Brando's World Famous Over Water Bungalow in Bora Bora!

• Overwater Paradise! Quiet, Comfortable, Affordable, The Best!

  Overwater Paradise! Quiet, Comfortable, Affordable, The Best!

  • Guest debbie
  • Date of stay 12/26/12
  • Review Submitted 01/16/13
  We stayed at Brandos overwater bungalow on Bora Bora the week of Christmas. We enjoyed everything about the bungalow. It was clean and roomy and very comfortable. We loved being able to snorkel from our house. We loved having our own home and not having to pay the resort prices for food and for our stay. I would definitely stay at Brandos again and would recommend to anyone not needing to be pampered at an overpriced resort. If you stay at Brandos you will need a car (ask for Nirs information - he was such a great help) because it is on a quiet side of the island away from any shopping or restaurants.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

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• AN AMAZING PLACE! THIS IS AN OVER THE WATER "HOUSE", NOT A TRADITIONAL BUNGALOW!

  AN AMAZING PLACE! THIS IS AN OVER THE WATER "HOUSE", NOT A TRADITIONAL BUNGALOW!

  • Guest Anonymous
  • Date of stay 11/20/12
  • Review Submitted 01/09/13
  Our stay at Brando’s Over the Water Bungalow was absolutely amazing. I am a planner and researcher. I googled everything I could about Bora Bora before traveling there, however, the internet information was very limited. Once we arrived and made our way around the island, I discovered that we made by far the best decision by staying here. This is a complete and full functioning home, not just an ‘over the water bedroom and bathroom’ as compared to the many resorts. I will honestly say that the pictures posted do not capture the true beauty of the surroundings and views, it exceeded our expectations. We had unlimited access to the island, which is what sets this bungalow apart from most of the resorts with over the water bungalows. I heard other travelers complain about how they had limited access to be able to come to the mainland from the resorts on the private islands. The community setting where this bungalow is located is very private, very clean, quiet, and a safe environment. Richard has three of the five bungalows over the water, a home to suit every need! This review can easily be applied to any of three if you are considering Marlon’s Over the Water Bungalow, Brando’s Over the Water Bungalow or the Black Pearl. Richard was so friendly and welcoming and such a pleasure to work with. Once in Bora Bora, he arranged a local friend, Nir to meet and greet us and provide us with a cell phone to be able to contact him for any of our needs, and we did! Nir was readily available every time we called, and always had knowledgeable responses to our requests, from simple restaurant recommendations to scheduling our excursions. He also had a rental car available for us, which can be a little hard to reserve in advance on the island, and I would highly recommend having a car to get around at your leisure. Nir’s recommendation for a private boat tour around the island was the highlight of our trip. Patrick with Maohi Nui gave us a real experience we will never forget! Sharks, stingrays, coral, sea life, and amazing snorkeling locations which are only accessible by boat! Things about the house that we found comfortable and surprising: great water pressure for being over the water, wifi, the cool breeze constantly blowing throughout the house, drinking morning coffee on the deck watching the sunrise, snorkeling off the deck we saw the occasional sting ray, schools of yellow jacks, lion fish, butterfly fish, angel fish, moorish idols, and spotted eel and more!

  Recommended for: People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with young children, tourists without a car, girls getaway, sightseeing.

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• Amazing hiddent jewel!

  Amazing hiddent jewel!

