right off the dock. The property manager Nir and his wife Tiare were wonderful. Always available if we needed anything. They gave us a local cell phone to use during our trip and we also rented a car from them, which is a MUST if you stay at this bungalow, because you are a 15 minute drive from everything. All in all, our honeymoon was fantastic. Definitely do the sunset cruise/dinner at St James with Moana Adventures and also the all day snorkeling experience with private motu BBQ. Those were amazing activities.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kent

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent property for a quiet and secluded getaway. Our property host, Nir was very helpful and easy to get hold of during our seven day vacation. Picked up and dropped off us at the airport with our car rental which made it very convenient and stress free. A grill is provided on the spacious lanai, had our meals daily with a beautiful ocean view. Snorkeling and kayaking is great just off the bungalow.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

holly a.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxation at it's best
Our stay was fantastic. The entire island is a haven for relaxation. Daily sunrise snorkeling from the deck was our favorite, there is lots of coral around the house and it's full of bright, colorful fish. Sunsets from the back deck are colorful and not to be missed. The house has every cooking gadget and appliance you could imagine. We only ate at a restaurant twice since cooking was so easy. Chin-Lee Market is open until 8 pm and has a wide selection of food. Nir and Tiare are very welcoming hosts, they have recommendations, they give you a smartphone to use, are always available to help with questions. Definitely rent a car from them, it's the best deal around and the car is very nice. A few quirks to mention to help other guests. The DVD player doesn't play USA-formatted discs, and the television has no satellite channels, streaming only. The instructions were confusing but a call to Nir cleared it up. Just hit the home button on the remote and log in to your Netflix or Amazon account for streaming. We didn't think we'd watch much TV but appreciated it once the sun set and the insects started biting. It was nice to retreat inside. The BBQ wheels fell off when we pulled it out from the wall and it cooked unevenly. But it still got the job done. I imagine the salt air is harsh on it. We brought our own snorkel gear and floaties with a rope to tie them off to the dock. I'm glad we did because we used them several times a day. We highy recommend staying at the Black Pearl, it was truly a great place.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jeff P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxation in Paradise
This property was everything that we had hoped it would be. The process from start to finish was easy and simple as the manager on site along with his wife were exceptionally helpful with all of our needs and questions. If you are looking for a getaway that you will remember for the rest of your life, then the Black Pearl in Bora Bora is that place. I would/will recommend this property to everyone I know. It was that good!
Stayed 9 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Josh O.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing beautiful stay
Property was clean and views were great. Customer service was amazing! Great experience. Bora Bora was perfect and enjoyed our stay here.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Shonna T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Happy we went this route!
My husband and I have stayed in Bora Bora before, but this was our first time not staying at a resort. We enjoyed the added privacy and having the entire space to ourselves. We definitely preferred having the option to stay in for a meal or go out in the rental car - and it was a good cost savings as well. (Getting the rental car from Nir was super easy and driving around the island- a first for us - really wasn’t difficult at all.) We also liked just cleaning up after ourselves, having a place to wash and hang laundry, and not having to maneuver around housekeeping everyday. We didn’t try out the provided kayak and we brought our own snorkeling gear, but it’s a nice perk that those are included in the rental. We spent every day snorkeling just outside the bungalow. The variety of fish, and the large snorkeling area meant we never got bored. There was more boat/kayak traffic than we anticipated, but it really wasn’t a man issue. Extra bonus, after the excursion we booked, they were able to drop us off right at the bungalow’s dock, so we basically got a nice boat tour of the island as an added perk. We also didn’t bother with the TV, so I can’t really review that, but the WiFi worked well, as did all the kitchen items. (Note - it took a bit of trial and error to figure out the stove/range as the controls were all symbols. We eventually had to do an internet search to figure out how to use it. A tip sheet or other instructions would be helpful to have on hand.) Overall, we are very happy we decided to try something outside the typical resort. If/when we visit Bora Bora again, we would definitely consider reserving this property.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Patricia J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Privacy and Casual luxury
The Black Pearl was beautifully appointed. Granite countertops, induction stovetop, all of the kitchen gadgets one would want to live in Bora Bora. Comfy bed, linens and towels, walk in shower. We refrained from using the TV, opted for conversation on holidays, but it certainly was tempting. The large deck overlooked a coral garden with an octopus, many small fish and some larger ones as well. Fun to watch anytime! The ceiling was amazing! About 40’ high in Polynesian style, wide wooden boards, finely cut and stained a warm brown. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay!!!! An absolute pleasure, Maururu Richard!
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Nov 2021
Thank you so much for your kind words. I am so glad you loved The Black Pearl as much as we do and appreciated the work that went into making it our special home in paradise! Come back soon!

