Raiatea and Tahaa- Where To Stay- Tahiti Sun Travel

The finest quality accomodations available on Raiatea! These are the places to stay when you want to be pampered, waited upon at request, live the life of luxury, and basically have your every whim catered to.

Although most likely memorable experiences, expect to pay "top end prices" as you take in the sun at these finest of resorts, and plan your budget accordingly. (Note that the prices on these top end resorts are not as high as on the more touristed islands of Tahiti, Moorea, or Bora bora.)

Raiatea's finest resort features magnificent ocean and mountain views, a full service restaurant, and bungalows to suit your every choice: Lagoonside, overwater, and Garden.

We also can arrange many activities on Raiatea and Tahaa for you to experience the true essence of the sacred islands, including SCUBA DIVING (we have a diving center on premises), snorkeling, horseback riding, pearl and vanilla plantation tours and much more.

LE TAHA'A- PRIVATE ISLAND & SPA
B.P. 67 Patio 98733- TAHA'A, Telephone- (689) 50.84.54, Fax- (689) 43.17.86
Accept all major credit cards E-MAIL & Reservations

Distance to Raiatea airport: 45 minutes by boat, 5 minutes by boat from the main island of Tahaa.
(15 minute helicopter rides are available), Total Capacity: 60
12 beach villas w/ private pool, 34 "Tahaa" overwater suites, 6 "Sunset" overwater suites, 8 "Bora Bora" overwater suites. Each villa has more than a hundred square meters each w/ private patio & tropical gardens, private swimming pool (beach villas), spacious lounge and terraces, private decks with direct access to the lagoon (overwater suites), and of course ceiling fans, air-conditionning, coffee/ tea making facilities, mini bar, hair dryer, safety box, television, CD player, IDD telephone, and more.

"Le Taha'a Private Island & Spa is the ultimate and exclusive hideaway of glistening beaches and sparkling waters in the South Pacific." Opened in July 2002, this 4 star resort lives up to its original design concept: to be the most luxurious hotel in all of French Polynesia. In fact, the facilities surpass all existing hotel accommodations in the entire Pacific region.

Recently affiliated with the prestigious Relais & Chateaux organization, the resort is superbly located on the coral reef of motu Tautau and faces the island of Taha'a on the lagoon side offering an unsurpassed view of the island of Bora Bora.

The public areas are built in the trees, providing an exquisite view of the lagoon and the island of Taha'a. The resort also has 3 restaurants that accomodate the individual suites for fine dining, buffets and entertainment.( like regular Polynesian dance shows) In addition to arranging a wide range of activities & excursions available on Raiatea & Taha'a, the resort also has its own dive center and Spa.

These accomodations vary greatly throughout Tahiti-Polynesia. Some are quite luxurious, although slightly less so than the top of the line resorts listed above. Many are also not so luxurious, but what you'll save in dollars may end up being a worthy tradeoff. They range from hotels and motels to what the French Polynesians call "Pensions" which are basically family run operations, often with family style service.

Since the majority of places to stay on all the Tahitian islands consist of these mid-range style accomodations, you might imagine there is also a great variation in quality, service, and facilities... Explore the listings and links below for details.

NOTE: Some of these mid- range establishments fall into the same generalized categories and descriptions of the smaller budget pensions, hotels, and lodging in private homes listed in our BUDGET/ RAIATEA section below. They are marked with purple abbreviations, which describe their categories. For category details, please see our chart below.

RAIATEA

SUNSET BEACH MOTEL APOOITI (FH, GC)
PK 2 , Apooiti Bay, P.O. Box 397, Uturoa-RAIATEA
Telephone- (689) 66.33.47 Fax- (689) 66.33.08
Contact: Mr. Moana BOUBEE, E-MAIL & Reservations
Accept Visa and Mastercard

Total Units- 16, Lagoonside bungalows and Mountainside CAMPGROUND
*BACKPACKERS/ ROAMING SURFER'S CHOICE
We are also island SCUBA organizers, Snorkeling experts, and THE BEST KITEBOARDERS ON RAIATEA!

