Whenever I write an honest review of something that is objectively amazing, I always feel a little bit weird, like I’m not grateful for the amazing experience or that it wasn’t good enough when that’s not how feel at all.  I know that I am truly blessed to have had this amazing experiences and I recognize how unique and utterly incomprehensible it is.   All that being said, I think it is really important to take a step back from this feeling of utter amazement and be able to help others know if this place or experience would be the right fit for them.  It’s good to be equipped with knowledge when you are going to shell out a good deal of money for your tropical vacation.  I know my husband and I really did our fair share of research before choosing to go to Moorea for our honeymoon. 

 I just want the advice I give to you to be as objective as possible so that you can make the decision if the Hilton Moorea is the right place for you.  We definitely enjoyed our stay there, but it definitely might not be the right fit for everyone.

Some of the reasons for that are…

There Isn’t Much Beach

If you are like me and you like long walks on the beach with your toes in the sand, be forwarded that there is very little beach at the Hilton Moorea. I was so glad I knew this before I arrived because it helped set my expectations to realize that my new husband and I were not going to be walking for hours on the beach looking lovingly into each other’s eyes.  That might be a deal breaker for some, so I think it definitely merits mentioning especially if you want that romantic beach walk.  At the Hilton Moorea, there is only a small patch of beach at the resort and most of it is covered with beach loungers and chairs. 

It’s Pretty Small

In all honestly, the resort is rather small.  We thought that was perfect for our honeymoon because we wanted something quiet and peaceful; however, if you want a bigger resort, the InterContinental Moorea is larger and has more on sight opportunities.  That being said, the relatively small size of the place made it perfect if you want to be surrounded by nature and not by people. 

There’s Not Much Nightlife

The Hilton Moorea is like a ghost town after at 10pm.  Seriously.  While this wasn’t a con for my husband and I, I definitely think it merits mentioning for those that might be night owls and want something to do late into the evenings. For whatever reason, people seemed to go to bed super early at the resort.  I have no idea why, but seriously, we hardly saw anyone walking around the resort later in the evening and even the bar wasn’t open super late.

The Nights are Magical

One of the benefits of no nightlife was that later in the evening (like 10pm) you could walk around the resort and feel a genuine sense of solitude.  You could become immersed in the sound of the wind blowing through the palm trees and the tropical birds calling to one another.  It really was pretty magical to say the least.  In addition, there is so little light pollution in that area that you can see the stars incredibly well.  My husband and I would try to lay out in the hammock on the beach or on one of the beach loungers and just look up at the stars and listen to the birds, and honestly that was one of my absolute favorite parts of the trip. 

Everything is Easily Accessible

This is definitely not to be overrated, especially if you want a trip where you can truly relax.  If you’re going out to dinner, many local restaurants will offer some sort of pick-up service so you don’t have to worry about transportation. This is such a blessing as then you don’t need to worry about renting a car. If you’re booking boating activities such as whale watching or a sunset sail, many of the companies will pick you up from the dock at the Hilton so you have no need for bothering with transportation. 

You Could Enjoy the Resort before Your Check-in Time

Most flights from the USA arriving on AirTahiti will arrive super early in the morning.  Our plane arrive around 5am.  By the time we went through the immigration line, took the ferry over to Moorea, and took the bus to the Hilton, it was about 10am, still hours before we could officially check-in to our room.  The  Hilton Moorea provided some light refreshments for us and stowed our bags until it was time to check-in officially and we were able to sit out and enjoy the beach until the check-in time.

You Could Enjoy the Resort Past Your Checkout Time

For those of you that have a late night flight out of Tahiti, this is important.  My husband and I had a late flight out of Tahiti, so we didn’t have to take the ferry boat from Moorea to Tahiti until 6pm, and we were a little concerned about how we should handle that last day.  Fortunately for us, the Hilton Moorea was super accommodating and stored our bags all day and allowed us to stay at the resort and enjoy the pool and beach  In addition, if you are like my husband and I and are  worried about being all gross to get on the plane that night, the Hilton lets you use the gym showers to freshen up before you leave for your flight. 

Get the Overwater Bungalow Not the Garden Bungalow

The Hilton Moorea offers two types of accommodations: the garden bungalow and the overwater bungalow.  The overwater bungalows are a decent amount more than the garden bungalow, so it might be tempting to cut some corners and book a garden bungalow.  I’m a pretty cheap person and have stayed at my fair share of motels, hostels, and many a cheap AirB&Bs with no regrets; however, I really do think if I had stayed in a Garden Bungalow verses the Overwater Bungalow, I might have had some regrets.   My husband and I definitely agreed that this is one of the few times the accommodations do distinctly impact the way you experience the place. 

The Breakfast Is Worth It

My husband and I had the breakfast included with our hotel package, and I will say that the breakfast was definitely a nice part of our trip.  The variety of food was quite diverse having everything from fish, to omelets, to pasties.  It was a great combination of the French continental breakfast and a tropical breakfast.  The view from the restaurant was probably one of the best views from the entire hotel, so if you can get an outside seat, I would highly recommend it. 

The Sharks Are the Best Part

Probably my favorite part of the Hilton Moorea the creperie restaurant which is located out in the middle of the underwater bungalows.  You can have delicious crepes for dinner which is always a favorite activity of mine, but the best part is that the black-tip reef sharks come and swim under the restaurant at night.  The sharks are there every night without fail and the water is crystal clear, so it is simply breathtaking to watch them swim in their natural habitat. 

My Takeaways

Overall, the Hilton Moorea is an amazing place that can make for a wonderful vacation.  It provides a very quiet, peaceful atmosphere in which to relax and enjoy the beautiful island of Moorea.  If you’re looking for more action, perhaps try the InterContinental on the Moorea, but if you want to get away from it all, the Hilton Moorea is the place for you.