#53001 - 11/17/05 03:43 PM
Relais Mahana??? or Te Tiare
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Maya G
Junior Member
Registered: 11/16/05
Posts: 10
Loc: Los Angeles
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Hi, I am planning a trip to Huahine and Bora Bora next year. Huahine first for 3-4 nights, then 4-5 nights on Bora Bora. I want to do it up on Bora Bora, overwater bungalow at Hotel Bora Bora. So because of the extraordinary expense there, I'd like to save a bit in Huahine. From different reviews I've read, the beach at Relais Mahana is supposed to be amazing. I understand the accomodations are simple, that is OK with me. Would it be better to take a beach bungalow at Relais or a garden at Te Tiare?
A note: my fiance would like to surf, which is why we will be in Huahine. I know all the breaks are reef breaks, so we need to team up with people who take boats out there. I figure we may have more luck with this at Relais, since it is run by locals. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks a lot!
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#53002 - 11/18/05 05:55 AM
Re: Relais Mahana??? or Te Tiare
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Jonathan
Member
Registered: 08/05/03
Posts: 144
Loc: Denver
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I was there in 2001 and Relais Mahana would certainly be less expensive than Te Tiare. If you don't mind plain bungalows without any fluff then it would be fine. The beach is tree lined with fine white sand and the bungalows sit right on it. Garden bungalows sit right behind the beach ones and the restaurant is good. You need a rental car to get to the town of Fare. It's quite possible that the hotel can arrange you surfing trip for you. I'd email them to find out.
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#53003 - 11/18/05 09:36 AM
Re: Relais Mahana??? or Te Tiare
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GT
Senior Advisor
Registered: 12/18/01
Posts: 768
Loc: Los Angeles, CA 90045
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The two properties are very different so you really can't compare. You'll probably pay about $100.00 more a night at the Te Tiare for a garden bungalow then at the Relais Mahana but I think you'll get more in return. The Te Tiare has more facilities and it's easier to get to the main village of Fare where you'll have more options for dining & activities. The RM is further south - you'd really need a car to get around. With that said, the RM is on a very pretty beach and the restaurant is quite good. At the Te Tiare, it's easy to get to a great surf spot via their surf shuttle.
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#53004 - 12/11/05 12:18 PM
Re: Relais Mahana??? or Te Tiare
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minou
Member
Registered: 11/30/05
Posts: 45
Loc: netherlands
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Hi Maya, we've stayed at the Mahana in 2004 and really enjoyed it. We loved the beach and the surroundings of the hotel. I always wonder what people on this forum are used to regarding accomodation; i'm an airline stewardess and I always get to stay in 5-star hotels for my work, but for my holidays I think the Mahana is luxury! Of course you cannot compare hotel prices to the U.S., this is a different world, but having your bungalow, not luxury, but it has everything you need, right on the beach, your hibiscus bush where you pick your daily flower that goes behind your ear just in front of your terrace, would'nt you call that luxury?
We liked the restaurant, and you have the pension just a bit further down the beach that has a very nice restaurant as well. You do indeed need a car to go to the village, but it would be a nice occasion doing a tour of the island. We also took some bicycles from the hotel to tour the area and ended up on a deserted beach just next to the Marae Anini (marae is old religious site).
We also did a dive with a French divemaster called Annie who opened a dive shop on the beach, I don't know if she's still there.
All in all a very positive experience, and a good alternative if you want to save a bit of money! (can you imagine this was our treat, the most expensive thing we did during our holiday, so enjoy your OW bungalow!!)
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#53005 - 12/11/05 01:13 PM
Re: Relais Mahana??? or Te Tiare
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minou
Member
Registered: 11/30/05
Posts: 45
Loc: netherlands
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btw I forgot I could send you some pictures of the Mahana bungalow and beach if you like
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#53006 - 12/22/05 11:58 PM
Re: Relais Mahana??? or Te Tiare
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SunSurfH2O
Junior Member
Registered: 12/22/05
Posts: 4
Loc: San Diego
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Minou, (or anyone else for that matter)
I, too, am a flight attendant and was wondering if you have any recommendations/info on possible interline discounts on accomodations/transport available to travel professionals. Incidentally, we booked with Relais Mahana for 6 nights under their standart promotion (pay 2, 1 free) which beat their interline rate.
