Maitai Express Tahiti

The hotel is right in the city center, a handy stop before or after boarding a cruise. The cruise and ferry terminals are about a five-minute walk away, and the airport is a 10-minute drive, roughly 25-30 USD. Rooms are clean. Breakfast at the hotel costs 36 USD per person, which seems too high when the restaurant opposite offers a similar meal for 12-16 USD.

If you’re arriving by taxi and don’t need to park or drive, the location is ideal. The hotel is downtown near the ocean, so you can walk to everything. The rooms seemed nearly new and were very clean, and the staff were pleasant. Our shower drain backed up and filled the shower with water, but they offered to move us to another room. We could hear karaoke and street traffic, though it wasn’t too loud and we slept fine. Driving is a different matter: parking is scarce, traffic is very heavy, and most cars are manual. If you aren’t comfortable with a stick shift, getting around could be difficult. They offer off-site parking for about $35 USD, several blocks away, with access from only one side of the street. If you’re comfortable navigating a busy city, you should be okay; otherwise, a more rural place may suit you better. We skipped the hotel breakfast because nearby dining spots had more variety for a better price. They do serve breakfast if you want it, I think for around $35 USD per person.

The ferry is an easy walk from here. Our room was clean, the bed was comfortable, and breakfast was good, though the choices were limited. A great place to stay.

Our room stayed quiet even with a few bars nearby. The place was clean and the staff were friendly, and it’s close to downtown and the market. A good stopover in Tahiti. Plan on about 30 USD each way for a taxi to or from the airport.