It was absolutely FABULOUS!!! First Class all the way and so intimate and isolated. The bungalows were gorgeous (we stayed in OW Tahaa View), the pool was beautiful (although we swam in the lagoon most of the time), the views from just about everywhere on the motu were stunning! The snorkling (and diving) was better than Bora Bora (although there was no good snorkling right around the bungalows), the coral gardens were awesome! The restaurant food was GREAT, the restaurant was beautiful with stunning views of the lagoon. ALL the people were SO FRIENDLY and WONDERFUL!

I TOTALLY disagree with Yves and Cynthia about a short stay (they said they thought
2 1/2 days was perfect), I would have been totally upset if we had only stayed for 2 nights. We were there for 4 nights and 5 full days and could have stayed MUCH LONGER. We did not get bored one bit (and we didn't even do any of the excursions, only some scuba diving). But then again we LOVE the water!! I LOVE this place and it's seclusion. It's very special and we plan on going back.

I will try to post a trip report this weekend. We also stayed at the Sofitel Motu on Bora Bora- it was great too!

This was the best trip my husband and I have EVER been on. I cried my eyes out when we had to leave....I mean it...I was so emotional...I just can't explain how I felt...it was really tough to leave...

[This message has been edited by kellyaddie (edited 01-02-2003).]

Hey kellyaddie. I can't wait to read your trip report. We're planning a trip to Tahaa (and Sofitel Motu - we think - we're still deciding on this one) next Sept. I do have a question for you about Tahaa. Are there any Tahaa view OWB at the very end? Or are all of the OWBs at the ends Bora Bora view?

kellyaddie: Thanks for the great report. Can't wait to read the full version. We'll be staying there in early May. Did you get a chance to see the beach bungalows? That's what we're staying in. I've heard they're much bigger, and less expensive.

YAY!!! its about time there is more chatter about this hotel!

kellyaddie your experience sounds wonderful!

if you don't mind my asking, which OWB# did you stay in... we are trying to decide between the taha'a view and the moana view (heard they have the best sunsets).also, what was your opinion of the Sofitel Motu? we are narrowing it down to the motu, le meridian, and the bora bora nui.

thank you... and looking forward to your trip report!!!

kellyaddie......

Oh I am so excited to hear you had a great time. I just booked my Honeymoon in Tahaa for 3 nights. It will be my last place to stop. We are doing that Moana View, I heard that the Tahaa Views are close to the dock on where the boats come in and could be noisy with that stuff.
We are also going to stay at the Sofitel Motu in Bora Bora. I can not wait to see you post of a trip and would love to see pictures.

Glad to hear your stay was great. We are going in March and hope to enjoy it as musch as you did.

bcmb- We stayed in #31 (Tahaa OW), which was the 3rd one down from the end, so I believe #33 would be on the end and that would be the one I would request, and yes, it would still be a Tahaa View. The Bora Bora Views were actually down another dock.

captain822- I only saw the beach bungalows from the outside, and yes, they did look very large and I'm sure they are gorgeous on the inside as EVERYTHING is on this property. I think the beach bungalows may also have their own little private pool.

erica- The sun sets towards Bora Bora, so the very best sunset view is probably the BB OW. However, we had a Tahaa view (#31) and our bungalow faced the direction of Bora Bora, so we still had a fantastic view of the sunset. I have some breathtaking pictures of it from our deck. I will post these pictures soon. As long as you get a bungalow that the deck is facing in the direction of Bora Bora (this doesn't necessarily mean a Bora Bora View, if this makes sense), you will have a great view of the sunset. There is also a little beach that you can walk to that has sensational views of the sunset with Bora Bora in the distance and this beach is almost always deserted. My husband and I walked there at sunset with a cooler (we took a colapsable cooler- I highly recommend taking one) of Hinanos and enjoyed the view. We loved Sofitel Motu.

Honeymoonbound- Our Tahaa view was not close to the boat dock at all and our deck faced the other direction away from the dock. There are 3 main "docks" that the OW bungalows are on, so I guess it depends which "dock" you are on, because one "dock" was closer to the boat dock than the other 2, and there probably are some Tahaa Views on that dock. I'm not really sure what the Moana Views are, I would think they either face the pool or the boat dock, but I don't know for sure. Regardless of where you are, I really don't think there are any "bad" views, just some are better than others. I'm sure you will have a fabulous time, it's really beautiful. Congratulations and enjoy your honeymoon!

Return in 2003- I have no doubts you will enjoy it as much as we did. I can't wait to hear about your experience.

just an fyi for anyone who is curious, i can't attach the document because it is a Word file, but i can describe the layout of the pearl and tell where each OWB view type based on the picture from the main page of the website (link below).... actually the bora bora views are closest to the pool.

when looking at the picture the the bungalows on the left side of the left arm are moana view, the right side of the left are tahaa's, the middle arm is all tahaa's and the left side of the right arm (and the the part the sticks out from the right towards the boat dock) are also tahaa's. the right side of the right are are bora bora views.

hope that helps! enjoy you vacations everyone!

http://www.pearlresorts.com/tahaa/main.asp

I was actually thinking the bungalows fartherest from the pool had the Bora Bora Views, at least the ones at the end of that dock. There may be some Bora Bora views on the dock closest to the pool too, you may can see Bora Bora through the passes, it seems like it would be a partial view though (but I'm not 100% sure on this). We watched the sunset from the beach on the left tip, if you are looking at the picture on the link. We had an unobstructed view of Bora Bora and I'm pretty sure we could also see some of the bungalows fartherest to the left. You might could Email the hotel to get the exact locations of the Bora Bora Views and whether or not they have a full or partial view of Bora Bora. Erica, did you already do this?
Keep in mind Bora Bora is in the distance, so I don't know if it's really worth the extra money. Tahaa is very close and if, or I should say WHEN I go back, I will request an END Tahaa view bungalow (even though, I must say, Bora Bora does look very majestic in the distance.....)

[This message has been edited by kellyaddie (edited 01-06-2003).]

hi kellyaddie...

i got the picture from a friend who got it from her travel agent...not sure which one and even if i did i wouldn't mention it out of respect for this site.

its good to know you had a wonderful time at the Taha'a Pearl... i noticed you also stayed at the sofitel motu in bora bora... we are considering staying there as well.... would love to hear your experience.

thanks!