Best known for its dolphin encounter program, this property sprawls under a coconut grove near Moorea's northwest corner.
The lagoon is shallow and sometimes murky, but guests enjoy the widest range of watersports that any French Polynesian hotel has to offer.
An angular shingled roof covers the large main building, which holds the reception area, activities and car rental desks, activities room, boutique, pearl shop, a sunken bar opening to the pool deck and two restaurants.
The cafe serves lunch, snacks and a light dinner, while the more formal restaurant lays out an extensive breakfast buffet, as well as theme buffets at dinner. Colorful Tahitian performances include a weekly beachside revue.
In addition to swimming with dolphins (the sea mammals are constrained to a fenced portion of the lagoon), snorkeling, kayaks, canoes and tennis are free, but parasailing, diving, dolphin encounters, fish feeding, island visits, Jet Skiing, diving, yachting, deep-sea and shore fishing, boating and bicycles all exact fees. Recovery is available in the full-service spa.
A conference room for 150 is on the premises as well, and the front desk will handle secretarial chores.
In two-story buildings, the spacious hotel rooms come with double or king beds. The more expensive bungalows, either on the island or jutting out over the water from man-made islets, have thatched roofs, hardwood floors, sitting areas with ceiling fans, mat-lined ceilings and walls, recessed lighting, bedrooms (also with ceiling fans) and furnished decks.
All units are air conditioned and come with TVs, desks, two data-port phones, minibars, coffeemakers and combination baths with hair dryers, WCs and bidets. Room service operates during restaurant hours.
Although the resort misses the Sofitel Moorea Beach Resort's view of Tahiti, and its buildings lack the Polynesian charm of those of the Moorea Pearl and Sheraton Moorea Lagoon, this well-managed resort is the top choice on Moorea in terms of activities, facilities and service.
But note, the excellent children's program has been scrapped, leaving a clientele of American, European, and Japanese couples in search of dolphin encounters and other activities.