PENSION TIARE NUI (PF)
Pk 1, 500 Tahina- Uturoa, P.O. Box 549-98 735 Uturoa- RAIATEA,
Telephone (689) 66.34.06, Fax- (689) 66.16.06, Contact: Mr Patrick BARDOU
Accept Visa and Mastercard E-MAIL & Reservations

4 bungalows located halfway between the airport & downtown, on lagoon side. Private pontoon, private bathrooms w/ hot water, terrace, fridge, household linens supplied.
Round trip transfers offered.

*THIS IS THE HOME OF EUROPCAR RAIATEA & RAIATEA TOURISME

VINI BEACH LODGE (PF)
Located on Faaroa Bay, RAIATEA
Telephone: (689) 60.22.45, Vini: (689) 78.48.34, Fax- (689) 60.22.46
Contact: Mr. Albert TAIORE
Accept Visa and Mastercard E-MAIL & Reservations

Located on the legendary and panoramic Faaroa bay, our lodge is just minutes away from the “Stardust” yacht charter base, on the water’s edge.

With 5 comfortable, fully equipped and spacious bungalows, the Vini Beach Lodge is a great choice for lodging on Raiatea for BOTH SHORT AND LONG TERM STAYS of up to a month or more.

LA CROIX DU SUD (PF) Pk 10, Faaroa, P.O. Box 769-98 735 Uturoa- RAIATEA Telephone/ Fax- (689) 66.27.55 Contact: Mr and Mrs. Eric & Annette GERMA 3 rooms located on mountain side, w/ panoramic view of Faaroa Bay. Swimming pool, private bathrooms w/ hot water, household linens and mosquito nets supplied. Roundtrip transfers offered. Do not accept credit cards	PENSION MANAVA (FH) PK 6, Avera P.O. Box 559 Uturoa- RAIATEA Telephone- (689) 66.28.26, Fax- (689) 66.16.66 Contact: Mr. and Mrs.Andrew and Roselyne BROTHERSON Total Units: 6 Mountainside guestrooms Do not accept credit cards
PENSION YOLANDE (PF) (PK 11, Avera), P.O. Box 298, Uturoa- RAIATEA Telephone- (689) 66.35.28, Contact: Mrs. Yolande ROOPINIA Total Units: 5 Lagoon View Guestrooms Do not accept credit cards	PENSION RAUVINE (FH) Pk 8, Avera, P.O. Box 1175- 98 735 Uturoa- RAIATEA Telephone/ Fax- (689)66.25.50 Contact: Mr Josiah BORDES 8 bungalows located on the beach side. Equipped kitchen, private bathrooms w/ cold water, household linens supplied. Roundtrip transfers offered. Do not accept credit cards
RAIATEA VILLAGE (FH) Pk 10, Avera, P.O. Box 282, Uturoa- RAIATEA, Telephone- (689) 66.31.62, Fax- (689) 66.10.65 Contact: Mr. Philippe ROOPINIA, Distance to airport: 11km., Distance to ferrydock: 8km., Total Units: 12, Lagoonside Hotel Accept all major credit cards	HOTEL ATIAPITI (PHF) P.O. Box 884, Uturoa- RAIATEA Telephone- (689) 66.16.65, Fax- (689) 66.16.65 Contact: Marie Claude RAJAUD, Distance to airport: 35 km., Distance to ferrydock: 50 km. Total Units: 10 Lagoonside Hotel, close to Taputapuatea Marae Accept Amex, Visa, and Mastercard only

PENSION TE MAEVA (PF)
P.O. Box 701, Uturoa- RAIATEA, Phone/Fax (689) 66.37.28, Contact: Mrs. Claudine LECLERE
Distance to airport: 25km, Total units: 3 mountainside bungalows
Do not accept credit cards

TAHAA

Same notes as above for mid-range Raiatea, except these places are for the island of Tahaa.

