From: nicklaus@lonetree.physics.wisc.edu (Dennis Nicklaus)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: Re: Setting expectations
Date: 5 Jan 93 15:52:18 GMT
Organization: High Energy Physics

In article <C0C2M3.JMq@apollo.hp.com>, nelson_p@apollo.hp.com (Peter Nelson) writes:
|> 
|> 
|>   My wife and I just returned from a vacation in French Polynesia
|>   (Tahiti, Huahine, Bora Bora, Moorea).   We basically had a very
|>   good time and many pleasant and exciting memories.   
|> 
|>   But there was one aspect of the trip we were troubled/surprised
|>   about:
|> 
|>   The quality of the accomodations was way below what we expected
|>   or are accustomed to.  
|> 
|>   We bought a package through Islands in the Sun (the first time
|>   we've ever bought a package) and they booked us in the Sofitels
|>   on all the islands.  All our guide books indicated that the 
|>   Sofitels were top-drawer.  One guide book said that "this is
|>   where people who want the best stay and don't give a damn what
|>   it costs".  The Qantas catalog gives the Sofitels the highest
|>   (and most expensive) ratings of any of their offerings on Moorea
|>   and Bora Bora. 
|> 
|>   And they were terrible.  Especially for rooms that cost approx.
|>   US$200+ a night (beachfront bungalow) or US$300+ for an over-
|>   the-water bungalow.  
|> 
|>   This was the hot, rainy season.  We knew that, but Sofitel apparently
|> ... [stuff deleted]
|>   Thanks in advance for any comments.
|> ---peter
Wow!  I am surprised to hear your comments.  My wife & I went on a similar
trip almost 2 years ago and had a completely different experience.  In
short, ours was fantastic!  We stayed in the Sofitels on Huahine & Bora
Bora, I think, and other hotels on the other islands.  My major
complaint would have to be about the ceiling fans like you mentioned
(esp. on Huahine where ours didn't work & we just changed rooms).  
I guess my wife never did really
get used to the geckos in the room, but that just sort of comes with
the territory, I guess.  Outside of those things, I'd have to say our stay
at Sofitel's was really great.  Huahine had probably the most
sincerely friendly service I've ever received anywhere, and the
best, most authentic dancers we saw in the islands (to my eye at least).
I would recommend to anyone who can marginally afford it to go to visit before
it gets more spoiled.  We've never felt more relaxed in our lives.
Of course we went in March & maybe
had a little nicer weather, but it was still pretty hot.

Also, you didn't mention Raiatea.  We went to it in addition to the 4 you mentioned.
We had a really beautiful time there, too.  I forget the hotel name we stayed at
(but there are several in the islands with the same big name), but we got
a free upgrade to an overwater bungalow by the operators because the hotel
was pretty empty (which was pretty true everywhere).  Right there, beneath
our bungalow floor in Raiatea was the best snorkelling I have ever seen. And
I've been around a fair bit (but not to the Great Barrier Reef :-().
Or even if you didn't get in the water, there was as big a variety of fish
and colors you could see from the dock as you'll see in many Aquariums.

We also bought a "package" tour for our trip to Tahiti & her islands, even
though I generally hate package tours and enjoy putting together an
independent itenerary.  However, I must admit this one worked out rather
well.  We stayed at pretty nice places that actually would have cost more if done
separately for once.  (And we decided to go for the nice places on what was
to be our last big vacation before babies.)

No the hotels aren't the Ritz in terms of amenities.  But we were prepared for
that and enjoyed la difference.  (From what we saw of other hotels just
from touring around, I would have to say that the Sofitels probably are 
among the nicest hotels ( tho I think there are nicer on Bora Bora ).)

What the heck, while I'm rambling on:  
It was sort of interesting to see how our perceptions changed after 2 weeks on
the outer islands.  When we arrived in Papeete, we thought, "oh, what a fun
interesting small city with a foreign flavor!."  When we returned to Papeete
after 2 weeks in Raiatea, Huahinee, Bora Bora, & Moorea, we thought, "What
a noisy, crowded, polluted place!"  

Dennis
nicklaus@lonetree.physics.wisc.edu