SOFITEL KIA ORA MOOREA BEACH RESORT

Amazing

We stayed in the beachside hut. Our kiddos are 3 and 6. This was perfect for us. I can’t begin to describe how beautiful and calm the water is. We would sit on the porch of our hut and look out and see sting rays and sharks. The coral reefs are amazing that are steps from your porch. Our 6 year old learned to snorkel here. We have stayed in the over water bungalows in Bora Bora when it was just my wife and I and they are great, but with kids this wasn’t an option for us. The beachfront hut was great. Roomy, super clean and located perfectly on the property.

The front desk and concierge were very nice and easy to work with. If you’re looking for 5 star service, this is not the place. There is no beach service or pool service, the bell hop is slow and not super helpful. We were supposed to have our bags picked up at 10:00 upon departure and at 10:15 I called and no one answered. We walked up to the front with our bags instead and two gentleman were just sitting there and didn’t even offer to help load our car up with the bags. It’s the small simple details that prevent this hotel from a true 5 star.

There is a great pool side bar and a phenomenal beach side bar that are great options you can walk up to every time. So you do have options, but they are not bringing them to you unless you ask.

Food was ok. Nothing stellar but on the island you have some great local options that I would rent a car and go to. They are cheaper and they are better. But the hotel offers options if you don’t want to venture out.

We were very happy with our time in Moorea. Our room was clean, daily turn down service, grounds are kept but dated. The pool needs some work but is ok, great snorkeling and phenomenal bay to indulge in. We would recommend! It was a great vacation.

Fantastic location, wonderful facilities, accommodations and food, incredibly helpful and friendly staff. The perfect first stop on my retirement trip!

I want to start by saying I will be giving this resort a 5 star review for the actual “resort” accommodations and service by all staff except the reservation department. But, I need to give a 1 star review to warn others of what happened to us.

We visited Mo’orea for 1 week. After contemplating spending $1,500 for one night in an overwater bungalow for our anniversary, we decided to bite the bullet and have our once-in-a-lifetime experience. I booked the bungalow on a Sunday on their direct website for us to stay Wednesday. I called Monday to ensure we had the confirmation as I was super excited. They assured me we have the confirmation.

At 1:00 on Tuesday (day before we check in) , I receive an email saying their system messed up and they are cancelling our room as they have no more overwater bungalows left. I was devastated, as this was the most exciting thing I was looking forward to the entire trip. (WHat if I hadn't randomly checked my email??? Would I just show up Wednesday without an overwater bungalow?)

I called to see what they could do and they said they can put us in a regular bungalow in the jungle. I said that wasn’t going to do. I looked and they had an overwater bungalow open TODAY and asked if we could have that one. She said it wasn’t as nice as the one we rented but that would work. I also said we had paid for a hotel already tonight and could she reimburse us for that. She said yes.

We ran back to the hotel, quickly packed and rushed to Sofitel. It was complete stress and really put a wrench in our vacation. We were not compensated anything else from the resort, no special treatment.

Had I not come up with a solution to this error, they would have just cancelled our bungalow and went on with their day. I didn’t throw a fit because we were so enamored with the beauty of the resort. So all-in-all it was a great time. But, as a hotel owner myself, this was totally unacceptable and I would have gone OUT of my way to make the guest feel compensated for their screw up. I even asked Lisa, on the phone when we were figuring out all of this if there is some sort of complementary “something” they could do for us for this error. She said “we are already giving you money for your hotel room. Cmon, a complementary $23 drink at minimum would have said a lot. I also told them we booked this for our anniversary. We didn't even get a decorated room for our special occasion and honestly feel there was NO compensation given for the resorts mishap. I saw on other reviews they decorated the bed for special occasions. I read in other places they give discounts to locals, and this was a last-minute booking so they probably wouldn't have rented the overwater bungalow if I didn't suggest they give it to us today. The fact they gave us $200 discount to pay for the hotel we already booked somewhere else, in my eyes, wasn't a good enough "fix" for cancelling our CONFIRMED reservation.

BEWARE they may cancel your room, even after receiving a confirmation AND calling to ensure you have a room. I will never stay here again, unfortunately, since the property itself was lovely. I'm too scared they will do this again, wasting our time, money and adding stress to our vacation.

My stay at Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort in Tahiti was nothing short of exceptional. The resort offers an overall excellent experience, making it the perfect place to stay while exploring Moorea.

One of the standout features of this resort is its incredibly friendly and accommodating staff. As a Deaf individual who primarily communicates in sign language, I was pleasantly surprised by how welcoming and supportive the staff were. They went above and beyond to ensure my partner and I felt comfortable and included throughout our stay.

The food at the resort is vegetarian-friendly, although there could be more diversity in protein options, especially during buffet services. However, I was impressed by the creativity of the menu service, particularly with dishes like the Beyond burger patties. While vegans may find the protein options limited, plenty of delicious vegetable and fruit choices exist. I still find myself reminiscing about the delightful Beet Carpaccio and plan to recreate it at home.

The resort offers fantastic entertainment, including authentic local cultural events such as live Polynesian music, dance performances, and mesmerizing fire shows.

We stayed in an overwater bungalow, which felt like a dream come true. The deck provided breathtaking views of the sunrise and sunset, and the stairs leading directly into the water allowed for fantastic snorkeling around the coral reefs. The bed was comfortable, the bathroom was clean, and the air conditioning worked perfectly. The complimentary toiletries were a nice touch. Room service provided outlet adaptors for type E outlets in the room, and I appreciated the convenience of having USB 2.0 and USB C outputs next to the bed.

Safety and privacy were never a concern. I appreciated the abundant water and ice stations throughout the resort. The stainless steel refillable water bottle provided in the room was a thoughtful gift I still use daily due to its amazing temperature retention.

The wildlife around the resort, both on land and in the water, added to the magical experience. From wild chickens and dogs to stingrays, birds, and colorful fish, there was always something fascinating to see.

I also noticed that they were in the process of installing an indoor gym, which will be a great addition for fitness enthusiasts.

The concierge service at Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort was exceptional. It was easy to reserve tours and scooters and explore packages to enhance our fun during our stay. Additionally, the resort offers showers, towels, and luggage storage for activities while waiting to check in or for taxi pickups upon departure.

A word of advice: Make sure to use a powerful sunscreen during your stay, as the sun in Tahiti can be intense. Despite regular application of mineral-based sunscreen, I still experienced sunburn, so be cautious, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Overall, my time at Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort felt like living in a dream or a scene from a movie. It was not only romantic for my partner and me but also deeply fulfilling in terms of appreciating life's beauty. I highly recommend this property to anyone looking for a memorable and rejuvenating getaway. I can't wait to return someday soon.