Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort is located on the North-East Coast of the island, just 5 minutes away from Temae airport, Vaiare ferries docks, the 18 holes international golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus®. This landmark hotel is built on the longest and most beautiful white sand beach of the island, within a protected marine area maintained by the CRIOBE®.From this hotel, guests have a unique panoramic view on the lagoon and the island of Tahiti. The hotel offers a wide range of accommodation with a total of 110 Luxury Bungalows located in the gardens, directly on the beach or over the water. Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort has the only Luxury Beach Bungalows on Moorea that have unobstructed views of the island of Tahiti, located directly on the beach. Historically, this hotel is the first of the island that built bungalows over the water. Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea has now the largest Luxury Overwater Bungalows in Moorea (83 sq. meters).Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea also features 1 Luxury Villa with 2 bedrooms (150 sq.meters). It has 2 bathrooms, 1 lounge, 1 deck and 1 outdoor jacuzzi®, with a direct access into the lagoon and panoramic views of the island of Tahiti. Dine in Polynesian authenticity at the Pure restaurant with outdoor terrace dining offering complimentary and traditional unique dance shows. For light snacks and exotic cocktails or premium alcohols while admiring the view, try the Vue bar overlooking the infinity pool, the lagoon and Tahiti with weekly live concerts. For light snacks and exotic cocktails during a farniente day on the beach, only steps away from the lagoon, try the Beach bar.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Nestled in a picturesque setting, the Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort captivates many guests with its beautiful beach and proximity to local attractions. While praised for friendly staff and cleanliness, experiences with service can be hit or miss. The atmosphere is a blend of vibrant cultural shows and peaceful gardens.
However, the value for money is a point of contention, with criticisms of high prices and dated rooms. Amenities like excellent snorkeling are a highlight, though some improvements are called for.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Magical
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Meticulous
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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The Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort hotel is ideally located on the most beautiful white sand beach on the island of Moorea. The Resort faces the island of Tahiti, a sublime view if ever there was one.
We were in a garden bungalow, very well spaced from the others, tranquility assured. Very comfortable volume, King size bed, very large Ethernet connected television with access to Canal+, Wifi with good speed, safe, minibar with content included in the price of the room. To avoid plastic bottles, the hotel is now equipped with water fountains, with water bottles provided in the rooms. Slight downside: part of the hotel beach (near the Temae public beach) is covered with small pebbles on the sand, annoying for our city feet, not always used to this nature. Nothing insurmountable, and certainly the consequence of the unstable weather of recent days. On the other hand, on the main buildings and swimming pool side, there are no small stones, the sand is very pleasant.
The water in the lagoon is very clear, due to a slight permanent current that runs along the beach. The coral is alive and invites us on an aquatic hike. The lucky ones will find Tiki submerged next to the coral. Finally, on the pool side, the deckchair area has benefited from an expansion. The water is at a good temperature, allowing us to relax after our check-out.
Tip: if you stay for dinner on Saturday evening, you can enjoy a Polynesian dinner (ma'a Tahiti) and a dance show at the restaurant, and fire dancing on the beach.
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kia Sofitel on Moorea is probably the best location for beach pursuits on the island, located on a perfect lagoon with Easterly aspect and a long and relatively wide beachfront with some great fish to be seen amid ok coral. However the beachfront 'luxury' bungalows seem in need of repair or update, as far as we could tell. In fact we tried 2 of them, since we were unhappy with 401 being nearest to the resort's nautical centre, a few power boats and floating jetty serving the whole resort making it busy and unappealing for a swim out front. Luckily we were moved on negotiation to a bungalow towards the far end of the resort in a spectacular location with the lovely logoon/beach at the door. It was just a few steps for a swim or snorkel entry point. In mild weather sitting on out verandah in the evening with a (complimentary) beer or cup of tea from our room was a delight. Beach furniture was available closer to the shore if we wanted. In case the south wind blows and mucks up the beachfront pleasures, as it did for most of the 5 nights we spent there, a hire car proves essential. Like us, in non beach conditions, you could escape the windy resort to explore this little island - without a set of traffic lights!! driving the circumference in an hour or 2, but slowly at no more than 60kmh. We shopped a bit, tried coffee shops, and a wonderful jungle hike via some archaeologically important but mysterious stone remains of temples, archery platforms and sites of Polynesian villages up to the Belvedere lookout. Recommended! Food at the Sofitel resort was expensive and generally ok but it seemed there were no better prices at non-hotel restaurants and cafes we outside. We did not try the roulottes but our previous experience on Tahiti indicated these are no bargains either since it is true that everything is very expensive in beautiful French Polynesia.
