22 Best Hotels in Tahiti, French Polynesia

It doesn't get any better than this lovely resort, which is surrounded by 30 acres of gardens that includes an enclosed lagoonarium. Watch fish and rays being fed in the morning and the sunset over Moorea in the evening. Hotels rooms have handcrafted wooden beds and spacious bathrooms and are located in two wings; there are also 31 overwater bungalows. There are two "infinity pools" and a man-made white-sand beach. Tahitian women make handcrafts by the pool, which are available for purchase. Acclaimed dance troupe Les Grands Ballets de Tahiti stages a stunning cultural show on Friday and Saturday nights.

This clean and basic pension is located in a large modern two-story house about a half-mile walk from Vaiete Square and most of Pape'ete's attractions. Two rooms have air-conditioning (there's an extra charge of 2,500 CPF for these), while the others have fans. Guests have access to a communal kitchen with fridge and microwave; a TV lounge; and a garden pool, which is a welcome sight on a steamy day. The price includes breakfast and taxes, and dinner can be arranged and taken in the dining room.

If you like remote locales with fantastic rural and mountain views, you've come to the right place. Chez Jeannine is located on the Taravao plateau, a few miles inland from the both the north and south coast of Tahiti Iti and just a 10-minute drive from Taravao. The views of Tahiti Nui's towering mountains and over the lagoons to either side are fantastic. The pension has rooms and bungalows all with private bathrooms and fans, while some have kitchens. All meals can be provided. The pension has a communal TV lounge, pool and WiFi.

A Swiss-run pension, with the opportunity to taste delicious cheese fondue, is certainly a rare find in Tahiti. Swiss owner Beni Huber runs this modern pension in the Paofai district of Pape'ete, not far from the Paofai Protestant Temple. Two rooms have double beds, the third has two twin beds, and the fourth is ideal for a family with double and single bed. All have private bathrooms with hot water and guests have access to two separate kitchens and a lounge room with TV. A supermarket is nearby. Beni provides free airport transfers and can arrange tours around the island. The pension is in a residental area, which has been prone to break-ins. Guests are advised to lock their cars and hotel rooms at all times.

This modern complex of individual bungalows has an enviable position: it's right on the lagoon, is backed by luxuriant rain-forested hills, is close to an excellent surfing beach, and is just 10 minutes from the golf course. The bungalows can accommodate up to four people; four of the bungalows have a kitchen, while all have hot-water private bathrooms, TVs, and refrigerators. The pension has its own bus and motorboat for private tours of the island. Breakfast is available (100 CFP per person) onsite and there's a restaurant 300 meters down the road. Transfers are 3,000 CFP one-way person if there are two people, and 6,000 CFP for a single traveler.

As the name suggests, there are many Chinese touches in this otherwise contemporary style hotel. Two of the three restaurants have attractive Chinese decor and serve Chinese and western dishes. The five mini-suites have both a double and single bed and a bathtub. It's a well-kept, mid-range hotel conveniently located less than half a mile from the ferry port.

Three kilometers (1.8 mi) from the city, this is one of the few options east of the city. It's situated on former royal ground—the Pomare family used to live here. The hotel faces a black-sand beach, has lovely gardens with a Jacuzzi set into black volcanic rocks, and a swimming pool with decorative waterfall. Rooms are well maintained and prices are very reasonable and now include Wi-Fi. There's live music (some traditional, some western-style) on the weekends, great views of the lagoon, and good food in the restaurant.

This is one of two new hotels built in Tahiti the past few years; it opened in 2009 with 91 rooms, more than half of which are suites. Each room has a balcony, air-conditioning, satellite TV, and a minimalist design featuring ceramic floor tiles, cream walls, and dark-wood features. Other firsts for a Tahiti hotel: underground parking, a fitness center, and a pool.

It means "the blue wave" and the pension pays homage to one of the biggest and most dangerous waves in the world—Teahupoo. The wave itself is accessed via a short boat ride to a place called Hava'e Pass. The pension is literally right on the beach, and each of the six bungalows can accommodate four people (one king bed and two singles) and have kitchen and hot-water bathroom, fan, TV, terrace, and tea- and coffee-making facilities. There are free kayaks, and tours can be organized to the grotto and the "wave" itself.

This popular resort had a complete makeover throughout 2010 and 2011; it has emerged with a very funky lobby with modern furniture and all rooms have flat screen TVs, movies on demand, iPod docking stations, Polynesia touches such as tapa wall hangings, and some have coffee tables shaped like surfboards. All rooms and suites overlook the lagoon, while the senior suites have expansive terraces. Located at PK15, this is the farthest resort from Pape'ete; guests, however, can take the local L'Truck bus into town. Like its rival, the Sofitel, Le Méridien claims it occupies the only natural white-sand beach on the island. Whatever the case, the sand is white. The swimming pool, with a sandy bottom, is certainly unique. The resort has a gallery, L'Atelier, where artists display their work and conduct art classes (approximately 3,000 CFP an hour for guests). On Friday nights there's a Tahitian dance show, while the indoor-outdoor Le Carre Restaurant is a romantic place to dine. The resort can also organize Tahitian wedding ceremonies in its beautiful grounds.

This resort has a 121 rooms comprised of standard hotel rooms, duplexes, suites, and and three-bedroom apartments in a modern building with a distinctive Polynesian flair. The lobby area features huge vertical beams and huge wooden carvings, while the resort's standout feature is the infinity pool—the largest on the island. Situated on a the lagoon and short 10-minute taxi ride (or a L'truck ride) from the city and airport, it's an ideal place for with a short stay before heading to the other islands, or a longer family holiday in one of the apartments.

