Lokai house

Stephen gave us a warm welcome and even presented us with a collar of fresh flowers. He also arranged a taxi from the ferry quay. The house is new, nicely decorated, sparkling clean, and everything worked well. There’s a large fenced yard where you can park your vehicle, plus a relaxing front patio. Inside, the bedroom has a king-size bed and an extra single bed for a child. The bathroom is roomy, with a spacious shower, and the kitchen and living space has plenty of room, cooking utensils, and a sofa. A washing machine and drying area are available too. Two bikes can be rented, or are included if you’re a Booking Genius member or meet another qualifying condition. This was easily the best value for the price I found in all of French Polynesia.

My dream come true.

We had a warm welcome and felt looked after in every way. The little house has everything you need, a wonderful view of the mountains, and it’s close to the town center. Thanks again for filling it with flowers, leaving us mangoes, and even putting up a Christmas tree for us! 😊

Lokai House was a huge disappointment during our four months in French Polynesia. We stayed in many different places, and this one felt like poor value for money. The mountain view is beautiful, and Lokai 3 is generally quiet despite barking dogs, the close spacing of the three bungalows, and nearby construction. It is right beside the cemetery. My main concerns were the owner, the way the place was equipped, and the cleanliness. I found the owner unpleasant: her written replies were curt, and when we met she came across as arrogant and rude. She didn’t even greet my wife. I expect she’ll say there’s a conspiracy when she sees this, as she has with earlier reviews that included even minor criticism. Other reviews mention a Polynesian welcome. I’d have preferred shower gel to the token gifts, like a postcard from a fancy hotel with a sticker bearing the accommodation’s name and a small bottle of shampoo diluted with water. In fact, the hand soap and dish soap were diluted too. That felt like an odd bit of stinginess given the price, especially since we chose the largest and most expensive of the three units. We had to ask for bedside lamps and two wine glasses, and got the impression we were asking for the moon. The owner said they were waiting for the guests who broke the lamps to reimburse them, and said they didn’t drink alcohol when we asked about wine glasses. The place also felt shoddy in other ways: exposed gas cylinders, no cushions on the sun loungers, bedside tables at different heights, and a worktop so wide that doing dishes was backbreaking. Ants were everywhere. When I raised it, the owner said nothing could be done and that we were lucky, since her other bungalow had cockroaches. We paid specifically for cleaning, but the property was nowhere near spotless. There were toothpaste marks on the mirror and bathroom cabinet, cobwebs, dust, and dead insects in the corners.