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Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa Review

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Once you experience Moorea’s pristine, clear waters, vibrant coral, and welcoming locals, you’ll understand the lure of the beautiful island. Moorea is a French Polynesian island only 11 miles away from the busy island of Tahiti, although it feels much farther removed from urban life. The options for a hotel on Moorea are limited as the island isn’t densely populated. The Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa is one of the largest resorts and is considered the best on the island. It has a variety of amenities and room options, including overwater bungalows. It’s the perfect place to enjoy Moorea’s beauty. 

a women in a floral dress walking down a wooden sidewalk in front of beach bunaglows
Walking through the bungalows at the Hilton Moorea

How to Get to Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa

The Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa, located in French Polynesia, is over 4,000 miles from the mainland United States. Getting there is a journey in itself. There is not a direct flight to Moorea from the United States.

First, you must fly to Papeete, Tahiti, at the Faa’a International Airport. Direct flights from the US leave from Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles regularly. If you’re coming from Hawaii, as I was, Hawaiian Airlines has a once-weekly flight from HNL to Faa’a. 

From Faa’a, you can take a 15-minute Air Tahiti flight to Moorea or a short ferry ride from Papeete’s pier to Moorea. Most people take the ferry, and I recommend it as it has a beautiful sail that is under an hour in length. Multiple boats operate between Tahiti and Moorea. You can find more information and their schedules here

Once you arrive in Moorea, you’ll need a driver to take you to the resort. I recommend organizing a driver to pick you up from the ferry terminal with the hotel. The hotel organized share and private pick-ups from the ferry to the hotel and back at an extra fee. 

It’s important to note that the last ferry to Moorea runs at 5 pm daily. So, if you arrive in Papeete later in the day, you must spend the night there on Tahiti Island. I arrived late to Tahiti and enjoyed a night at the Hilton Hotel Tahiti before going to Moorea. The Hilton Hotel Tahiti was a brilliantly modern hotel and a nice stop before taking the ferry to Moorea in the morning. 

Ideally, if I were flying from the mainland, I would do my best to arrange my flight to arrive in Faa’a early in the morning so I could take the ferry to Moorea instead of spending the night in Tahiti. However, if you end up in Tahiti for the night, you’ll certainly enjoy it!

a window looking out on clear water and a harbor of boats
View of Moorea from the ferry

What to Pack for a French Polynesian Vacation:

Bathing suits, bathing suits, and more bathing suits! Pack a bunch of bathing suits for a vacation in the most majestic water like Moorea, and you will be good! The Hilton is resort casual during the day. Nothing appears to change drastically at night. Men and women wore casual sandals and resort clothes in the formal restaurant at night. Read more on what to pack here: Packing List French Polynesia.

Packing list for Moorea Hilton:

  • Reef safe sunscreen
  • Power adapter for European outlets in the hotel rooms
  • Waterproof phone case to capture the sealife or a GoPro
  • Water shoes 
  • Dry bag if you plan to go out on boats or paddleboards
  • Bathing Suits/Swim Trunks
  • Cover-ups
  • Resort attire for days in the sun
  • Comfortable sandals
  • Toiletries/Medications
  • Elevated resort attire for dinners 
  • Sunglasses
  • Hat for sun protection
  • Sneakers and workout attire if you plan to hike or exercise
  • A warmer shirt/sweater for chilly nights
  • Basic first aid kit
  • Insect repellent and calming lotion if you get bites
  • Anti-nausea medication if you get motion sickness on boats

Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa Review

The Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa exceeded my expectations. Set to the backdrop of the lush paradise of Moorea, it seems impossible to be anything less than ecstatic and relaxed here. Yet, the staff was accommodating and kind, and the rooms and resort were clean and tidy. I’m usually not impressed with resort restaurants, but I was blown away by the flavors and freshness of the food at all the dining locations.

The amenities were a huge bonus here. Paddleboards, kayaks, and swimming gear rentals made the ocean playful and fun! Plus, there is a large pool to switch things up and lounge there.

