Fodor's Expert Review Fenua-Mata'i'oa

If you want something very different and have money to spare, this luxury four-suite residence is a bit like Louis XIV meets Polynesia and it all works wonderfully. Touches run from bohemian to European with chandeliers, four-poster beds, chaise longues, Oriental carpets, upholstered tub chairs, and gilt mirrors, plus typical island decor of rattan and bamboo. There is a junior suite that can accommodate three, a prestige suite for two people, a royal suite with two bedrooms and two bathrooms and a collection of exotic—and slightly erotic—art, while the presidential suite is split-level and includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms (one with Jacuzzi), and a small "office" with Wi-Fi–ready computer and printer. The gardens are beautiful and the French owner, Eileen, who has furnished the rooms with pieces she collected in her European travels, provides a very warm welcome. Meals and half-board options are available, together with a weekly Polynesian dance show.