Was there for two nights (5/6 - 5/7). Very nice experience.
We two were the only ones on the incoming shuttle truck, and we were greeted as if the truck was full. A staff member met us at the truck as we got off. She had cool scented towels for us, and gave us cool drinks before check in. She gave us a runthrough of the property before escorting us to our suite, where out luggage was waiting for us at the front door.
The property is amazing. The water closest to the beach isn't the clearest, but 30 feet offshore it begins to clear up. The water is full of fish, and it's fun to take bread from the buffet to feed them from the pier.
Saw quite a few holes in the ground near the suites. Landcrabs. Almost stepped on one while walking the sidewalk one night.
The suites are nice. Bed was uncomfortable. Very firm. Could feel the springs. There was a cobweb in the shower. A/C works great. Too bad there's no mesh screen barrier for the sliding glass back door. It would have been nice to have been able to leave the glass door open at night. Careful when sliding that glass door closed while outside when the front door is bolted. If the glass door closes all the way it autolocks, and I can't imagine how to get back in if that happens. Our suite, Number 11, was very close to the ocean. The edge of the back porch was about 20 feet from the water.
Television is limited to about five all-French channels, and CNN International headline news in English.
There's a digital safe and a small fridge in the suites. The bathroom accessories like shampoo, conditioner and lotion are in small corked plastic bottles. It you like taking these home with you, bring adhesive tape to tape the corks down.
The suites are surrounded by beach sand, so expect to bring sand in with you. The floor is tiled and is easy to collect sand.
There were mostly Italians, French and New Zealand citizens there. Was told by a property staff member the Italians were big complainers about the food offered in the buffet. The food there was good. We got lobster one night. Not the U.S. style, but tinier spiny lobster.
The resort may want to consider educating diners as to the proper way to deal with buffet-style dining. Saw an American using his bare hands to drop celery into the community juicer, another man handle a loaf of bread with his hands while cutting a slice, people often ignoring serving utensils to reach for food with hands, and people often allowing the entire serving spoon to slide into the food trays, allowing the handle to make contact with the food. Not good.
The wait staff was 100 percent Polynesian women. Most of them were slightly rude at first. It was little things, like reaching in front of us to retrieve plates, instead of walking around the other side of the table to do so; generally treating the guests as if we were in their way. They never smiled, nor even said "hello". I spoke to the property Manager about this, and the change in the attitude of the wait staff was immediate and 180 degrees. No problems after that.
While getting on the shuttle truck to leave, again staff was right there. Everyone leaving was given a small bottle of cold water and a shell necklace. A small group saw us off, waving goodbye as the truck headed away. A Club Med rep went with the group, and stayed with us during the shuttle ride to the pier, the boatride to the airport, up until we got on the plane to Papeete. Club Med is a topnotch organization. They treated their guests with care and respect.
