#80284 - 04/28/09 04:00 AM
Honeymoon - Moorea
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Daydreamer
Member
Registered: 04/28/09
Posts: 56
Loc: Yorkshire, United Kingdom
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Hi all!
I'm getting married in June and have arranged a honeymoon for myself and my fiance in FP (travelling Jun/Jul 09). We're real beach lovers and have opted for a straight two weeks in the Sofitel Ia Ora Moorea. We've worked really hard for the last two years to save to go so now we're really ready for the holiday!
Moorea looks like paradise so I'm sure we'll love it. What I wondered was what people's thoughts on the hotel are, also what are the top things we should do or see in or around Moorea?
Any tips for travel? (We're flying London Heathrow to LAX, then on to PPT and then Air Tahiti to Moorea). Staying late June early July 09.
Thank you!
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#80288 - 04/28/09 05:45 AM
Re: Honeymoon - Moorea
[Re: Daydreamer]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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The Sofitel Ia Ora Moorea has a beautiful beach and a fantastic view of Tahiti. I think you've made a very wise choice! We took a 4x4 tour of the island with Albert's and loved it. You can spend the whole trip with both of you craning your necks around, taking in the views (you can't do that when you're driving!). Since you aren't visiting another island, I'd also do a ray-feeding and water type trip (you might get a deal booking them both with the same company).
As for travelling, make sure you follow the regulations about carrying liquids (container size & ziploc-bag size). Wear very comfortable clothing and wear layers so you can take them off if you get warm. Drink plenty of fluids while flying and get up and walk up & down the aisle frequently (if you can't, do rotation exercises of your ankles and stretch when possible). We took blow-up pillows for flying (they're easy to pack). ATN supplies eye shields and ear plugs and socks so you don't need those unless you'll need them for your trip to and from LAX. If you don't sleep well on planes, you might want to try taking Gravol.
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#80291 - 04/28/09 06:23 AM
Re: Honeymoon - Moorea
[Re: Old Wife]
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Daydreamer
Member
Registered: 04/28/09
Posts: 56
Loc: Yorkshire, United Kingdom
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Thanks for that!
Hadn't thought of taking anything to sleep on the flight, to be honest we'll likely be too excited to sleep but its a long way so we'll need some shut eye at some point!
Is it worth getting the excursions booked from the hotel do you think or do you visit an office/agent somewhere to book the 4x4 tours etc? How do the prices usually compare?
Myself and my fiance are avid cyclists and I hear the road which runs around the island is a great way to see the sights. Recommended on bikes you think? I think the hotel offers bike rental but no idea of the cost...
Sorry for all the questions!
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#80292 - 04/28/09 06:30 AM
Re: Honeymoon - Moorea
[Re: Daydreamer]
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DenverJoe
Expert Advisor
Registered: 09/10/02
Posts: 1878
Loc: Denver, Co.
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Here is the Un-official list published on this site by users. Check it out. You might get some ideas of what to do and the costs.
http://www.tahiti-explorer.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/18603/page/5#Post18603
_________________________
Nothing better than a Hinano in hand and toes in the sand.
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#80293 - 04/28/09 06:49 AM
Re: Honeymoon - Moorea
[Re: DenverJoe]
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Daydreamer
Member
Registered: 04/28/09
Posts: 56
Loc: Yorkshire, United Kingdom
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That's brilliant, thank you very much! :)
I shall print that and take it with us when we go. There seems to be an excellent selection of restaurants on the island, so we won't go hungry! :)
I hear alot of the restaurants will pick you up at the hotel if you make a reservation, is this true?
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#80294 - 04/28/09 06:56 AM
Re: Honeymoon - Moorea
[Re: Daydreamer]
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DenverJoe
Expert Advisor
Registered: 09/10/02
Posts: 1878
Loc: Denver, Co.
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Yes it's true. Most are no charge, but some have been known to tack a charge on your bill for transportation. Ask first.
_________________________
Nothing better than a Hinano in hand and toes in the sand.
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#80295 - 04/28/09 08:24 AM
Re: Honeymoon - Moorea
[Re: DenverJoe]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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I'm not sure if there's an Albert's (or other) booth near the Sofitel (hopefully, someone else who's stayed there will let you know). We stayed at the Intercontinental & just had to walk out the driveway to book with Albert's. That way we weren't paying an additional hotel fee to book (I understand they tack on a charge for that). As for riding bikes, the roads on Moorea aren't really all that safe for biking (and the bikes are one-speed and old). We walked along the roads a lot on our two trips there and you really have to be careful to stay well off the road walking when cars come along...they don't move over at all. I'd think it would be way worse with bikes because you'd want to stay on the road for the surface, but if 2 cars pass near you, they won't give you any room at all.
Editted to add that we biked a few times on Huahine, a far less-busy island. The sides of the road were very soft and we often had to move off the road because of traffic. Fortunately, we didn't have far to bike so we did use bikes for transportation when we had lots to bring back from the grocery store or were in a hurry (on our last day there, we had to rush into town to check the internet). I still wasn't all that comfortable doing that, though (we much preferred walking).
Edited by Old Wife (04/28/09 08:27 AM)
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#80296 - 04/28/09 08:52 AM
Re: Honeymoon - Moorea
[Re: Old Wife]
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Daydreamer
Member
Registered: 04/28/09
Posts: 56
Loc: Yorkshire, United Kingdom
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Ah ok. Thanks for telling me that.
We were hoping to cycle to the supermarket to get essentials to save on car hire etc. I think for safety's sake we'll just hire a scooter or something! I'm sure we'll sort something out. :)
Does anyone know how far the supermarket is from the sofitel?
Incidentally, thank you for all the help so far, it's much appreciated! :)
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#80299 - 04/28/09 09:23 AM
Re: Honeymoon - Moorea
[Re: Daydreamer]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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I'd avoid a scooter, too. Get a car. There have been lots of scooter accidents on Moorea and you don't want to wreck your vacation.
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#80308 - 04/28/09 08:25 PM
Re: Honeymoon - Moorea
[Re: Old Wife]
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holte
Expert Advisor
Registered: 11/19/04
Posts: 2417
Loc: Duluth, Minnesota
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We stayed at the Sofitel before the remodel and really loved it. It's far from other things so we did have a car the whole time. We like to do what we want to do when we want to. There is the Temae Overlook above the Sofitel and my hubby would get up and watch the sunrise over Tahiti every morning. I was too lazy to get up, but now I am very sorry that I did not do it. I don't know if currents change or not, but there was a bit of a current a little further out . I stayed close enough in that I could lie on an air mattress and basically not move for a long time. There was a roulottes not to far from the Sofitel that we discovered on the last day there. I don't know if it is still there, but if it is, it was good and inexpensive. When we booked with a travel agent, there was a stipulation that we could not rent a scooter. My husband was very upset as he has been riding motorcycles for 50 years. After being on Moorea, he agreed that it was not a good idea and would not recommend it for anyone, even though the islanders ride them plenty. When we went, we did get a package with our stay at the Sofitel that included car rental. I don't know if it was a good deal or not as it was our first time there. We also enjoyed the Lagoonarium, but I am not sure of the status of the Lagoonarium. I think it closed down and was moved to somewhere else. Have fun. It is paradise for sure.
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