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Patrice AIRA
, Directeur général at Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort
Responded Aug 2, 2024
Dear X2158RJlaurav, Thank you for sharing your experience with us following your stay at the Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort. We are delighted to hear that your second bungalow met your expectations, and we hope you will cherish wonderful memories of your holidays in French Polynesia. We look forward to welcoming you back soon to our little piece of paradise. Warm regards,
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At the lookout at the top of the hill behind the resort we heard a group of people on a day trip from the cruise say that they thought it looked like the most beautiful place in the world - THIS IS SO TRUE. The water and setting is absolutely amazing. Warm, clear and calm water that took our breath away, so much so that we did not have to do a snorkelling tour as it was literally at our doorstep. We stayed two nights in an overwater bungalow. We appreciated all the small gestures from staff to make our experience unforgettable. Being able to swim right off our bungalow was amazing and felt really authentic. The little touches, like the outdoor shower and complementary drink bottles (which were amazing to keep water cold all day) to the reef and coral conservation under our bungalow made our stay extra special. The breakfast was delicious and the service at the dive shop was great (complementary snorkel hire and 1hr of water sports). The restaurants were quite expensive (although you just have to accept that Tahiti overall is expensive) so our advice would be to make the most of the happy hour at the bar or dine elsewhere (lots of places will pick you up if you do not have a car). The resort was quiet and very relaxing (not heaps of children running around) so makes for the perfect place to unwind, chill out and really feel like you are on holiday!
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This resort overlooks a fabulous lagoon with lovely coral and fish. The color of the water is spectacular. The bungalows are comfortable and spacious. The staff is friendly. For over $1000 a night here are 3 inexpensive suggestions that would improve the experience at this beautiful resort 1.fix the broken beach chairs around the pool and the beach and make sure there are enough so guests don’t feel a need to leave belongings out on the chairs early in the mornings 2.fix all the lighting on the paths so guests do not stumble on the crumbling concrete paths on their way back to their rooms after dark 3.install a shelf or hanging device in the shower so the soap,shampoo and conditioner do not need to be left on the shower floor 4. Provide more towels around pool area and in lobby for guests to use before and after checkin. There were facilities for showering, but no towels.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveling to French Polynesia for the first time we were tempted to get an overwater bungalow, but decided on a beachfront bungalow instead and we are so glad we did. We were literally steps from the beach. The beach never felt crowded, there were plenty of chairs and the water was beautiful. Getting into the water was very rocky, it helps to wear Teva or water shoes. Once you get into the water about up to your waist, you're on soft sand.
Our bungalow was very clean and spacious. We had a king bed and sofa, large bathroom with dual sinks and a large shower where you could open the doors, have complete privacy and feel like you were bathing outdoors. There was a very large covered porch facing the water. The only negative was the bedding consisted of a heavy down comforter. No top sheet, no blanket or matelasse cover, just a heavy down comforter or nothing. I don't know why you would need a heavy down comforter in the South Pacific. The breakfast buffet was excellent, foods of every different type were available and the chef who cooked the made to order omelettes was wonderful. Unfortunately, we did not think the dinners were good at the Pure restaurant. Several times we ordered fish and it was always overcooked. We ate dinner there every night and found the menu limited. The Polynesian dinner show and buffet was great, well worth the money.
We rented a car and drove around the island, but unfortunately we didn't know that everything is closed on Sunday. Being you are in French Polynesia, it helps immensely if you know some French, many people speak very little or no English. After checkout we were able to sit on the beach and use the pool, then take a shower and change. The room was clean and well equipped with soap, towels, toiletries and hair dryer.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sabine Lamberts, Directeur général at Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort
Responded Aug 10, 2023
Dear Joisey46, Mauruuru, as we say in Tahitian for your magnificent and detailed comment after your stay at the Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort. We are happy to have offered you a magnificent bungalow, well located and close to our magnificent lagoon. We are sorry that our Sofitel bed did not meet your expectations, also we will share your comments with our Chef, to improve the quality of our services. We hope to welcome you again in our corner of paradise. With my personal regards,
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A resort as I like them: the staff makes all the difference!
