#69286 - 01/13/08 12:34 PM
Sheraton Moorea - Garden Bungalow
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hockeyguy
Junior Member
Registered: 01/13/08
Posts: 18
Loc: Connecticut
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Hi,
Planning my honeymoon in Moorea, Bora, Tahiti for may/june '08. Want to stay in an overwater room on either Moorea or Bora but don't think I can afford both. have some packages quoted to me where I get a Garden Bungalow at the Sheraton (I don't think it's a premium garden bungalow) ... if I save the $'s in Moorea then I get overwater bungalows at the inter-continental thalasso or Bora Nui resort on Bora.
Alternative is a Horizon Overwater at the Sheraton and then a beach bungalow at the Intercontinental Moana on Bora. Haven't read up on the Moana resort yet.
I realize possibilities are endless but can anyone comment on the garden bungalows at the Sheraton Moorea? Seems like the cheapest room on the island at 4-star plus resorts. Am I better off looking at the Sofitel or something else?
thanks
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#69287 - 01/13/08 12:44 PM
Re: Sheraton Moorea - Garden Bungalow
[Re: hockeyguy]
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hockeyguy
Junior Member
Registered: 01/13/08
Posts: 18
Loc: Connecticut
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I subsequently found some relevant postings on the thread, "Moorea Shertaon - How long in OWB" ... if anyone has additional advice on Sofitel, IC Moana on Bora Bora, etc. it is greatly appreciated.
I notice that upgrades are a common practice at these resorts. Is simply being a member of the Starwood or Priority (for IC) programs enough to get you an upgrade? Or do you need some Gold/Silver/Platinum status to get this? Unfortunately my frequent business travel ended a few years ago so I've watched my Starwood and other status go from Platinum to "average joe"!
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#69380 - 01/15/08 02:42 PM
Re: Sheraton Moorea - Garden Bungalow
[Re: hockeyguy]
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islandboyatheart
Expert Advisor
Registered: 07/19/05
Posts: 1376
Loc: Florida
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Either of the two options for bungalows is okay. The Nui is a much nicer property in my opinion than the Moana and the property is much more secluded being located on a motu rather than the main island. I've stayed there twice and the property is beautiful. There are some problems with organization and management at times but all-around, a great property. The Moana is still a good property and has a convenient location to restaurants and limited shopping but with a less private location. Personally, I would go with the garden in Moorea and an OWB at the Nui.
The garden bungalows at the Sheraton Moorea are still quite nice and the lagoon is there to swim/snorkel whether you stay in an OWB or not. The property is well landscaped and the beach and pool are no more than a 5 minute walk from the furthest bungalow. The garden bungalows have two types - the standard, which shares a common wall and the premium which is a stand-alone bungalow. I've stayed in both types and the premium is more private but either is ok.
As far as Starwood upgrades are concerned, as long as you are a preferred guest member, it will depend more on the time of year and room availabilty than it will status. If you go during off-peak (Nov-April) you are more likely to be upgraded. During peak time, with or without status, you are unlikely to get much of an upgrade. I have gold status and have not been upgraded on any of my 3 stays at the Sheraton Moorea - all during April. The Sheraton Moorea is becoming a pretty popular property over the past few years so I wouldn't plan on an upgrade, if you get it - great, but don't count on it.
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#69431 - 01/16/08 11:35 AM
Re: Sheraton Moorea - Garden Bungalow
[Re: islandboyatheart]
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hockeyguy
Junior Member
Registered: 01/13/08
Posts: 18
Loc: Connecticut
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Thanks for the sound advice islandboy ... a couple of follow-on questions.
If for example we stay at the Nui (or Thalasso) on Bora ... is it easy to get to a mainland restaurant for a nice dinner in the evening? If we stay there 4 nights, I suppose we'll want to have a private dinner on our OWB deck one evening, dinner at the hotel restaurant at least one evening, and then perhaps dinners at a local restaurant and/or at another resort. (I've read that the seafood buffet at the Thalasso is excellent?!?) Is this reasonable/acheivable from a place like the Nui or Thalasso? Or is it a pain to get around like this?
BTW, we're going at the end of May / beginning of June so sounds like it'll be difficult to get an upgrade. Might be worth committing to a premium garden bungalow to be on the safe side at least ... then I'll keep my fingers crossed and maybe be able to buy a discounted upgrade if something else is available. Quite disappointed that I've lost my Platinum status!
Are you familiar w/ the Sofitel since it's had the recent renovations? How does it compare to the Moorea Sheraton?
Thanks again
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#69434 - 01/16/08 12:27 PM
Re: Sheraton Moorea - Garden Bungalow
[Re: hockeyguy]
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islandboyatheart
Expert Advisor
Registered: 07/19/05
Posts: 1376
Loc: Florida
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It is pretty easy to get from the Nui to the mainland. The Nui runs boat shuttles throughout the day that drop you off and pick you up from the dock in Vaitape. Many restaurants will pick you up from the boat docks in Vaitape if you request a transfer. Vaitape is about a 15-20 minute boat ride from the Nui. You can also arrange for dinner at other hotels but in the case of the Thallasso (which is located on a different motu) you will have to take the Nui shuttle to Vaitape, then arrange to get a boat shuttle from the Thallasso dock area to the hotel. A little more complicated and time-consuming but definitely possible.
