Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort — Hotel in Moorea-Maiao

We loved this beautiful island! We stayed at both the four seasons in bora bora and the Sofitel in Moorea. If you’re looking for a review that compares the bungalows on those 2, this is it! First- where ever you stay, you can find almost anything you’re looking to buy as a souvenir at the airport on your way out! You do not see the side of the airport with all the shops on your way in. It’s only by the departing gates. Prices are MUCH more affordable. Unless it’s clothing you’re in love with, you can probably find it at the airport. Also at the smaller domestic airport between Tahiti and bora bora (on bora bora side).

-Sofitel is right behind a reef barrier. It’s perfect for snorkeling around the resort and your bungalow. You see SO many colorful, beautiful fish. We saw a whale breach right on the other side of the reef from our deck! We snorkeled right off of the bungalow for several hours a day. We also enjoyed the large cut out in the bungalow that allowed us to see what was swimming below. -There is a pearl shop on site. They offered a little pearl class in the main bar area and told the story behind the family owned pearl shop. You buy directly from the pearl farmer so they offer the best pricing that we saw. -Sofitel is on the island of Moorea which allows you to book tours with locals or through the resort. We did one with a local company that had a ride service to pick us up and drop us off at the resort. We did 2 tours through the resort aquatic center. They also offer kayaking free of charge, I believe. -the breakfast was included with our stay. We enjoyed the buffet they offered. It was nice variety. We had lunch and dinner at the resort restaurant several times through out our stay. the food items were just okay…edible but not the best lol. They offer a Polynesian night with dancers, drums, and fire dancers. We loved it! Truly a lovely performance by the locals and staff. All the staff were very friendly and we looked forward to seeing them at breakfast every day lol. -Room was nice. It had everything you need - sitting area around glass floor section, spare bed for small child, good AC, blow dryer etc. We really enjoyed the deck and balcony. It leads right in to the water and you can swim off it.

You’ll have to find my review under four seasons in bora bora to get the review on that one (too long to add here) In short: The four seasons is truly a luxury resort with very relaxing vibes. Maintained very well. Very large rooms. Great food onsite and great views from your deck. It is kid friendly and has little activities for adults and children through out the day but I don’t really recommend bringing kids here vs. Sofitel. I think they will enjoy the activities at Sofitel more as it offers better reefs and snorkeling. Where the four seasons has practically no snorkeling. Love the soaker tub opening up to the balcony at the 4seasons! Some rooms even have a small hot tub on the deck..but not ours lol. You can also take a helicopter ride around the island ($1k). The spa is gorgeous and also offers a nice private retreat. Boat ride to the resort is fun if you haven’t experienced that before. We were happy to have this as the second part of our trip as we felt it was more for relaxing and Sofitel offered more adventure/active fun.

Sofitel in Moorea offers great snorkeling and you see bright fish living on the reef. You can also see whales breaching on the other side of the reef from the main restaurant, beach, or your private deck. The rooms themselves are nice but not the level of luxury the four seasons is. Food is just okay. They did include a minibar restock daily with our room- which is nice when ginger ales are $9 each at 4seasons. Beer and water are included as well. Several activities you can book onsite that are MUCH more affordable than the four seasons. More kid friendly vibe. No soaker tub in our bungalow. Enjoyed the cut out in floor to view ocean/fish below. On island with locals so you can venture out a bit if you’re curious. Pearl store onsite has better...

There are no words to express how incredible our stay was at the Sofitel in Moorea. But I will do my best!

When we arrived at the Sofitel in Moorea, we knew right away we needed to extend our stay. The staff was incredibly friendly and accommodating. Not only that, but we were able to upgrade to an overwater bungalow. Let me tell you what a worthwhile decision that was!

We were surprised at how modern the bungalows were on the inside. Fully enclosed and air conditioned to offer reprieve from the humid tropical air, our room was always comfortable. There was a small window in the floor so we could see the fish 24/7 – along with a spotlight for nighttime! We enjoyed a comfortable bed and a beautiful bathroom – with a shower that had the best water pressure of my life.

Our patio over the water was complete with two chairs for sitting and one for lounging. We spent a lot of time enjoying the waves and the birds – even the night sky with twinkling and shooting stars. My husband enjoyed the steps leading directly from our patio into the water, which gave us private access to swim any time we wanted.

But you know all this from looking through Sofitel's website. Let me tell you what's not on there...

The staff is amazing, and we got to know them all individually. We always had breakfast at the restaurant, and had the occasional lunch or dinner as well (when we weren't going into town). The staff was always friendly and welcoming, and we even developed in-jokes with them throughout our stay! From helping us find excursions in town to providing us with anything we could ask for, we were so pleased with their willingness to help, and we always felt more than cared for.

