Tahiti
Accommodations
No matter your budget, you can always find the perfect lodgings for you on your stay here in Tahiti. From five-star hotels and resorts to camping under the Tahitian stars, you will find something that will fit your personality and your budget. You can also opt for a smaller, family owned hotel or in some cases, a private bungalow right on the beach for a little extra cost. There are also guest houses that are family owned that you can look into on your stay here in Tahiti. These are usually smaller places, with less than ten rooms and are usually inside the family's home as well. This type of lodging is becoming very popular, since it is a great way to see Tahiti, learn about the culture, and enjoy some local company each evening.
While these guest houses are a great money saver, here are some tips that you might want to know before you book your room:
- Sometimes the bathroom facilities are shared and there is not always enough hot water to go around.
- Towels, soap, shampoos, and other tolietry items are not usually supplied, so you will have to bring your own.
- Most of the time, the housecleaning is only done every couple of days or so, so if your room gets messy, you'll have to clean it yourself.
- Traditional family cooking is usually great and prepared from native foods here on Tahiti. These usually include rice and fish. So, if you have food allergies or do not care for seafood, you might want to mention this to the cook or buy your own food.
- Meals are usually eaten in one large room with the family who owns the rooms and other guests that are staying in the hotel. This is a great way to get to know more about the islands and the culture.
- Most of these family-owned hotels do not serve liquor, so you will have to provide your own from the local grocery store.
- Make sure to have enough cash on hand to pay for your rooms and other items while staying in a family hotel since these are usually newer hotels and do not have the ability to take credit cards.
Hotels
Most hotels here in Tahiti are usually placed in the “luxury” category and are usually looked upon as expensive. But, many other forms of lodging have been developed here that have helped to make a stay in Tahiti affordable for everyone. While there is no real recorded rating system here in Tahiti to classify the hotels and other lodgings that the islands can offer, here is the “unofficial” classification system here in French Polynesia for you to judge your hotel or lodgings by:
Luxe – these hotels usually would receive a 4 or 5 star rating.
Grand Tourisme – these hotels would usually receive 3 stars.
Tourisme – these hotels would receive a 2 star rating.
Small, family-owned hotels – usually would receive a 1 star rating.
Guest houses – these accommodations are usually with a family here in Tahiti and can vary of how nice and accommodating they are and usually won't carry a rating.
Camping – although this is usually a cheaper way to go, you need to beware the weather or your good night's sleep can turn a little wet.
Although sometimes it isn't always feasible to stay in a luxury hotel every night of your stay here, do try to splurge and stay at least your last night here in one of these grand rooms. It will end your visit on a high note and it will be worth every penny to sleep your last night in Tahiti away in lush surroundings, making you feel like a star.
Some hotels and resorts here offer over water bungalows to patrons. These lodgings are a great way to enjoy a beautiful Polynesian lagoon both day and night. While staying in these bungalows, be sure to watch your hands and feet on the lagoon ladders, which can sometimes be covered with tiny bacteria that can cause bad allergic reactions for some people. Also keep in mind that the coral that makes up the reefs here under these bungalows are sharp and can cut your feet and hands if you are not careful and don't wear the right kind of shoes in the water. If you do get cut by the coral, you can clean the cut with lime juice (yes, it will sting), but it will also help to prevent infection and scarring.
