Bora Bora & Tahiti
A 1-free-night certificate, a top-of-hill villa upgrade, and round-trip premium cabins for two.
French Polynesia
Bora Bora is one of those destinations that looks impossibly expensive on paper — $2,500+ a night for the overwater villas, $8,000+ round-trip for the long-haul flights. The reality is that it's one of the easier premium trips to book on points if you have a Hilton portfolio.
We flew Seattle → San Francisco → Papeete on United Polaris using 110k United miles total (55k each) plus $80 in taxes ($40 each). Three nights at the Conrad Bora Bora, booked with one free-night award and 120k Hilton points per night for the other 3 nights — 360k Hilton points total. We booked the standard category, then got upgraded to a top-of-hill villa (cash rate around $2,500/night) and complimentary breakfast for two, both because of Hilton Gold status. Return on Air Tahiti Nui Premium Economy for 80k Alaska miles total (40k each) + $108 in taxes ($54 each).
Net cost for two: roughly 360k Hilton points, 190k airline miles, and ~$190 in cash. Retail equivalent: well over $20,000.
How it was booked.
| Route / Stay | Carrier / Program | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| SEA-SFO-PPT | United (Polaris Business) | 110k United miles + $80 (55k miles + $40 each) |
| PPT-SEA | Air Tahiti Nui (Premium Economy) | 80k Alaska miles + $108 (40k miles + $54 each) |
| Conrad Bora Bora · 4 nights | 1 free-night certificate + 120k Hilton points × 3 nights | Standard room → upgraded to hilltop villa (Gold status) |
Photographs.
Videos from the trip.
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