Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort 5 stars

Before booking our one week stay at the Kia Ora Sofitel in Moorea, I read the most recent reviews on trip advisor and came across the usual grouchy reviews (“service was slow, waiter ignored me”), to the silly (“rooms need updating” … seriously?! Updating from what? original Polynesian exotic wood furniture in wood and thatch roofed bungalow to 2023 Polynesian exotic wood furniture wood and thatch roof bungalows ?!!! This is not Best Westen on Route 66!). I chose to ignore all that and take a chance … Boy am I happy I did ! First thing first : the check in process was fast (contrary to what was said in some reviews), starting with a warm greeting with lei and fruit juice. The garden bungalow was nice and spacious , blending in nicely with the garden . The furniture in matching style with the Polynesian architecture, was in perfect condition , the bathroom equipped with modern appliances, rain shower for those who like it, espresso machine in the room, complimentary coffee and minibar (water, Hinano beer, Perrier water etc). The beach and lagoon are absolutely beautiful ! Paradise on earth… the almost fluorescent turquoise water is the clearest you’ll ever see, and that includes Hawaii (I’ve been there too, so I can compare ). We brought our inflatable SUPs and could see (tropical multitudes including stingray, and even a placid black tip shark) as well from our standing viewpoint as if we were snorkeling (we did both and eventually preferred seeing things by looking down from the paddle board). So if you have an inflatable SUP, take it, it’s worth the hassle . The food is French , and GOOD ! The on-site gastronomic restaurant, the “K”, is absolutely worth the visit and the price . We had a wonderful 5 course dinner that was memorable for both the delicious cuisine and the impeccable and friendly service from the waiters (more on that later). Sure the food is pricy , but this is not Las Vegas : everything has to come from outside Tahiti and that adds a premium to all goods and that’s something that affects the locals too . If one keeps in mind that the service is included, that there is sales tax, then one realizes that prices are pretty much in line with elsewhere on comparable prime locations . Now a word about the staff (mostly Tahitians ) : They all exhibited a contagious “joie de vivre” (maybe I would too if I lived there instead of gloomy (right now) California), and seem to really care about keeping the guests happy. One can tell that their smile comes from their heart, not from the company’s training handbook. From check-in to check-out, they were all extremely nice , without exception. They know enough English to take care of English speaking guests as if they were French speaking (I can do both so I could compare). My iPhone took on water (note to Apple: the Apple SE second generation is NOT water resistant). I tried to buy some rice from the restaurant, and they gave me a bag for free . The next day, at breakfast, the greeter inquired about the status of my phone (the latter didn’t make it despite being surrounded by good jasmine rice) even though he was not there when I got the rice . The point is : the staff will make you feel special. The guy in charge of making the omelettes, and cook eggs to order is an artist of the spatula and a show on his own, and he’ll make your eggs just right . So… a big thank you to all the staff, and management. To my fellow travelers: GO FOR IT! You won’t regret the expense .

We stayed here for 4 nights in May. We had a luxury horizon over the water bungalow. The good news....The view from your deck is amazing. Dont miss sunrise over Tahiti!! Snorkeling off your deck is excellent!! The bed is very comfortable and the sitting area is spacious. Housekeeping was excellent and all staff were friendly and helpful. The bad news.....The shower needs to be gutted. The furniture in the sitting area needs to be replaced.

The bungalow was clean and super comfortable, and the views were amazing. The water in the lagoon is crystal clear, perfect for watching from your deck, looking thru the window in the floor, or snorkeling. The food and entertainment was excellent, and all of the staff were friendly. The staff were quick to accommodate and sincerely wanted to make your stay the best possible. We especially want to thank the morning cook Heinz and the server Poerani. They knew our names, always smiled and were totally the best!!

From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel welcome and provided with excellent customer service. The overwater bungalow and location was breathtaking. We will definitely be back!

While the location of the hotel is excellent, we ran into several problems with the hotel room as well as with the staff service. Overall the experience was “OK”, but a bit disappointing in base to what we where expecting.