Hilton Hotel Tahiti

Just arrived at the Hilton Tahiti and thought we’d hang out by the pool….now, I know pools can get an algae bloom in tropical climates, but it usually can be controlled with cleaning and chemicals. This pool looks like it needs expert attention ASAP.

We stayed at InterContinental Tahiti several times in the past but it's not the most inspiring so I was open to something new so we tried Hilton this time. The hotel is fairly new, opened only a couple of years ago. As Hilton Lifetime Diamond we received a suite upgrade proactively, the suite even had a washing machine so it was great to have in the middle of a multi-month trip. Also it had full kitchen with equipment. There is a Carrefour grocery store across the street reachable straight from the hotel via the pedestrian overpass so we could have home cooking which makes Hilton considerably more convenient than InterContinental. Hilton is closer to the city which is nice but the drawback is the location is more industrial area for ocean view, unlike IC which feels more like a pure resort and even has overwater villas while Hilton does not. Breakfast at Hilton was very good in fact better than at IC Tahiti. Hilton had fish among other things. Hilton does not have an executive lounge but they have what they call simply a "lounge": an empty room with soft drinks, no staff. But I still find value in this especially for a resort, rather than no lounge at all. They have showers in there so customers arriving at 6am can use the facilities while waiting for their room, quite good idea for such a hotel. For breakfast the room was crowded because they kept another room closed but at least on the first morning we had a table. The next morning it was even more full, they told us to wait for a table to be available. That time I protested, I said it's a self inflicted problem because they don't open the second room. Then they opened it for us so it became a very quiet and lovely breakfast instead of crowded. The lone black mark during our stay was a recurring issue with housekeeping. Day 1 I asked in chat (Hilton app) please clean the room while we go to the restaurant for breakfast. We came back, it was not done. Then I informed them they missed, and I said please come now, we will step out for one hour, we need the room to be cleaned ASAP. We came back, not done again. I had to ask a 3rd time, finally it was done. Day 2 I said after breakfast we will need the room for our daughter's nap AND yesterday housekeeping did not clean the room as requested so please make sure today they do. We came back after breakfast, room not clean. In the end a housekeeping manager came to personally apologize for what happened two consecutive days so it was a good closure.

Very disappointed. The hotel did not respond to pre-arrival inquiries. On arrival, reception staff failed to follow up on check-in arrangements. During both lunch and dinner service, the staff were inattentive, with wait times of around 60 minutes from order to service. For a USD 600 stay, this experience was not worth the price.

Nice good sized rooms and seemingly up to date. Hotel grounds are beautiful and the views from the 5th floor overlooking the pool and the reef are hard to beat. Staff are friendly and welcoming apart from the pool area in the towel hut. They they had run out of pool towels on a Sunday afternoon at 3pm, by 5pm still no towels. You’d expect a hotel of this standard not to run out of towels.. Yes for 20 minutes whilst they fetched a new batch, but the staff didn’t know or care when or if they would get more.. a kind of shrug and a “it’s not our problem” attitude. We dined in house and the food was excellent. However it was more a “faulty towers” service with cold food so we sent it back. Whilst the Food taken away yo be recooked I’m my dessert arrived! My mum had all of her courses served together. Overall a 2 hour experience that could only be described as humorous. The manager was so apologetic. Luckily it didn’t ruin the meal in the long run. Diamond members note: no executive lounge.. No late or early check in but some water left in the room. Would stay again for sure.

The in the restaurant is very tasty and the portions are generous. My server, Taftea did a great job. And the pool is first class, as is my room; top floor ocean view. I asked for a quick repair in my room and it was completed while I was at dinner.