• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » Reviews » Hotel Reviews » Review: InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa
Hotel ReviewsIntercontinental HotelsTahiti

Review: InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa

Matthew Klint Posted onJune 3, 2024June 3, 2024 11 Comments

a sign with palm trees and blue sky

After arriving in Papeete, we spent our first two nights at the InterContinental Tahiti, a very convenient resort for starting or ending your trip to French Polynesia.

In This Post:

Toggle
  • InterContinental Tahiti Review
    • Location
    • Check-In
    • Room
    • Overwater Bungalows
    • Dining
      • Lobby Bar Terrace
      • Te Tiare Restaurant
      • Le Lotus Restaurant
      • Le Lotus Swim-Up Bar
      • Tiki Bar
      • Room Service
    • Pools
    • Fitness Center
    • Spa
    • Service
    • CONCLUSION

InterContinental Tahiti Review

Nightly rates for a base room range from $300-600 (ours was about $400 with tax) per night depending upon season or demand. On the high-end, overwater bungalows are closer to $1,100 per night.

Location

At only two kilometers (1.3 miles) from Fa’a’ā International Airport (PPT), you really cannot beat the location of this hotel if you have an arriving or departing flight. Sure, there are airport motels even across the street from PPT, but the InterContiental Taiti is a full-service resort with multiple restaurants, bars, pools, and a spa.

Heidi and I stepped off our United flight, went through passport control, grabbed our bag, hopped into a taxi ($16 from the airport to the hotel via metered taxi), and arrived at the hotel…in 15 minutes flat from the aircraft to the check-in counter. That was quite valuable.

For many who arrive from the USA, an overnight in Tahiti is necessary before going on to places like Bora Bora or even Moorea. This is your place…it’s simply ideal for 1-2 nights stays.

And for an “airport hotel” the views aren’t half bad:

a view of a beach with a body of water and a palm tree

When we rented a car the following day, Hertz sent a shuttle to the hotel to pick it up and it was only a few minutes into Papeete, another plus for this location.

a man standing next to a van

Planes fly overhead, but PPT is a fairly quiet airport for most of the day.

a plane flying over water

a lawn chairs and a tree by the water

a plane flying in the sky

Check-In

I hold InterContinetal Ambassador status ($200/year) that essentially pays for itself with the annual free weekend night. While I did not use the free night on this trip (my stay was Tuesday – Thursday), I did receive an upgrade to a premium oceanview room (one category upgrade from a base room) that was a bit larger.

The open-air lobby has check-in counters on one side, concierge on the other, and a large seating area plus 24/7 bar.

a large room with a large ceiling and a statue in it

a room with a wooden ceiling and a wooden ceiling

a room with chairs and tables

In the mornings, the lobby gets very crowded around check-out time…be warned.

The hotel is fairly spread out and we were transported to our room in a shuttle, though for future trips we walked (about 8-10 minutes away by foot).

In addition to room keys, we were given pool towel cards.

a group of wooden cards with a receipt

Room

Our room, 399, was a corner room, though light only came in through the large balcony overlooking the ocean and Moorea in the distance. It had faux wood laminate flooring with a couch, chair, and king-size bed with green accents.

a hallway with a white wall and a white wall

a door with a number on it

a wood door with a number on it

a bedroom with a bed and a couch

a bed with white sheets and pillows in a room

a desk with a tv and chair in a room

a room with a couch and a lamp

a white robe on a swinger

A transparent window separated the bathroom and bedroom, though it had blinds. The bathroom included a large tub, walk-in shower, toilet, and dual sink.

a bathroom with sinks and a tub

a white bathtub in a bathroom

a group of white bottles on a metal shelf
generic shower toiletries

a faucet on a sink

a shower head with a shower head and a shower head

a toilet in a bathroom

Best of all, a large balcony had a great view.

a table and chairs on a deck overlooking a body of water

a view of a resort with a body of water and trees

Coffee and tea in the room was limited to a water kettle and powdered coffee from Nestle or tea. Non merci.

a teapot and teacup on a table

a group of packets of coffee

The room was fine…a little drab and not my style (I don’t care for laminate flooring or tile walls), but the air conditioning worked well and we slept well. It was practical and that’s all I wanted from this hotel.

a building with trees and grass

Overwater Bungalows

Overwater bungalows are available at about triple the cost of a base room. The overwater bungalows look nice…and I thought it was cute how two of the staff rowed out room service breakfast via boat to one of the bungalows…but I am of the opinion that you do not come all the way to French Polynesia to stay at an overwater bungalow in Tahiti.

a group of houses on stilts in the water

a hut on stilts in the water

a walkway leading to a building over water

a hut on stilts over water

a group of huts on a dock over water

a couple in a boat on the water
Room service breakfast

Dining

The resort has several restaurants and bars.

