The Brando: A Private Island Experience

Even before our stay at The Brando, there was no question that this resort was the epitome of luxury. Just look at a few photos and you’ll wonder if a place like this truly exists on Earth. Well, thankfully it does exist and it’s the best luxury island resort we have had the opportunity to experience. If you are looking for a luxury private island experience for your honeymoon, anniversary, romantic getaway, or family vacation, look no further. The Brando will meet and exceed all your private island expectations.

A Quick History

Before diving into everything The Brando offers, it’s important to understand how it came to be. Marlon Brando first saw the island of Tetiaroa while filming Mutiny on the Bounty in the early 1960s. He ended up buying the island and dreamed of building a resort that would focus on sustainability and stewardship. Marlon helped with the vision for The Brando, but unfortunately, he passed away before his vision came to life in 2014. Read more about the interesting history and Marlon Brando’s vision for the island HERE.

What It’s Like to Stay at the Brando, A Private Island Experience

Getting to the Island

To get to The Brando, you start your short journey in the private departure lounge at the Tahiti airport. Then you board a private plane with a few other guests for a quick 20-minute plane ride to Tetiaroa. The views from above are breathtaking. When you get off the plane, you are welcomed with music, which is actually a blessing welcoming you to the island.

Accommodations at The Brando

There are only 35 private villas on the entire island, which lends itself to incredible peacefulness, quiet, and privacy. While staying at The Brando, you can choose between a 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom, or residence villa. The villas are either located on Mermaid Bay, which is great for calm water, soft white sandy beaches, and sunrises, or Turtle Beach, which is perfect for snorkeling and sunsets. All villas include its own private plunge pool overlooking the beach and ocean. The architecture is designed to provide the highest level of privacy. When you are sitting on your back deck, you can’t see the other villas around you. The accommodations at The Brando make you feel like you are on your own private island.

All-Inclusive Luxury, A Private Island Experience

The Brando is the one true all-inclusive resort option in French Polynesia. Unless you’re doing a cruise around the islands, there are no other options for all-inclusive. And it’s definitely not your typical all-inclusive resort that you may initially think of when hearing the word “all-inclusive”. To The Brando, all-inclusive means not having to worry about a thing the minute you arrive. You know you will receive pristine service, the best food and drink, and incredible accommodations. Some additional costs include the spa, the shops, and private, customized excursions. There is an option to only book the villa and breakfast option instead of the villa and all-inclusive package, but it just doesn’t make sense to do so.

What Makes The Brando Special

We could talk about many things that make The Brando special, including the beauty of the island, the quality of service, the staff, the luxury, and relaxation. But what truly makes The Brando special is the dedication to sustainability. The Brando is singularly focused on one mission: zero carbon. It is beautiful to see in action how they consistently respect the environment and Polynesian heritage. At this point, it’s just the way of life here. They want the island to leave an everlasting impact on each guest, but to leave no trace on the atoll itself. 

When you visit the island, make sure to join their Green Tour to understand how much they are doing to be sustainable. You can also view their efforts on their website HERE. Some of The Brando’s sustainability efforts include renewable energy that meets 60% of the energy requirements, being the first resort in the world to be awarded the LEED Platinum Certification, implementing a Sea Water Air Conditioning (SWAC) system that cuts energy consumption for air condition up to 90% compared to traditional methods, and creating an intense compost and organic gardening system. These sustainability efforts are just the tip of the iceberg for The Brando and the island of Tetiaroa.

How Long to Stay at The Brando

If it was possible, we wouldn’t ever leave The Brando! However, amazing vacations always must come to an end. There is a 2-night minimum when staying at The Brando. We recommend staying at least 3 nights to have the opportunity to experience the island and have time to unwind and relax. If you can stay even longer, definitely do it! 

One important tip when staying at The Brando is to make sure it’s your last stop on your French Polynesia itinerary. There are many other luxurious and wonderful resorts throughout the Islands of Tahiti, but none can fully compare to the experience of The Brando. 

Type of Traveler Who Would Enjoy This Private Island Experience

While we believe everyone could benefit from the relaxation that the private island experience of The Brando offers, it may not be for everyone. The Brando is for the traveler who wants privacy, stillness, quiet, relaxation, and to disconnect from the stress of everyday life. It is for the person who wants the private island experience where they may not see another guest the entire stay. If you’re a traveler who’s looking for a ton of entertainment, socialization, and energy, The Brando is not for you.

What Not to Miss on Your Trip to The Brando

Here are some of our favorite experiences during our short stay at The Brando. 

• Spa 
• Dinner at Nami Teppanyaki
• Meeting other guests at lunch at Bob’s Bar, Marlon Brando’s original bar
• Tetiaroa Ultimate Tour
• Green Tour
• Biking around the island
• Sunset or sunrise in your private plunge pool
• Stargazing at night

Why Book Your Stay at The Brando with The Keys to Travel

A vacation to French Polynesia can logistically be complicated. With so many islands, hotels, tours, and experiences available, planning a magical trip to the Islands of Tahiti can be very overwhelming. When you work with us at The Keys to Travel, we take the overwhelm and stress away. When you want to stay at The Brando, you are looking for a place to unwind, relax, and recharge from your hectic everyday life. Working with us will help you relax before even departing for your trip. Knowing you have an expert on your side to guide you through the planning and booking process and during travel if anything goes wrong will give you peace of mind. Our relationships with the staff at The Brando will ensure a VIP experience for you every step of the way.

For more information on what it looks like to work with us, click HERE.

To start planning your visit to French Polynesia and The Brando, email us at hello@thekeystotravel.com or fill out our travel inquiry form. 

We can’t wait to help you plan your dream vacation to French Polynesia!