10/10 Excellent

Marshall M., Atlanta, Georgia

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome Bungalow
Great location to get the full experience of being a local on the Island! Great to see the beauty of the Island and be central located.
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Carol R.

Liked: Cleanliness
The Best way to shake off a pandemic!
We loved our stay at the Black Pearl. The pilotis is amazing and beautiful, and we were very comfortable spending some days just hanging out and relaxing there. It was wonderful to wake up slowly in the morning, put on snorkel & fins, and swim off the lanai, with coral and fish awaiting me. Two weeks was an excellent length to stay, because we had enough time to do everything we wanted, yet plenty of decompression time. We never figured out how to use the TV, but it was not really needed. Nir took care of tuning up the gas grill pronto, although we never got to meet him. We had missed the first boat to town from the airplane (trying to dig sunblock out of my bag! Silly.), so an hour later, we found help contacting Nir's wife to come back an hour later with the keys, and she provided the cellphone that got us started. It's amazing making friends right off with local folks, who were astounded to meet an American that spoke French easily. Vive la différence ! After French Polynesia's lockdown, everyone was extremely glad to welcome visitors back to the island, although they take all precautions to keep their current COVID rates at zero. Taxis were a fantastic way to get around--drivers are fabulously helpful there.

10/10 Excellent

Jon & Ellen P., Highlands Ranch, CO

Liked: Cleanliness
This property catered to our travel style
There are basically two ways to experience Bora Bora. The first is by staying at a luxury resort paying huge dollars to be on a scenic island Motu where your time and money are spent doing resort activities and eating resort food. For a honeymooning couple, this is just right. For more seasoned travelers a better way is to rent a private home. You experience the beauty, culture, and soul of the place by meeting local people. You can count on a once-in-a-lifetime experience staying at the Black Pearl Bungalow. It offers you a local experience and a luxurious base camp for doing it. You have an overwater location where you can swim, snorkel and kayak without leaving the property. You experience ocean life up close as you are visited by colorful fish and sting rays that swim up to the lanai. A multitude of interesting boats passes by all day. You have a bungalow recently upgraded to very high standards with a large living area, a huge bedroom and a lovely custom kitchen, all tastefully decorated with authentic Tahitian art. It has air conditioning and a huge ceiling fan. The interior combines tropical hardwoods, bamboo and glass tiling the color of the lagoon. The kitchen has everything you could want. The bedroom has a beautiful canopy bed and plenty of space for your clothing. The bathroom has huge shower and a washer. Each room is lighted with fixtures that appeared to be professionally designed by a lighting expert. There is an entertainment center and guides for activities to do, places to visit and historical information about Tahitian culture including a Polynesian cookbook full of authentic recipes. Staying at the Black Pearl provides you the services of Nir and Tiare, the on-island caretakers of the property. With their hospitality you will leave feeling you've made new lifetime friends. For the cost, the Black Pearl is a bargain compared to resorts. Because it is on the main island you have complete control of your time without needing pricey shuttles. Much of our trip wouldn’t have been possible from a resort. Instead, we used the savings to pay for activities we love. The Tahitian people are so friendly. Many know Richard and Nir and showed even more joy when they heard we were staying at the bungalow rather than a resort. Rest assured you are renting from a well-respected man. Before you choose where to stay, think about who you are and how you travel. Note: due to space constraints here the full report is on TripAdvisor.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 11 June 2021
Dear Jon and Ellen, I am speechless. What a wonderful review. As you know I really strive to give our guests the very best experience possible and I am so happy that we succeeded. I appreciate your kind words and hope to see you both again in the near future. Thank you, it means the world to us.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful stay to be a part of the local area!
My dream vacation came true! I had always wanted to go to Bora Bora but the prices were just more than we wanted to spend so when I found this OWB I was thrilled!! I chatted with the owner and manager quite a bit before the trip since we were traveling during these strange times. There was a lot of paperwork, tests, requirements but with the help of many of the members of the "OFF TO BORA, BORA site on Facebook we got it all done. We flew in and were promptly picked up and given our car rental. A car rental is a MUST for this location. You can walk but it is quite a distance to a restaurant and too long for the grocery store. Plus the car was a HUGE plus. We drove everywhere- Matira Beach, the grocery stores, shops, to restaurants and we would just drive around to see sites and take pictures. We decided not to stay at a resort because we wanted to see , walk among and learn about the Tahitian culture and people. This is the perfect place to do just that. The bungalow itself was very nice and had all that we needed. It had a nice kitchen , beautiful views, a beautiful bathroom and shower. There was a box on the deck that had some goggles, fins and raft or two. We were outside all the time We snorkeled right of the deck and floated in a raft tied to the dock. ( raft with a rope a must as well). There was a tv but we never used it since we would stay out in the town til it closed. We went to St. James restaurant, Bora Bora Beach, Fare Manuia and also the local food wagons which were all delicious. We felt safe at our bungalow and loved sitting and eating breakfast in the mornings watching the rowers go by. There was a lot of privacy at this place and beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Nir and his wife were awesome helping whenever we had a question about anything from where to get a drink or where to hike. Thank you to them and to Richard for all of the help and for the beautiful stay. Nana for now!!
Stayed 6 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Amy S.

