A great place to stay

Guest: Matt-Joyce (Novi, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 01/25/09 Review Submitted: 01/24/10

My wife and I spent 12 day's at Robinson's Cove in Nov & Dec 2009. We had an absolute great time. The house was in great shape, clean, and everything worked. It was so nice to have the option to eat at home some times, and having a full kitchen made cooking easy. We loved how secluded the house was and how Alix (the caretaker) respected our privacy. We rented a car through the owner, and it was indespenible, if you stay here you have to do it. Overall, we would not hesitate to go back or recommend it to anyone.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, families with young children, families with teenagers, age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway, adventure seekers.

Honeymoon Heaven

Guest: Matt (Whistler BC Canada)
Date of Stay: 09/12/11 Review Submitted: 10/11/11

We spent the second week of our honeymoon at Villa Cook and we could not have asked for a more beautiful and relaxing spot to spend it. The villa was very clean and very well equipped. It was very nice being able to cook our own meals and the little charcoal BBQ on the beach was a fantastic way to have a glass (or bottle) of wine while cooking some great steaks. We rented a little SUV from Denis the owner and that is an absolute must! Getting to the grocery store and day trips to see the rest of the island was great. It was very affordable and really helped us see everything Moorea has to offer. Make sure to have lunch at Snack Mahana one day! The complementary outrigger tour to the motu's, swimming with the sharks and rays, snorkeling, and watching hump back whales was very cool, and highly recommended. Overall, we were so very happy here. We actually cried when we had to leave! We will most definitely be back one day and we've already recommended it to all our friends for their next vacation. Alix was a great help and very friendly, as was her little dog Pepsi who always came by to say hello. Mauruuru Denis for a fantastic week at your beautiful home! Matty and Courtney Woods Whistler BC Canada

Recommended for:Sightseeing, families with young children, families with teenagers, age 55+, romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

25th anniversary dream

Guest: Brian & Cheryl (Canada)
Date of Stay: 07/09/11 Review Submitted: 08/21/11

We spent the better part of a week in the Villa Wallis. This unit is absolutely georgeous. Well appointed, all the amenities you could ever ask for. Right on a private beach. Great deck to lounge about on. Amazing snorkelling out across the reef to a spectacular coral wall drop off. Our travel date was early July - best time to visit. Weather is perfect. Bring mosquito repellent when out and about - especially at night. The units are very private but close to all the points of interest. Rent a car or make use of the owners car. There is a little ice cream and snack shop just down the road. One of the best public beaches on Moorea is just a few minutes away. Great sand and swimming. Alex is very charming - and can help with anything you need. One alert - no air conditioning at this time, but the fans in the room are enough.

Owner response:Actually beginning of August, we have put A/C in the master bedroom in Villa Wallis. A/C is mostly useful between Nov and Feb.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, romantic getaway.

Amazing location

Guest: Ivory B.
Date of Stay: 06/27/11 Review Submitted: 08/20/11

I can't believe it has taken us this long to put up a review, but my husband and I rented the place for our honeymoon. We had an amazing trip. Time flew by before we knew it. The place was much more amazing than the pictures gave it credit for and we couldn't have been happier there. We snorkeled off the reef just of the deck and couldn't believe how many colorful fish there were just yards from the bedroom. I am glad we also rented a vehicle along with the house as it was perfect for outings. We did a few excursions such as scuba diving with Moorea Blue Diving @ Moorea Pearl Resort and a semi private tour with the catamaran @ the Moorea Intercontinental Hotel. We also visited the new vanilla plantation and tropical garden located just a few meters down the road and up the hillside. We did a little hiking although if you do go make sure you bring some bug spray, We can't wait to go back and have another adventure. Thank you to Denis for letting us rent such a luxurious place, Alex who made our stay most enjoyable, and Jac (spelling?) who helped us with translations. We couldn't have asked for anything more.

Owner response:Thanks to both of you. You are welcome back anytime! Denis

Recommended for:Sightseeing, age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway.

