Vahaui Paradis

Spectacular value, amazing breakfasts, just the perfect vibe. Best value and vibe of any place I stayed at in 2 weeks (3 stops) in F.P. Relaxed, great views, great service, and beats staying at a chain or a big hotel. Here, you are part of a laid back, chill, scene where I could stay forever.

Our stay in the family bungalow was in an excellent location with friendly staff but was more of an overpriced glamping scenario. The building could use some renovation and cleaning. No fans or mosquito netting is provided and we only received 2 of the 5 breakfasts. There are crabs living throughout the downstairs area and an army of ants behind the sink. If you are considering staying here, avoid the family bungalow and opt for the other units.

Very comfortable and enjoyable stay in a nice bungalow. Hosts Pierre (a Frenchman) and Moetira (a local) are welcoming, eager to please, and provide extra services like breakfast supplies, or booking of tourist activites, on request. (This is very nice convenience, as doing a lot of calling around on your own can eat up a lot of a vacation day.) Some extra services like laundry, home-cooked dinners, or taxi service can be had for an extra fee (dinner $30, but home-baked bread was free). You can't cook in the bungalow but we made good use of the refrigerator. There's air conditioning in the bungalows for a $10/day fee if you really can't stand the heat, but you'll probably do fine with just the electric fan. Temperatures in December topped out at about 85 degrees, with lots of breezes. For Americans, English isn't the preferred language at Vahaui Paradis but Moetira does speak it, and Pierre can get by. Paradis Vauhui is the only tourist resort on the seaward side of Rangiroa, I think. You're right on the beach and it's very picturesque but between sharp coral and surf, the beach isn't swimmable. (Not to worry; the lagoon side isn't much for swimming either.) It's not in a village or town, but it's about a 300-yard walk to the nearest hotel restaurant and 150 yards to the nearest sandwich stand. It's barely walkable, about 1 mile, to the end of the road where there are a couple of mini markets, cafes, and the dock where many boat tours depart. The real town, Avatoru, is at the other end of the island 4 1/2 miles away. Pro tip: you can get around on rental bikes but it's tougher than it looks: it gets hot in spots where trees block the sea breezes, and it's very slow going when you have to pedal into the wind.

My husband and I stayed at Vahaui on Christmas and a few days after, and really appreciated the kindness and care of the people working at Vahui gave us. Peter kindly picked us up at the airport and gave us a thorough overview of the island with a quick tour to help orient us. With limited food options on Christmas Day, he and the other woman that worked there made us Christmas dinner at the last minute. It was a kind gesture and expression of hospitality. The tour that Peter organized for us the next day to the Blue Lagoon was absolutely fantastic, and the best tour we had on our trip to French Polynesia. The rooms are rustic, but outfitted with all you need, and we really liked staying on the ocean side as you always have nice breeze and no mosquitos. We also enjoyed the 3 cats that roam the property.