#69085 - 01/06/08 05:46 PM
Moorea Shertaon - How long in OWB
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mosorio21
Junior Member
Registered: 12/26/07
Posts: 7
Loc: New Jersey, USA
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Hi all,
I posted a week or two ago...My fiance and I are going on our honeymoon in Late Aug/early Sept to FP - Moorea and BB. We were torn between the Sheraton and the Pearl, but after lot's of research have decided with the Sheraton.
The point of my post - We are not sure what rooms to stay in. We are debating whether or not we should do all OWB here, half our stay OWB and the other half in a garden or beach...so on. What makes is more complicated is we don't know if we want to do OWB in BB also. It is so much more expensive..buts its our Hmoon!!
I thought we could do part of Moorea Sheraton in OWB and part OWB in either the Pearl or Nui on Bora Bora. But FI thinks it would be too much switching rooms. I just want the best of both islands. Anyone have any advice on what would be best?
sorry if this is complicated...there are just so many options
TIA!
Michelle
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#69086 - 01/06/08 05:51 PM
Re: Moorea Shertaon - How long in OWB
[Re: mosorio21]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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I haven't stayed at the Moorea Sheraton, but both the OWB and the beach bungalows had nice views when we walked around the grounds. I'd definitely avoid the garden bungalows (they're packed in tight together in rows with no view). I'd suggest a beach bungalow at the Sheraton & then an OWB on Bora Bora. Bora Bora is all about the lagoon & having an OWB there makes sense to me. Switching rooms at one resort (and especially doing it at 2) sounds like too much work to me.
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#69088 - 01/06/08 06:50 PM
Re: Moorea Shertaon - How long in OWB
[Re: Old Wife]
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Patti.
Expert Advisor
Registered: 03/28/04
Posts: 2460
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
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Switching rooms at a resort isn't THAT much of a problem. But you do have to completely pack up and then completely unpack again. That's a bit of a pain. And depending on what time of the day you will be able to do it, it could put a crimp in any plans you had for a tour that day.
We changed room to a OWB when we stayed at Le Maitai on Bora Bora a few years ago. It was totally seemless. They came to our room at 8am, put us and our luggage on a golf cart and drove us straight to our OWB. Whole process took less than 5 minutes. We didn't even have to go to the front desk. I don't know that all moves are that easy. But ours certainly was. It was in the off season and the hotel wasn't close to full.
The one problem that did arise was upon checkout. They had a hotel restaurant charge on our bill from whoever was in the OWB before us. Once we brought it to their attention, they took it off. Never hurts to closely check your final bill.
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#69092 - 01/07/08 03:59 AM
Re: Moorea Shertaon - How long in OWB
[Re: Patti.]
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islandboyatheart
Expert Advisor
Registered: 07/19/05
Posts: 1376
Loc: Florida
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I have stayed at the Moorea Sheraton 3 times and in my opinion, the beach bungalows are the worst choice. The beach bungalows sit right along the main pathway leading from the OWB to the pool, beach and restaurant so you will have constant foot traffic past your porch. In addition, all but maybe one has at least a partially obstructed view. I would go with either the garden bungalow or the OWB. The garden bungalows are more private than the beach bungalows and as long as you are in a stand-alone garden bungalow, they are not packed any more tightly than the beach bungalows and in many cases, they are actually a little further apart. If you are trying to save money, you can stay in a garden bungalow on Moorea and an OWB in Bora Bora. The OWB at the Nui are nicer than the OWB at the Sheraton Moorea IMO.
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#69094 - 01/07/08 06:01 AM
Re: Moorea Shertaon - How long in OWB
[Re: islandboyatheart]
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mosorio21
Junior Member
Registered: 12/26/07
Posts: 7
Loc: New Jersey, USA
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Thank you for such quick replies! This is exactly what I needed...you have been there, so you know firshand what these properties are like. It's impossible to decide from pictures on the computer!!
Maybe we'll splurge a little in BB and stay in a OWB...just not sure we can afford 6 days. I have to agree with Patti...I don't see how it would be too much of a pain if your staying within the same resort to change rooms once.
islandboy- Should I ask specifically for a stand alone garden bungalow? Are they more expensive than the regulars?