The site is remarkable, with a white sandy beach that offers a safe bathing quality.
The restaurant is of good quality, very fresh, without playing in the courtyard of the great tables of Polynesia.
Bungalows on the lagoon like those in the garden are very clean, everything is functional. The staff responds in any case during the slightest failure this (our hair dryer was changed in less than 5 minutes).
Jeanne, at the service, is in a cheerful and infectious mood, like her other colleagues.
Special congratulations to Hans, the chef at the breakfast, who also brings a very positive energy and “does the show” while remaining very Leader.
The staff is always smiling, and you can feel that they like to pamper their customers.
In the end, an Inn may not be as dashing as an Interconti Bora or Conrad Bora Bora Nui, but given the much lower rates, it remains a safe choice for those who want an authentic stay without going bankrupt.
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
While we stayed at a nice beach in the Moorea Sunset Beach, we both agreed that we did miss the sunbeds/loungers there and decided that we are OK to pay to have them while on the beach (I am surprised this is not a common practice to rent them out just like that around FP like it is in Caribbeans), and also I would lie if I said the views from the Toatea Lookout didn't sell us on this Day Pass either :)
For about $162 USD total for 2 people we had access to the Temae beach, which is of course a free public beach (reviewed separately) but with plenty of shade, beach loungers/chairs/hammocks/swings, 2 course lunch (full access to their menu, not limited like we had experienced in Bora Bora at Thalasso) at their PURE restaurant (reviewed separately, excellent experience!!! and value!!!) with big cold sparkling water and espresso machine coffee, towels, snorkeling gear, and no limitation to the area where we can hang around and explore - and this is a beautiful beachfront property with gardens, decks etc. so it's a definitely a big plus of that (once again a big plus vs. Thalasso in Bora Bora where we were alienated to a small stretch on the beach...).
The only negative... the drinks for about $25 USD at the beach bar... that could be a bit more "accessible" I would say :)
It was an amazing experience and outstanding value - for someone who didn't care to stay here as it's more of a honey moon nest for couples and you are a bit separated from the rest of the world living in a bubble, which is of course a great selling point for a dream vacation for that type of couples, I loved the ability to fully experience this place as a Day Spa and would highly recommend it to everyone, put your reservations aside and give it a shot, I think you will love it, especially if you appreciate good snorkeling as it was excellent in this side of Tamae beach, and that meal at PURE was a star for sure as well.
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Date of stay: October 2024
Value
Location
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Patrice AIRA
, Directeur général at Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort
Responded Nov 25, 2024
Dear reedmangreg, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience after your day pass visit. We are truly delighted to know that you had a satisfying experience. Your feedback is the highest recognition for our teams, and we will gladly share your kind words with them as a source of encouragement. We look forward to the pleasure of welcoming you back to our little corner of paradise in the future. Warm regards,
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At the outset, I must say that I am impressed by the drinking water policy at Sofitel Moorea which is brilliant and very ecological. On the other hand, we are surprised that this same policy does not apply to the dining room where plastic and glass containers are still used. To better justify my intervention, allow me to quote your policy: “Help us say goodbye to single-use plastics. We are pleased to offer you reusable water bottles. We provide you with fresh water fountains near the ice dispensers, and the running water is drinkable. By making this choice, you are helping us shape a sustainable future.” So, since the water from fountains is drinkable, why not offer pitchers of water with ice cubes at the dining room tables? This way, all single-use plastic containers would be eliminated and your drinking water policy would be uniform. It is very embarrassing to be refused courteous service in the dining room because we support your ecological drinking water policy and refuse to consume bottled water. It would be appropriate to better inform the dining room staff on this subject or to clearly indicate that there are two separate policies regarding bottled drinking water at Sofitel.
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mo'orea and it's offerings are top notch. As a seasoned traveler, this place has great people and beautiful terrain. My family and I decided to spend a week here working and spending time together over the holidays, it was very good for us.
We stayed at the Sofitel and have mixed reviews about it. It states as being a 5 star hotel,but it is not quite up to that ranking.
We stayed in the only 2 bedroom villa they offered and everything was good with the villa. Although it is lagoon front and not over water, it was still lovely with beautiful views.
Our issues with the hotel is their service and catering to their guests. First, it is extremely expensive for any food or drink. Food choices were limited and repetitive, drinks were overpriced, and service.