Staying in an overwater bungalow elevated the experience because it gave you direct access to the ocean from your room. While staying in a garden room is still a quick walk from the sea, staying right over the water was amazing.

When I was there in April, the hotel’s vibe was primarily American, although that may vary by season. While it appeared to be mainly couples, many families with children and groups of friends also traveled together. It was a casual resort vibe. This is by no means a late-night or party destination. The resort shuts down by 9:30 p.m. when the Toatea Bar & Creperie closes.

Moorea is stunning, and the Hilton’s location makes it easy to explore the island via excursion pick-ups at its dock, rental cars, restaurant shuttles, or taxis. 

Overall, I rank my stay here as excellent and would return in a heartbeat!

a set of wooden stairs going from a bungalow at the Hilton Moorea to the ocean with another bungalow in the background

What are the Overwater Bungalows like at The Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa?

During my stay at the Hilton, I enjoyed staying in a king-sized overwater bungalow. The king-sized refers to the bed being king-sized. The bungalows each have a private patio and beach access via their ladder to the ocean. There’s also a fun glass window on the floor, which gives you private aquarium access. I especially loved watching the night and early morning window because I watched many sharks and stingrays swim by. 

a window on the floor with a sting ray swimming under the glass
A window to the ocean lies under your bungalow

The room was spacious and felt like an American-sized room. European power outlets were in the central part of the room next to the bed, and European and American outlets were in the bathroom. Thus, I recommend packing a European power adapter to plug your electronics. 

The outdoor patio gave the room more space and was the perfect spot to sunbathe, read a book, or sip a glass of wine. 

The room decor, amenities, and linens felt appropriate for a Hilton brand hotel. A coffee maker, mini fridge, soaps, and shampoo were readily available. Nothing in the room was overly luxurious, but it was well-appointed, comfortable, and clean. I would expect a more elevated room at the Hilton’s nearby luxury sister property, The Conrad Bora Bora Nui.

Things to Do at Hilton Moorea Resort & Spa

Rarely does a resort keep me entertained for an entire vacation, but the Hilton Moorea Resort and Spa kept me satisfied the whole trip. While I did leave the property to travel around the island, there was plenty to do at the hotel itself, and I spent most of my time on Moorea at the resort.

Snorkel in Stunning Waters

When I say the coral around the resort was some of the most beautiful I’ve seen in the world, I’m not exaggerating. I’ve snorkeled and SCUBA dove in incredible places like Hawaii, Belize, the Red Sea, and the Caribbean. I say with complete confidence that the coral directly outside my hotel room at the Hilton Moorea was the most gorgeous in the world (that I’ve seen). The beauty was in the colors and the life of the coral. Pictures don’t do it justice. 

And the fact that I could wake up, jump in the water from my room, and experience the ocean’s magnificence was surreal. The sea is relatively shallow around the resort, and you don’t need to SCUBA to see the coral and fish; they are visible from the top of the water.

Side note: Protect the coral by not touching it and wearing reef-safe sunscreen in the water.

a coral reef with fish
Colorful reefs, clear waters, and lots of sea life

Paddleboard or Kayak

The resort offers complimentary paddleboard or kayak rentals. You can take a spin on the water, stop for some snorkeling, and get your exercise in paradise. 

Watch The Sunset

Allow nature to work its magic before you with the nightly sunset. The best public sunset spots are from the dock and the cocktail bar patio. If you’re lucky enough to have a room facing the sunset, you are in for a treat.

a colorful sunset
Colorful skies as the sun sets over the Hilton Moorea

Watch the Sharks Come Out at Night

As the sky turns dark, the sharks come out of the water. If you go to the Creperie restaurant at night, you won’t just see one or two swimming around, but upwards of 10. 

a reef shark swimming at night
Shark sighting by the Creperie

Treat Yourself at The Spa

As the hotel’s name suggests, the property has a spa. The spa is a great place to relax when you want to get out of the sun. I received a refreshing massage during my stay. 