  • Guest Anonymous
  • Date of stay 11/21/12
  • Review Submitted 01/08/13
  Our stay was absolutely amazing. I am a planner and researcher. I googled everything I could about Bora Bora before traveling there, however, the internet information was very limited. Once we arrived and made our way around the island, I discovered that we made by far the best decision by staying here. This is a complete and full functioning home, not just an ‘over the water bedroom and bathroom’ as compared to the many resorts. I will honestly say that the pictures posted do not capture the true beauty of the surroundings and views, it exceeded our expectations. The community setting where this bungalow is located is very private, very clean, quiet, and a safe environment. Richard has three of the five bungalows over the water, a home to suit every need! This review can easily be applied to any of three if you are considering Marlon’s Over the Water Bungalow, Brando’s Over the Water Bungalow or the Black Pearl. Richard was so friendly and welcoming and such a pleasure to work with. Once in Bora Bora, he arranged a local friend, Nir to meet and greet us and provide us with a cell phone to be able to contact him for any of our needs, and we did! Nir was readily available every time we called, and always had knowledgeable responses to our requests, from simple restaurant recommendations to scheduling our excursions. He also had a rental car available for us, which can be a little hard to reserve in advance on the island, and I would highly recommend having a car to get around at your leisure. Nir’s recommendation for a private boat tour around the island was the highlight of our trip. Patrick with Maohi Nui gave us a real experience we will never forget! Sharks, stingrays, coral, sea life, and amazing snorkeling locations which are only accessible by boat! Things about the house that we found comfortable and surprising: great water pressure for being over the water, wifi, the cool breeze constantly blowing throughout the house, drinking coffee on the deck enjoying the sunrise while watching the different fish swim by, security and safety, snorkeling, we saw the occasional sting ray pass by, schools of yellow jacks, lion fish, butterfly fish, angel fish, Moorish idols, privacy of the small community, the history of the property, and the mango tree across the street! If you want the convenience of a complete home over the water and to see all of what Bora Bora has to offer, don’t hesitate, contact Richard immediately and get your vacation started!

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• Family Fantastic Island Vacation

  Family Fantastic Island Vacation

  • Guest Tom
  • Date of stay 11/08/12
  • Review Submitted 11/24/12
  My wife and I had promised an Island vacation to our two children 20 years ago and we finally made it happen Nov 8th for 10 FANTASTIC days. I contacted Richard, the owner, and told him we wanted both the Marlon and Brando bungalows for the 10 day period. His response was immediate. He answered my email it seems within the hour. Thanks Richard for the promptness and for the promptness of the many that followed. That does not seem to happen anymore. The description of the bungalows and pictures were perfect. The properties were clean and pretty well maintained. I still get confused of which one is which. The beach area was small but with the large lanai, you did not need one. We stayed in the one on the end. The only issue we had was the outside shower was so badly rusted, and sprayed water all over the place, except the shower head, we just used the hose to rinse off with. The bungalow next door had issues with the stove not working part of the time but most of the cooking was at our bungalow. Swimming at the bungalows was absolutely wonderful; water temp. was 86 degrees. Marine life was all over, from many types of fish including 3 Lion Fish, One Moray eel, and lots of reef fish. Did not have much of a sandy bottom so make sure to bring reef walkers. If you are able to go directly across the lagoon to the reef for snorkeling, do so it was a snorkelers paradise, you will not be disappointed. Nir, the property manager was the perfect host. He did everything we asked of him and did it when we asked. He is the kind of manager everyone would love to have. At the end of our stay, we told him of the decks shower head and he was upset that we did not tell him of it at the start and stated he would have gotten someone out immediately to fix the problem. I do believe EVERYONE on the island knows, Nir. Sarah from Bora Diving and her crew were great and the diving was fantastic. It is true you go to Bora Bora for 2 things, The Water and Relaxation. Do not plan on a night life on Bora Bora because there really isn't any but that was okay with all of us. I have told everyone since we have been back that this was the most relaxing vacation I, we have ever had. We will be back, but next time just with my wife. My entire family and I want to thank both Richard and Nir for the vacation we had only dreamed of up until Nov. 8th. Thanks again. We all miss the island. Would I recommend this property to a friend or relative: ABSOLUTELY

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with young children.

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• Paradise

  Paradise

  • Guest R and T
  • Date of stay 08/30/12
  • Review Submitted 09/18/12
  My husband and I stayed for our 20th Wedding Anniversary and it was just beautiful. The bungalow is quiet and beautiful, and you can watch the fish, kayaks and sailing boats right off the back patio. We loved the fact that you could go snorkeling right out back and enjoy all the beauty of the Island. The Bungalow is well taken care of, and we had everything we needed. We hope to be back soon.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

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• An amazing anniversary vacation!

  An amazing anniversary vacation!

