4 Best Hotels in Moorea, French Polynesia

Opened in 2000, this resort is right in front of Mt. Rotui between Cook's and Opunohu bays. There's a 10-acre lagoon at the doorstep, and free activities include pedal boats, kayaks, and outrigger canoes. Fifty-four overwater bungalows are placed in various distances from the beach on three pontoons and are priced accordingly. Bungalows have hardwood floors and timber shutters and sliding glass doors leading out to terraces; the overwater bungalows have stunning views of jagged mountain ridges. Bathrooms have deep claw-foot baths and double vanities. Grounds are spacious and the walkway from the lobby to the main restaurant and boutique leads over a lovely pond and waterfall stocked with huge goldfish. There are three restaurants all with water views; in fact the Toata Bar is on a pontoon. It's only opened in the evening and you can dine here on crêpes and keep an eye out for stingrays and reef tip sharks below.

The largest resort on the island appears to have it all—choice of garden, beach, or overwater bungalows, spa, Polynesian dancing during the week, a turtle protection center operated in partnership with the government environmental department, a special coral snorkeling park, and three resident dolphins that can be "booked" for personal encounters. A nine-month renovation program added private pools to the 17 garden bungalows and extended the terraces and added a gazebo to all-suites bungalows, in the garden, on the beach and overwater. Also new is a stunning two-level infinity pool. The resort's location is ideal on the northwest corner of the island near Le Petit Village shopping complex and several Hauru Point restaurants. The overwater bungalows, however, are not completely overwater (the balconies are but the rest is over land). Meals can vary in quality, so don't lock yourself into a meal plan but take advantage of the free pickup services from the many nearby restaurants.

This 50-apartment complex, high on the hill overlooking the InterContinental Resort and the lagoon, opened in July 2008. It's a new concept for Moorea and will be interesting to see if hillside self-catering apartments, with no beach access, take off in an island resort where the lagoon reigns supreme. A regular shuttle takes guests to a private island for swimming and snorkeling. The two- and three-bedroom apartments have terraces with hot tubs and views over the lagoon or to the lofty cloud-swathed mountain ranges. There's a choice of daily or weekly housekeeping (which keeps rates down) and Legends Gourmet, a delicatessen that sells groceries and other items for self-catering and also serves breakfast and lunch by the pool. The onsite restaurant La Villa Des Sens is open Wednesday to Sunday for dinner only. A new onsite spa offers massages and a range of body scrubs.

Pearl Resorts encompass the best of French Polynesia with regular dance performances and onsite dive centers to get guests into the lagoon as quickly as possible. This little gem of a resort is a short distance from the Maharepa commercial center, near the new golf course, and a 10-minute drive from the airport. There are plenty of activities to enjoy, a gorgeous spa, and even a resident tattoo artist (Herenui Teriitehau) for those guests who want an indelible reminder of their stay. Accommodations range from rooms (located in a wing) to individual bungalows in the garden, beachfront, and overwater. Eighteen of the garden bungalows have plunge pools. Kids receive a set of beach toys, snorkel gear, life jackets, and a basket of candy. The Matiehani gourmet restaurant is considered one of the best on the island.