Barack Obama Vacation Pictures: Brando Island, South Pacific | JetSet – Bravo (blog)

It would be very hard to miss taking note of the epic vacation life Barack Obama is living since he left office two months ago. Let's recap, shall we? He's been traveling to billionaire Richard Branson's private Necker Island, rocking his hat backward with his feet in the sand and generally straight chillin', kitesurfing like a carefree spring breaker, and basically looking young and happy while making us all very jealous.

Now, he's off to another island paradise where reports say he'll be spending a full month. According to local reports, Obama landed in Tahiti en route to the luxury South Pacific resort known as The Brando.

Well, last year when we told you all about the Brando under the headline, "You've Never Heard of the Remote Island That's Set to Become the Next Celeb Mecca," we weren't kidding. Now the world's most famous island vacationer is setting up shop there for a full month.

Here's the deal with the Brando: Actor and activist Marlon Brando first came to French Polynesia during the filming of Mutiny on the Bounty in the 1960s, and he fell totally in love with the place, just 30 miles northeast of Tahiti. So he bought the tiny private island of Tetiaroa an atoll composed of a dozen small islands surrounding a lagoon, and spent as much time there as possible escaping the Hollywood drama and noise. (Sound somewhat familiar, Barack?)

Now, you can stay there too, on a newly built five-star property with 35 luxury villas and private pools, two-French influenced bars, and restaurants, all while sea turtles and exotic birds keep you company.

If you're considering a trip, you should know that the Brando is actually not that far from Los Angeles, reachable by a short 20-minute flight on a private plane or helicopter after you land in Papeete, just eight hours nonstop from LAX.

While you're there, take an island tour led by Brand's granddaughter, an official guide for the resort. To help carry on her grandfather's legacy, she is working for the Tetiaroa Society, a nonprofit association that takes care of all the guided naturalist tours.

During your stay, you'll also find Michelin-level food: chef Guy Martin of the Michelin-two-starred restaurant Le Grand Vfour in Paris is responsible for the menu at the fine-dining and more casual dining venues on the property. The food is classic French with a Polynesian flair. There's also vegan fare from Chef Kelvin Au-Ieong, chef and owner of Invitation V, Vegan Bistro in Montreal, Quebec.

Some of the island's environmentally friendly practices include sea water air conditioning, which reduces energy demands by 70 percent; solar energy panels along the airstrip which provides hot water to the resort; and a coconut oil power station that provides half of the properties energy needs.

Rates start about $2,000 per night.

-Additional reporting by Carole Dixon

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Barack Obama Vacation Pictures: Brando Island, South Pacific | JetSet - Bravo (blog)