Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa
The Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa Hotel is located on the island of Moorea, Morrea is the island close to Tahiti in French Polynesia. You reach the hotel over the main route of the island in approximately 15 to 20 minutes and in 20 – 25 minutes from the ferry pier on Moorea.
The hotel is set between Cook Bay and Opunoho Bay at the coast, the island is surrounded by a coral reef and therefore the water is not really deep, next to the bungalows only 1.50 meters. One hasto be careful, there are every now and then rocks and corals.
The hotels consists only of bungalows, there is no real hotel building with rooms. From the parking lot a way leads you to the lobby, which is an open building. There are a few lounge chairs with tables, the desk of the concierge and the Hilton HHonors desk. On the left side is the check in area, staffed usually with one or two agents checking in and out guests.
Behind the lobby building are two shops, one sells pearls, while the other one sells different types of beverage and small food items, souvenirs and other items such as sun lotion. A bit further on is a fish pond and the “Eimeo” Bar. The bar features also a billiard table and offers views to the sea. The bar is open from 17:30 to 22:30. At this place could be also found the tour desk, where on could book several guided tours over the island which closes the same time the bar opens. Next to the bar is the “Arii
Vahine” restaurant. It servers in the morning between 06:30 and 10:30 breakfast and in the evening between 18:30 and 22:30 dinner. The breakfast is served American Buffet style, while dinner is served à la carte. The restaurant offers like the bar next door views to the sea and has also a small balcony with tables.
In the basement of this building are meeting rooms located.
The hotel has a free from outdoor pool with a Jacuzzi. Next to the pool is the desk of the so-called “Nautic center” where on gets snorkel equipment, life west and paddles for one of the canoes or can rent a scooter. Also close to the pool is the “Grill & Bar Rotui”, which is open from 11:00 to 17:00 and serves beverages as well as snacks and burgers.
The Spa could be accessed from the beach. It offers various treatments and massages. The rates for a 30 min balinese massage are from 5500 XPF up, depending on the type and duration of massage booked. In general, a massage is a more pricier thing here than for example in Thailand or Indonesia.
The gym is in a stand-alone building across the street form the hotel. It comes with two tennis courts with floodlight. The gym is rather small, there is a stepper, a bike and cardiovascular equipment, but no treadmills. The machines are older and in not so good conditions; there are in a strong need of a replacement. Also the gym could become easily crowded with more than four persons in it. Air condition is available, but the unit is too small given the room size.
The garden bungalows are on the right side of the lobby building, Closer to the street are bigger double bungalows, while closer to the beach are single bungalows. The most garden bungalow have a small plunge pool.
The overwater bungalows are connected by a pier. On this pier is the the open-air Bar “Toatea” which is open from 18:00 to 22:00.
stays January 02, 2010 -
visited on Escape to French Polynesia
Arrival Date: 02 January 2010
Departure Date: 09 January 2010
Room type booked: Bungalow ( got Overwater Bungalow)
Rate Plan: Special Rate
Room Number: 57
Room Rate: Special Rate XPF
Status of Guest Program: Gold
We reached the hotel around 18:00 and parked our rental car and walked to the check in. We were friendly greeted by one of the agent working there and the reservation was found. However, he asked for a printed confirmation and of the HHonors Gold Card. The reason for this was not told, so we could only guess it must have been something to do with the special rate we had booked. Anyway, we told him we forward the mail to the hotel later
the day.
The main guest was addressed by name.
We were given information about the hotel and were told we had been upgraded from a garden to an overwater bungalow. The hotel is still undergoing renovation of the garden bungalows and not all bungalows were finished yet, so there were a bit short of garden bungalows and therefore we sneaked an upgrade to an overwater bungalow. A voucher for 300 minutes free internet were also given to us and were told that continental breakfast was complimentary for us due to the HHonors Gold Status.
A member of staff brought us to our bungalow with a golf cart.
The overwater bungalow could be reached over a pier and our bungalow was the second one on that pier, what means they were a little bit noisier than the one further away from the beach. The overwater bungalows were renovated a few month ago.