Liked: Cleanliness
NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING
Everything was very good quality, all the amenities, very good communication with property owner and care taker! I would definitely book again!
Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2021

10/10 Excellent

Steve H.

Liked: Cleanliness
great way to enjoy paradise
fantastic, just as described. looking forward to our next trip and hoping it is available!
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Jan 2021
We are so happy you enjoyed your stay and found the property as promised. That is what we strive and work hard for. Pleasing our clients is number one! Thank you!

2/10 Terrible

Steve S.

Disliked: Cleanliness
The Black Pearl Was Not For Us
Spent almost two weeks in French Polynesia. First part of the trip was spent at 5 star resort in Tahiti. The last 4 nights we traveled to Bora Bora. Original plan was to stay at another 5 star resort in an over the water bungalow as we did in Tahiti but then found the Black Pearl on VRBO. The pictures and the many five star reviews looked great. Communication with the Owner and the Property Manager was great and so we booked the place. Please note we are also Owners of a beach front VRBO Premier Rental Property and have stayed at other VRBO Premier Properties in Hawaii, Mexico and California. Arrived at the Black Pearl at 4pm on the day of check-in (official check-in time) only to find the house dirty, food left in the refrigerator and pantry, ants in the house and the house smelled like urine. Owner told us it was a moldy smell. The house we saw in the photos was not the house we arrived at. We were disappointed and due to our limited time in Bora Bora we left after one hour. Let the Owner know the next morning that the Black Pearl was not acceptable and that we had left. He was not pleased with us just leaving without notice or the opportunity to send over a cleaning crew to perform the deep cleaning that was really needed. In the end, we did not want to spend any additional time in the middle of a problem that was not of our making. We did ask the Owner about a refund. We exchanged some rather unpleasant emails and our request was denied. He only wanted to point us back to the rental agreement and what we had agreed to (without seeing the house in person) and had no interest in resolving this amicably. For those who are not familiar with the VRBO process, we should have lodged a formal complaint with VRBO within 12 hours of arriving to get them to help us with this situation. Again, did not want to spend any more time dealing with this and simply moved on. The Owner informed us we could NOT review the property as we did not stay there. We stayed for one hour and that was enough. We paid $X,XXX for services not rendered. We are entitled to write a review about our experience. Had the Owner done the right thing and simply worked with us, all of this could have been avoided. Ensure you understand the rental agreement you sign with this Owner. He is going to throw this in your face when you complain or say anything that he is not in agreement with even if his Property Manager agrees the condition of the house was not acceptable.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Jan 2021
PLEASE READ OUR 5 STAR REVIEWS. Including the one by our clients that arrived right after this booking... YOU CAN'T PLEASE EVERYONE ALL OF THE TIME. It's hard to respond to a review like this when the client bends the truth until it breaks... He didn't notify me or my manager that he left the property until the next day. He obviously wanted to stay in a resort environment, so he used cleanliness as an excuse. However, he never stayed in the bungalow... (In my description) I am very clear that our properties are private homes and on the quiet side of the island. However, we are minutes to restaurants and town by car. This client never gave us the chance to rectify any of his concerns. My manager went to the home the very next day after he had found out the clients had left and took inventory of their supposed concerns. There were no ants, the bath mats were clean, no food in fridge, the bungalow was freshly cleaned. However, the cleaning crew did miss some spilled coffee in one of the kitchen cabinets and the smell was from the place being closed up for a few days without the air on. We would have advised the clients to turn on the air and send a crew back to clean whatever needed cleaning. We were never given the opportunity. He admits he never wanted to give us the chance to fix things (Didn't have the time to wait around) and left without checking out and checked into a resort where I am sure he spent thousands of dollars for a small bungalow. I have never thrown our lease in someone's face. I have been working with clients all summer due to covid (And in the past as well) to accommodate them, including refunds and changing dates. But for legitimate reasons. The photos are exactly what the bungalow looks like now, it was totally renovated less than two years ago. The Black Pearl is my home when my wife and I are there and we take great pride in it. We take great pride in all of our bungalows and what we offer our clients for a quarter of the cost of resorts. This client threatened to leave me a bad review if I didn't refund his money. And, as you can see, he did. He even alludes to that when saying if "only the owner had done the right thing, this could have been avoided". He obviously doesn't care how much this hurts, how hard we work, how covid has hit us so badly, how we would have done anything to make things right. Again, please, read our reviews. We are only here to help.