Hello out there FP experts,

We just got back from spending the Christmas holiday at Vahine and we're hooked!

We're planning on going back over Thanksgiving for another 7 night stay but unsure about Vahine because they'll be under construction with their planned expansion. So I was checking out Rangiroa and came upon the Kia Ora, which according to TA is pretty awesome after its total renovation. So I booked a Deluxe Beach Bungalow with pool, and the woman I dealt with by email recommended we stay at Sauvage for a couple of nights. So we're in Kia Ora for 2 nights, Sauvage for 2 nights, then back at the Kia Ora for the remaining 3 nights.

But now I'm reading up on Sauvage more, seems like people would stay there for all seven nights if they could! What does everybody think? Maybe add a night at Sauvage so it's 2-3-2? Or stay at Sauvage the whole time? Really, our trip is about being in the water snorkeling. Is there good snorkeling right around Kia Ora or is everything a boat ride away?

Thanks in advance for any help you might be able to give!

We stayed at Sauvage for two nights in Nov 2007. We always thought we would go back to Sauvage and stay 4 nights. You really should stay at the main resort at least one night before and after because of the flights and the timing of the boat trip to Sauvage. We stayed at the main resort two days after Sauvage so we could float the pass which is unbelievable.

Sauvage is a small island and depending on the other couples satying there it may be a little too small. We were lucky and shared the site with only one other couple the first night and two the second. There was fantastic snorkeling around Sauvage but the lagoon gets very deep, very fast. Micheal was our host then and was entertaining thoughts of retirement, he was great.

My wife and I are thinking of heading back to FP this fall also. We are weighing the various options now and Rangi is right at the top of the list, I think we may learn to dive before we go.

It's been ten years, but to answer your question, it depends on what you want out of your time on Rangi. Sauvage is "out there," and while folks have stayed there for many days at a time, one may get a little island (motu) fever after a couple of ays. We stayed 2, 2 and 2, and felt it was about right. While at Kia Ora, one of our thrills of a lifetime, was drift snorkeling Tiputa Pass. You will be taken by boat to the outside reaches of the pass, and with the tide coming in you will drift with a guide into the lagoon. We did it the first day we were there, and again after returning from Sauvage, for a second drift. On each day, we drifted a number of times.
We still get thrills thinking of this experience, We are returning to Rangi next week, and will be staying at Relais Josephine, a pensione on the pass. We have booked the drift for both full days we will be there. We will not be returning to Sauvage. Basically, drifting the pass is the reason we are returning to Rangi.
Snorkeling around the O/W's at Kia Ora was ok, but nothing like the drift through the pass.
If you go to Sauvage, they can take you to a little motu off by yourself. Snorkeling there is outstanding. Sauvage is special, no doubt about it.

We were there for 3 nights and wished we had booked longer. Even tho' other guests were from Italy, France and Germany, we still enjoyed our time there and everyone who left before we did wished they had stayed longer too. It's a unique experience and most of the time you feel like you are there all alone. You can wade/swim to the next motu where there is no one and walk that beach. Our host was also Michael and he took us on a different excursion each day to see different parts of the atoll - but only if that's what we wanted to do. You could chose to stay at Sauvage and let the others go too. Very laid back - we loved it. A couple more nights would've been great. The snorkeling is right out in front and on both sides of the atoll in addition to other areas he took us to by boat. Swimming is fun on both sides in that beautiful clear water. I would do 1-5-1 if we went back. We weren't able to do the drift snorkel thru the pass because it was too windy and it was canceled. So the main resort took us out in a glass bottom boat near the pass and we jumped out an snorkeled with a million fish including a couple Napoleons. Awesome place.