Many people think of French Polynesia as a high end luxurious honeymoon destination that will cost $1000 a night to stay in an overwater bungalow. Fortunately, there are many more places to stay in Mo’orea than just these pricey resorts. Mo’orea in particular has a wide range of accommodations, so visitors at any budget can experience this island paradise.
Luxury Hotels
We’ll start with the luxury resorts as many honeymooners chose to stay in these accommodations at least for a part of their trip. All offer overwater bungalows and are perfect for special occasions!
Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort – ($$$$) The Sofitel also has beach front, water front, and garden view bungalows at a slightly lower price point than the overwater option. There are two restaurants and two bars on property, as well as the Le Jardin Spa. The Sofitel is located on the East side of the island, so it is best to rent a car is staying here.
Hilton Moorea – ($$$$) Situated between the two bays on the North side of Mo’orea, the Hilton has a great location on the island. The Hilton also offers garden bungalows with private pools for around $600 USD/night. There are 3 restaurants on property, the Toatea Bar & Creperie is located overwater (and got a positive endorsement from our Airbnb host!). You can also rent kayaks and paddleboards on property to take out on the lagoon.
Manava Beach Resort & Spa Moorea – ($$$$) Situated on the north side of the island near Cook’s Bay, the Manava is the only luxury option with a kitchenette. The Manava also has great activities on property include Moorea Blue Diving & a Coral Grafting workshop where you can learn about how human pollution and global warming are affecting coral and how scientists are working to regrow coral in the area.
Mid Range Hotels
There are many options for mid range hotels on Mo’orea, so I’m just going to go over a couple notable mentions based on location and amenities.
Moorea Sunset Beach – ($$$) We stayed here on our first visit to Mo’orea and loved it! Sunset Beach probably has one of the most convenient locations. It is located at Tiahura beach, which is walking distance to many activities so you don’t really need a car if staying here. The bungalows here also have full kitchens, so we were able to cook a lot of meals. The only downside is that you have to buy pods for the Keurig coffee makers and we had a bit of a bug problem (but that’s island life!).
Cook’s Bay Hotel of Moorea – ($$$) Cook’s Bay was recently renovated, so has that great updated feel. All suites have a kitchenette and balcony overlooking Cook’s Bay. It also has a pool, restaurant, bar, and a private beach. Cook’s Bay is a nice location on Mo’orea with some restaurants, including our favorite lunch spot Iaorana Smoothies, within walking distance. You could stay here without a car, but I recommend one to check out some other beaches and hiking spots.
Hotel Kaveka – ($$$) Also located in Cook’s Bay, the Kaveka is a bit of an older property, but a popular spot on the island. They offer bungalows accommodating 2-4 people, have air conditioning, and a fridge (no kitchen). They also offer kayak and bike rental on property.
Budget/Airbnb
There are a huge amount of Airbnb’s & vacation rental on Mo’orea for all budgets and group sizes. Restaurants can also be expensive, so I really recommend this option for anyone looking to cook some and save money. We stayed in an amazing Airbnb on our stay in 2023 so I will post the link here!
Bungalow Mahana – ($$) This bungalow is part of a group of 4 bungalows in a private gated area with a private beach. All bungalows have two bedrooms, one bath, and a full kitchen and dining space. Off of our spacious deck we had a small pool and a shower for rinsing off our great after swimming with whales. We also had a washing machine (no dryer, just a clothes line). The host Maea is so friendly and offers a really personalized experience I have not had at any other Airbnb. We even sat and watched the sunset on beach with her and another family staying there one night while all sharing a bottle of wine! This bungalow also comes with single and double kayaks which we used almost every day. Like any home in Mo’orea, just remember to bring your bug spray!
Note: This Airbnb is located in Te’avaro near the ferry, so you will definitely need to rent a car!
If you are not sure what is the best option for you, I really recommend doing a day or two in a luxury overwater bungalow just for the experience, and then spending the rest of your trip at a vacation home to get a more authentic experience!
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