TUPENU VILLAGE (PF) Patio, PO. Box 47- 98 734 Haamene- TAHAA Telephone- (689) 65.62.01, Contact: Mr. and Mrs. Henri & Karine MANEA Total Units: 3 rooms located on the lagoon side. Shared equipped kitchen, shared dining room, exterior shared bathrooms w/ hot water. Household linens supplied. Round trip boat transfers from Uturoa wharf charged. Do not accept credit cards	CHEZ PATRICIA & DANIELLE (PF) BP 104, Haamene- TAHAA Telephone/ Fax- (689) 65.60.83 Contact: Patricia and Daniel AMARU Total Units: 4 bungalows located on the lagoon side, next door to the Hibiscus Sea turtle preserve. Pearl farm, giftshop, french cuisine, vanilla and pearl tours, motu picnics and more. Accept Mastercard, Visa, and Eurocards
PENSION AU PHIL DU TEMPS B.P. 50, Patio- TAHAA, Telephone/ fax- (689) 65.64.19, Contact: Owners name unknown, Total Units: Unknown, Lagoonside bungalows facing Bora bora. Many activities offered! Accept credit cards?- Unknown	PENSION HERENUI (PF) P.O. Box 148, Haamene- TAHAA Telephone- (689) 65.62.60, Fax- (689) 65.64.17 Contact: Mrs. Esther DELORT Close to shuttle service quay, Total Units: 3 Mountainside bungalows Do not accept credit cards
PENSION API (?) Vaitoare- 98734- TAHAA, Telephone/ Fax- (689) 65.69.88, Total Units: 2, Small pension on Tahaa for one or 2 persons. ON waterfront, hot water. Lots of activities on premises include kayaks, snorkeling, bicycles, more. Credit cards? maybe... (TST is looking for more information for this pension...)	HIBISCUS HOTEL (?) (& SEA TURTLE PRESERVE) P.O. Box 184, Haamene- TAHAA Telephone- (689) 65.61.06, Fax- (689) 65.65.65 Contact: Mrs. Tearare ARIITU- MOROU, or Leo Total Units: 5, Haamene bay. The feature attraction at the Hibiscus is the sea turtle park, where they care for rescued sea turtles before releasing them back into the wild. Accept Amex, Mastercard, and Visa

Listed below are refuges for those of you on a tight budget or wishing to save your hard earned money on various activities or Island hopping rather than on lodging.

Amenities can be a bit stark compared to some other more expensive places to stay on the island, but just because it's budget doesn't mean it isn't a great place to stay. Backpackers, students, long term travelers, or campers (see camping details below) - love these places... Accomodations are often simple bungalows, dorm style cottages or rooms utilizing communal style bathrooms, kitchens, and showers.

In our humble opinion, many of these low or mid range choices are among the BEST places to stay, on ALL the islands of Tahititi Polynesia, due to their "family touch." They are the easiest places to have personal contact and interact with the islanders, which most people will find extremely rewarding. Most, if not all the accomodations, are run by family members and they are often very friendly, outgoing, and interesting to meet for any traveler. Great sources of Island information, these locals also can help you organize the many island activities and sights you will be pursuing.

NOTE: Many of these lower budget establishments fall into the same generalized categories and descriptions as the MID-RANGE accomodations above. They are marked with pink abbreviations, which describe their categories. For category details, please see our chart below.

RAIATEA

HOTEL HINANO (CH)
P.O. Box 196, Uturoa- RAIATEA
Telephone- (689) 66.13.13, Fax- (689) 66.14.14
Contact: Mr. Augustin MOULON
Distance to airport: 3km., Distance to boat harbour: 100m.
Total Units: 10
Located in Downtown Uturoa
Accept Visa credit cards only

BELLEVUE BED & BREAKFAST (CH)
P.O. Box 98 Uturoa- RAIATEA
Telephone and fax- (689) 66.15.15, Contact: Mr. Max BOUCHER
Located between airport and ferrydock.
Total Units: 6
Near downtown Uturoa
Do not accept credit cards

SUNSET BEACH MOTEL APOOITI (FH, GC)
Apooiti Bay- RAIATEA, Lagoonside bungalows and MOUNTAINSIDE CAMPGROUND set in beautiful park like setting. Please see LINKING WEBSITE (above) *BACKPACKERS/ ROAMING SURFER'S CHOICE

PETERS PLACE (CH, GC)
P.K.8, Avera, Avera, Taputapuatea- RAIATEA
Telephone- (689) 66.20.01, Contact: Mr. Peter BROTHERSON,
Total Units: 9
Mountainside guestrooms and campground
Do not accept credit cards

