#84079 - 02/01/10 05:06 AM
Fakarava lodging decision
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SoDak Honeymooners
Member
Registered: 12/30/04
Posts: 47
Loc: South Dakota, United States
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Hi everyone,
My wife and I are not divers, but we love to snorkel.
We're probably looking at 5 nights on Fakarava, and definitely wish to stay on the south end of the island. I've been trying to pick between 3 places:
Tetamanu Village - It seems like the location can't be beat as far as "in the water" activities. My only hesitation is that I've seen some mention on forums and also in Jan Prince's latest edition of her guidebook of "disagreements between Sane and his wife" that have impacted the experience had by their guests. Also, the accomodations seem quite "rustic." Note: we don't require luxury...enjoyed our honeymoon stay at Kia Ora Sauvage immensely.
Raimiti - Reviews on this place seem pretty solidly favorable. For reference, my wife and I have stayed at the Kia Ora Sauvage - and loved it. Raimiti looks pretty comparable to the KOS. Seems like they do offer a daily excursion, but wouldn't be right at the pass like the TV...but I'm guessing there's pretty good snorkeling most places - just not the absolute best like seems to be the case at TV. Again, the level of accomodation at Raimiti seems to be a notch higher than TV.
Moto Aito Paradise - This one looks to be located between TV and Raimiti. Looks closer to TV in level of accomodation than to Raimiti. Have seen good reviews on this place too. Looks to offer the typical the typical day excursions, including snorkeling, motu visits, etc.
My main concern centers on the reports of the "disagreements" of the owners at TV, with a secondary concern being exactly how rustic the bungalows are. I also notice that they have a "Tetamanu Village Sauvage"...might be a bit more removed from the main property which could curtail the concern about arguments between the owners. Do you know anything about the TV Sauvage?
Pricewise, they're not terribly different. And maybe I'm overreacting to the negative reports on the TV...just seemed odd that Jan Prince took this property review out of her latest edition, and specifically mentioned the "disagreements" as the reason why she did so.
Any first-hand insight would be greatly appreciated.
Scott & Nicki
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#84080 - 02/01/10 05:28 AM
Re: Fakarava lodging decision
[Re: SoDak Honeymooners]
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DenverJoe
Expert Advisor
Registered: 09/10/02
Posts: 1846
Loc: Denver, Co.
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Can't speak to TV and Moto Aito, but we stayed at Raimiti for 6 nights and it was amazing. From the food to the excursions, everything was great. We snorkeled the pass almost every day. We did look at TV while we were there and it looked rough. But you can't beat the location. Here is a trip report by someone who's been to TV.
http://www.tahiti-explorer.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/79234/Board/13/page/1/fpart/all/gonew/1#UNREAD
_________________________
Nothing better than a Hinano in hand and toes in the sand.
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#84081 - 02/01/10 05:54 AM
Re: Fakarava lodging decision
[Re: DenverJoe]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2290
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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We've only stayed at Raimiti but they do take you to the pass and you drift snorkel at the same place I'm sure they do at TV (you walk past it to get back to the beginning). As much as I really loved drift snorkelling there (I really, really did), I also loved having a variety of snorkelling experiences at other places, too (we saw a ton of various-coloured clams, Christmas-tree 'animals'--not sure what to call them--and other fish and coral that we wouldn't have seen if we hadn't had excursions to other places).
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#84094 - 02/01/10 03:21 PM
Re: Fakarava lodging decision
[Re: Old Wife]
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Gitbox_dan
Member
Registered: 03/09/04
Posts: 103
Loc: Sacramento, CA
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Ditto DJ & OW's post... stayed @ Raimiti & enjoyed snorkeling the pass (& seeing Napoleon Wrasse up close there), but really enjoyed the variety of things we did & look forward to going back.
They were truly delightful people & made our trip fabulous.
_________________________
Remember that happiness is a way of travel - not a destination (Roy Goodman)
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#84102 - 02/02/10 09:08 AM
Re: Fakarava lodging decision
[Re: Gitbox_dan]
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Andie
Member
Registered: 06/05/07
Posts: 403
Loc: Ottawa, Canada
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My vote is for Raimiti also. We stayed there last May and it was amazing. You won't be disappointed.
_________________________
*When we can picture ourselves there, living our dreams, we know it's time...*
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#84194 - 02/05/10 11:07 PM
Re: Fakarava lodging decision
[Re: Andie]
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Finnano
Member
Registered: 12/25/05
Posts: 188
Loc: Novato, CA
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We also stayed @ Raimiti (2007) and loved it. TV looked very run down and almost deserted when we saw it. Don't know about Motu Aito.
_________________________
* Life is a beach *
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#84195 - 02/06/10 05:47 AM
Re: Fakarava lodging decision
[Re: Finnano]
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SoDak Honeymooners
Member
Registered: 12/30/04
Posts: 47
Loc: South Dakota, United States
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Thanks everyone...looks like we're confirming reservations for 5 days at Raimiti in September! I think we'll really enjoy the variety of snorkeling and other experiences vs. being located right at the pass all the time. As long as we get to snorkel the pass at least a time or two...it looks incredible.
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