Hilton Hotel Tahiti

We spent three nights here before our cruise, then came back on a day pass to wait ten hours for our flight home. It’s a short ride to the airport, cruise terminal, and downtown Papeete. The hotel is new and beautiful, with lovely Christmas decorations when we visited. Our comfortable king room was clean and quiet, with a balcony looking over the harbor. The pool is huge, warm, and inviting. We enjoyed the swim-up bar, though getting a drink took a long time. Breakfast was excellent each day, with a great selection and service, and our meals at the restaurants were great too. The staff were friendly and accommodating, and free self-parking was a bonus with our rental car for exploring the island. The day pass covered lunch, the pool and other facilities, plus a beautiful travelers lounge. It’s an expensive hotel, with room, drink, and food prices on the high side. You get what you pay for, though, and yes, I’d recommend staying here in Tahiti.

The dining staff were very friendly, and we liked the breakfast buffet, especially the crepes. Fruit flies and other bugs were a struggle even in the dining area, though. The location still works well for a transit stop, but it doesn’t feel like a four-star hotel. The suites are dated, even though the bathrooms are nice. The tub is so high that getting in felt like an acrobatic exercise. There were visible water stains by the air conditioning unit and what looked like paint showing.

We had a great stay at this proper resort. The food was yummy, the service courteous, and there was live music in the afternoons and evenings. Our beautiful room had a balcony facing the pool and ocean. Across the street there’s even a small shopping mall with a grocery store, connected to the hotel by a bridge. Perfect.

The grounds, restaurants, and pool make an impressive first impression, with plenty of space to sit and unwind. The food was excellent too, and we had some of the finest sashimi here. The rooms are the weak point. They felt old, musty, and damp, and the furniture was worn out. They really need renovation.