50 Best Romantic Getaways

Bora-Bora

On the Waterfront For the quintessential far-flung escape, there’s nothing like this South Pacific idyll, where barrier reefs meet cobalt lagoons, and volcanic peaks rise above the tropical rain forest and powder-soft beaches. On an isolated islet, the recently opened Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora (bungalows from $964) has 121 thatched-roof bungalows set on piers over the shallows, many with individual plunge pools and views of the lagoon and Mount Otemanu. The resort is all about bliss: a half-day sail to hidden snorkeling sites; a trip to a pearl farm; an afternoon lounging on the deck of a catamaran. For a more affordable stay, try the 80-room Novotel Bora Bora Beach Resort (doubles from $147), a Polynesian-style retreat set above Matira Point. Nearby, you’ll find the five-table restaurant Villa Mahana (dinner for two $140), where Corsican-born chef Damian Rinaldi Dovio reinvents native ingredients (Tahitian vanilla oil, curry, coconut milk) with classic Mediterranean techniques.