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Favorite Overall Resorts |
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| Our FAVORITE RESORTS for: |
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| BEACHES |
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Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa
Moorea is one of the best kept secrets of the South Pacific. Sometimes overshadowed by her more popular sister island of Bora Bora, Moorea is an absolutely stunning island that boasts two of the most beautiful bays in the world, Cooks Bay and Opunohu Bay. With its jagged peaks towering over the lush greenery all the while surrounded by a lagoon that contains so many vibrant colors of blue; Moorea will make you will feel as if you are in a Polynesian paradise. Warm tropical sun and friendly people are what await you in Moorea. Once you experience the sheer beauty of Moorea, all you will think about is when you can come back.
The Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa is located between Opunohu and Cooks Bay on the magical island of Moorea. Only a 10 minute flight (or 30 min catamaran ride) from Papeete, Moorea is easy to get to and even easier to love. The Hilton Moorea is our favorite resort on the island of Moorea and a great place to consider when traveling to French Polynesia. We felt like we had it all in Moorea, endless water activities, beautiful views and all the warm sun and quiet seclusion we could ever need. Truly an oasis in paradise, we never wanted to leave the beautiful island of Moorea.
Here's our lowdown on the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa
- Our Favorites -
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| Lagoon for snorkeling. Right off your Bungalow |
SNORKELING - The snorkeling at Hilton Moorea is some of the best we have ever experienced. The fish, coral and sea life around our bungalow offered some of the most spectacular colors we have ever seen; and all just a few steps down from our deck! Being able to snorkel right off our bungalow is the best part of this resort; and my favorite part of visiting French Polynesia. You feel such seclusion because you have everything right at your room. If you have never experienced French Polynesia, all we can say is do it! It will be something you will always remember.
ISLAND / LAGOON - One of the best things about the Hilton Moorea is the island of Moorea itself and the lagoon that surrounds it. You can rent scooters and ride around the entire island stopping at all the scenic points. The magnificent scenery and dazzling colors of blues make for memories that never fade. It's easy to get lost in the luxury resorts and everything that they offer. But make sure you take the chance to see the island and all the breathtaking views. Whether a guided tour or off on your own, you will fall in love with Moorea as you explore this magical island.
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| Lagoon around Moorea |
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| Inside an Overwater Bungalow |
ROOM - The rooms at the Hilton Moorea are well appointed with gorgeous views. We stayed in an Overwater Bungalow and I HIGHLY recommend the Overwater option. The rooms have a large bathroom with deep, claw foot soaker tub that allowed you to look out over the lagoon while you soaked in luxury. This was a really awesome feature. The rooms are very comfortable and have a nice deck to sit outside and enjoy the amazing views. You can swim or snorkel right off your deck; just a quick step down the ladder and you are in the lagoon. The garden bungalows looked nice, but if you are going to French Polynesia, spend the extra dollars for the Overwater Bungalow, you will not regret it.
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| Island Tour, Looking back towards Cooks Bay |
DON'T MISS
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An Island Tour of Moorea - I wasn't too keen on the island tour at first, but I must say it was fascinating. Your tour is guided by a local who really gives you a lot of great information and local color. The tour takes you into the hills and gives you lots of great history about the island, its geography and culture. We made a stop at the local distillery where we got to sample the local product. They were not skimpy with the samples so it was ... very ... relaxing. Did a little off-roading through the center of the island which was a lot of fun, and then they took us on a complete tour around the island. They even stopped at a market where you could load up on water, Hinano and other snacks which was very nice and a great way to save some money as the resort prices are very high. There are many of great activities such as the shark excursion, but we really liked the island tour. Any of the excursions are good, just remember to get out and see the beautiful island.
- Other Good Stuff -
Beach - We found the beach at Hilton Moorea to be beautiful and relaxing. Good service and amazing views of the lagoon. The beach was not very crowded so getting a lounge was not a problem. We spent most of our time at our Overwater Bungalow so we assumed most other people did the same. If you want to get a little beach time in, you will be very happy with the Hilton Moorea setup. You will have plenty of room to stretch out and enjoy quiet seclusion while soaking up some of that terrific South Pacific sun.
Pool - The pool at Hilton Moorea is great option for soaking up some South Pacific sun. The pool itself is an infinity pool that is set in a garden with views of the beach and lagoon. The pool is beautiful with lounges set up for your convenience. We spent most of the time in our Overwater Bungalow, so we didn't spend a lot of time at the pool, but our time there was very relaxing. If you like to spend time by the pool, you will not be disappointed with the Hilton Moorea.
Service - We found service at the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa to be good and met all our expectations. Our experiences with check-in, housekeeping, bars and restaurants was good in every way. The service is not what some might expect at 5 star, luxury resorts. We believe some of that may be cultural and there was a certain amount of "island time" mentality. But that does not bother us. We recognize we are in different countries with different cultures and that is what makes traveling so exciting. This is not to say the service was bad or slow, it is just a different mindset if that makes sense. If you expect people to jump at your every request, that is not what we experienced. But we like a little slower pace and thought the overall service was very good.
Spa - I visited the Mandera Spa and I had a very lovely experience. My treatment was good and it was very relaxing. The Spa was very nice but not remarkable. They had a good selection of treatments, many using the local vanilla in the oils and lotions (a wonderful aroma). If you like a good spa treatment, you will find the Mandera Spa to be an excellent way to relax and really get in tune with the Polynesian vibe.
