Is the JW Marriott Masai Mara the next St. Regis Bora Bora?

In the world of points and miles, I always considered the St. Regis Bora Bora the most aspirational property. There are great deals here and there, but the thought of staying in an overwater bungalow on points seemed to be the best. That is until booking a luxury Marriott safari property on points became possible. Let me introduce you to the incredible JW Marriott Masai Mara.

JW Marriott Masai Mara

I recently stayed at the JW Marriott Masai Mara using Marriott Bonvoy points, and it was a great experience. From the moment our Cessna Caravan touched down in Masai Mara, everything was included and to a high standard. 

The stay, whether booked with points or dollars, includes all meals, game drives, airport transfers, and even access to some costly cameras during your stay. Don’t be afraid to talk with one of the chefs if there is something you are craving because they will make it happen. 

The most important, and sometimes underthought, aspect of a safari is your guide. I can say that Hassan, our guide during our visit, was fantastic. I have heard excellent things about other guides at the property as well. If you want to learn more about the property, you can check out my comprehensive review.

Is the JW Marriott Masai Mara the next St. Regis Bora Bora?

Sometimes the points and miles community obsesses over one property, whether Alila Ventana Big Sur or the Conrad Maldives. These properties have a jaw-drop factor of beauty and typically represent some of the best value redemptions out there. These properties allow you to get outsized value from your hard-earned points and miles. 

I have been asked a few times now if I think that the JW Marriott Masai Mara will blow up in popularity the same way that the St. Regis Bora Bora has. While it is a fantastic property worth visiting, I don’t think so, and here’s why.

For starters, ease of access. Getting to Bora Bora is a lot easier than getting to Masai Mara. With multiple direct flights from the West Coast to Tahiti, including 8-hour nonstops from San Francisco and Los Angeles, getting to the South Pacific is more accessible than getting to Kenya, which only has one direct flight to the U.S., a Kenya Airways flight to JFK clocking in at nearly 14 hours.

There is also a difference between a luxury beach resort destination and a safari, which is a more adventurous and, quite frankly, less relaxing trip. As I have said in prior articles, I think a more comparable property is Marriott’s Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Resort in the UAE. Although that property has a fantastic redemption value and appears terrific, it does not have the same popularity as St. Regis Bora Bora for redemptions. I have a feeling that the JW Marriott Masai Mara will be similar. 

The Last Point

Regardless of whether the JW Marriott Masai Mara can build up the same fan base in the points and miles world as the St. Regis Bora Bora, it is certainly worth a visit. The fantastic thing about points and miles is not just the value you can get with them, in this case, thousands of dollars worth of stays, but the experiences they can make possible.

I would have never traveled to the Mara or Bora Bora if it had not been for points and miles, so for that, I will always be grateful. In that way, the JW Marriott has also been able to drive my wanderlust.

What do you think? Will the JW Marriott Masai Mara have the same popularity in the points and miles world?