Ra'iatea & Taha'a
This mellow beachside spot has a beautiful but remote location next to Marae Taputapuatea and has a great pontoon to jump off for snorkelling (a manta ray…
Must-see hotels in French Polynesia
Ra'iatea & Taha'a
A row of small yet very comfortable and polished wooden bungalows line a gorgeous stretch of blue water with Bora Bora in the distance. Even though the…
Mo'orea
The infinity pool here is the island’s best. There's a wide range of accommodation options, including duplex units for families as well as less expensive…
Bora Bora
The name is misleading: there’s nothing vaguely ‘eco’ or ‘lodge’ in this modest pension featuring six self-contained bungalows in Anau village. You won't…
Mo'orea
The vast, lush garden and creative, smartly finished bungalows – it helps that the American owner is a carpenter – make this a good option on Mo’orea, but…
Pape'ete
With prices that nudge it into the midrange category, this resort is one of the better deals on the island. The ’70s-style exterior could use a facelift,…
Mo'orea
This relaxing cocoon with a boutique feel offers all the luxuries of the fancy resorts, but with enough intimacy and local flavour to remind you that you…
Ra'iatea & Taha'a
Raiatea Lodge pays elegant homage to colonial architecture, with a two-storey plantation-style building sitting quietly at the back of a coconut…
Ra'iatea & Taha'a
A good base for budget travellers. The four rooms are bare and the partition walls are thin, but they’re clean and colourfully decorated, the shared…
Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort
Bora Bora
Perhaps the least self-conscious resort on Bora Bora, laid-back Sofitel Marara is sandwiched between the coastal road and the lagoon, which doesn’t…
Bora Bora
This splendid resort extends along a ravishing stretch of porcelain sand, on a hilly motu. With 120 units, including 84 overwater bungalows and hillside…
French Polynesia
A more congenial place you'll be hard-pressed to find. Viriamu is from Rurutu, his wife Elin is Welsh, and you'll get the best of both worlds. There are…
Fakarava
This comfortable pension is run by Flora, who spends her days fine-tuning the garden and making sure there’s not a speck of dust in any of the four well…
Le Taha’a Private Island & Spa
Ra'iatea & Taha'a
One of the country's most exclusive resorts, the exceptional Motu Tau Tau setting has views of Taha'a on one side and Bora Bora on the other (a short walk…
Maupiti
Tucked away in a beautifully landscaped garden, this pension with a definite family-run feel offers an affordable lagoonside tropical oasis. The house has…
Bora Bora
Right on Matira Beach, this is surely one of the most divinely situated hotels in Bora Bora, especially if you score one of the dearer bungalows (nos 1…
French Polynesia
This well-run pension has five bungalows that were built in late 2015. They’re modern, comfortable and well equipped, and the garden setting is very…
Fakarava
On the ocean side of Rotoava (no beach), this backpackerlike option is a great deal for solo travellers; eight no-frills, teeny but practical bungalows in…
French Polynesia
Mangareva’s best option lies in a super-quiet property edging a lovely bay on the opposite side of the island from Rikitea. There are four immaculate…
Huahine
This excellent-value place right in the centre of Fare – it’s in front of the quay – offers seven simple but comfortable rooms with fans and bathrooms …
Fakarava
What an exquisite spot! Imagine a small, sandy bay fringed with coconut palms and lapped by turquoise waters. Choose between two family-sized semi…
The Tuamotus
A hot favourite with honeymooners, this intimate resort (there are only 38 units) boasts a stunning position between endless swaths of white- and pink…
Fakarava
This pension offers four rustic bungalows made from natural materials in a delightful location on the lagoon. They maintain a fair level of comfort but…
The Tuamotus
Jean-Louis, your friendly host, rents out two compact yet colourful and neat rooms in his modest house. For more privacy, opt for the snug bungalow (with…
Ra'iatea & Taha'a
There’s only one ultraprivate hillside bungalow here, so if it’s privacy you’re after, this place may fit the bill. Plenty of deck space lets you lounge…
Mo'orea
Concealed behind a rather dull wall is this welcoming place run by a French-Tahitian couple. The two rooms in the owners’ house are immaculate; try for…
Bora Bora
This longstanding institution is starting to show its age, especially the tired bathrooms. But overall it's not bad value given the irresistible location…
Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa
Bora Bora
Of all Bora Bora’s top-end options, the Pearl has the strongest Polynesian feel. The 50 overwater bungalows are lovely, but the 20 garden suites, which…
Ra'iatea & Taha'a
Laid-back Les 3 Cascades has four spartan but clean rooms opening onto an airy communal area with a guest kitchen. The three free-standing bungalows offer…
Mo'orea
After something extra-special? Make a beeline for this tropical cocoon with spiffing water frontage. Here you’ll go giddy over the exuberant, slightly…
Huahine
In a remote, lush tropical garden bursting with all sorts of exotic trees, the four rustic Polynesian-style bungalows here all have a private hot-water…
Pape'ete
This guesthouse is in a spotless and stylish cement home in a quiet area not far from the centre of town. The tiled rooms are simple but nicely decorated…
Sofitel Ia Ora Moorea Beach Resort
Mo'orea
No, you're not hallucinating, the lagoon here is that turquoise. This excellent, modern Polynesian resort sports 114 units, including 39 opulent overwater…
Maupiti
What a delightful spot! Here the setting is the clear winner: the property edges onto fabulous jade waters, right on Tereia Beach. Choose between a room…
Maupiti
Watch dolphins frolicking in the waves from a little wooden deck (with Bora Bora as a backdrop), take a dip in the lagoon, relax in an attractive tropical…
Rangiroa
A cross between a family-run place and a hotel, this is a reassuring choice with no surprises (good or bad) up its sleeves. It features 10 bungalows that…
The Tuamotus
This family-run pension offers a divine location, on a wide sandy beach lapped by topaz waters. Ask for one of the four individual beachfront bungalows…
Around Tahiti Nui
This hotel is an odd mix of a resort and serviced apartments. Units are modern with clean lines and you won't have staff fawning over you during your stay…
Around Tahiti Nui
Right on the waterfront, Taaroa Lodge has the most luxe location for the price tag on this coast. The dorm is basic and the one private en-suite room…
Bora Bora
This Sofitel strikes a good balance between luxury, seclusion, privacy (there are only 31 units) and convenience – on tiny Motu Piti Uu Uta, it’s just…
