InterContinental Resort Tahiti by IHG

The lagoon right beside the resort was a nice surprise. We saw an eel, several little sharks, and puffer fish while snorkeling there, though not many guests seemed to try it. Our diving trips were also excellent, and the boat ride from the resort took only about 10 minutes. The sand style pool near Le Lotus was one of the best I've seen. There’s also a standard pool and another one set up for snorkeling with fish. Our top floor room was spacious and clean, with a garden view over the sand pool and ocean. It was fairly bare, but the bed was plush and the AC was quiet. There are decent places to eat, especially Le Lotus, though prices are high for food that’s okay rather than great. Breakfast had plenty of choices, but most of it didn’t stand out beyond the fruit. After staying at six hotels or resorts in French Polynesia, I’d put this among the better ones for a few days if you’re content to remain on the property. Papeete and the airport are close, but walking outside the hotel isn’t pleasant and there isn’t much within reach unless you have a car.

We had a lot of fun at the Sunday brunch, with its huge spread and Tahatian dancers. The lagoon is handy for snorkeling without heading out into the ocean. The rooms were clean and new, and this is one of the nicest resorts we’ve stayed at.

The staff were the best part of our one night in Tahiti. Everyone was so kind, especially the receptionist, who welcomed us warmly, suggested places to visit, and made arriving feel special. From outside, the pool area looks lovely, and seeing the small and large turtles and fish around the property was great. Inside, though, the resort feels dated, and our room did too. It was worn, with an old wooden floor and no carpet, and didn’t seem properly cleaned. The sheets even felt sandy once we got into bed, which was really disappointing. The Polynesian Dance Show is absolutely worth seeing. I can’t say the same for the buffet: the food was bland, the meat dry, and it wasn’t worth the price. I was also concerned by the hygiene around the buffet, where things looked old and there were cockroaches. At what we paid, I think you can find a better hotel in Tahiti, so I’d consider the options carefully at this price.

Before catching the ferry to Mo’orea, we grabbed a pina coolada at the bar, the best one we had all trip. Earlier, our 8am jet ski ride gave us a chance to spot sea life in the lagoon before it headed out for the day. We saw a sea turtle, rays, and dolphins!!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! We stayed in Room 194 for our first night after arriving for our honeymoon. It was right by the pool and Le Lotus Restaurant, with a perfect sunrise view. Breakfast was a huge buffet of fruit, baked goods, and hot dishes. The scrambled eggs were the best I’ve ever had, and the service was fantastic. Such an amazing start to our vacation.