Robinson's Cove, Moorea, Society Islands

Guest: bella (Salinas, California, U.S.A.)
Date of Stay: 05/22/11 Review Submitted: 06/13/11

We had a wonderful time at this beautifully equipped and very comfortable villa situated just ten feet (or less) from the lagoon's edge. The prime location on non-commercial Opunohu Bay makes it one of the most lovely and private spots on Moorea. Two bedrooms and two bathrooms (with exotic vine-covered outdoor showers) make it perfect for two couples. There is also an upstairs loft reached by quite a steep ladder, which would work for younsters, but our group (being rather mature) were not able to use the loft. The villa is quipped with everything you need, except food and alcohol, so you can travel with a carryon containing only bathing suits and shorts. There are many grocery stores, both huge and small, which carry anything you might have forgotten. You really should rent the car that belongs to the house so you can buzz around the island at will, but if you do not, the many fine restaurants will send a car to pick you up and return you to the villa. Ideally you should go for two weeks to become really relaxed and able to pretend you reside and are living like the locals. As you see, we highly recommend this lovely spot. Bye the way, the info above says one bathroom, but there are two full bathrooms. Ann Farr and various friends and relatives.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, families with young children, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway, adventure seekers.

One of our best vacations ever!

Guest: AmyH (Keego Harbor, MI, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/15/11 Review Submitted: 05/27/11

My husband and I stayed at Robinson's Cove May 15-20, 2011 and had a wonderful stay. Denis was very easy to correspond with and provided all kinds of helpful informtation in advance. The home is beautiful and well taken care of. The kitchen has everything you need to make great meals (except no blender :-), and don't be intimidated by the gas stove or the dishwasher/washer/dryer with french style settings and buttons, it was all easy to figure out. And it is great to have a washer/dryer, so you can pack lighter. And you'll want to be able to cook some of your own meals, as restaurant food is VERY expensive in French Polynesia. The deck, beach and view of the bay were wonderful. We spent every afternoon in the beach chairs or hammock. Swimming and snorkeling are great and it was fun having a kayak to use. We ate every meal on the deck looking at a beautiful sunset. And the indoor/outdoor showers are such fun! Every morning I marveled at the fact I was taking a shower and looking up at a green mountain. Renting a car is strongly recommended as there are many great shops, resaurants and other sites to visit. We rented the Ford Focus from Denis and it served us very well. I believe the rate he charges is comparable if not slightly better than the rental agencies. The car did need the headlights fixed (only the high beams worked), so hopefully that will be fixed soon. Alix and Jacques welcomed us warmly and gave us a great tour of the house. And Alix is always available although we only had one thing we needed her for (couldn't get the safe open), otherwise, everything is so well provided for. Some local recommendations: we enjoyed grocery shopping at the very well-stocked Champion, even though it's a little futher away than the little local stores. Be sure to try the local grown tomatoes (yum) and local caught tuna (Thon Blanc). We rented a small boat from Locaboat near Les Tipaniers Hotel and had the best time going to the nearby motu's where there is great snorkeling and a lovely beach and even a beach restaurant. We also rented a paddleboard on the beach by Les Tipaniers Hotel and had a great time trying that out for the first time. For a spa treatment, everyone talks about Helene Spa, but we went to Manea Spa at the Pearl Resort and had a wonderful experience. Finally, be sure to stop at Carmelene's in Maharepa for great pastries! What else can I say? You must go to Moorea and you must stay here. Bon Voyage!