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#69095 - 01/07/08 06:14 AM
Re: Moorea Shertaon - How long in OWB
[Re: mosorio21]
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Zoe
Senior Advisor
Registered: 12/14/03
Posts: 801
Loc: Walnut Creek, CA
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We had a regular grarden bungalow at the Sheraton this summer. The regulars are duplexes, so you do share a wall with a neighbor. Some posters have reported hearing noise from the neighbor (tv, talking, and other marital moments); we only ever heard sounds from next door (voluble Italian chattering) when we were in the bathroom. The stand-alone garden bungalows are one category up-- we were deliberately going cheap as we were going on to Le Tahaa afterwards. I was completely happy with our bungalow (didn't feel it was crammed in at all), but if I was honeymooning, I'd go up that one category lest I be worried that the neighbors could hear me ;)
I'd second the beach bungalow comment about the Sheraton. Didn't stay in one, but sat on the beach in front of them plenty. They are right between the pool and the ovrwater pontoon, and just behind a little path. The beach in front of them is "the" beach. When we were there, there were a lot of families in them (that, or the honeymooners had an unhealthy interest in sand toys and animal-shaped pool floaties)m which made sense. That would be a great location for a family.
Obviously, the overwaters are the "best," but it was about $400-500 a night (even with the Starwood rate-- make sure you get one of those free starwood memberships from the Starwood site-- our TA plugged it into our vacation package and we got a lower rate) more and I figured that for that $$$, I'd wade in from shore to snorkel. It's completely do-able and the bungalows themselves are, I believe, all pretty much identical.
If you are looking to save or not to dig yourself into a hole, I'd consider going garden at the Sheraton. You could also plan on asking if there are upgrades available when you check in-- you're going right at the end of the high season, so dunno-- and be prepared to pay. We've found that upgrading on the spot is often cheaper than booking it in advance. Obviously, you take a chance about availability, but it can be a good bet.
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#69097 - 01/07/08 06:19 AM
Re: Moorea Shertaon - How long in OWB
[Re: Zoe]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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Another option to save money, of course, is a beach bungalow at the Pension Motu Iti a few minutes east of the Sheraton. It's a mini-version of the big resorts with great snorkelling, restaurant (with fantastic food), free use of kayaks, etc. Price 12500 XPF/night!
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#69103 - 01/07/08 07:09 AM
Re: Moorea Shertaon - How long in OWB
[Re: Old Wife]
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islandboyatheart
Expert Advisor
Registered: 07/19/05
Posts: 1376
Loc: Florida
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The stand-alone garden bungalows are called superior rooms, tropical garden view or superior garden bungalows. They are a little bit more than the standard garden bungalows but the standard bungalows are a large bungalow with 2 units sharing a common wall - good for families but not good for privacy.
Old Wife's last suggestion is also good if you want to keep costs down more and get away from the bigger resorts. There are a number of smaller places to stay that are less expensive than the cheapest rooms in the larger resorts.
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#69105 - 01/07/08 08:53 AM
Re: Moorea Shertaon - How long in OWB
[Re: islandboyatheart]
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tambir9
Member
Registered: 12/18/06
Posts: 210
Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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We stayed 10 days in an OWB at the Sheraton 6 years ago, and loved it. I am not one for packing up and moving over and over again, once I am settled, I don't want to pack up until I am leaving (just personal preference). My vote would be if you can afford it do it. The OWBs at the Sheraton are wonderful, and I would happily stay there again any day.
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#69116 - 01/07/08 04:10 PM
Re: Moorea Shertaon - How long in OWB
[Re: tambir9]
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spotbeagle
Member
Registered: 09/11/06
Posts: 365
Loc: California
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We stayed in an OWB at the Sheraton Moorea. It was definitely worth it to us even with also staying in an OWB in Bora Bora. The experiences for us on the two islands were very different. The best snorkeling at the Sheraton, if that is an experience you are looking, is the best from the OWBs. The water is a little churned up along the beach and you need to go further out for better snorkeling, or swim way out to the further OWBs from the beach if you are not staying in an OWB.
We also visited another couple that was staying in a beach bungalow. The room was similar to our OWB. Their beach bungalow was not one of the ones by the walkway between the pool and beach. It was one of the couple of beach bungalows just beyond the turn to go out to the OWBs if you were walking from the pool toward the OWBs, so lots less traffic and more privacy. Directly on the beach with no walkway between the bungalow and the water. If I were going to stay in one of hte beach bungalows here, I definitely would not want one of the ones along the walk - absolutely no privacy unless you kept your doors closed and curtains drawn for your whole stay.
Edited by spotbeagle (01/07/08 04:11 PM)
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