Vandrarhem i Society Islands

"Overall Experience: The leisure facilities here are excellent. I especially loved the sand-bottom pool and the spacious pool area with two pools and very comfortable sunbeds. Complimentary hot and cold water, towels, and even sunscreen are available by the pools, which is very convenient. The lagoonarium is a real highlight, with easy access for snorkeling (definitely bring bathing shoes due to stonefish). It’s lovely to watch the turtles swimming by. Some evenings feature Polynesian dance shows. I appreciated the inclusivity of performers of different sizes, shapes, and ages. The vegetarian dish I ordered was outstanding-easily the best and most thoughtfully composed vegetarian meal I had during an entire month in French Polynesia. There’s also a nice gift shop with reasonable prices. They offer a shuttle to central Papeete a few times a day at a lower cost than a taxi, which is a nice service. Room: This is a large resort, so you may need to walk a bit to get to your room. It’s worth requesting a room close to the area of the resort where you plan to spend most of your time. While there was nothing wrong with the room I got, it didn’t feel particularly special given the price. I had a room facing the side of one of the buildings, which likely impacted the experience. If I were to stay again, I would definitely pay extra for an ocean-facing room, as it seems much more worth it at this price point. Room: 3 stars, Amenities: 5 stars."

"The pictures look much better than the reality. The hotel is old and worn out. The service was the most disappointing thing though. I understand the worn out furnitures etc due to the climate and general state of hotels in the area. But the service was poor. Would barely help with restaurant reservations - and when going down to reception to get help, the man working got annoyed I came down for help. He even told me to talk to the restaurant myself and handed me the phone from reception. Moreover, their restaurant staff does not speak english very well. He would not understand our questions regarding the fish and how it was cooked (pregnant wife) and seemed to get annoyed/frustrated by our questions. Simply no warmth in this hotel from the staff. The only time the service was (or seemed) good was during check-in when they explained everything and told us they were there for us and to come to them for any kind of questions or requests. But saying it is different than actually doing it. The waters by this property is not the best either. Only good thing is that Matira public beach is nearby. I would not come back to this hotel honestly. Our next stay at the Conrad was MILES ahead in terms of service (not even comparing the facilities). "

"It does the job of getting a nights sleep before an early flight the next day. No more, no less. The walk to the hotel is a bit tedious with luggage. "