Check-in

Check-in was a bit slow, and we checked in at 7pm, so it's not like they were slammed with customers. The woman at the front desk was not as friendly as I would have expected, but she got us checked-in and off to our room. We were supposed to receive a free tropical drink during the check-in process, but that never happened. A bellhop (or should I say, shirtless, tanned young man with just a sarong!) took our bags to our bungalow while we went to explore the resort.

Grounds

The hotel offers over-water bungalows, garden bungalows and traditional panoramic rooms in a hotel-like setting. There are 2 pools -- a sand bottom pool with swim up bar, and an infinity pool with waterfall. Both pools were kept at a cool enough temperature to be refreshing without being chilly. The sand bottom pool was great because you felt like you were in the ocean, but without all the salt. And the swim-up bar is always fun! The infinity pool with waterfall was very relaxing. We spent many hours just sitting in the pool gazing at the horizon and playing in the waterfall. Truly an exquisite experience! There are also tennis courts, several restaurants, a bar, internet access, etc.

Restaurants

Our package included breakfast daily at the hotel restaurant. Normally the cost is $60USD for 2 people, for a breakfast buffet. Quite expensive, but a HUGE array of food. Typical american foods (eggs, pancakes), Tahitian foods, French foods, etc. Lots of choices and the food was very good. We ate dinner here 2 nights -- once for the Polynesian dance show and once just because we were lazy. The food is good, but a bit expensive. Nothing to complain about though, as the Polynesian dancers are VERY good and quite entertaining to watch during dinner. We enjoyed the variety of evening entertainment offered at the hotel -- pareo tying, polynesian dance shows, etc.

We also had a romantic honeymoon dinner included with our package. This was at Le Lotus on the hotel grounds. A very upscale restaurant with lots of fresh fish, seafood and beef. We had a private table, over the water, with special flowers and decorations for the honeymoon. We were also treated to a mini wedding cake -- a very nice touch and it was DELICIOUS!

Overwater Bungalow

Our bungalow was directly over the water. The inside is all wood with a traditional thatched roof. Our bathroom was small but clean with a nice sized tub. The sink is outside of the toilet/shower area. The bed was pretty comfortable, but the view was OUTSTANDING and totally made up for any things the bungalow was lacking. We had a huge deck with 2 lounge chairs and a table. There is a small platform off our dock that allowed you to jump right into the ocean from. We went snorkeling off our deck almost everyday. The ocean was clean and clear, but very choppy. Didn't bother me, as I enjoyed hearing the waves slap against the shore at night. Very peaceful and relaxing!

Overall Recommendation

I would recommend this 5 star resort to any honeymooner couple vacationing in Tahiti. It's on the expensive side, but the grounds are amazing and the experience is one you won't forget. There are cheaper hotels out there, but this one has the nicest pools from what we saw (we went hotel snooping while there!). The staff is friendly for the most part, and attentive to guests. Don't expect upgrades and special treatments just because you're on your honeymoon. The majority of the people there are honeymooning or celebrating anniversaries.

Recommended:
Yes