Just got back from a 4 island trip to Tahiti September 2012.

Loved the Mai Tai in Bora Bora Olivier and staff are committed to you having a good experience. The staff is committed to service and does a great job, this is a 3 star not a 4 or 5 but you need to check your expectations if you are looking for the Barbie Honeymoon

We stayed in both the Garden View and the Over water, both were great accommodations. The only reason why we don't apply 5 or Excellent is that there are a few realities, its not a new hotel some elements are a bit dated or worn, also there is a little too much neon lighting, while it is energy saving it just isn't mood creating. The breakfast food is ok but with limited supplies in Tahiti it is understandable.

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NOTE TO TRAVELERS TO TAHITI (TAHITI IS NOT CHEAP)

There are two types of travelers to Tahiti.

Type 1:
The A-List (Barbie honeymoon / Ultra Luxury Traveler)

Type 2: Culture / Explorer Traveler
those that like to connect with the locals on some level while enjoying the benefits and sometimes mixed results of acquainting with the country you visited will like the Mai Tai.

Type 1 Travelers will prefer to be hidden away off on the Motu in the culturally isolated resort only experience, gloss of the "private island escapes is what is often presented in the Tahiti experience." Please don't ask you Agent to meet a low budget and expect them to provide a 4-5 star hotel.

Hotel Maitai is inexpensive compared to the other resorts on BoraBora. We selected this hotel because it offers reasonable on-water chalets which we felt is a must for our stay. The on-water chalets are well maintained, and offers excellent views of the reef, no complaints here.

I would have given this hotel an 'Average' rating, however, because of the security issue, I have downgraded this hotel to 'Poor'. Please note that security is a problem for on-water chalets because during the night, it is poorly lit, allowing thieves that gain entry via the balcony glass doors. They came via boat from the water during the night and broke the balcony door locks when we left for dinner. They only took valuables (stole a watch) and left everything else as it were. Thankfully, all our other valuables were kept in the room safe, so they weren't able to take these. This may be a possible situation at other on-water chalets in other resorts on BoraBora, so please ensure valuables are kept in the hotel/room safe at all times when you are not in the room. We were transferred to a room on the mountain side of the property at Hotel Maitai following this incident.

The majority of the hotel staff are very friendly and helpful although some were not as happy to be on the job. The food at the restaurant at Hotel Maitai provides great variety, reasonable portions, and the cooking is quite good. Aside from the security problem for on-water chalets, i think that the rooms on the mountain side are adequate, clean and reasonably priced.

This is a certified 3 star hotel and I question the extra 2 stars! We all go to Bora Bora for luxury and romance, if you are going for something else then this hotel may suit you. It is dissected by a road as it is on the main island and the road goes all the way along the coast. Rooms are adequate, we had a beach side bungalow. Lunch menu nice, dinner was in edible and we sent our meals back.

We paid for the meals and drinks package. We were quickly informed we had "a drink" per meal, choice of a beer, a softdrink or a 1/4 carafe of house wine!! Do not get the package as the food is not good and the wine is rough and you have no choice at all!! Because I voiced my complaint about the limitations of this to the head waitress in the lunch dining area, we had a go slow on our meals and the few lunches we had there our meals came out well after everyone else's and were cold. There was a definite "attitude" towards us.

Other staff were helpful though. The equipment for snorkelling was old, split, damaged and made what should be a fabulous past time a real annoying activity! Am sorry to say I cannot recommend this hotel at all. Pay more for a nicer resort and have a shorter break rather tha. Think you have a bargain with this place.

Had I known that my husband had chosen this resort, I would have definitely cancelled and booked somewhere else. When we decided to honeymoon in Tahiti, I was excited! I was looking forward to the trip. We spent one night in Tahiti at the Radisson, then five nights at the legends resort, which was amazing. Though we didn't stay on the beach, we enjoyed waking up every morning to the view outside. Also, the staff was amazing. They greeted us with smiles. Whenever we needed transportation, they were always on point making our arrangements and most of the time, we didn't have to pay. It was even fun learning their language, as they took time to teach my husband such sayings as, "moruru". Needless to say, I enjoyed it very much! Then, we got to Bora Bora. The view is just amazing. The island is hands down the best. The water is just crystal clear and very enticing. You know you are in a luxury place once you land. It is the island that beckons you to stay on an overwater bungalow. Well, the first clue that told me that I would hate this stay was when no one came to greet us at the pier. So, here we were in a foreign place, with no idea of how to get to the hotel. Then we were told that a taxi would be getting us in a few...which turned out to be about an hour later. In fact, he came just as we were getting not another taxi. When we finally arrived, we were given some drink that tasted like powdered mix, unlike the drink that we received in Moorea, which was fresh pineapple juice. I could barely hear what the young lady was saying because I was taken back by the super outdated decorations in the lobby.
When we got to the room, I started to cry. He room looked like a motel in which someone came in and tried to decorate it with flowers. There was a super tiny outdated television, compared to the flatscreens in both Moorea and Tahiti, a broken French door that serves to separate the bathroom from from the bedroom, a broken drawer that was left hanging out and a view of their swamp in the porch. Yes, a swamp, not the ocean. My husband knew that I wasn't happy and when we asked if we could get a villa on the beach, we were told that none was available. When we told them that we wanted to cancel, they did not try in any way to appease us. In fact, we were told that we couldn't get the remainder of our money.
Breakfast was so bad that I almost threw up. Here we're dogs and cats in the breakfast area and the food was so cold. The sausages and eggs were very unnoticeable to be what they were. All in all, I was very displeased, and if it were possible to give a zero, I would. Next time, I will definitely take a hands on approach in planning our next trip there.
P.s. thankfully, the Intercontinental was within walking distance because that is where we spent all of our time. Their staff was very kind, and the food was superb. If you want to have a truly fun time in Bora Bora, shell out the cash for it. It is worth it!