Tapu Lodge

It’s wonderful here, though I’m reluctant to give away this secret.

Perfect.

We had a fridge issue on December 31st, and our hosts had it fixed in ten minutes 😁. They were generous and efficient throughout. The house sits above the lagoon with a superb view, and you can reach the pontoon through the owner's garden. There are several houses, but we weren't disturbed by the neighbors. Dogs roam freely around the island. The equipment is simple.

The location and the well-kept garden, including the children's playground, were the only good parts for us. We had planned to stay two nights, but left after one because the place was far too expensive for what we found. The so-called private beach was a slippery boat ramp down to a marshy shore. Inside, the floor was dusty and dirty, there were rat droppings on the beds, the sheets had holes, and the bedding looked ancient. When I went to bathe my baby, the shower smelled strongly of urine and had no hot water. The pipes drained poorly, the fans were broken, and there wasn't even a trash bag in the bin. We got no welcome at all, just a Wi-Fi code left on the table. Reception said the pool was under construction, although the Tapu Lodge Facebook page said it had been closed permanently since January. I called the owner to explain why we were leaving. She showed no reaction, said guests were breaking the equipment, and told me I should have paid more for a single night. I said it wasn't worth even half of what we'd paid and that a guesthouse needs upkeep and should reinvest its income in improving the accommodation. She replied that she wasn't the one receiving the money. Honestly, she had some nerve. Don't run a business if you don't have the time or inclination to look after it properly. This kind of guesthouse seriously harms Moorea's image with tourists. There are better places on Moorea for less money.