Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa

The bathroom gave us almost no privacy. There was no bathtub, and the layout made it necessary for one of us to leave the room to use the facilities comfortably. We hadn’t asked for an accessible room, but were assigned one and told the hotel was sold out while it was also taking guests from nearby properties. We’re Hilton Gold members, so that was a surprising experience. We booked this Valentine’s Day trip back in October 2025, but after using the air conditioning on the first night, I developed bad congestion and a cough. The bungalow interiors looked worn, with discolored patches on the hardwood floor that made me wonder about moisture. They feel tired and in need of renovation. The setting is stunning, with beautiful water and mountain views, and clearly a big part of what you pay for. But at this price and under the Hilton brand, I expected better rooms and more consideration for guests. Even getting a simple morning coffee was a hassle. We were told at the breakfast restaurant that coffee was only available with the full buffet, with no light pastries or à la carte option. I hope management takes this seriously. The location deserves accommodations and service to match.

Just outside your room is some of the island’s best snorkeling, and the resort is also within walking distance of a few snack shops. You’ll still really need a car or scooter on Moorea, as you do in most places there. Our OWB was cozy and nicely Tahitian, and we were happy with the room, location, and service. The staff were quick to respond to questions and needs, and went above and beyond several times. Breakfast buffet was amazing, though dinner was mid and the fitness center needs an update. I’d stay here again without question if I weren’t staying at an Air BnB.

The garden bungalow was really comfortable, with its own plunge pool and beautiful traditional woven ceilings. My daughter and I spent five days at the resort and enjoyed our stay enough to hope we can come back. We loved the private lagoon for kayaking and snorkeling. The water is calm and shallow, with lots of tropical fish just 5m from shore. Azusa made us feel welcome when we arrived, and Tehuto and Tomatoe at the snorkelling and towel counter were helpful and shared interesting information. We enjoyed chatting with them. We had dinner at the Crepe Bar on a couple of evenings and recommend it. Huge Jack fish swam right under the deck while we ate. We also booked the Polynesian show and buffet one evening, at $105US per person. I’m glad we did, the performance was entertaining and the food delicious. There’s a cute outdoor cafe bar about 5-10 minutes down the road when you turn right out of the resort. It opens after 11am and makes great smoothies.

I was staying in a house rental on the island this time, so I bought a $170 day pass. It included a two-course lunch, as much beer, soda, and juice as you want, snorkeling gear, access to kayaks and paddleboards, and towels at the pool. Just lovely. I even saw a very healthy sea turtle about 200 yd offshore. I first came to this hotel right after COVID restrictions lifted and absolutely loved it. It’s a good choice if you want quiet, a really good beach, and a fantastic reef to dive. Even 200 yd offshore, the water is only about 7 feet deep, and the coral gets more intricate and beautiful the farther out you go.