On the subject of Relais Mahana, I am finding it difficult to communicate with Nadege, the woman who runs the front desk. She is unwilling to talk on the phone as she feels her english is not sufficient, and relegates communication to email--but she doesn't respond timely enough to my queries. Take for example my submission of account info for a deposit; I requested a confirmation that it was well received and approved -AND- it has been a day and a half now without a reply. Island time. Well, I'm looking forward to making that my opus moderandi BUT for now I need assurance that my wife and I will have a place to stay for our visit that commences in less than a week. Tips on more effective communication?
After our stay on Huahine, we are looking into spending 2 more nights on a neighboring island(Moorea, Bora Bora?) but are operating under a fairly strict budget so unsure as to the viability of that... Problem I have come across is transportation fees from Tahiti to Huahine and then to possible second island; We can't really afford flying from place to place UNLESS Air Tahiti offers interline rates (?) Alternatively, I recall reading about a ferry service that connects the islands but then in research this evening the impression I am getting is that air travel is the only option. Is that correct? We certainly wouldn't mind the 'cruise', it will no doubt be picturesque.
Thank you in advance to anyone that can address any or all of my concerns... and Minou, I would love to see your pictures if you wouldn't mind emailing them!
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#53007 - 12/23/05 06:21 AM
Re: Relais Mahana??? or Te Tiare
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Deb
Member
Registered: 12/01/05
Posts: 124
Loc: Upstate New York
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I don't know how accurate this schedule is but here's a website that shows the Aremiti connecting to other island from Papeete.
http://www.aremiti.pf/Aremiti%204/HorairesA4.html
And here's and e-mail address: aremiticruise@mail.pf
Again I'm not sure how accurate any of this information is..I found it on another website.
Have you thought of getting the Air Tahiti Air Pass for your flights? The Discovery Pass originates in Papeete (Tahiti) and you can go to Moorea,Huahine and Raiatea.It shows a fare of $242.00 PP on the Air Tahiti website.You can only fly to each island once in any order.Tickets have to be booked and confirmed ahead of time.
Hope some of this helps.
Debbie
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#53008 - 12/23/05 01:46 PM
Re: Relais Mahana??? or Te Tiare
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NANO
Junior Member
Registered: 03/22/02
Posts: 21
Loc: valecia, CA, USA
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Re: Ferry's to the Leeward Islands (Huahini, Riatea, Bora Bora). We have been traveling to Tahiti for 25 years and have tried most modes of transportation. The Ferry's are a great way to go if you dont need to be pampered and dont mind roughing it! You can find schedules at:
http://www.tahiti.com/english-version/about-tahiti/gen-resources/boat%20transportation.html
We left Tahiti for Huahini in the late afternoon and arrived in the middle of the night (3:00 am). When the ferry arrives, the pier is full of activity. We ordered coffee at a roullette and asked the owner if he coulsd recomend a place to stay. This was difficult because he spoke french and I spoke english. We quickly determined that we both spoke a little spanish. He rrecomended Relis Mahana, and arranged for a car to take us there at 7:00 am. We spent 3 days there and had a fantastic time. We went on to catch a ferry to Riatea where we spent 2 nights at the former Bali Hai, and finally to Bora Bora. If yopu get all the boat schedules, and air tahiti's schedule we found that you can see all 3 islands at a significant discount. Good luck!
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#53009 - 12/27/05 03:47 PM
Re: Relais Mahana??? or Te Tiare
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minou
Member
Registered: 11/30/05
Posts: 45
Loc: netherlands
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hi sunsurf h2o, I hope my answer will still reach you in time. I cannot recall having problems communicating with the Mahana, I emailed them and they gave me a price, and then I think I called them again after arriving in Tahiti, but I never send a deposit, I just paid the bill after my stay. I speak french, so that might have made a difference, but I recall them adressing me in English first and the lady at the reception was actually a native English-speaker.
You're right about Air Tahiti, they do not do interline fares, so that does take up quite a bit of your budget. But Tahiti Nui does, but I suppose you knew that already (at least they do with our company).
As for the other islands I cannot give you as good an advice as most of the people on this forum can, we stayed with friends of friends on Moorea, but I really really enjoyed that island, it might be the most beautiful I've been to.
I'm sure you'll enjoy your holiday, I'll try to send you some pics of the Mahana. Happy new year!
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#53010 - 12/27/05 04:05 PM
Re: Relais Mahana??? or Te Tiare
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minou
Member
Registered: 11/30/05
Posts: 45
Loc: netherlands
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ehmm, where do I send the pics?
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