Although very friendly, the service was lack luster and slooooow. I suspect this may be a matter of training or staff shortage.
Normally, I wouldn't care about a few dysfunctional items but when they started stacking up, I started taking notice so pardon if it seems nitpick but it just was the entire constellation of things that was frustrating (one or two no big deal but all together were noteworthy):
All ice machines were not functioning (with no signage to indicate such) The sandy beach was lovely in front of the pool but there was no shade or set up beach chairs to enjoy it.
No beach/pool service attendant for drinks or towels (had to hunt down towels in the restaurant or at the dive shop which was a short walk down the beach).
No foot wash for sand when coming off the beach and showers were way far away from the sand/salt of the beach and only near the pool exit.
Service issues - no one to ask for repeat drink orders, forgot condiments and place settings, wait times for food to arrive were extensive.
Daily turn down service cane at 5:30-6p while we were trying to wash up from the day before going to dinner and was only a couple hours after housekeeping had come (better to be offered later in the evening).
But, the great things are also listable:
People are sooooo friendly, generous and kind Polynesian show/dancing was excellent! Local Polynesian dishes were tasty and well prepared (lots of raw fish salads) Water sports (paddle boards/kayaks/snorkels/etc) were all included Perfect calm lagoon to swim and snorkel in front of the resort Restocked minibar daily with beer/water/coffee/juices AC worked great! Quick check-in and room available early Champagne welcome bottle Turn down service with a bathroom refresh
I suggest trying an air bnb and exploring restaurants that are on the island. They have a lot of offerings and top notch service unlike the sofitel.
If you do decide to stay at the resort, make sure to venture out as the local markets and businesses are excellent.
Sofitel Mo'orea is at best a 4 star.
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Lagoon view and over the water rooms are worth the extra money.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sabine Lamberts, Directeur général at Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort
Responded Jan 10, 2023
Dear rcphx101, We thank you for taking the time to share your experience after your stay at the Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort. Regretfully, we did not have the chance to meet you in person to discuss about the service. Please be assured that all your remarks are listened to carefully. The well-being and happiness of our guests is at the heart of our concerns and we are sincerely sorry that you did not feel it. However, we are happy that you appreciated the kindness and availability of our teams, as well as the Polynesian show. We will share these compliments with our chefs and their teams. Your satisfaction is the best reward for them. We hope that you will keep confidence in our brand and that we will have the pleasure of welcoming you again. Best wishes for 2023 !
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We stayed in a superior overwater bungalow for two nights, and found it to be an exceptional experience. While the price makes this a splurge, the accommodations are certainly unique, and the waters surrounding the property are brutal clear and simply beautiful. The ability to enter the lagoon from your back deck to swim and snorkel is awesome, and every trip along the walkway to and from the bungalow brought a few of loads of beautiful fish. The glass view port on the bungalow floor almost always offered views of fish both day and night. The included breakfast buffet was excellent, and in general the food and bar services at the hotel were excellent. The hotel provided loaner snorkel equipment at no charge. The personnel at the property were friendly and helpful throughout our stay. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and wish it could have been for longer.
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Date of stay: February 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:The overwater bungalows while expensive were exceptional. We superior bungalow with open view...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Patrice AIRA
, Directeur général at Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort
Responded 2 weeks ago
Dear Gary F, We thank you for taking the time to share your wonderful experience at Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort. We are thrilled to hear that you found your stay in our superior overwater bungalow to be exceptional and that you enjoyed the breathtaking beauty of our lagoon and the vibrant marine life. It's delightful to know that our complimentary snorkel equipment and the breakfast buffet added to your memorable stay. We take great pride in our team's dedication to providing friendly and helpful service, and it is gratifying to know that they contributed positively to your experience. We sincerely appreciate your feedback, and we look forward to welcoming you back for an even longer stay in the future. With best regards,
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They do, i have called
The hotel directly - most of them ask just a few days in advance as they are based on the hotel occupancy at that time - i have mentioned thr cost and more info in my revirw here recently from Oct 2024 as
We did exactly that
There are more places to choose from in the Te'avaro area.
PRICE RANGE
C$776 - C$1,068 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
sofitel moorea ia ora beach hotel maharepa, sofitel moorea beach resort, sofitel maharepa, maharepa sofitel
LOCATION
French PolynesiaSociety IslandsMooreaTe'avaro
NUMBER OF ROOMS
110
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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