Au Motu Mahare - a new pension in Huahine

I was going to save this one for myself. The owner of this new pension on Huahine posted their information on the Tahiti Explorer forum.

Au Motu Mahere
On its own motu (islet) across from the old (and unused) Sofitel Heiva hotel.
Tel:(689)77 76 97
Contact: Kim Fabre
motumahare@yahoo.com

6500 per night for one or two persons,
private bathroom (cold water) and a shared fully equipped kitchen
Free transfers, kayaks and bicycles

There are only two fares and the owners are the only people living on the island.
The location has been described as incredible by visitors. It's practically your own private island.

Moorea - Motel Albert

Motel Albert is across the street from Club Bali Hai on Cook's Bay.
PK 8
Tel:(689)56 12 76
Fax:(689)56 58 58
motel.albert@laposte.net

It's been top rated in the budget category on Moorea for a long time.

A room with a double bed (for 1 to 2 people) is 5400 (minimum stay two nights), including a kitchen and private bathroom.

Larger bungalows are available including one that sleeps up to 5 for 10850.

I must say that I had my doubts about the location as it is across the street from the bay. (There are places nearby where you can access it.) However, I was not enthusiastic until I saw this notice (scroll down) advertising Club Bali Hai's Blue Pineapple Restaurant. It says "Access a piscine pour les clients du restaurant", restaurant customers can access the swimming pool. (The pool is small and cold but if the CBH allows you to access their pool with a restaurant purchase I would assume that it holds for the beach to bay access too.)

There are two supermarkets nearby, restaurants, and a gas station to purchase snacks next door.

Moorea - Les Tipaniers

Les Tipaniers, Moorea
PK 25.9
Tel: (689) 56 12 67
Fax : (689) 56 29 25
tipaniersresa@mail.pf

Located near the Les Petit Village area on Moorea's west side where there are shops and restaurants, Les Tipaniers is right on the beach. There is a restaurant on the premises.

Rooms start at 6900 for a fan cooled garden room.
A garden bungalow with a kitchen goes for 13950 for 1 to two persons and is 16200 for 3 to 4 occupants.

Bicycles are provided free of charge.

They have an annex, Les Tipaniers Iti that is 2.5 miles east on Opunohu Bay. The prices are considerably less there, 7950 for a bungalow with a kitchen. The area there is residential. It does not have a beach but there is a pontoon overlooking Opunohu Bay (which is stunning). You can use the beach at the main hotel.

Papeete Environs - te NaHe toetoe Punnauia

te NaHe toetoe Punnauia formerly Chez Armelle
689 58 42 43
PK 15.5 Punaauia, Tahiti

Why stay in town when you can begin your Tahiti vacation on the beach?

This is a place that I'm considering for my next stay.

Single room is 5980
Double room is 7690
Four of their available rooms are air conditioned, there maybe an extra charge for this (2000?).
Breakfast is included and served from 7 to 9 am.
Transfer from the airport is 1500.
Kayaks and snorkeling gear are provided free (I would bring my own snorkel/mask to FP).

Note: they spell it Punnauia on their Web site, everyone else seems to spell it Punaauia.

They also have two locations on Huahine, including a new camping spot on Huahine Iti.

Tikehau - Pension Kahaia Beach

Update 1/2/12:  This pension is now closed.

Someone asked about Tikehau so I wanted to post about where I stayed last year.

Pension Kahaia Beach
no Web site or direct email
You can make an email reservation via the Haere-Mae Federation of Guesthouse and Family Accomodations.
haere-mai@mail.pf
(689) 96 22 77

Fare with half board 7000 per person
Fare with full board 8500 per person
(the food was very good)
Camping is available but there are no kitchen facilities available
Guests can keep drinks and snacks cold in a shared ice chest (a large Coleman camper type)
Transfers are free

The pension is on its own private motu. It's the closest motu to the main one. Here is a nice map. It has the best location (aside from the Pearl Beach Resort) in Tikehau.

Somethings to note:
The owners speak very little English. I speak even less French and we got along fine.
There is no drinkable water on the motu, you should stock up on your first day on your way there. I was going through four liters a day.
Reef sharks live in the channel. I was told that they would not bother me and they didn't. It was cool to go swimming with the sharks.
To get to the main village one has to kayak across the channel and then bicycle to town. There is only one kayak and bicycle available. As I was the only guest for 5 of my 7 days there it worked out fine. One could walk closer to the reef and wade across to the main motu.
There are a lot of mosquitos there. I would advise splurging on the large spray can (1300 - 1500?) and spraying the bathroom, around the fare and the dining area. Mosquito coils are provided.

Papeete Environs - Tahiti Airport Lodge

Tahiti Airport Lodge
no Web site
heiraurii@mail.pf
(689) 82 23 68
Pk 5.5 Faaa

Overlooking Papeete (Faaa) airport.

They have four rooms for one or two people with a private bath for 8000.
Two rooms with a single bed and shared bathroom for 5000.
Two rooms with either a double or two single beds, shared bath for 6000.

Free breakfast is offered from 7 - 8:30 am.

New this years is the availablity of cooking facilities for guests.

Round trip transfers are 1000 for one person and 1500 for two.

I've heard mentioned a couple of times that they have a swimming pool that is not available for guests.

I haven't seen any photos of their accomodations elsewhere so here are some (the couple pictured are the owners):

Papeete - Pension Puea

Pension Puea
pension.puea@mail.pf
(689) 85 43 43
87 rue Pasteur Octave Moreau

Pension Puea - Stayed there last spring. The room was a delight. Spotlessy clean, fresh pressed sheets, 2 clean fluffy white towels folded prettily with fragrant Tiare soaps.

The bathroom also was absolutely clean. Great water pressure, hot water 24/7. Only problem with the bathroom is that it has one of those showers where the water goes all over the floor.

The people who run the place stay up late and chat outside. I had the front left room (looking from the street) which has windows over the front sitting area plus their house on the side. Even with all the windows closed I could hear them. Thankfully it was in French which I don't understand so it was less annoying. I dozed off and then at 2 am I was awoken by more chatting. Roosters go all night. Had an early flight so I could not use ear plugs. The 4 rear bedrooms are next to the bathrooms so they could be noisy also. My room was fine on a very hot, humid night with the floor fan, even when I closed the windows.

The common room has only a microwave and fridge, I did not see any dishes or cutlery. No smoking inside but you can smoke at the garden tables.

I would have had a hard time finding it at night (got a lift from locals while waiting for the Le Truck). The street does not have a street sign, however there is a sign on Avenue Prince Hinoi on the near left corner saying Pension Puea on a post.

Walking to the bus stop the next day there is a block or two on Avenue Prince Hinoi that has heavy traffic where you have to walk in the street. During the day it's a pleasant walk to the market and ferry. At night the streets seemed very dark as the shops were closed.

Their 2007 rates are the same as they have been since 2003.

Room with shared bathroom: 6990 xpf per day all taxes included with breakfast served from 06:30 to 08:30 am.
Room with private bathroom (not ensuite): 9500 xpf per day.
Transfer from airport: 2500 xpf for 2 persons with luggage.

They also noted in their email to me yesterday that they have single rooms in their annex for 5500 xpf with breakfast. The transfer rate is the same. They said that they drive you to Puea and then transfer you to the annex (500 meters away).