The 2009 romantic comedy “Couples Retreat” charmed audiences with its hilarious take on relationships and a seemingly idyllic couples therapy retreat. Many viewers, captivated by the movie’s breathtaking scenery, have wondered: Where Was The Movie Couples Retreat Filmed? The film’s locations play a significant role, contrasting everyday life with a paradise designed for relationship therapy. Let’s explore the real-world destinations that brought “Eden Resort” to life.
The primary and most visually striking location for “Couples Retreat” is Bora Bora, specifically The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort in French Polynesia. In the movie, this resort is known as “Eden,” and it truly lives up to its paradisiacal name. The St. Regis, renowned for its luxury and stunning setting, provided the perfect backdrop for the film’s retreat. It boasts the largest overwater bungalows in French Polynesia, offering guests incredible views of the turquoise waters through glass-bottom floors in many rooms.
Overwater bungalows at St. Regis Bora Bora, the main filming location for Couples Retreat, showcasing the turquoise waters and luxurious accommodations.
The resort’s amenities, as depicted in the film, are genuinely reflective of what The St. Regis offers. From 24-hour butler service and Polynesian-inspired cuisine to a private Lagoonarium, the resort is designed for indulgence and relaxation. Guests can enjoy activities like kayaking and snorkeling in the lagoon, relax by private pools, or explore the resort grounds on complimentary bikes. The real-life St. Regis offers many of the same features that made “Eden” so appealing (and sometimes daunting) in the movie. For travelers inspired by the film, a stay at The St. Regis Bora Bora offers a chance to experience a similar level of luxury and natural beauty.
While Bora Bora provided the idyllic resort setting, not all scenes were filmed in paradise. For scenes requiring different environments, production moved to California, utilizing both Universal Studios and Downey Studios.
The backlot at Universal Studios Hollywood, California, where some scenes of Couples Retreat, including the home goods store sequence, were filmed.
Universal Studios Hollywood provided a versatile and controlled filming environment. The opening scenes featuring Dave and Ronnie at a home goods store were filmed on the Universal Studios lot. This location offered the production team a customizable backdrop, contrasting sharply with the exotic beauty of Bora Bora. Universal Studios, known for its extensive backlots and sound stages, is a common filming location and also a popular tourist destination.
Downey Studios, on the other hand, was used for specific scenes requiring a lagoon and waterfall, features not naturally present at the St. Regis in Bora Bora to the extent needed for filming. Night scenes and lagoon sequences towards the end of the movie were filmed at Downey Studios. This allowed filmmakers to create the desired visual elements while maintaining the illusion of being at the “Eden” resort.
Adding another layer of contrast, a brief portion of “Couples Retreat” was also filmed in Buffalo Grove, Illinois.
A suburban street in Buffalo Grove, Illinois in winter, representing the initial, everyday life setting for Dave and Ronnie in Couples Retreat before their trip to the resort.
The scenes in Buffalo Grove depict Dave and Ronnie’s suburban life before their trip to “Eden.” The wintery, suburban setting of Illinois stands in stark contrast to the tropical paradise of Bora Bora, emphasizing the dramatic shift the couples experience. This location highlights the “normal” lives of the characters before they embark on their relationship retreat.
“Couples Retreat” effectively used a combination of locations to tell its story. From the luxurious St. Regis Bora Bora in French Polynesia, which served as the primary “Eden” resort, to studio lots in California and suburban Illinois, each location played a crucial role in creating the film’s visual and thematic contrasts. For those wondering where Couples Retreat was filmed, the answer is a diverse mix, with Bora Bora undoubtedly stealing the show and inspiring wanderlust. The stunning beauty of Bora Bora truly makes it feel like the real-life “Eden,” a destination worth considering for your own escape.