Take an Excursion to See The Sharks and Rays

While you can see sharks and stingrays right from the resort, one of the best things I did on the trip was swimming with the rays and sharks at an off-resort excursion. The boat for the excursion picks you up and drops you off right at the dock at the Hilton. It takes you out to the best spots to swim with the rays and sharks. Swimming with the sharks and rays is a must-do in Moorea.

Dine at the On-Site Restaurants

a picture of sashimi tuna and a salad on a restaurant table
A fresh lunch from the Rotui Bar and Grill

There are four restaurants on-site. As mentioned earlier in this review, the food was fresh and flavorful. The cuisine in Moorea is a perfect combination of French and Polynesian cuisine. At the Hilton, Arii Vahine serves a buffet-style breakfast and gourmet dinners at night. 

My partner and I got complimentary daily breakfast at Arii Vahine due to my Hilton Diamond Status. You get complimentary breakfast daily for two people with Hilton Gold or Diamond Status. If you don’t have Hilton Gold status, you can get complimentary gold or platinum status through American Express credit card benefits. American Express Platinum Cardmembers can get complimentary Hilton Honors Elite Gold Status. The American Express Platinum is my go-to travel card. You can also get complimentary gold status via the Hilton Honors Surpass American Express Card and The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, which offers complimentary Diamond Status.

The other restaurants include the Eimeo Bar, which serves cocktails and has a daily happy hour overlooking the sunset and ocean.

The Rotui Bar and Grill offers casual lunch and dinner options with ocean-side dining. I was blown away by the freshness of the fish at the Rotui Bar. 

Finally, the Toatea Bar & Creperie offers cocktails and French crepes. As mentioned above, it is also a prime location for watching the sharks at night. This is also the one “late night” spot, which closes at 9:30 pm.

Shuttle to a Local Restaurant for Dinner

The fusion of French and Polynesian cuisine is a gem of visiting Moorea. While the restaurants at the hotel were excellent, there are also multiple restaurants close to the hotel that will pick you up for free at the Hilton if you have a reservation. Use this shuttle to your advantage to get off the resort and experience excellent local food. Rudy’s was by far my favorite restaurant for dinner.

Order Room Service for Breakfast

breakfast food on a table on a patio over looking the ocean
Incredible room service breakfast spread

Room service at the resort did not disappoint! It’s a must-do while you are there. I almost didn’t get room service because I was so impressed with the morning buffet. However, on my last day, we thought it would be fun to get room service, and I was so happy to do this. Eating this spread (see picture) over the ocean was: chef’s kiss! If you are a Hilton Gold or Diamond, the breakfast is still complimentary, but you will be charged a delivery fee. Again, I highly recommend getting room service at least once during your stay.

Rent a Car for the Day and Take an Island Drive

a white car on the side. ofthe road with a mountain in the back ground
Rental car in Moorea

The hotel lobby has a car rental table that rents cars daily. It’s the most accessible car rental I ever did, as the cars are all parked in the hotel lot outside the main entrance. You can rent a car for the day, park it in the hotel, and enjoy the island. While you have a vehicle, may I suggest the following:

  • Going to the grocery store to purchase snacks, French wine, and food for your trip. The grocery stores are filled with French wines, foods, and delicacies. 
  • Hiking the lush nature of Moorea. Plenty of nature can be explored on the island, from mountains to waterfalls. Download the AllTrails app to find trails that suit you.
  • Stopping at a cafe or restaurant for a bite to eat. “Le No Stress” was one of my favorites.

Conclusions

the sun setting over bunaglows

A visit to The Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa is a vacation filled with relaxation, majestic waters, excellent food, and welcoming people. It’s a trip to paradise that you’ll never forget. The resort has a calm demeanor, which is great for couples traveling together, family reunions, friend groups, or even solo travelers. It’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy the ocean. If you have the opportunity to visit this resort, do it! For more information about Moorea, read Moorea: The Ultimate Guide.

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