6 Best Hotels in Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia

Located half way between the airport and Tiputa Pass about 4 miles from Avotouro township, Hotel Maitai Rangiroa is the new name for the former Novotel property that stood on the site. It is now managed by Pacific Beachcomber, which also manages the four Inter-Continental resorts in French Polynesia, the Le Maitai in Bora Bora and the Paul Gauguin cruise ship.

The new company took over the hotel in 2010 and by all reports service and food quality have improved. Refurbishments have included new soft furnishings in bungalows, including new blackout curtains, along with new light fittings and flat-screen TVs. The lobby, bar and restaurant have also been upgraded with new furniture. The resorts offers bicycle hire and can arrange excursions and scuba diving trips with operators. There is no onsite spa, but massages can be arranged with a local therapist on request.

This lovely pension on Tiputa Pass, is the place to watch acrobatic dolphins swimming against the current. French owner Denise Josephine Caroggio tells you the best time to keep a look out for them from her terrace. There are six bungalows decorated with Balinese furniture including a lovely four-poster bed, a daybed, and padded sun lounges on private decks. Each has a ceiling fan and a small portable air-conditioning unit. Meals are served on the terrace overlooking the pass, and half-board and airport transfers are included in the rate.

This all-in-one pension and pearl farm is a great place to stay. Owner Joachim Dariel conducts free visits of the farm and there are free bikes to explore the town of Rotoava. There are five beach bungalows and three two-bedroom garden bungalows with fans, bathrooms with cold water, and lovely Polynesian touches like shell wind chimes and oval bathroom mirrors set in shell frames.

This pension, less than a mile from the airport, also runs its own excursions to the Blue Lagoon. There are 10 small bungalows, each with private bathroom with hot water. The pension was recently renovated and has added air-conditioning. Meals, which often feature local lobster prepared with various sauces, are served in an open-sided thatched restaurant. At night it can get a bit lively—for Rangi—when local traditional entertainers sometimes perform and often invite guests up to dance as well.

With nine bungalows, this is the largest of the small family-run pensions on the island. Each of the Polynesian-style thatched bungalows has a double bed and single bed, a terrace, and a bathroom with a cold-water shower. Half- and full-board plans are offered. There are free kayaks and free airport transfers.

About half a mile or so from White Sand Beach Resort, this pension has four bungalows set in a beautiful, well-maintained garden. Each bungalow has a double and single bed, fan, and mosquito net, as well as a private bathroom with cold-water shower.