KE one cottages: an island gem

Welcome to Your Secluded Bora Bora Paradise

After arriving in Bora Bora, we were completely blown away by the level of beauty and seclusion that this island holds. Not only was it everything we thought it would be—but our expectations were completely surpassed when we arrived at our first Airbnb just 15 minutes from Mote Mute Airport. Following an unforgettable stay in Tahiti with InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa, our first stop in Bora Bora was spent at the enchanting Ke One Cottages just steps from Matira Beach. Within seconds of entering the property doors, our family was greeted by tropical plants, white sand, and a sweeping view of the translucent blue lagoon. With everything you need for an unforgettable stay in paradise, Ke One Cottages certainly has it all and more.

Where is Ke One Cottages Located?

For travelers headed to Ke One Cottages, you first need to grab your bags off the dock at Mote Mute Airport before boarding the water shuttle that will take you straight to Vaitape (Bora Bora’s largest city). After that, you’ll take a taxi—we took a van that could fit all of our luggage plus Wonderfold W2 Stroller—set up by the friendly owner of the cottages. The first leg of the drive (from the airport to the Airbnb) is taken care of by Ke One Cottages, but the second leg is paid for directly by the travelers. Although the drivers only accept cash, there are several ATMs they will bring you to along the way in case you don’t have any money on you.

As far as the rate goes, you can expect to pay anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 CFP, which equates to roughly $20.00 to $30.00 USD. Because we larger suitcase and a stroller, we paid $25.00 USD for each way.

After you’ve got all your belongings and transportation together, your taxi will escort you through the city to the famous Matira Beach. Altogether, the drive from Vaitape to the property door at Ke One Cottages is about 15 to 20 minutes depending on traffic.

The Room

Unlike any old hotel room that may or may not provide you with a first-class view, Ke One Cottages is situated right at the edge of the Matira Beach lagoon. Inside, guests have more than enough sleeping space with a king-sized bed and fold-out futon that comfortably sleeps two. There is also a small kitchenette for basic cooking needs with access to coffee and a fully functioning microwave for leftovers.

When storing your personal belongings, the space provides a large vintage teak closet with a small safe for passports, wallets, and other devices like cameras and phones. Additionally, guests are granted full privacy with an en-suite private bathroom complete with a roomy shower perfect after long days in the lagoon.

Whether you’re enjoying a cup of coffee on the deck at first sunrise or sitting under the star-studded sky at midnight, a relaxing vibe and stretching views of turquoise waters are all around you.

Typical pricing for Ke One’s two beachfront properties averages to about $300 a night per cottage. Because this rental is such a diamond in the rough, both cottages are usually booked a few months in advance so make sure to keep that in mind when planning your trip to Bora Bora. Compared to the pricing of other resorts/vacation rentals in the area—and what you get for your money—it’s almost impossible to beat the value Ke One Cottages provides travelers from around the world.

To book your next family adventure to the illustrious South Pacific, check out Ke One Cottages on Airbnb for their best rates and availability.

Amenities

For a vacation rental right in the middle of paradise (which tends to get insanely pricey), Ke One Cottages has amazing amenities.

After entering the beautiful wooden doors of the property, you’ll soon find yourself on a secluded lawn with two unique cottages behind lush Polynesian vegetation. Each unit includes a spacious patio area with two beach chairs and a full outdoor furniture set (four chairs and a table).

The best part, however, has to be the sprawling sand yard with hanging patio lights sitting right at the edge of the lagoon. Just on the other side of the fence is the world-famous Matira Beach. Think of this as you’re very own swimming pool with some of the clearest water the world has to offer. Ke One Cottages also provides guests with a two-person kayak and two stand-up paddleboards perfect for exploring the lagoon.

When you’ve had your fix of the ocean for the day, guests have full access to four beach cruisers that are great for exploring the island. Although we didn’t use them because of our small children, some of the other guests regularly used the bikes to pick up essentials at the nearby market or for a stroll down the public beach—which is super close!

Finally—and when you’re getting ready to head back home or to your next destination—travelers can find a washer and dryer to do any last-minute laundry. After all, no one likes packing smelly clothes in their suitcase. With Ke One, you don’t have to. How many high-class hotels offer that to their guests?

Cash and Crew outside the doors to Ke One Cottages

Dining Options

During our stay at Ke One Cottages, we had the pleasure of enjoying some fantastic local dishes in the area. For the purpose of convenience (that goes for families and solo travelers + young couples), InterContinental Le Moana Bora Bora is literally right across the street. This was fantastic for us as we had access to a full buffet every morning with delicious croissants, eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, fresh fruit, and a variety of other delicious items that made breakfast something to look forward to. Oh, and the coffee was absolutely delicious. The buffet opens every day as early as 6:30 AM and stops around 11 AM.

As far as price goes, we paid right around $75.00 USD for unlimited food in the morning. This included food for our children as well as two adults.

For lunch, we typically heated our leftovers from dinner the night before but also ventured down the road to the Beach Club (about 5-10 minutes walking distance). Another great option for lunch was The Lucky House Restaurant, which served delicious pizza right on the beach.

When it came to dinner, InterContinental Le Moana Bora Bora had the best fresh fish and dessert we had on the island. I actually think we went there every night during our stay at Ke One. It was actually that good. And super convenient!

A few items we definitely recommend are the Moonfish, the Wahoo with fresh olive oil and vegetables, and the ribeye with peppercorn sauce. For our kids, it was bolognese all the way. They absolutely loved it.

Overall Experience

We were exceptionally happy with our stay at Ke One Cottages. And this was coming from a high-profile resort in Tahiti where we had the pleasure of staying for two nights before taking a flight to Bora Bora.

I’m sure we’ve all heard the hype behind the expensive overwater bungalows that can be found all over the island—and to be honest, they are quite dreamy—we got the chance to stay in one of these as well. More to come on that. But when you think of the value Ke One Cottages provides guests, especially families who are looking for a deal that still provides an exceptional experience, it’s quite impossible to beat this stay.

From the aesthetic presence of the room to the sprawling lagoon just steps from the patio, we were completely blown away at what this property had to offer.

Oh, and the host (her name is Jenny), she is absolutely amazing. She’s super responsive and helps provide guests with awesome recommendations to make the most of their experience. If you decide to book with Ke One Cottages, let Jenny know Havoc on Holiday sent you.

Full disclosure: we do NOT make ANY commissions on stays booked with Ke One Cottages through our travel blog. We just recommend great stays to other families traveling the world together.

See you out there!