Here are a couple of the nicer resorts and hotels here in Tahiti to stay at, along with their ratings, contact information, hotel/resort information, and any other information that you might find useful when making your decision:
- Tahiti Beachcomber Inter-Continental Resort – 5 stars – located at BP. 6014 Faaa, 98702 Tahiti, French Polynesia. Located within 2 miles of the airport and is only 7 miles from the town of Papeete, this beautiful resort is situated on a lagoon, with magnificent views of the neighboring island, Moorea, and it's wonderful peaks. This resort boasts over 30 acres of tropical gardens on its grounds and it's own private beach and lagoon for swimming and snorkeling, along with two infinity pools overlooking the ocean waters. Every night there are live music and dance performances in the restaurant that looks out over the water's edge. Each room here has been recently renovated in a more traditional Polynesian style, you are sure to feel like Polynesian Royalty on your stay here, and are divided into three different categories: 60 rooms have views that overlook the lagoon and Moorea, 92 ocean view rooms that are a little smaller, but still close to the central part of the resort, and 78 garden rooms that look out over the gardens. The resort also offers over the water bungalows, which are inspired by the traditional Tahitian housing. Resting on stilts in the lagoon, you have your choice of: a lagoon bungalow, which are the larger of the two and are built at the deeper end of the lagoon and boast large jacuzzi tubs or the motu bungalows, which are a bit smaller than the lagoons, and are built in a half-circle around their own private island, these bungalows are directly in front of the Lagoonarium, main pools, and resort buildings. But, what resort would be complete without a Presidential suite? While there is only one here, it is magnificent, complete with it's own lounge and dining rooms.
Some of the services and features that you will find with these rooms are:
Private balconies or terraces
Bathrooms with showers and tubs
Hairdryers
Complimentary toiletries
Blackout drapes as well as sheers to let the sun in
Air conditioning
Refrigerator and mini bar
Complimentary tea and coffee
Laundry and dry cleaning services
Irons and ironing boards
Private safes in each room
Direct dial telephones and voice mail
TV's with local and international channels
Internet access
24 hour room service
Maid service twice a day
A “jet lag recovery kit” which includes different aromatherapy products to help you overcome the major jet lag that can be felt after your arrival here
A “currency pack” which will provide guests with up to 5,000 CFP cash for immediate needs until they can reach a currency exchange
Activity desk
Car rental
Travel agency
Doctor on call
Babysitter on call
Front desk employees who speak Japanese, Italian, English, German, and French
- Le Meridien Tahiti – 5 stars – Located at BP 380595 Tamanu, Punaauia, Tahiti, French Polynesia. The hotel is located within 10 kilometers of the airport and 15 kilometers of the town of Papeete. Le Meridien Tahiti is situated in the beautiful Punaauia region on the main island of Tahiti and boasts three different restaurants and bars. La Plantation seats about 300 people and offers daily buffets of all sorts of international foods, local dishes, and seafood. Le Fare Te Moana is a more elegant dining facility and is located beach front. L'Astrolabe is the hotel's bar and is a great place to meet people and dance the night away. Food and beverage facilities at Le Méridien Tahiti offer an eclectic mix of local and European cuisines. The rooms here at Le Meridien Tahiti consist of 130 lagoon view rooms, which look directly over the lagoon and beach and each feature a private terrace to enjoy the ocean breezes and views; 12 over the water bungalows, which all sit on the lagoon with their own large decks to take in all the sights and sounds of the lagoons of Tahiti; 5 junior suites, which are very spacious and provide all the ammenities that you could need; 2 senior suites, which are larger than the junior suites, and provide you with a private living area that overlooks the lagoon along with a huge, private terrace; and, of course, the Presidential Suite, which is perched high atop the hotel to provide the very best views of Tahiti's lagoon life. Any of these rooms can also accommodate an extra bed for either a third adult, or a child.
