Our observations...Huahine is gorgeous! The resort is a little "rough around the edges". After 3 nights at the Moorea Pearl we were on cloud 9 (the service was fantastic). We arrived in Huahine in the rain. The taxi boat broke down and a grumpy woman checked us in. But we were still optimistic. We checked into our beach bungalow and could only stand the smell of mildew for about 5 minutes. We ended up paying to upgrade to a POWB. It was very large and the porch was nice. It just looked very "70's" in the decor. Having lived on an island before the roaches don't really freak us out- but there were quite a few. The snorkeling was very good. The food in the restaurant was decent. Except for the creme brulee which was Amazing! I didn't think the prices were too bad. The drinks at the bar were VERY strong, like almost undrinkable. The bar offered "activities" but many nights we were the only couple. It rained quite a bit so we decided to have an in room massage. The massage was FANTASTIC and the woman was saying how desserted the resort has been. We found that to be very true. It was nice to not have to wait for drinks and we had enjoyed a lot of privacy. The only problem was that they require a minimum of 4 people for their excursions. We waited 3 days for anyone to sign up for anything. We ended up doing the jetski excursion which was the best (most beautiful scenery) out of anything we did in FP. Downtown Fare was very small and cute (xmas type lights). Very few people spoke any english, I speak a little French. We found that people were not as friendly as they were on Moorea.

We chose Huahine to relax and enjoy quiet FP. It's true there really is not much to do. I'm glad we experienced it but I would not recommend more than a few days there.

We were pleased with the size of our OTW bungalow, the largest in French Polynesia. The size of the deck , complete with its little shaded area, make it very special. However, the OTW units are located right on the boat channel, hindering a private feeling and interfering with sleep. I would choose an OTW on another island if you are budgeting for only one such experience. Many of the garden units are more secluded with tall tropical plants than the OTW units are.We had only one dinner at the resort, electing to dine in the town of Fare for the 3 others. The ferry/shuttle runs once an hour to town and back. The best restaurants ( at the Relais Mahana and Chez Mauriti) are a long haul away from town so we chose to have lunch at them while we were out with the rent a car and then snorkel in the same area. You will need to rent a car for at least a full day to see all the sights of the island. Stop at the vanilla plantation for a high speed tour of the mini botanical garden-the guide is a hoot. The private lagoon tour/lunch on a motu with Huahine Explorer was a highlight. Do your souvenir shopping on the other islands as there are very few stores on Huahine. It is a lush and beautiful place, fortunately lacking the over development of some of the other islands.

Te Tiare is considered the best resort of the island but it might be worth checking out some of the less expensive options on Avea Bay, such as Relais Mahana and Pension Mauriti. They are on a superb beach on the smaller of the 2 islands of Huahine.

We stayed at Huahine for 5 nights before departing to Bora Bora. Huahine is one of the most secluded islands I have ever been to. Because of this, the island is in pristine condition and will have you awe struck.

The Te Tiare was an above average hotel. We stayed in a lagoon bungalow which was a nice introduction to the OW bungalow we stayed at on Bora. The condition of the hotel is a bit older and doesn't compare to the luxury of Bora however this is the only "resort" so it doesn't leave much for options or competition. The food at this hotel was good. I thought the chef overcooked the meals a bit. The sunsets are phenomenal. All of the OW and lagoon bungalows have a view. The sun sets over Le Tahaa which is two miles and just at the horizon.

With all that said, you go to Huahine to experience the island. It is breathtaking. We decided on the jeep tour, a boat tour and a private horseback riding excursion. The jeep tour was nice to go to some ancient temples and the look-out points were perfect. The boat tour was great. He took us to some good snorkeling spots and was an excellent guide. The horseback riding was the highlight. The stable was Le Petite Ferme. We booked a private tour with sea bathing. Going bareback into the water was an experience but no one fell off so I'm pretty sure we can call it a success.

The town, Fare, is small, but we picked up some groceries for breakfast and lunch. We went out to lunch and dinner one time each.

Oh...almost forgot to mention that there were birds(about 100) that roosted in the tree behind our bungalow every night and they felt the need to start singing at 5AM. This was a bit of an annoyance but there isn't much you can do if you want unspoiled beauty. You have the rest of the day to relax anyway :-).