- And Our Not So Favorite Things -
Price - I know this is a recurring theme with French Polynesia, but the prices are high. The rooms are very expensive, but the overwater bungalows are magnificent and are worth every penny. When it comes to food and drinks, you need to be prepared for sticker shock ... everything is incredibly expensive. But don't let the prices ruin your trip. If you are sensitive about the prices, there are some things you can do to keep costs down. We bring snacks that we can munch on in our room. Many times I would rather have some cheese and crackers on my deck overlooking the water, then have to get ready and trudge off to dinner. I am there for the scenery, so I want to focus on that. Also, you can go to a local market and get water, bread, Hinano ... the staples (and yes my husband says Hinano beer is not just a staple, but a necessity!) and this might lessen your food bill. You can rent a scooter, take a taxi or if you are on a tour, they usually stop to let you stock up.
Dining - We found the food to be average on Moorea. We only ate at the resort and found the food to be lacking ... and we are not particular about dining on our trips. We thought the sea food would be good being as we were in the middle of the South Pacific ... but we were disappointed. The dining was no big deal for us as we care more about the beach and views. But if you are someone who places high value on their meals when on vacation, we suggest you do a lot of research upfront and make sure you have your options laid out.
Shopping - Besides the typical touristy type shopping (shirts, knickknacks, etc.), we did not find a lot of shopping. Of course they did have the famous Tahitian Black Pearls, but we found the prices high (probably because we are no good at bargaining!) Besides the Black Pearls, which undoubtedly are a GREAT memory of your vacation, the shopping was just ok. No problem for us ... more time to enjoy the beauty of Moorea.
Resort Information
Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa - [Link to Hotel Website]
BP 1005,
Papetoai Polynesia (French) 98728
Hotel Photos
Room Rates / Reservations
Bungalows
Special Offers
Resort Room Prices
Moorea, like all of French Polynesia is very expensive. The rates at Hilton Moorea are competitive with other luxury Moorea properties, but we believe the room quality at the Hilton Moorea makes it a great value.
ADVICE: Get the Overwater Bungalow !!!!!!!!!!!!
I the overwater bungalows are expensive and you can save money with a garden room just steps from the beach, but I am here to tell you the overwater bungalow is worth it!
There is nothing like the overwater bungalow. They are romantic. They are fun. They are unique. They give you the feeling that you cannot get at any other luxury properties.
When you are looking at what room class to book, you may be tempted to save some money, but I strongly suggest splurging for the overwater bungalow. It will be an experience you will never forget.
When we travel, we always look for the best deal and do not mind traveling during the off season to get the lower prices. This means you may not get to travel at the optimal times based on Temperatures and Rainfall (see charts below).
In French Polynesia, the there are 2 "seasons":
| Season | Dates |
|---|---|
| Dry | June 1 - November 1 |
| Wet | November 2 - May 31 |
Since it is the tropics, you are going to get rain not matter when you go; you just get less during the dry season. Remember that prices will be higher during the dry season, so if you have flexibility in your travel dates and don't mind taking a chance on a little rain, you can save some money during the "wet" season.
Prices can change without notice, so check the following link: Prices - Hilton Moorea to get the latest prices at the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa.
Special Offers - Many times you can save some money by taking advantage of special offers and packages from the resort. To see the latest packages and special offers from the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa, please click the following link: Special Offers - Hilton Moorea..
Map of the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa
View Larger MapWeather on Moorea in French Polynesia
Moorea is only a few minutes by plane or 30 minutes by ferry away from Papeete, but it is very different from the urban build up of the capital. Moorea (meaning Yellow lizard) has a shallow turquoise lagoon surrounding the green mountains that rise from the island. The weather in Moorea is like that of all the islands in French Polynesia, awesome with warm temperatures year round. You get rain in Moorea, but the showers tend to be relatively short, even during the wet season. The weather is just part of the overall experience. You get some rain, but this is just part of nature that is bringing you the stunning lagoon, unbelievable marine life and breathtaking views.
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| Click to See Larger Chart |
Rainfall - Whenever we go on vacation, trying to avoid rain is always high on our list. My husband is especially fanatical about this. Now rain is common in Moorea, with an average of over 69 in. per year. You can lessen your chance for rain by traveling in the "dry" season which runs from roughly June through October. The challenge is that the cost is more during this time. So you need to do the cost/benefit to see if the extra money is worth less chance of rain. Another way to handle the chance of rain is to just go with the flow. You are in the tropics. It rains. Be prepared to deal with it. Just remember that you are in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Remember to enjoy all the beauty, even if it includes a little rain.
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| Click to See Larger Chart |
Temperature - The chart at the right shows the average temperatures for Moorea. The temperatures in Moorea are very consistent, so you are going to get beautiful, warm weather no matter when you go. The trade winds are present in Moorea no matter what the season. The trade winds bring relief from the heat and are usually quite welcomed. Make sure you pack your sunscreen, because you can count on warm weather and lots of sunshine year round on the beautiful island of Moorea.
Before you go to Moorea, or anywhere in French Polynesia, it is always wise to keep a watch on the weather.
The South Pacific Cyclone (Hurricane) season runs from approximately November 1 through April 30 and coincides with the hot, wet summer season. January and February are the 2 months when tropical cyclones are most likely to form. Cyclones (Hurricanes) are not common for Moorea or French Polynesia in general, but they do occur, so make sure you take them into account when planning your South Pacific Vacation. It is always prudent to check for tropical storms around Tahiti and the Central Pacific, please click the following link for cyclone (hurricane) information: Hurricane Center.
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