Some of the services and features you will find with these rooms are:
Views of the lagoon
Connecting rooms
24 hour room service
Air conditioning
Bath tubs and seperate showers
Bathrobes and slippers
Internet accessible
Disabled room facilities
Full-length mirrors
Hairdryers
International direct dial telephones
Iron and ironing boards
Laundry services
Minibar
Remote control TV's with satellite television channels
Private safe deposit boxes or in-room safes
Smoke detectors
Tea and Coffee services
Umbrellas
Wake up calls
Outdoor tennis court
Unique sand bottom swimming pool – the largest in the world
Kayak rentals
Outrigger canoe rentals
Scuba diving facilities
Fishing
Pentaque
Snorkeling
Ping-pong
Beach volleyball
Aquagym
Travel agency
Resort boutique
Car Rental
- Radisson Plaza Resort Tahiti – 4 stars – Located at BP 14170 Arue, Arue, Tahiti French Polynesia. The hotel is located just over 6 kilometers from the airport and only 7 kilometers from the port district of Papeete where visitors can purchase unique local arts and crafts, or find a unique botique. Surroundings inclue gourgeous, lush tropical vegitation and impressinve views of the Matavai Bay. The hotel is situated on a westerly escarpment facing Moorea. Radisson Plaza Resort Tahiti features a special and unique Tahitian dance show, durring dinner, where tradional tropic grass skirts sway to the beat of rythemic drums. The show sells out quick, so reservations are necessary. A fine dining experience can be had at any time with the freshest morning buffet and finest seafood in the evening featuring fresh produce, local Asian delicacies, and authentic island flavor. Guest can enjoy dining in the air-conditioned comfort of the hotel’s restaurant or take in the ambiance of outdoor seating. The hotel includes a relaxed pool bar where an array of local beers and numerous specialty island cocktails are served. For a more romantic setting, guests can enjoy the Layfette Bar, set high above the hotel itself, which boasts spectacular views of the Matavai bay. At the Layfette Bar you can soak up the sunset in the cozy lounge setting while savoring a tastey cocktail or martini. This hotel has 165 guest rooms that include 86 ocean view rooms, 53 suites, and 26 duplex suites. There is direct access to the open ocean, allowing for instant enjoyment of any sort of watersport such as sailing, snorkeling, watersking, windsurfing, and many more. As a guest, at Radisson Plaza Resort Tahiti, you will find the rooms to be a delightful mixture between natural elements, such as wood accents and wood flooring, and overall contemporary design. Artwork in every room features historic black and white photographs of the island.
Services and features included in the room are :
Coffeemaker
Hairdryers
Irons
Ironing board
High-Speed Internet Access
Satellite TV
Some rooms come with:
Whirlpools
Balconies
Great views overlooking Lafayette Beach
The hotel provides the following services:
Fitness Facility
Business center
Lagoon pool
Local crafts area
Souvenir shop
Day spa
Hair salon
Shuttle service to Papeete
Meeting and banquet space to accommodate 380
- Sheraton Hotel Tahiti – 3.5 stars – Located at PK 2 Cote Mer Auae Faa A Papeete, French Polynesia. The hotel is within 8 kilometers from the Faa International Airport and is about 2 kilometers from the center of downtown Papeete. This elegant hotel is well within walking distance from the historic capital of Tahiti where guests can enjoy local culture, arts, crafts, shopping, dining out, and island nightlife. A full renovation is set for completion in 2006 where guests will find poolside Wi-Fi, redesigned rooms, a new lobby, and high-tech meeting rooms. Sheraton Hotel Tahiti has three restaurants. The Moevai, Heepuemi, and Quinn’s Bar. The main restaurant, The Moevai, provides guests a fine dining experience with a menu focused on the freshest seafood and every Friday an entertaining Polynesian show is preformed. At Heepuemi, visitors will find relaxed alfresco styled dining with a menu that includes delicious light lunches and cocktails. This restaurant is close to the hotel’s infinity pool, providing a spectacular bay view. Quinn’s Bar is a great place to mingle in a setting where the décor and theme is focused on showcasing historic and early pioneer times of the area. Live music is featured on the week-ends at Quinn’s Bar.
With 20,000 total square feet of meeting space for 500 and banquet facilities that will accommodate up to 1,000 people, Sheraton Hotel Tahiti is the ideal place to hold a business conference or wedding. There are 200 rooms available at Sheraton Hotel Tahiti. Guest can enjoy any of the four relaxing room options such as the Garden Lagoon View, the Superior Lagoon View, the Deluxe Lagoon View, the One-Bedroom Suite, or Two-Bedroom Suite. All rooms take on an island colonial theme and face either the lush gardens surrounding the hotel, or the blue tranquil waters of the lagoon.
