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Diego Travel Hotel Review

The Brando

A Private Island Resort in French Polynesia
MARIA DIEGO

The Brando, a Private Island Resort, has long been on my bucket list for its stellar reputation as one of the travel industry’s best kept secrets. It is not only the most exclusive resort in French Polynesia, but one of the most exclusive resorts in the world. The island boast 35 villas and one 4-bedroom residence, which has its own private beach for ultimate privacy. There is a spa, newly renovated fitness center, and several restaurants to enjoy, as well as a tennis court, and paths for jogging and exploring. Guests are given bicycles for their stay, so you can come and go from your villa as little or as much as you please. One of the best kept secrets is the rooftop bar, where you can enjoy cocktails at sunset overlooking the crystalline water.

Perfect For: Honeymoons | Couples | Friends | Anniversary Trips | Romantic Getaways

The Brando

TAHITI, FRENCH POLYNESIA

Getting to The Brando:

The Brando is located in Onetahi a private island in the secluded atoll of Teti’aroa, just a 20-minute flight from Papeete International Airport (PPT), Tahiti, via a private airline terminal aboard Air Tetiaroa. PPT has daily non-stop flights from LAX, SFO and SEA. In addition PPT has direct flights to Hawaii an the most extensive network of flights to South Pacific ranging from Easter Island to New Zealand.

Landing at The Brando in Tetiaroa Atoll
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Location

Vibe at The Brando:

The Brando Vive

As the most exclusive resort in French Polynesia, The Brando pairs the art of luxury hospitality perfectly with sustainability and conservation. A large part of its ethos is in preserving the delicate ecosystem of Tetiaroa, an atoll with 12 motus encircling a lagoon of crystal blue water. The island is serene, dense with climbing coconut trees, bending toward the rays of sun. The coconuts and meandering palms grow thick with moss and provide a safe haven to the diverse fauna of the island.

Unlike better known islands such as Bora Bora, Tahiti and Moorea, Tetiaroa, home of The Brando, is flat. When you arrive, you’ll assigned a bicycle, checked into your own private villa, and given as much privacy as you could ever need. While the island has a common pool, we saw little need to leave our villa throughout our stay, unless we were heading to the common areas for meals or entertainment – like the French Polynesian show we enjoyed on our last night. But bring a book, some music, and energy for relaxation because beyond snorkeling, a few boat excursions, and enjoying the beach, The Brando is just about being still.

Vibe

Accomodations at The Brando:

The Brando Villas

The Brando has 35 villas and one 4-Bedroom residence, perfect for families or three couples traveling together who want their own common living room and full-size kitchen. Diego Travel clients get priority for upgrades, and we stayed in a family villa. This is the same layout as your standard one-bedroom villa, but instead of a media room, that serves as a kids’ room with a full bed, suitable for 2 children. Keep in mind that these all have one bathroom.

The Brando Villas

If you want a villa with two bathrooms, then I recommend the 2-Bedroom Villa, which has two master bedrooms, one on the lower level that is beachfront, and then a bedroom above it that is a mirror layout. The downstairs bedroom can be split into twins if needed. The bedrooms are split by an outdoor stairwell, so this villa is best suited for older children/teens or two couples traveling together.

*Important to note that The Brando villas do not come with butler service, but this can be added if needed.

The Brando Villas
Plan my trip to The Brando
ACCOMMODATIONS

Food & Beverage at The Brando:

Les Mutinés is The Brando’s fine dining experience, in a restaurant in the shape of a ship, at the center a large crystal chandelier reminiscent of The Jolly Roger in Peter Pan.  We were offered a scroll, unrolled to find a tasting menu in the format of an old treasure map.  The food, across the board, was primarily French, but particularly our meal at Les Mutinés.
Les Mutinés
Bob’s Bar, The Brando Hotel
Bob’s Bar was the original bar on the island, and while it would eventually change locations, the Bar is still the same social hub it was always meant to be, serving hot dogs, hamburgers, and a lengthy cocktail menu, including the ‘Dirty Old Bob.’
Nami is a table for 8 teppanyaki grill, where our Japanese chef prepared us made-to-order dishes that complied with each guests’ dietary needs. From tuna nigiri to Wagyu beef, our meal was delicious and even our 7-year-old tried every dish.
Nami
The Beachcomber Cafe at The Brando Hotel Tahiti
The Beachcomber Café serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, the main restaurant with a focus on Polynesian fare. I would have liked to see more variety in the menu, but I think for a 2-3 night stay, its sufficient.
FOOD & BEVERAGE:

Activities at The Brando:

We did the Tetiaroa Ultimate Tour on our first day. The boat takes you on a 20-minute ride across the glistening lagood to one of the protected motus, nicknamed “bird island,” where seabirds swoop in and out of a thick forest of trees.

From there, we got down from the boat with our water shoes (provided by the resort) to trek through a jungle path, crawling with hermit and coconut crabs of all shapes, colors and sizes. I have never experienced anything quite like this! The largest known coconut crab on the island, named Hector, by the guides from the Tetiaroan Society, made an appearance for us. This 50-year-old crab was the largest crab I have ever seen!