Owner response:Thanks for this great review. Yes the headlights of this car are fixed now, it wasn't only the bulbs so it took us 2 months to get the right broken part delivered and fix it! Typical under the tropics, we always have to fight to get the right parts and get everything fixed when needed ;-) but we are stubborn so we eventually get it right! It is true that restaurant food can be expensive but you will certainly deserve a treat on a special dinner out with that amazing French recipes and specialties. Alix and Jacques will tell you where to go. To ease the bill, take care on the price tag of the French wines in the restaurants, certailnly tasty but their prices show they have been traveling half the planet to reach your glass! MUCH cheaper to buy them in the local supermarkets. On daytime you can find affordable restaurants along the roads though. Concerning food, don't hesitate to stop along the road to buy fruits and vegetables (and yummy fish) from the locals. They will warmly welcome you and sell excellent and cheap products from their gardens. They are often not fluent in English but their kindness and their smiles are totally genuine. So... alors, Bon voyage !

Recommended for:Romantic getaway.

The best vacation of our lives so far!!

Guest: nursjj18 (santa rosa, california)
Date of Stay: 04/16/11 Review Submitted: 05/19/11

Where do I begin... Almost a year ago we began planning our trip to Moorea. I found Robinson's Cove without really looking & knew we had to go! Denis, Alix & the Robinson's Cove property did not disappoint us! We stayed in the Villa Wallis bungalow. It's the newest of the 3 villas & absolutely beautiful! The villa is spacious with an open living area & a loft upstairs for multiple guests. It has dark wood everywhere, beautiful chic island decor, and the entire half of the villa can be opened! There are many windows & fans & 2 very large pocket style sliding glass doors that make the entire half of the villa open to the most beautiful views of Opunuha Bay! This villa has a full kitchen with dishwasher, washer/dryer, large beautiful bathroom & tiled open rain water shower. The bedroom has a large closet & shelving hidden by a wall & the comfy bed faces the large door looking out into the bay. The best part about this villa is the large deck with full table/chairs, chaise lounges, sofa, hammock & steps down to your own private beach leading to crystal clear ocean & reef with shelf drop off perfect for snorkeling!! We snorkeled tons & saw 2 eels, an octopus and tons of beautiful exotic fish! We used the kitchen every day & cooked most of our meals ourselves from fresh food/produce from the markets on the island. We stayed 10 nights 11 days & we were accommodated to the fullest extent. Our rental included a car & shuttle to & from the airport. Alix & her daughter live on the property & were so very helpful & we hardly noticed she was there! Being that this paradise is on an island you may have a few kinks to work out when staying here. But rest assured there are no kinks that can't be worked out & that will make your paradise vacation any less enjoyable. We came to Robinson's Cove during a drought and had some water pressure issues initially but it was totally doable. We got a huge tropical storm on day 4 I think & our water problems were essentially solved! Also, being on an island paradise there are bugs as can be expected, but nothing large, ants, a rare beetle type bug, but mostly Mosquitos. The local stores have coils & bug spray better than anything one can buy in the US!! Mainly at dusk is when the Mosquitos come out, and rest assured, every mosquito bite was worth the absolute paradise!! Robinson's Cove made our much needed vacation in paradise a perfect place to relax, rejuvenate & recharge. The villa was perfect!!!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, families with young children, families with teenagers, age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway.

Beautiful View

Guest: Rental all Over the World (Washington)
Date of Stay: 03/06/11 Review Submitted: 03/30/11

We stayed at the original Villa for two weeks in late March 2011. Setting up the reservation with Denis in France was easy. The deposit was returned in 3 days! He was very helpful in setting up the details and provided all info and receipts promptly. The villa is wonderful for a quiet, relaxing and non-touristy vacation. It is on the bay and not the lagoon but we loved the mountain and ocean view together. The lanai was absolutely perfect. Comfy mini-sofa like chairs. Always had shade until late afternoon. Sun on the beach and in the warm water was just steps away. It ended up we both had the flu most of our stay --- so the lanai made our vacation. Wifi was also a great. If you have to be sick in paradise, this is the place to recuperate. The earthquake in Japan that set off the tsunami hit while we were there. Alix and Jacques made sure we were moved up to a house on higher ground for the morning until the warning was called off. Alix made sure our stay was comfortable. We had a great neighbor from Wales. We felt like we were living with locals and not in a resort/hotel. Just what we wanted. We only did a bit of snorkeling and touring, but everything was close and the car with AC was great to circumnavigate the island. Fish from Are's market, veg/fruit from stands, baguette from the other side of the bay. Kitchen worked well. If you are looking for non-crowded, private, no tourists, live-on lanai with a view from every room -- this is the place for you!