After entering the bungalow one was standing in a small corridor. Here was the wardrobe with safe, iron and ironing board. Tea and coffee facilities were placed here as well as the minibar and a small HiFi system with radio and CD-player. On the other side of the corridor was the bathroom. The bathroom had an open window to the bathroom, with could be closed by a electrically operated shade. The bathroom was large with two sinks, a separate toilet. There was a stand alone bath and a separate shower, which had
a hand shower and a rain shower head. Everything was very modern and in very good shape. A hairdryer was placed in a drawer between the two sinks and on the right sink was a small cosmetic / shaving mirror. In addition behind each sink was a bigger mirror. Bathroom amenities were by Crabtree & Evelyne and restocked if used more than half. Two bathrobes, but no slippers, were also provided to the use by the guests. Towels were available for two or three persons and only restocked if needed. However, the system
of “towel-changing” was a bit odd. Placing them on or in the bath means we got new ones, but the used ones were not always taken away.
The bathroom was open to the ceiling, which gave them a nice airy touch. The downside was, that there were lights at the ceiling and if you switch them on, they also gave light to the sleeping / living room. Especially during the night or in the evening this could be a bit disturbing for the roommate.
The room had a sofa with a lounge chair and table on the right side. There was also a window on the floor so one could see the water below the bungalow. A light could be used during the night to illuminate the water. Behind the sofa was a window and on the left side were a small working desk with a lamp and a power outlet under the desk. Three spot lights over the sofa gave light to this area of the room. On the left side was the bed with two bedside table with lamps on it. On the left one was the phone placed
while on the right one was the Hilton signature alarm clock. In addition to the lamps on the bedside table there were two wall mounted reading lights over the bed – unfortunately only one was working.
A big wall mounted Flat TV was next to the sofa, but it was only visible from the bed.
The air condition unit was wall mounted over the entrance to the room from the corridor. A remote control was available for the air condition. In addition to the air condition there was a fan at the ceiling and shades could be opened to let fresh air in the room.
A terrace could be reached by a sliding door from the room. Here were a table with two chairs and two sun chairs for the use by the guests in the room. A lower deck with a ladder to the sea could be reached by stairs from the balcony. The ladder was a bit slippery, but the water was not deep. A shower was available on this deck.
The room and the furniture were in mediocre condition, there were several stains and scratches at the wall and on the floor as well as the furniture. It seems, that the furniture was not exchanged while the room was renovated. According to a friend, who knows this hotel from the time as it has been a Sheraton, the masterpiece of the renovation was the bathroom, while the room seems not get much attention during the renovation process. On the other hand, the room has some local touch and it is not a faceless hotel
room which could be everywhere between Aberdeen and Zurich.
Breakfast was served in the restaurant “Arii Vahine” as American Buffet. In addition to a good selection of fresh exotic fruit like mangos, pineapples, papayas, oranges, melons, cereals, salads, cheese and meat like salami, roast beef, there are hot itmes like bacon, sausages, rice, vegetables, scrambled and boiled eggs, Omelette, french toast, pancakes are available on request and prepared by a cook. Fresh fruit are also available (the types vary from day to day, but fresh squeezed orange juice is available
every day). Bread, rolls, pastries area also available as well as different types of jam and marmalade and peanut butter. Coffee and tea bags with hot water are brought to the table by staff. The attitude of staff varies from friendly and attentive to unfriendly and ignoring dirty dishes. However, they became more friendlier and attentive later during our stay. The quality was okay and especially the bread was really good. A continental breakfast goes for 2500 XPF and an American Buffet for 3400 XPF.
The staff in the Rotui Grll & Bar was also not very friendly and attentive, especially one female member of staff, while the male one were friendlier. The food and the portions were large. The prices however were more of the higher side, a Cesar Salad or a Hilton Burger is 1900 XPF, a tonic, coke for 310 XPF and a juice for 400 XPF.
Check out was okay, the bill was okay and we paid the evening before our departure to be on the safe side. The folio was correct, however they forgot to give me my credit card back and I did not notice it at once. Of course, they brought it later to our room.
Overall it is a nice hotel in a nice location. The rooms are a bit dated in terms of furniture, but have a local touch. The atmosphere in the hotel is relaxing and easy going, unfortunately the staff has also a bit of these easy going attitude. The organization of the hotel seems sometimes a bit unstructured – you have to give them the information they have mailed to you or should have in their system. But again it is a nice location to relax, though the rates are not cheap and the value for money is better in
other places. Not to be reachable by mobile however is priceless.