  • Guest Amanda M.
  • Date of stay 06/26/12
  • Review Submitted 08/02/12
  My husband and I had an amazing stay in Marlon's Hideaway Number One. From the lazy days on the deck to our snorkeling and shopping adventures, this was the perfect place to call home. The bungalow had everything we needed to make the most of our trip. It was very clean and comfortable. We used one of the rental cars while we were there, which was really nice. It is a good deal to get a car through Nir rather than through a rental company. We enjoyed driving around the island and having access to the supermarkets and roadside fruit stands and shops. Richard, the owner, was very responsive to all of our questions before we left and Nir was a wonderful host (John too). We would definitely recommend this bungalow and hope to stay here again soon!

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• Paradise Lost

  Paradise Lost

  • Guest mac c.
  • Date of stay 05/27/12
  • Review Submitted 06/20/12
  mac c. paradise lost Review Submitted: June 16, 2012Date of Stay: May 2012 My wife and I recently stayed at the Brando over the water #1 for two weeks to celebrate her 50th birthday. All I can say is this is Paradise lost (and found)..we had the most amazing 2 weeks ever. The bungalow was in a perfect setting, clear blue water with the most beautiful fish to greet us each morning, including an Octupus that we named Ollie and three HUGE blue travale, two flute nose fish and all kinds of other beautiful species. It was awesome sliding off the deck each day for snorkeling and grilling on the lanai. But of course, we had our fill of eating out and we visited just about every facet of the island. We loved Moa nui tours with Patrick and Tupunu tours 4x4 safari. Jimmy took us to the top of 3 hills for breathtaking views of the island. We had our favorite meal at Bloody Mary's and really loved Bora Kaina Hut as well as Le. St. James. We also spent a day at the hilton as well as dinner and tahitian drum dance show at the Tamure Grill. We had lunch at Snack Matira, the best value on the island (and Claude is super nice) and La Bounty. Mai'tai was also really good an manua fare had the best pizza, but we encountered some sort of food poisoning there. Mostly we just had a great time reconnecting while enjoying R&R on the lanai and at Matira Beach where we frequently swam with Rays. Thanks to Richard for a first class bungalow over the water. We'll be back and will reccomend to everyone.

  Owner response: Thank you both for you kind words. We really try to make our bungalow the best possible option for our clients. Being in a private Over Water Bungalow is a unique and personal vacation, that we feel is the best way to experience the island. I am so glad you enjoyed your stay and look forward to hosting you again. Best regards, Richard

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• Awesome Adventure!

  Awesome Adventure!

  • Guest MickDiDi
  • Date of stay 03/20/12
  • Review Submitted 04/15/12
  We were in Bora Bora at the end March and stayed in the bungalow for 8 nights. We had a fabulous time and the bungalow was a great choice for accommodations. The resort scene doesn't tend to be our favorite and this offered a great alternative. The location was good - away from the resorts and busier areas of the islands. That meant a little more driving, but given the size of the island was not a big deal at all. It was very quiet and peaceful. The house itself was great - a good amount of space, a big lanai where you can comfortably eat, read, relax, etc. Not to metion, jump in the water and go swimming or snorkeling! We saw great sea life right from the bungalow - a group of 9 spotted eagle rays swimming by 3 times one evening was a highlight, but we also saw an octopus, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, clams and many kinds of fish. We looked forward to seeing the huge school of yellow tailed fish every time we walked outside. We had our 10 year old daughter with us and the sea life all around the bungalow provided hours of entertainment! Coming from a colder part of the world, we appreciated the air conditioning in the master bedroom. If you are using the second bedroom, just know that it isn't air conditioned. The house itself was functional - we used the kitchen everyday and had what we needed to prepare meals. The Super U and Chin Lee's grocery both provide good foods choices in terms of groceries. The bathroom was spacious enough and we loved the rain shower. For activities, we went to Matira Beach many times and loved it. Very relaxing and not busy when we were there. We loved to stop at Snack Matira after being at the beach for a snack - great coconut milkshakes and ice cream cones for a treat and other meals if you are a little more hungry. The view is amazing and it is easy to linger to just keep enjoying it! We went on 2 snorkeling excursions while in BB. Reef Discovery and Moana Adventure Tours. Reef Discovery was with a small group and Moana was a private half day lagoon tour. We would do both again. The snorkeling was awesome and the guides were helpful. Ww would highly recommend staying at the bungalow - we left relaxed, amazed at the beauty of the surroundings and thrilled to have seen and done so many cool things. Thanks Richard for offering this great property for rent and to Nir for answering our questions and helping with whatever we needed!

