Blue Heaven Island

The company is what made it for me: Monique and the others were kind, accommodating, and a lot of fun. Meals were delicious home cooking, and the bungalows, though basic, had comfortable beds, mosquito nets, ceiling fans, and plenty of hot water. The motu is postcard gorgeous. This is a wonderfully authentic bed and breakfast, very different from the overwater bungalow hotels, and proud of that. If you want a genuine MOTU stay with good company, Monique's place is the spot. Thanks to everyone, we’ll be back.

The hospitality was great, and the place itself was really amazing.

I called.

Ellie is the owner, and she’s cheerful and friendly. Getting there from the airport takes about five minutes by boat. Snorkeling tours often gather nearby, and you can paddle a kayak from the hotel to the snorkeling spots. There’s plenty to see along the way, and lots of fish right off the private beach too. I’d read reviews saying other hotels’ beaches had no fish, but there were plenty here. A walk of about ten minutes from the hotel gets you to a sunset view. Meals are shared at the table with Ellie and the other guests, so English or French would make it easy to enjoy, even when traveling alone. I speak neither, but Ellie tried hard to make things fun with a translation app! The bungalow has no air conditioning, and I found it uncomfortable to sleep. With A/C, this would be a five-star place. There are also lots of mosquitoes, so bring repellent and cream for bites. Breakfast costs 2500F and dinner 4000Yen. There’s no fridge and no amenities. Kayaks and snorkeling gear are free.