This charming colonial-style lodge is about a quarter of a mile walk from both Le Méridien resort and a small shopping center, and is just a few minutes walk to the beach. The rooms (some with kitchenettes for an additional 2,000 CFP a night) have a terrace with a view of the gardens and swimming pool, and are decorated with a Polynesian flair—bright bedspreads and local artwork. Each room has TV, refrigerator, and Wi-Fi (500 CFP per day). All meals can be provided—breakfast is 900 CFP, lunch and dinner 1,500 CFP. The public bus to Pape'ete stops at the front door.

This tranquil pension, located in a lovely garden with its own waterfall, is just a short walk from the beach and Vairoa lagoon. There are four bungalows, each with one bedroom, private bathroom with hot water, kitchen, and balcony. All meals can be provided and are served in the fare potee or main house, which in this case is a lovely white house with a balcony. There are free kayaks and excursions can be arranged to the nearby Vaipori grotto. Teahupoo is only 3 mi to the east.

This is a sister property to Pension Ahitea Lodge and only a five-minute walk away. It offers comfortable, clean accommodation with private or shared bathrooms all with hot water and fans. Air-conditioning is available at an extra 2,000 CFP a day per room. A kitchenette with microwave and refrigerator are available for guests, as is a TV lounge. Breakfast is included and dinner can be arranged on request. The pension is a half-mile walk from the ferry port.

This pension is the perfect place to wile away a few days. There are four beachside bungalows with private bathrooms and capacity for four guests, and four rooms, which share two bathrooms, set in a beautiful garden. The restaurant serves three meals a day, specializing in fish from the nearby village of Pueu. Breakfast and dinner cost 3,000 CFP; lunchtime picnic baskets can be arranged for 900 CFP. Excursions to nearby Motu Nono and picnics at the Vaipori Grotto, a cave at the southeast tip of Tahiti Iti, can be arranged. The pension has intriguing piece of therapeutic equipment, a kind of personal sauna, known as a far-infrared dome sauna which is said to detoxify the body.

Situated on a quiet bay, this pension has four bungalows each with a double bed and private bathroom with hot water. The decor is rustic Polynesian with rattan walls, bright floral bedspreads, shell artwork, and floral design bed lamps. Each bungalow has a terrace looking across a garden to the lagoon. A variety of excursions including snorkeling trips and boat rides to the Vaipori Grotto can be arranged. Half board is 3,500 CFP per person.

Looking to immerse yourself in Polynesian culture for a few days? Guests at the Radisson can participate in Tahitian dance and cooking classes, though they must leave the wood carving and basket weaving to the Marquesan instructors. The accommodations here are a mixture of standard rooms, rooms with Jacuzzis on the balcony, two-story duplexes, and suites. All have a modern, western design and are decorated with framed photographs of colonial Pape'ete. A dance show takes place on the beach every Saturday night. A free shuttle offers transfers to the city 7 km (4 mi) away.

Shaped like a ship, this resort is situated on Maeva Beach, the only natural white sand beach on the island. The huge lobby is decorated with Polynesian totem poles and cane furniture with vibrant cushions. Rooms are also brightly decorated in orange, pink, white, green, and yellow fabrics from the Parisian design house Robert Le Heros. A feature of the bedroom is the sheer curtain printed with famous sayings of Paul Gauguin; as they are in French, it's best to ask the staff to translate. The grounds are very spacious and there are lovely views of Moorea from the pool. Le Bounganville restaurant has international cuisine and a Polynesian buffet the first Sunday of the month, while Le Sakura serves Japanese fare. There's a L'Truck stop across the road from the hotel.

If you have an early or very late flight to catch, or just like looking at planes from the breakfast terrace, then this is the place to stay. It's directly across the road (and up a hill) from the airport—five minutes on foot. The twin, double, and family rooms, which all have private bathrooms, are a little Spartan but the furnishings are pleasant with floral bedspreads and cushions. Rooms are air-conditioned, have Wi-Fi connections, refrigerators, and tea/coffee-making facilities. There is parking for 14 cars. Staff can arrange car rentals and day trips.

This three-room pension in Tautira is one of the only places to stay in this remote section of Tahiti Iti. Tautira has an "edge of the world" feel about it; it's on a black-sand beach and is backed by mountains covered in thick foliage. This is a get-away-from-it-all experience, although the little town has enough parishioners to fill two churches. Rooms are simple and clean, have linen and mosquito nets, and share a hot-water bathroom. There's a lounge with TV and a dining room.

This five-story white hotel is in the heart of Pape'ete. The front rooms have great views of the bay, the yachts, and all the comings and goings in the harbor. As it's right on the main road it can get a little noisy, but it's very convenient to all the Pape'ete action. There's an independent restaurant next door and the supermarket's a five-minute walk away. Rooms are clean and unpretentious with bathrooms and TVs. Breakfast is served in a small dining room on the first floor.

This pension is a must for anyone visiting Teahupoo. The bungalows are very funky, with exposed beams and furniture made from bamboo, varnished tree branches and amazing shaped tree trunks. Two bungalows resemble tree houses with internal stairways and balconies on the top floor, while another has interesting stone walls. All have a kitchenette, hot-water bathroom, and can sleep four people. The pension is on a hill overlooking gardens (where massages take place) and the lagoon. Breakfast is 1,400 CFP per person and other meals are available at "snacks" about a 15-minute walk away.