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with young children, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Dear Paul, Thank you for your great review. It was wonderful to read about your experiences and your thoughts on the bungalow and Bora Bora. I am so happy you enjoyed yourself and that Nir and I could be of help. Warm regards, Richard

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• WOW!

  WOW!

  • Guest dave
  • Date of stay 02/01/12
  • Review Submitted 02/11/12
  We had an incredible time! Our kids (8 & 6) were snorkeling off the back deck every day. We found an incredible number of brightly colored fish, 2 octopus, a ray and tons of starfish and sea cucumbers. Our kids took on a "pet crab" for a few days too. We highly recommend Patrick's full day tour to pet the sting rays, snorkel the coral gardens and eat an authentic Tahitian lunch on his private motu. We also enjoyed Bloody Mary's, Snack Matira, and had a great hike with views of of the North and West side of the island. We loved the sting rays and coral gardens so much, that we went back for a second 1/2 day trip that included the Lagoonarium. Nir was awesome for giving us advice and setting everything up/making reservations (not to mention that his car was a must have, and best price on the island). He made our trip seamless. He really knows the island and will assist you very well. The OWB was in great shape and we enjoyed several home cooked meals on the porch. The AC in the master was a welcome plus, but wasn't needed during the day if the windows were open. Oh, also, we went during the "rainy" season and had sun every day with maybe two 30 minute showers which were just enough to cool off the day.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with young children, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• Heaven exists here in Bora Bora...

  Heaven exists here in Bora Bora...

  • Guest Mark
  • Date of stay 11/30/11
  • Review Submitted 12/11/11
  It's been a few days now since I returned from my 8-day, 7-night vacation paradise in Bora Bora. I miss it with all of my heart already!! My girlfriend and I stayed at Richard's bungalow as a 50th birthday gift to the both of us. We were in Nirvana the minute we got there (and all along, I thought we were in Bora Bora)! The bungalow is actually big enough to fit six if the third couple brings along a few sleeping pads for the loft located above the bedrooms. As soon as we got there, we were greeted by Nir who is an amazing concierge in addition to being an amazing human being! Nir was available to meet all of our needs in enjoying our stay to the fullest; in addition he set us up with some incredible excursions that will remain in our hearts forever!! Every minute of our island experience was a testament to the wonderful relaxing atmosphere that Richard and Nir, as well as the residents of Bora Bora in general, provides to its visitors!! We soaked up lots of sun and cool evening breezes, mingled with a wonderful array of sea life while snorkeling and diving, and traveled around the island many times to familiarize ourselves with the entire island. The bungalow is absolutely one of the most private on the main island and is an incredible bargain compared to other over-water bungalows offered by many of the hotels. **You should have a car for your entire stay though, because the bungalow is a few miles north of the main spots in town and not easily reachable by foot or by bike. Throughout our entire stay, we lounged around at our leisure, cooked our own meals in our beautiful kitchen, and ate them on the patio overlooking the peaceful and spectacular lagoon with all of the amazing scenery right in front of us!! I will be coming back to Bora Bora many times over and am already looking at ways that I can make this spectacular island my permanent home once my daughter is out on her own. Being in Richards over water bungalow, it already felt like home to me!! Thank you Richard and Nir for an experience that will last in my heart and soul for the rest of my life!!

  Recommended for: People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with young children, tourists without a car, girls getaway, sightseeing.

  Owner response: I can't tell you how happy it makes me to read your comments. It is exactly the kind of response we hope for from our clients. I love Bora Bora with all my heart and it is always a great feeling to know someone new now shares that same kind of passion for the most beautiful island in the world. Many thanks for your kind comments. Richard

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Jan  2012-Dec 31, 2012 .. $450/nt (3-4 nts) .. $400/nt (5-6 nts) .. $2625/wk
Jan 01, 2013-Dec 31, 2013 .. $450/nt (3-4 nts) .. $400/nt (5-6 nts) .. $2625/wk
 2013 Deposit $1500 non-refundable
Remainder of rent is due two months prior to arrival.
Check in time is 3:00 PM and Check out time is 9:00 AM.
I recommend trip insurance Travelex is a great company

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.