We also had the fortune of staying there during the week – which I cannot recommend enough. The weekend got very busy with families, but the weekdays were so calm and peaceful. There were only a few other guests staying along with us, so we always had our choice of tables and never had to wait for service. It also gave us that personal interaction with the staff which really elevated the experience.

We also did the snorkeling excursion – which I ALSO cannot recommend enough. I am someone who has never cared about snorkeling, but boy was it well worth it! We had a private tour of the waters for an hour, and our tour guide took incredible photos and video of us as a keepsake. We got to swim with a friendly stingray and hundreds of fish. It was absolutely amazing.

The housekeeping service was also incredible. What I appreciated so much is that they give the guests the option to leave a card on the bed if they do not want their sheets laundered, in order to save on water. You can do the same thing by hanging your towels. A lot of hotels don't offer this and simply launder everything every single day, which I find wasteful. We did want them to come in and replenish our waters and pineapple juice, but we didn't always need our bed sheets or towels cleaned. This was a fantastic middle ground that gave the guest all the flexibility they could want.

Can we also talk about the quality of the mini bar? Bottled water, fresh pineapple juice, soda, tea selection, hot espresso... it really got us through our jet lag! They also provide beer – but we are just not beer drinkers! We also appreciated that they offered more than just your standard soap, shampoo, and conditioner – they provided a mini sewing kit, which saved our wardrobe more than once!

I could go on and on... but you can see everything you need to know about this place from the pictures and amenities listed on their website. The infinity pool was incredibly relaxing, the self-parking lot was a life-saver for our little rental car, the proximity to the ferry and local restaurants was convenient and opportune, and the beach bar was perfect for a relaxing day by the water.

The most important thing you need to know is... stay here. The staff will take care of you, and you will never...

We stayed on the resort for 8 days at the end of May in an over-the-water bungalow. My partner and I enjoyed the "window" in the floor so that we were able to see the fishes swimming under our bungalow as well as being able to see the resort from our patio. The water was bright blue and very clean. Jumping into the water from our bungalow was another perk as well as the beautiful weather (29 degrees celsius or above everyday). The resort was clean and well maintained. We were catered with excellent service from the house keeping and "fridge stocking" staff. Specifically Uush (bar fridge filler) who was always warm, welcoming, and friendly. On another note, overall, we enjoyed the restaurant. Breakfast was included every morning from 6am-10am (buffet style). Many options were provided and there was always a place to sit and staff ready to help. On Wednesday and Saturday evenings were buffet style for dinner (6pm-10pm) and was French Polynesia themed. For someone who enjoys eating fish and Mediterranean food, this would a great dinner. However, not many other options provided besides that for a person who does not like fish or is vegan. That being said, the entertainment for the evening made up for it. There would be a drum ceremony, fire show, and dancing. On all the other nights, a menu was provided for dinner where you could choose from appetizers, a main meal, and dessert (the menu did not change throughout the week). It was limited with options compared to the lunch menu but the staff gracefully let you choose from it if asked (portion sizes were always large no matter which menu you chose from). The servers were always very inviting, had a smile on their face, and often remembered you from the day before and had your daily beverages ready for you in the morning (in particular Lucinda, Jean-Marc, and Hinadres made a lovely impression). The beach bar was also a fun spot to visit. Could enjoy a drink, some snacks/meal, lounge around, our sit in the sand on the beach or dip your toes in the water. Also, an app could be downloaded on your phone to order food from, book an excursion, appointment at the spa, or water-sports (although some water-sports were on a first come first serve basis). We enjoyed kayaking in the ocean one afternoon and snorkelling throughout our stay. We booked our spa sessions through the app with no issues. We decided on a full-body massage and foot reflexology massage: both exceeded our expectations. The staff were intuitive and kind. Furthermore, we went on two excursions. The first was a full day lagoon experience where we went on a pontoon boat (with roughly 60 other people) toured the shoreline and was entertained by the tour guide who was knowledgeable about the historical relevance of the sights and mountains, swam with sharks and sting rays, and had a home cooked BBQ meal on an island (the rum punch offered was addictive) followed by entertainment and music. The second excursion was a side-by-side off-roading experience for half a day (could choose to drive a four wheeler as well): this day was phenomenal! We toured Moorea, drove on a variety of different roads/paths, went to a volcano, visited "Magic Mountain", a few lookouts, and a local restaurant. The views were breathtaking and the experience as a whole was exhilarating. On another day we rented scooters from the hotel, which was quick and simple to and were able to tour the island at our own pace and drive around (roads were not busy). Just remember if you are out on a Sunday and want to visit the shops/grocery stores, they close at noon). Overall, this was a spectacular vacation and a great location for someone who wants to relax and enjoy a quiet atmosphere with a view. It was an unforgettable experience and a beautiful...