Coconut Crab, Tetiaroa Atoll
Making Tahitian Pareos at the Brando
On another day, we tie-dyed pareos, which was a fun activity for our daughter. They learned about the tradition in the Polynesian Islands and the significance of the different colors used. What a fun keepsake and memory to take home from the trip!

Kayaking through the pass between two nearby motu was another highlight as we paddled next to what seemed like thousands of soaring birds of different species. Our guide took us by kayak through shallow waters, showing us how to carefully navigate around the rising coral so as not to damage its delicate surface. It was such a peaceful experience, and even if you’re not a kayaker, I highly recommend it.

Kayaking Tetiaroa Atoll
The Brando Snorkeling

Tetiaroa atoll is a pristine underwater sanctuary, with crystal clear waters and unmatched biodiversity. We snorkled arround a few of the hundreds of coral heads directly infront of the resort enjoying the the sight of small colorful reef fish, and sea cucumbers resting on the white sand bottom. A short boat ride from the resort takes you to the deeper part of the lagoon or the drop off outside the reef where you can snorkel or Scuba Dive larger coral formations, black-tip reef sharks and spotted eagle rays gliding within arm’s reach.

Fishing is one of the best kept secrets of the Brando. Thanks to its unique location, deep-sea fishing for Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, Marlin (Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Striped Marlin) and Dogtooth Tuna are only short boat ride away from the resort.

Tetiaroa Society and The Brando
The Brando Fishing

On my final day I took the Green Tour and I am so glad that I did. I have never seen anything like it, and it is unparalleled in the hospitality industry. Adding a $12 million dollar sea water air conditioning system (SWAC), the entire island is air conditioned using sea water and the 5,000 panels of solar that provides electricity for the island. The island also provides housing for up to 20 people, labs and a research center for PhD programs that work on different projects, in addition to the employee ‘village’ that houses the staff of 250 at The Brando. They provide machinery that converts food waste into soil, glass into powder that can be reused, and an extraordinary recycling system that allows for zero waste.

ACTIVITIES

Wellness at The Brando:

I went to the spa on our first day and while my massage was incredible, I thought the experience was lacking a bit of ritual and consistency. Upon arrival, I needed to shower following a swim in the ocean. There are no bathrobes, but rather pareos, and then guests are required to walk along pathways to the bird nest-like treatment rooms. This might be fine for some, but for more modest guests, I would see where this might be problematic. There was also no relaxation area for before or after treatment, or I was not offered it if there was. There is also no place to drink water or have tea, like many spas offer. For such an exclusive island resort, I felt the spa should just offer a bit more. Again, my massage was excellent, but it might as well have taken place in our villa.

Varua Spa at The Brando Hotel
WELLNESS

What sets The Brando appart:

Tetiaroa Society and The Brando

The island itself is simply stunning, as the colors of the water are crystal clear and change from various shades of light blue to turquoise, to darker blues that lie beyond the atoll. The island has a dense jungle feel, and reminds me a bit of a private island in the Bahamas called Cat Cay. Ideally, I would have all of my clients stop at The Brando for two nights to experience this exclusive private island paradise.

As far as sustainability, I can’t think of another property around the world that is doing it as well as The Brando. As a guest at The Brando, you’re helping to contribute to a sustainable island resort, but also in preserving an untouched paradise for future generations of not only visitors but more important for Polynesians Islanders. While many of the staff arrive from France each year to work seasonally, many are native Polynesians, which is an important component to the fabric of The Brando.

What we love about The Brando
Diego Travel Loves…
The privacy at The Brando is unique.  The hotel is set on a private island within the Tetiaroa Atoll, which is itself  a private Nature Reserve in the middle of the South Pacific.  You can choose to socialize with other guests during many of the resort activities or at the hotel’s restaurants or choose to completely get away from it all as villas are set far apart, offering complete privacy so you can spend all day in your villa and on the beach in front of it and never see another guest. 
The Brando
How Much Does it Cost?
The Brando offers a Breakfast Only plan or an All-Inclusive plan.  I strongly encourage going with the All-Inclusive plan because prices for meals at the resort are quite expensive.  I frequently get access to promos such as Stay 4, Pay 3, which can bring the All-Inclusive plan down to around $2,000/person/night on the higher end, the 4-Bedroom residence runs around $20-30,000/night.
The Brando Hermit Crab
Diego Travel Perks:
  • Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
  • Daily Full breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant
  • $100 USD equivalent Food & Beverage credit
  • Bookings in our Two Bedroom Villa (or larger) will receive an additional $100 Food & Beverage credit (for a total of $200 during stay)
  • Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
    Book The Brando With Perks

    Diego Travel Insider Tips:

    The Brando is fairly spread out and while the resort provides bicycles and golf cart transfers on demand, I recommend that you book a villa closest to the common areas if you have mobility issues. There are also two ADA villas that are available with no stairs.

    The Brando Tahiti
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