Lobby Bar Terrace

We began our day at the 24/7 lobby bar with an espresso. While far better than the in-room powdered coffee, coffee was dispensed from an automatic machine and was mediocre. I’d love to see the hotel partner with Kaūa’a Coffee in Papeete to supply the hotel’s coffee (and a new manual machine to make it…).

a restaurant with tables and chairs

a sign on a table

a glass cases with food on them

a cup of coffee on a table

While the coffee was a disappointment, the Lobby Bar had the best views of the entire hotel.

a patio with chairs and umbrellas and a pool in the background

a hut on a small island with palm trees and a body of water

Te Tiare Restaurant

We took our breakfast in Te Tiare each morning (open from 6:00 am – 10:30 am), which is the hotel’s Polynesian restaurant and serves food buffet-style.

The breakfast buffet was expansive, with a focus on Tahitian and French food, but breakfast staples from all over the world. It was quite hot and humid and there were flies, but the little net covers over everything did the job well in protecting the food.

a buffet line with food on it

a sign from a wall

a buffet table with food on it

a buffet with plates and fruit

a buffet with plates of food and flowers

a buffet table with food on it

a group of bowls of food on a table

a table with straw and metal bowls and straw tablecloths

a table with food on it

a food buffet in a room

a buffet table with food in baskets

a buffet table with food on it

a buffet with plates and utensils on a counter

a table with jars of food

a table with food on it

a coffee machine on a table

a row of juice dispensers on a table

a room with tables and chairs

a restaurant with tables and chairs

I do not deviate much when it comes to breakfast and enjoyed my croissant and “escargot” (pains aux raisins) dipped in espresso, an omelet, salad, and some fruit both mornings.

a plate of food and a cup of coffee

a croissant being dipped into a cup of coffee

a plate of salad with sauce and lime

a bowl of food on a table

a plate of fruit and pecans

a plate of food on a table

Juices were not freshly squeezed, so it was water and coffee for me.

At about 44USD, breakfast is not cheap, but when you consider where you are in the world and how this can serve as breakfast and lunch if you have breakfast at 10:00 am (I guess part of me is cursed to always think like a budget traveler), it’s not a bad deal at all.

a hand holding a receipt

Le Lotus Restaurant

The hotel’s fine-dining restaurant specializes in French food and is housed in a large overwater bungalow. I love French food and wanted to eat here, but we ended up at the Blue Banana instead about seven minutes down the road. If I return (and I do plan to return), I will try out this restaurant.

a sign on a wall

a room with a roof and tables and chairs

a gazebo with chairs and tables on the water

a room with tables and chairs

a restaurant with a view of the water

Le Lotus Swim-Up Bar

The backside of Le Lotus has a swim-up bar that is open 10:30 am t0 6:00 pm Wednesday – Sunday.

a pool with a hut and palm trees

Tiki Bar

Since Heidi does not drink, I did not drink on this trip…and frankly, I’m the better for it… alcohol is empty calories that cost a lot of money. But if I did have a drink, it would have been in the Tiki Bar, open daily from 10:30 am to 10:00 pm.

a bar with a lounge area and chairs

Room Service

24/7 room service is available.

Pools

The resort features two large swimming pools.

a pool with palm trees and chairs

a palm trees by a body of water

a large rock formation in a pool

a pool with a hut and a life preserver

a pool with palm trees and a mountain in the background

a bridge over water with palm trees and huts

a body of water with a hut and rocks in it

a chair and umbrella on a beach

a pool with rocks and trees

Other pools host coral and fish rather than swimmers…

a clear blue water with rocks and rocks

a fish and fish in the water

a turtle on a rock in a body of water with fish

Fitness Center

Heidi and I very much appreciated the fitness center, which was well-stocked with equipment (Matrix and Life Fitness) and nicely chilled. It got hot and humid outside even early in the morning, but working out before breakfast set us up for great days ahead.

a room with treadmills and exercise equipment

a room with exercise equipment

a gym with weights in the room

a large room with exercise equipment

a room with exercise equipment

a counter with towels on it

a lockers in a room

Spa

The Algotherm spa is open daily from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm…we thought it opened too late and closed too early so we did not have a chance to use the steam room there (there was no sauna and saunas seem to be a rare thing in French Polynesia). A full range of massages and beauty treatments are available.

a sign in the grass

Service

I appreciated the staff here. From the gracious man who checked us in, to the restaurant staff (even the lady who made omelets who remembered my order the second day), to the concierge who helped me call Hertz to ensure a car was available, to the guys who helped with our bags…everyone was lovely and this is very much a full-service hotel.

CONCLUSION

Despite the beautiful blue waters and Moorea in the distance, this is not a resort worth flying to Tahiti to stay at…not if this is your only stop. But it was an ideal hotel to get acclimated at, the staff were lovely, and the rooms comfortable. I would not hesitate to return and do the same thing: spend a night or two here at the front end of a trip or perhaps at the end of a trip if I had to check out of my hotel in Bora Bora or Moorea early and had a later flight out.

