Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort

Beach is lovely. Loved our over water bungalow. Absolutely worth it! Snorkeling was good. Liked that we could use kayaks, SUP and snorkeling gear.

While rooms were nice and beach (water clarity) was stunning, the hotel is certainly not luxury in any shape or form, it would be considered barely 3 star hotel in most places. This hotel, which I never experienced anywhere else in the world (and I do travel quite extensively) doesn’t even have enough towels to provide to guests at the beach, gym, changing rooms, you name it. Every day. Not a one off, I’ve never seen that before. Yet they charge $800-$1,600 per night? Truly, I’ve never seen that anywhere before, In terms of service, only restaurant staff was great. Front desk staff not so much. Housekeeping was just ok and no turndown service is provided. There was no beach service provided at all. You have to go get your towels (if you’re lucky to find any) and then go to the bar if you need anything. Finally, food at breakfast was pretty good but the rest was awful (fish/chicken/beef grossly overcooked) but that’s unfortunately true for most of French Polynesia. It is their reputation, and they lived up to it, unfortunately, I think this could be a much better hotel if it was properly managed, given they have some good staff, great location and pretty decent facilities. They do benefit from the fact that there are really no luxury properties in Moorea so I guess they don’t care that much and it shows.

I booked a day on pass to enjoy Temae beach. This included an hours use of a kayak, snorkeling equipment if needed and a two course lunch. Facilities were great and the staff were very helpful. The vegan lunch option was ok, but not great but the view was lovely. Beach was amazing!

Extremely Disappointing – Absolutely Not a 5-Star Experience I cannot stress this enough: this is nowhere near a luxury or five-star resort. If you are expecting the level of quality, service, and ambiance typically associated with the Sofitel brand or high-end resorts in French Polynesia—prepare to be seriously let down. It is really such a shame too because the property is on one of the most beautiful beaches!!! The Property is Outdated and Neglected The entire resort feels like it’s been left untouched since the late 90s. The lobby and public spaces are worn and tired. Every area is so DARK. The seating in the waiting area is visibly stained, the décor is dated, and the check-in desk looks like something out of an old airport motel. It’s not charmingly vintage—it’s just neglected. For a sofitel, this needs a MAJOR face lift. The grounds could be beautiful, but they’re clearly not being maintained to a luxury standard. Landscaping feels inconsistent- some areas are well done others have patchy grass, and there’s a general sense of wear and tear everywhere you look—from cracked tiles to faded paint and rusted fixtures. Weird smelling old bathrooms.This resort is in desperate need of a full renovation, and frankly, I’m shocked it’s still marketed under the Sofitel name. The rooms are depressing, so so so dark, worn fixtures and furniture. I literally was so bummed when we walked into the room. ZERO PRIVACY in these bungalows. One morning after a night of rain we woke up to a huge leak in the middle of the room which literally soaked multiple items. No proper beach service or towels. Good luck getting towels at the pool. You have to go find them. Pool is old and depressing. Dining is Incredibly Underwhelming The restaurants were one of the biggest letdowns. The food quality is very poor—bland, unimaginative, and nowhere near what you'd expect even at a mid-range property. The breakfast was mediocre at best. There was absolutely no attention to presentation or flavor, and breakfast offerings were dismal. I couldn’t even get a decent latte—there’s no proper coffee service, and definitely nothing resembling the culinary experience you’d expect at a 5-star resort or even a 4 or 3 star. The exception was the "K" restaurant which was honestly very good service and food and I really can't understand how all the other food on the property is so poor if they are capable of a higher standard. Service is a Bright Spot The staff are kind and try their best, but they are working with severely limited resources. While the team was pleasant, warm, and accommodating when possible, there is only so much they can do when the infrastructure and offerings are this poor. There isn't 5 star service. We had our luggage (6 suitcases for 5 travellers) sent from the four seasons bora bora and I had called multiple times to be sure Sofitel coordinates the arrival of the baggage. I was promised they would check and call me back. No call back and of course, when we arrived we had no luggage. Became a completely nightmare and we were all left with no luggage for another 24 hours. Unnecessary stress that we didnt need had they just made the coordination when we had called prior to check in. Bottom Line If you’re booking this resort expecting a luxurious French Polynesian getaway, you will be extremely disappointed. This is not the Sofitel experience you might be used to from other locations around the world. It’s not worth the price, and there are far better options on Moorea and nearby islands. On Moorea try Cook's Bay. It's new and clean.

On its own, Mo'orea is a miraculously gorgeous land. Gentle water, clean beaches, abundant sea life and wildlife, beautiful geography, and breathtakingly clear ocean. Then, the Sofitel make it better, with lovely, safe, well-kept quarters and happy, friendly, helpful staff. This was our second time at the Sofitel at Mo'orea and I look forward to returning.