#52119 - 06/03/03 12:39 PM
Sofitel Heiva or Relais Mahana
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Nansea
Junior Member
Registered: 05/14/03
Posts: 13
Loc: Atlanta, GA
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Ia Orana,
We're trying to decide between a beach bungalow at Relais Mahana or a garden room at Sofitel Heiva. Snorkeling is pretty much the highest priority. Does anyone know which is best for snorkeling? Would you recommend a beach bungalow over the garden room? One resort over the other? Also, are there easily accessible places to eat other than at the resorts? Thanks for any help you can provide!
Maururu,
Nansea
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#52120 - 06/03/03 03:47 PM
Re: Sofitel Heiva or Relais Mahana
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GT
Senior Advisor
Registered: 12/18/01
Posts: 768
Loc: Los Angeles, CA 90045
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Although the Heiva is on the resort level and the Relais Mahana is more of a pension, you may like the Beach Bungalow better than the garden room. The garden rooms are not individual but more more hotel like. Good snorkeling, closer to the village of Fare. The Relais is further south, so you may need wheels to get around. It's located on a pretty beach and has a good restaurant.
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#52121 - 06/03/03 04:07 PM
Re: Sofitel Heiva or Relais Mahana
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hammersb
Member
Registered: 10/20/01
Posts: 50
Loc: Papara Tahiti Polynesie Franca...
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Check some of the post recently regarding the poor maintenance of the Sofitel's rooms. Its an ongoing problem.
The Relais is well run, some may say too well but its in good condition and the beach is beautiful. Snorkeling may be better at the Heiva since there is that beautiful coral garden on the Fare side of the resort but the remote location of the Relais is quite beautiful too. Beach bungalow versus garden bungalow shifts the decision to Relais.
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#52122 - 06/04/03 02:43 AM
Re: Sofitel Heiva or Relais Mahana
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ld
Member
Registered: 03/12/04
Posts: 67
Loc: UK
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I cannot praise Relais Mahana highly enough, I stayed there in March this year and it is a lovely hotel. Not luxury, but not a pension either. It is on Huahine Iti on a fantastic beach. The bungalows are simple and clean, the water is hot and the view fantastic. The food at the restaurant is excellent, very french. The snorkelling off the boat dock is very good, especially to the right of it as you look out to sea from the beach. We did snorkell there one night as there are some lights on the boat dock, much to the amusement of the other guests who fed the fish while we were in the water, it was great. The Pension Maurrii is along the beach and I hear the food there is also very good, but we never ate there oursleves. You can hire a car from across the road from the Relais Mahana, but there are no shops close by. Relais was by far our favourite hotel and Huahine our favourite island. Lots of french guest, but if you learn to say Bonjour and Bonsoir you'll be welcomed. The service at the front desk from Selina was also impeccable.
If snorkelling is a priority, I woul dnot miss the shark feeding on Huahine with Huahine Nautique. It absolutely knocked spots off the shark feeding on BB and the snorkelling at the same spot was the best of the whole trip. You can do this trip where ever you stay.
If you would like to see a photo of the view from the beach bungalows send me an email at Roylita@hotmail.com and I'll send it on to you.
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#52123 - 06/04/03 12:51 PM
Re: Sofitel Heiva or Relais Mahana
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Nansea
Junior Member
Registered: 05/14/03
Posts: 13
Loc: Atlanta, GA
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Thanks everyone for the great info. I think we'll go with Relais Mahana and rent a car for a day to get to the Coral Gardens by the Heiva for snorkeling. We'll make a point of doing the Shark/Ray feeding excursion as well. From what I've read, it is a different experience from the shark/ray feeding I did in Belize - I actually held a 6 ft. nurse shark in my arms AND have a picture prove it (nobody would believe me otherwise)!! Is there anything else we should not miss on Huahine?
Nansea
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#52124 - 06/04/03 01:06 PM
Re: Sofitel Heiva or Relais Mahana
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Nansea
Junior Member
Registered: 05/14/03
Posts: 13
Loc: Atlanta, GA
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Thanks everyone for the great info. I think we'll go with Relais Mahana and rent a car for a day to go snorkel the Coral Gardens at the Heiva. We will make a point of doing the shark/ray feeding, too. From what I're read it will be a different experience from the shark/ray feeding I did in Belize - I actually held a 6 ft. nurse shark in my arms, AND I have the picture to prove it (no one would believe me otherwise)!!! Is there anything else we shouldn't miss on Huahine?
Nansea
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#52125 - 06/04/03 01:23 PM
Re: Sofitel Heiva or Relais Mahana
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Kristy
Advisor
Registered: 10/12/01
Posts: 568
Loc: Windsor, CA USA
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Nansea if you contact Huahine Nautique online they offer a 10% discount on the first excursion booked and 20% off on the second one booked. Not to mention that you get it booked, paid for and all taken care of ahead of time. The website is: http://www.huahine-nautique.com/accueiljetA.htm
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#52126 - 06/04/03 01:29 PM
Re: Sofitel Heiva or Relais Mahana
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Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered
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the water is more choppy at the relais and not always calm. Loads of sea cucucmbers too (but you'd fine those anywhere), whereas at the sofitel the water is more 'motu'like . clear and calm. Personally the area around the sofitel is more 'dramatic' with mountain peaks, lagoon views and seeing the 'main' island across the lagoon as well as the opportunity to escape to one of the close by motus. Since it was one of the first places on Huahine, they obviously chose the perfect location.
I never understand why people get so bent out of shape by a resort being 'weathered'. I mean, unless there are holes in the fllor and entire sections of the roof gone, paradisiacal environments are allowed to get a bit weathered. It's part of the charm to some as well.
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#52127 - 06/04/03 02:02 PM
Re: Sofitel Heiva or Relais Mahana
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Pacific Andy
Supreme Advisor
Registered: 10/16/01
Posts: 4278
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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Personally the Sofitel in Huahine is very run down. Its not a pardise issue its a maintenance issue. Almost of all the Sofitel except the Motu on Bora Bora need a good fix up. That being said the Relais is a much smaller and at best a two star hotel/resort. Its nice and the beach is great as well. A little far from town and a few things but it would be an excellent choice. The two properties are so far apart on the star scale its almost hard to compare. It all depends on what you want. Heck on a trip report the people where upset that the bell boy left sand in their rooms, they found thatch on the bed and those French People get a 20% discount from the Americans.
_________________________
Once You Go You Get It
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#52128 - 06/05/03 02:22 PM
Re: Sofitel Heiva or Relais Mahana
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Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered
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Hi Nanesa, Yes, I believe you when you say you held a nurse shark in Belize! But I don't think you'll want to hold one of these reef sharks!
The snorkeling was great in Belize but in FP you can go whenever you want and don't have to get on a boat first. We are staying at the Relais Aug. 30 thru Sept 5th. I loved the friendliness of the Belizean people. The most sincere, friendly place I've ever been. My kids, ages 20 & 24 are in fact flying out tonight to Belize from San Francisco $430. One of those last minute deals on airfare. Also, I chose the Relais because I've read that the snorkeling was really good there.
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