Owner response:Talking about Tsunamis, French Polynesian islands are very preserved because of the massive reefs surroundings the Islands. The results have been a one-foot wave within our lagoons, and a few hours wait on higher grounds during the warnings! That same scenario happened for the tsunamis that occured in recent years in Chile, Samoa, and Japan in 2011.

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

Fantastic place to stay!

Guest: Bob and Merridith (St. Louis Missouri)
Date of Stay: 03/18/11 Review Submitted: 03/27/11

My husband and I stayed at Robinson's Cove Villas with our 16 yr old daughter for one blissful week. Our villa, called the Villa Wallis, has one bedroom with a king bed and a loft that could sleep three others in single beds. It also had a nice central room with a seating area with the kitchen off to one corner. The kitchen is a fine size and was well equipped for cooking. We ate in our little paradise every breakfast, most lunches and 3 out of 7 dinners. We did our dining on the covered deck facing the beautiful bay and mountains beyond. The villa was perfectly clean and beautifully decorated in a manner that honored the spectacular surroundings. Alix, the caretaker, was friendly and helpful. Denis, the owner was a pleasure to deal with as well. He responded promptly and cordially to every enquiry and provided excellent service, including a very timely refund of the security deposit. The location is PERFECT in every way: right on a tiny private beach on Opanohu Bay and easy to get all around from, within a 5 minute walk to a wonderful ice cream stand, 15 minutes from a local grocery while being situated in such a way as to feel very private. I would not hesitate to recommend Robinson's Cove Villas! You cannot stay here without a car but you would not want to be without a car on this island, anyway. You want to be able to drive around to all of the various sites, beaches and vistas. I would suggest using the rental agencies as they are right next to Moorea's ferry terminal and a quick and easy 30 minute Ferry ride from Papeete. I would also encourage any visitor to take advantage of the island's fish and produce which is sold fresh along the road - the kitchen at the villa provided a fine place to turn these delicacies into very special meals, indeed. I hope we can return to this beautiful shangri-la sometime again soon!

Owner response:Thank you so much for your kind words. Knowing our clients enjoy the place and facilities as much as we do is always a bliss and our best reward. We wait for your next visit! Denis.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, families with young children, families with teenagers, pet owners, age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway, adventure seekers.

Absolutely Perfect!

Guest: UCI group (Irvine, CA USA)
Date of Stay: 02/12/11 Review Submitted: 02/28/11

I rented Villa Cook and Villa Bouganville with a group of friends (8 of us total) and we absolutely loved the house, the cove, and everything about our stay in Moorea. Denis was incredibly helpful, responded quickly to emails and a pleasure to do business with. Alix was incredibly sweet and was always available to answer our questions. The kayak was a great asset and we loved the swim platform and snorkel equipment available to us! The occasional visit from the doggies next door and our little chicken friend were great fun. We came to Moorea for a conference at the Hilton and all of our professors stayed at the Hilton. When they came to our place for dinner however they were very jealous and vowed to reserve these houses before we could for the next conference! Honestly, we couldnt be happier with the experience. One of the best parts about this rental that made our stay the best it could be was the van that came with our rental. We were able to explore at our leisure and this was something EVERYONE else who came to the conference wished they were able to do. A million thank yous! Also - they returned our security deposit literally the day after we left. Exceptional service in every way!

Owner response:For large groups of 8 adults or more, we indeed have the possibility to rent several accommodations within the same grounds, thus allowing for more flexibility. You can gather during day time and enjoy the intimacy of your own lodging in the evenings.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, families with teenagers, pet owners, tourists without a car, age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway, adventure seekers.