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article Pair Of So-Called “Travel Experts” Fail Spectacularly
Next Article Fauci Confesses He “Made Up” COVID-19 Rules Including Masking Kids And Social Distancing

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Hôtel Wallace Paris Review

    Review: Hôtel Wallace Paris (Hyatt – Mr. & Mrs. Smith)

    April 24, 2025
  • Park Hyatt Marrakech Review

    Review: Park Hyatt Marrakech

    April 18, 2025
  • a bar with chairs and a counter

    Review: Hyatt Place Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport

    April 1, 2025

11 Comments

  1. Santastico Reply
    June 3, 2024 at 7:41 am

    It looks like a 1 night only hotel for me.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      June 3, 2024 at 9:45 am

      I do think that is what this hotel does best – it is a launchpad for travel beyond. That still makes it indespeinable…I just don’t think Americans should come all the way to Tahiti just to stay here. You might as well go to Hawaii. It’s still lovely and perhaps a reasonable atlernative for the budget-concious traveler, but you really should not go to French Polyneisa if you are on a very tight budget.

      • ETraveler Reply
        June 3, 2024 at 4:29 pm

        This was an interesting one to read, thank you, Matthew! We stayed one night at the Hilton Tahiti on both ends of a Bora Bora trip, and I had the same feelings about that hotel that you’ve mentioned here about the IC. It was nice, but not where you’d want to go as the actual destination.

  2. Malik on Wall Street Reply
    June 3, 2024 at 7:48 am

    Stayed there for two nights and it wasn’t that bad but had the same impression that this was more of a very short term place to stay at.

    Wanted to quickly mention a type in the Le Lotus Swim-Up Bar section (“oepn”)

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      June 3, 2024 at 9:46 am

      Thanks. Fixed.

      Did you stay there at the front, middle, or end of your trip?

      • Malik on Wall Street Reply
        June 3, 2024 at 9:30 pm

        I stayed near the end of my trip but had zero complaints.

  3. Michael Reply
    June 3, 2024 at 12:13 pm

    Matthew,
    We stayed for 2 nights in December (our friends were arriving a day after us and then we headed to Bora Bora together) otherwise this would have also been a 1 night hotel for us. I agree with all of your points about the location, facilities, in room coffee, and service.

    We only ate one meal at the hotel, the Le Lotus Christmas Eve Dinner. It was definitely an indulgent and delicious meal that made the holiday feel special. The service was solid as well.

    We would only stay on Tahiti again if travel connections required it and we would select this hotel.

  4. Mick Reply
    June 3, 2024 at 5:04 pm

    We stayed here on a stopover from syd to nyc on air Tahiti nui (what an amazing route that was). One night only before heading to Moore a for two nights. Was def fun having a meal listening to the waves break on the reef knowing we had arriving in Tahiti! We’d walk to the convenience store for fresh French loves and cheese. Yum. Budget travelling indeed.

  5. Christian Reply
    June 3, 2024 at 9:32 pm

    The lack of a beach seems a bit of a letdown for a luxury resort in Tahiti.

  6. Tja Reply
    June 4, 2024 at 9:30 am

    We stopped here for 2 nights on the way to Moorea in the middle of the pandemic in November of 2020. I had booked an Oceanview 2 queen room, and when I checked in, I was told that due to my platinum status we would get a one category upgrade. Then she proceeded to tell me that the next category is an OWB. I can tell you, they are very very good. And we have stayed at several others in moorea and Bora Bora. The ones past the swim up bar are all freshly remodeled and gorgeous inside – better than the Sofitel Moorea or the Hilton Moorea or the IC Thalasso. So don’t dismiss them, they are really good and have great views of Moorea and even decent snorkeling. It was so good that on our next visit, even though this is just the stopover airport hotel, I had to get their OWB. Did you not visit the lagoonarium?

  7. Travis Reply
    June 14, 2024 at 7:46 am

    We stayed here for a week in Dec. This hotel was amazing and way better than a mere stop over hotel. The hotel has two dinner shows a week. Both were amazing. Sunday breakfast includes a free show. The onsite turtle sanctuary was very informative and it was great to see all the rescued turtles and baby turtles and learn about them. Their private lagoon had excellent snorkeling. The over the water bungalow is a must. The staff is over the top helpful. Overall, one of the best hotels I have ever stayed at.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for May

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • Turkey Fine Passengers Unbuckle
    Impatient Flyers, Beware: Turkey Will Fine You For Standing Up Too Soon May 28, 2025
  • Korean Air First Class Lounge ICN Review
    Review: Korean Air First Class Lounge Seoul (ICN) May 28, 2025
  • a group of people in blue uniforms
    United Airlines’ Uniforms Get A Facelift—And A Political Filter May 28, 2025
  • Dog Diversion Delta
    Delta Flight Diverts To Care For Sick Dog. Justified? May 28, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • United Airlines Polaris Lounge Chicago Review
    Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago (ORD) May 1, 2025
  • United Airlines Refresh Polaris Lounge Chicago
    First Look: United Airlines Reopens Renovated Polaris Lounge In Chicago (ORD) April 29, 2025
  • a hand holding a blue card
    Chase Sapphire Preferred 100K Bonus Offer Ending Soon May 2, 2025
  • Aegean Airlines Feast
    A Feast Fit For A King On Aegean Airlines May 23, 2025

Archives

May 2025
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Apr    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.