PENSION TEPUA (PHF)
BP 1298, Uturoa 98735 -RAIATEA, Telephone-(689) 66.33.00, Fax-(689) 66.32.00
Distance to airport: 8km. Distance to ferrydock: 2.5km
In addition to our mid range bungalows, we also have cut rate dormitories with shared kitchens, baths... Enjoy the same amenities as the bungalow pricing. (pool, television, etc.) Please see LINKING WEBSITE (above) *BACKPACKERS/ ROAMING SURFER'S CHOICE

TAHAA

These pensions are very similiar to our Tahaa mid range listings above, however some may offer a bit lower pricing due to their amenities offered.

CHEZ PASCAL (PF)
Tapuamu- TAHAA
Telephone- (689) 65.60.42, Contact: Mr. Pascal TAMAEHU
Close to ferrydock, Total Units: 7
Mountainside guestrooms and lodging in private home
Do not accept credit cards

PENSION VAIHI (PF)
Hurepiti bay, 98 734 Tiva- TAHAA
Telephone- (689) 65.62.02, Contact: Mrs. Ginette TERAIAMANO
Total Units: 3 fare located on the lagoon side. Shared dining room, private bathrooms w/ cold water, terrace. Household linens supplied. Round trip boat transfers from Uturoa wharf charged.
Do not accept credit cards

CHEZ PERRETTE (PF)
PK 10, Faaopore- TAHAA, Telephone- (689) 65.65.78, Contact: Mrs. Perrette TEHUITUA, Total Units: 3, Lagoonside Guestrooms
Do not accept credit cards

There are no known spots to camp on Tahaa other than at the pensions listed in the above 2 sections... (Go to our camping section for a little more information on camping on Raiatea & Tahaa.)

CAMPING NOTES ON RAIATEA & TAHAA

Unfortunately, camping on Raiatea & Tahaa is rather limited, as it is on the other islands of Tahiti Polynesia. This unpopular fact is in contrast to popular (non local) opinion and desire, but if you insist on bringing your tent, you have a few choices...

The first consists of contacting one of the pensions listed above and asking them if it's allright to pitch your tent on their grounds. There are 2 of them that advertise campgrounds on their premises... (Look for the letters GC). Although not really "camping" in the true sense of the word, you'll definately be able to save money this way and use the communal kitchen, bathroom facilities, and store your valuables with the management, just as if you'd be paying for a room. The camping rates are the lowest of the rock bottom pricing choices for any stays on Raiatea or Tahaa combined.

The second choice is to go deep... meaning get out into the undeveloped interior, but the problem is that TST is presently unaware of WHERE to send you...
(See our camping section on the ISLAND FUN page for a few more details.)

Pension Chart for budget & mid range places to stay on Raiatea & Tahaa

PH: Small Hotels - A similiar group of furnished rooms or lodging units, with at least a minimum of the necessary equipment to provide meals, services and activities.

CH: Guest room - A furnished room in a private lodging, including breakfast as a minimal service. This is the equivalent of a Bed and Breakfast accommodation.

PF: Family Pension - One or more furnished rooms, dormitories or covered shelters located in the proximity of the operator's lodging, with individual or shared facilities, and including two or three meals a day.

FH: Guest House - A furnished lodging located in the poximity of the operators lodging with sanitary facilities, and a dining area for guests.

G: Communal Dormitory - A furnished room located in the proximity of the operator's lodging. There are individual or shared sanitary facilities, and eventually a communal and dining area for guests.

GC: Gite- Camping - In addition to the "Guest house" definition, this category indicates camping space, with shared toilet and shower facilities and a communal kitchen and dining area.

(These classifications were created and are courtesy of the Tahiti Tourism Bureau, and we at Tahiti Sun Travel think they are a great way of organizing the various budget and mid range Places to Stay on the Polynesian Islands.)

WHERE TO STAY ON THE OTHER ISLANDS
See your choices of "WHERE TO STAY" on the other Islands of
Check out Raiatea and Tahaa!

An Internetwork of Travel and Tourism Guides for the Main Islands of Tahiti Polynesia.