My husband and I just spent June 10-20 in Moorea, Huahine and Bora Bora. We spent 3 nights at the Moorea Pearl, which was fabulous. We were there 3 years ago and it was beautiful then. It was just as we remembered it. The staff was great, the overwater bungalow was clean, big and perfectly situated over the corals, so the snorkeling was the best here. We didn't have a meal plan, so we relied on stocking up on baguettes, meats, cheeses, wine and beer at the market in Maharepa. The village is about a 5 minute walk from the resort. It also has banks, pearl and gift shops. very convenient. We ate at TE Honu Iti and Le Mahogany, the island's two best restaurants in our opinion. Mahogany is a little cheaper than Te Honu Iti, but both are worth the prices. Being return guests, we were given some special treatment in the bar. the bartender filled up our glasses a few times without our asking and didn't charge us.

We then spent 4 nights in a premium overwater bungalow at Te Tiare Beach Resort in Huahine. That resort is fabulous! the bungalows are a little older, but they're huge and clean. they're made the way a bungalow should be made, with a big enough closet to hold your luggage and a separate shower. our bungalow, which was #36 and right on the point, was perfectly situated to get sun and shade. The deck is L-shaped, so you can get in th sun or shade whenever you want without going inside. The gardens there were beautiful and lush, and very well kept. The drinks of course are pricey in the bar, but they were expensive at all 3 resorts. The resort offers shuttle service from about 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. the shuttle runs into the main town of Fare on the hour and back to the resort on the half hour. the supermarket was about a 3 minute walk from the boat dock in Fare, so we took the shuttle in every day to get some snacks for breakfast and lunch, wine and beer. we ate at the only restaurant in town called New Temarara ( i think that's how it's spelled). it looks like nothing but the food was excellent. we tried to go one other night but it was election night and everything in town was closed. the restaurant at the resort is great too though. we took an all day tour of the island through Poetaina Tours that was great. the first half of the day we took a tour by outrigger canoe. you snorkel, feed the eels, eat in the water on a motu and visit a pearl farm. Dolores was our tour guide for the morning and a lot of fun . the second half of the day was by jeep. Poto, our tour guide, also was hilarious. we saw every part of the island. highly recommended.

We then headed out to Bora Bora for 3 days at the Pearl Beach Resort there. we had premium overwater bungalow #46. great location. our bungalow, though the smallest of the 3 we stayed in, was beautiful. the bathroom has a separate shower that is all glass, so you can look out over the lagoon as you get ready for dinner. it was very windy while we were there, so no snorkeling. though choppy, it was fine to swim in the lagoon, which is only about 4 feet deep. A shuttle runs from the resort to the mainland every hour. it's not that convenient though. you have to time that with a bus that runs into the village of VAitape, which is at least 5 miles away. there's nothing located where the Pearl's boat dock is. the bus doesn't run every hour, only about every 2 hours.

the resort is very beautiful, with plenty of activities such as ping pong, tennis, mini-golf, etc. the spa is the most lavish i've ever seen, with wonderful gardens surrounding it in a very peaceful setting. the services were expensive though. However, my husband got a tattoo there that was very reasonable and looks great. the artist has a wonderful eye and is very creative.

We ate at Matira, Bloody mary's and the resort the 3 nights we were there. food at all 3 is unbelievable. you'll pay at least $100 for a bottle of wine and 2 meals. it's worth it though. definitely do not miss Bloody Mary's. it's a really fun atmosphere, where the floors are all sand. so kick your shoes off while you eat, nobody minds.

We took a half-day tour by jeep around the island. that was so much fun. the off-roading on mud roads going up the hills was the best. our tour guide was really funny and joked all the time. but he also made sure to tell us the stories about the island and answer any questions. we got back from the tour 5 minutes late and the boat to the resort was already leaving. we called the resort and they didn't send another boat for an hour for the 8 guests it kept waiting. the frustrating thing was that we could see the boats just sitting there across the lagoon. it takes about 10 mins. to make a round trip from the resort to the mainland. instead of saying they'd send a boat, the resort sai;d they'd just ask the captain. as a result, some of us missed our dinner reservations. that was our only complaint though.

i would definitely bring some dvd's from home incase you get a rainy day. the english movie channel either didn't work, or showed movies in french sometimes. we had a rainy morning and had to sit there waiting for it to quit.

also, don't buy a meal plan. it's more fun to venture out ot the local restaurants. i would recommend buying pearls on Moorea. they're cheaper there. everything was much more expensive in Bora Bora. Bora Bora was our least favorite island because it's very touristy and almost too Americanized. Huahine is not touched by tourism at all, which was wonderful. still the staff there was fantastic and tended to your every need.