Some of the services and amenities that can be found on site are:
24-hour Front Desk Service
Wake-up calls
Luggage Storage
Gift Shop
Airport Transportation
Outdoor Pool
Jacuzzi
Ample Parking
Smoke Detectors
Business Center and various services to meet your business needs
Room Service
Car Rental Service
Spa
Salon
Fitness Facilities
Massage Services
Snorkeling
Tour Guides and Services
Water Sports and Snorkeling
Rooms contain the following features:
Air Conditioning
Alarm Clock
Radio
Satellite TV
Telephones
Rollaway Beds
Cribs
Maid Service
Hairdryer
Internet in All Guest Rooms
In-Room Safe
In-Room Movies
Iron
Ironing Board
Refrigerator
Non-Smoking Rooms
- Sofitel Tahiti Resort – 3 stars – Located at BP 60008, Tahiti, 98702 FAA’A French Polynesia. The hotel is within 2.5 kilometers from the airport and 8 kilometers from the Port of Papeete. This resort is interestingly set apart from other hotels in the area with its unique shape; Sofitel Maeva Beach represents a modern-day terraced Mayan pyramid. Guests staying at the hotel will find a wealth of entertainment options in the area which include museums, theaters, and beach access, an aquarium, near-by golf course, botanical gardens, deep sea fishing, and boat excursions. Visitors can also soak up local culture and enjoy bustling night life. For guests opting to enjoy a relaxing stay-in, Sofitel Tahiti Resort offers a multitude of services and features to accommodate their vacation. There is a private beach, two tennis courts, a driving range, and swimming pool. Guests can savor French cuisine at Le Bougainville or enjoy buffets that change daily from bar-b-q, to seafood and traditional Polynesian. A Polynesian dance show is preformed on Friday and Saturday nights at Le Bougainville. For guests who desire a more impressive formal experience, Sakura Japanese Restaurant showcases authentic Japanese cuisine, hot dishes that are cooked in front of you and menu options that include sushi and sashimi. Sakura’s décor can be described as classically Oriental and faces a beautiful traditional Japanese garden. Snack Moorea is the hotel’s light-meal place to go after a dip in the pool or stroll along the hotel’s private beach. Guest’s can enjoy tropical libations and live music in either of the two hotel bars – Bar Terrasse and Bar Moorea. The hotel has 3 meeting rooms which can accommodate a capacity of 200. Overall there are 216 rooms, including 2 suites and 2 reduced mobility rooms. Stunning views of the mountains, gardens, and ocean can be experienced from private balconies. Room service runs through out the day and evening to provide hot meals and snacks.
Some of the services and amenities that can be found on site are:
Translators
Faxing, printing, and copying facilities
Wi-Fi internet access
Secretary services/typing
Laundry facilities and services
Car rental service
Golf and tennis lessons
Gift/newspaper shop
Exchange services
Porter
Babysitting
Level ramp access for the disabled
Private outdoor parking
Pets are allowed
Rooms contain the following features:
Air conditioning
Safe deposit box
Mini bar
Phone with voice mail
Radio
Color satellite/cable TV
RJ 45 plug
Separate shower tub
Hair dryer
Magnifying mirror
Other Hotels in Tahiti:
Hotel Kon Tiki Pacific
Hotel Le Mandarin Noa Noa
Hotel Prince Hinoi Noa Noa
Hotel Le Royal Tahitien
Tiare Tahiti Noa Noa
Bed and Breakfasts
For those of you who would rather stay in a cozy bed and breakfast while on your vacation here in Tahiti, there are plenty to go around! Bed and Breakfasts are becoming more and more popular as opposed to larger hotels and resorts because of their laid back and comfortable feel.
You can find and make online booking at http://www.haere-mai.pf/