I'm not too familiar with the Sofitel Moorea as I've never stayed there. I have driven into the main reception area and seen the property exterior and surroundings but have never seen the rooms themselves or the restaurant areas. The hotel location is very nice with beautiful views across the Sea of Moons to Tahiti but I still prefer the location of the Sheraton.
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#69439 - 01/16/08 02:14 PM
Re: Sheraton Moorea - Garden Bungalow
[Re: islandboyatheart]
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Zoe
Senior Advisor
Registered: 12/14/03
Posts: 801
Loc: Walnut Creek, CA
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We stayed at the Sheraton Moorea this July (07) and had the average Joe STarwood card: no upgrade. The resort was almost completely full. We had a regular, el-cheapo garden bungalow and loved it. You do share a wall with your neighbors (so if you could upgrade to premium and you're honeymooning... I'd go for it). Access to the snorkelling from the shore is easy, easy, easy. Location-wise, on Moorea we prefer the Pearl (we're headed htere this March), but the snorkeling at the Sheraton is hands-down the best we've found at a hotel in Moorea (Pearl is very, very good, but Sheraton is just spectacular). Have you considered pricing either a premium overwater or a garden-with-plunge-pool at the Pearl?
We're huge fans of Le Moana in BOB as well. If you join their Priority Club and pay $150 for the Ambassador membership, you're supposed to get a guarenteed one category upgrade (we have, both times), so if you booked beach, you'd get an overwater bungalow. We love the property and its location, particularly being able to walk along Matira Point and to tons of great restaurants. We mentioned in our booking and in an email to the hotel before we arrived that it was our 14th wedding anniversary, and they had a half-bottle of champagne on ice waiting for us in our room. The priority club also entitles you to a fruit plate and late check out (4 pm). Snorkeling at Le Moana is ok (nice corals along the edge where the water drops off by the boat dock) and they offer a paid (~$40 USD/person) transfer to a lovely private motu with spectacular snorkeling (huge sting ray while we were there that was completely friendly).
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#69455 - 01/17/08 07:54 AM
Re: Sheraton Moorea - Garden Bungalow
[Re: Zoe]
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hockeyguy
Junior Member
Registered: 01/13/08
Posts: 18
Loc: Connecticut
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Great ... more research to do based on this feedback!
Zoe, you imply that some huge stingray are not friendly?!?
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#69463 - 01/17/08 10:03 AM
Re: Sheraton Moorea - Garden Bungalow
[Re: hockeyguy]
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hockeyguy
Junior Member
Registered: 01/13/08
Posts: 18
Loc: Connecticut
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Zoe/Islandboy/anyone:
Do you typically do your own bookings for hotels, airfare & inter-island travel? Or do you use one of the many Tahitian travel specialists?
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#69476 - 01/17/08 02:00 PM
Re: Sheraton Moorea - Garden Bungalow
[Re: hockeyguy]
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islandboyatheart
Expert Advisor
Registered: 07/19/05
Posts: 1376
Loc: Florida
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I would recommend that for a first trip, everyone should use an agent. There are a number of details to handle, they have to be handled overseas in a French-speaking country, and things can change suddenly. I would suggest checking out the travel agency that sponsors this forum. It is much easier to have someone else deal with all the hotels, airlines, transfer companies etc. while you spend your time researching some of the fun stuff to do once you get there.
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#69478 - 01/17/08 03:38 PM
Re: Sheraton Moorea - Garden Bungalow
[Re: islandboyatheart]
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Zoe
Senior Advisor
Registered: 12/14/03
Posts: 801
Loc: Walnut Creek, CA
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Stingrays: I've met a couple that were perfectly happy to leave me alone (which was great by me-- I hate being touched by those things). Most of the rest pretty much chased me around the lagoon wanting to "bump" and be fed. All very, very friendly :)
I do NOT do my own bookings and would absolutely recommend for your first trip you use a TA such as Yves, who runs this board (he's done some of mine before and was great). After seven trips, I can see how it could be done, but there are a whole lot of pieces, my French is terrible, and I want to relax and enjoy my vacation rather than worry about all the transfers, rooms, charges, etc. Particularly since Tahiti is not the most internet-friendly destination (you booked it where? how? huh?), I'd worry about the transfers. People do it and works out well, but I'm a "Tahiti specialist" kind of gal all the way (if you want a really, really good laugh tho... "price" with a non-specialist... their packages are hilariously bad... some of the expedia type sites blithely book your LAX-PPT air and a hotel in Huahine... and THEN mention that you need to arrange your own transportation between Faaa and Huahine, although you could pick your rental car up at Faaa if you wanted to.... ooookay..... )
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