Tahiti, Windward Islands hotel rooms at the Independent

"Did not use business facility, no kitchen on our room booking. Staff was very pleasant, clean rooms."

"We booked the family suite, but after seeing it, and after the bad start to our stay, we left. Check in time was identified as 1pm. we arrived at 230, and were told that it wasnt ready. So, we sat for about half an hour. The family suite appeared to actually be a storage room, because it had a bunch of junk stored in it off to the side including an old mattress that wasnt being used, and a bunch of unhung paintings. This is not a hotel or a lodge, its actually a bedroom rental in a residential home. My mistake there. First we were directed down a long set of steps, so me and my two teenage girls lugged five heavy suitcases down the flight of stairs, only to be told that oops - our room was actually upstairs. Had to lug five heavy suitcases back up the flight of stairs. The suite was sweltering - with all doors and windows wide open, there were some sort of AC units, but we didnt stick around to try them. We asked for help to call a cab, and were just directed to the wifi password, and told that we could use wifi to call the cab ourselves. That was disappointing since we didnt speak the language and didnt know who to call or even how the dialing system worked. I was looking for some assistance with that. We struggled for a good half hour trying to figure out on our own how to get a cab over there to pick us up. Being in a residential neighbourhood, there were no restaurants onsite or nearby to walk to. Anyhow, we left as it was not suitable for us."

"Its proximity to the airport is why we stayed there."

"Great location, within walking distance to shopping etc. The rooms are super clean and the staff are friendly and helpful. It was great to have a coffee machine available also in my room! The patio area is also very inviting and a nice touch! Will definitely stay here again = )"

"All perfect."

"The room and bathroom facilities were clean and the bed was comfortable, but no drinking water or tissues were provided. The continental breakfast was good, but it ends at 09.00 hrs, which strikes me as rather early for holidaymakers. No other meals are offered, so guests are obliged to go elsewhere to eat. I walked to the supermarket and bought food to eat on my lanai, but there are also food trucks about a 15-20 minute walk away. Twice during the morning of checkout a maid tried to enter my room without knocking. Fortunately I lock my doors, so she could not get it. No staff should enter any room without knocking and there is no need for cleaners to knock on guest goors before the 11.00 hrs checkout time. "

"The best part of the hotel is the lobby . Our room very small with a child desk and plastic chair. Small window horrible outlook and Friday night was extra noisy from bar across the road. Will not stay if return to Tahiti. "

"Nope. Pool is bad. Restaurant hours are limited and minimal choices nearby. Beds are soft and bouncy. Room away from the street are quiet. Wouldn’t stay there again "

"We stayed on the second floor closest to the over water bungalows. The room was average to good, but unfortunately a pipe burst apparently somewhere so they shut off the water for two hours mid-morning without informing us. Thankfully no one was taking a shower or doing a number 2. There also was construction noise on the grounds to repair the pipe which woke us up early the first morning. The building next to us is undergoing a complete gutting and reno, but we didn't hear any noise from that direction. It does look a little worrisome at first when you pass by it as there's plywood boarding up areas and open doorways. It's not what we expected from a $1000/nite hotel I guess. There are convenient shuttles available to take you to and from your room if needed, but you smell the exhaust riding in the back. Staff were generally pleasant. The view from our room was good of the pool, Moorea, and construction grader. The lagoon was very nice and full of fish swimming about. The buffet and dance show was good. Proximity to the airport and cruise port is nice. The Lotus Michelin restaurant is good but a bit pricey. Overall there's not many luxury hotels right on the water in town, and with Tahiti's popularity I guess they can charge a premium for that. In hindsight maybe staying elsewhere and just getting a day pass at the Intercontinental probably would have been equally as fine."