Vacation Rentals by Owner

Fare Hamara

Guest: George F.
Date of Stay: 04/15/12 Review Submitted: 04/27/12

Fantastic elevated location and vista of the bay. it was great value for money with caretaker Jacque on hand offering great tips of what to do in Moorea. The grounds and dwelling were beautifully maintained - the house had everything we needed to enjoy our holiday. The shower/bathroom area is large enough to be a garage. The outsideshower was great for washing off excess sand after a day at the beach. In our opinion the nearby beach had the best snorkelling and swimming on the Island. Great restuarant, eateries, attractions, and activities handy to house.

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Can't wait to return

Guest: Julia L.
Date of Stay: 01/13/12 Review Submitted: 02/02/12

We loved our stay at Fare Hamara - a perfect place to relax after a very busy 2011. It's a very special home with stunning views, amazing sunsets, and starlit nights. The property is well equipped with everything we needed, including a good kitchen which enabled us to eat in every night. We'll be back.

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What a view!

Guest: TandJTours (Buffalo, NY USA)
Date of Stay: 08/15/11 Review Submitted: 08/25/11

We loved our stay at Fare Hamara. The house is well equipped for preparing your own meals, as well as everyday needs such as mosquito coils and beach mats/towels. The owner was very helpful when we missed our flight to Tahiti, and the caretaker is a wealth of information. How we enjoyed watching those sunsets! And the stars were incredible! We would go back in a heartbeat.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Quiet, affordable

Guest: Bogdan H.
Date of Stay: 07/15/11 Review Submitted: 08/03/11

We have spent 16 nights at Fare Hamara. It is located in a very good location in Opunohu Bay, the nicest of the 2 bays Moorea has. The views from the deck are breathtaking and just by spending the time there it is worth the trip to Moorea. I will no repeat here the description of the place, but I can confirm that it is accurate. It is a perfect place for 4 people to share, and even more. We had a party of 8 trying to save the costs and it worked perfectly for us. I liked the most the fact that the bathroom is in a separate building linked by a roof to the main building. For a large party like ours having a separate bathroom helped to isolate the sleepers from the noises made by the bathroom goers. This is a smart design. The house is equipped with everything a guest may need and it is an ideal place for North Americans, as the house has 120V sockets throughout the house, so no adapters are required. Depending on the season you have access to a variety of fruit trees which surround the house. The access to the house is one that attracted me the most as it is going uphill for a couple of hundred meters and it puts a distance and sound buffer between the main road and the house. The only noise you will hear is from the roosters who can sing at any time, but you get used to it and coming home you may miss it. Given the distance from main groceries stores I think that a car rental is required, although if you want to go only to the nearby beach you can manage without a car, but barely. There is a recently Tropical Garden opened just less then 1Km from the Fare Hamara towards Maharepa. I highly recommend going there. The people are very friendly and produce a variety of jams and syrups from local fruits. They have a greenhouse and several plantations of pineapples, banana trees, guavas, etc. A trip to the Lycee Agricole is also worth a trip. You will see a mini botanical garden and large pineapple plantations. Jacques, the caretaker is very friendly and knowledgeable. He will provide you invaluable information about the surroundings. On another note, if you don't want to spent a fortune on potable water (350 XPF for 5L jar) you can go to the Carrefour/Champion supermarket and fill up the same quantity for 60 XPF. For adventure seekers: diving -Scubapiti, for mountaineering - Tahiti Evasion, call Michel. The trip for seeing whales and dolphins I can't recommend, you may be disappointed. Enjoy your stay at Fare Hamara, it is worth it

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

Surreal Views

Guest: Gwenn C. (Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546)
Date of Stay: 06/28/11 Review Submitted: 08/09/11

My husband and I spent eight nights at Fare Hamara. It has the most incredible views on Moorea! The house is well maintained and stocked with everything you will need. The owner was amazing to work with. Jacques is nearby to help if needed. The house is a great deal as well. Nice location for exploring the island. You will be thrilled to stay here!!

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

Absolutely Awesome!!

Guest: Bodie B.
Date of Stay: 05/22/11 Review Submitted: 05/18/12

Wow, how do you put a place like this into words? It was beyond excellent. I can't tell you how much I appreciate Bob Hammar and Jacques, both of them were so incredibly helpful and honest before our trip and while we were there. They went out of their way to help a rookie on his first trip to FP. Everything was exactly as advertised, if Bob or Jacques tell you how things will be, you can bank on it. The island is incredibly amazing, my wife and I fell in love with it. It is the perfect destination for us because we love the mountains, hiking, coral, snorkeling, and culture, but we're not big on commercialized hub-bub. Moorea has everything you need in terms of groceries, rental cars, restaurants, even a fabulous patisserie and internet cafe. But yet it is not crowded and you see more local residents than tourists. I don't know if I will ever get to go back, but if I do, I'll stay here every time. And if I ever win the lottery, my first phone call is to Bob Hammar to buy Fare Hamara (ha!). You absolutely must eat at Allo Pizza (I highly recommend getting the white cream sauce rather than marina/tomato sauce) and Patisserie Caramaline nearby. If you have any doubts about whether to go, do it, or where to stay, stay here. Best trip of my life!

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Wonderful location and value!

Guest: kmb1116 (Austin TX)
Date of Stay: 05/13/11 Review Submitted: 05/31/11

My husband and I spent 15 nights in FP celebrating our 3rd anniversary (1 night Tahiti at Manava Suites, 5 nights Moorea at Fare Hamara, 4 nights Taha’a at Vahine Island, and 5 nights Bora Bora at the St. Regis). Fare Hamara was a wonderful way to start our trip. The views are spectacular, the location is convenient, and the home is very comfortable. Jacques was available when we needed him, but otherwise we would have never known he was there. We enjoyed homemade breakfasts, reading and stargazing on the porch overlooking the bay.The king bedroom is spacious with a large closet with lots of hangers and shelves. The bathroom is across the covered porch outside and was very comfortable. Though there's no AC, with the fans and breeze from outside, it was tolerable during the day, and the nights actually got a bit cool. The driveway up to the house is rather steep, but the location feels close to nearly everything, yet so private. The only small negative was that the washer was broken during our stay, but since it was the beginning of our trip anyway, this wasn't too much of a disappointment. I am sure it was much more frustrating for Jacques to try to replace the part than it was for us to hand wash a couple of things! We also appreciated Bob's responsiveness to all my questions, both by email and on Tripadvisor. With such great communication and a caretaker on property, I am confident that in the off chance something went wrong, Bob and Jacques would take care of it quickly.Overall, this a fantastic property. We would love to stay here again one day, especially in the future when we have children, as there's plenty of room for a family here.

Owner response:We are so sorry about the washing machine! It was fixed the day after checkout.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Seclusion with a View!

Guest: RG
Date of Stay: 04/01/11 Review Submitted: 05/31/11

Beautiful 8 sided cedar home located on the side of a mountain with everything you need and a great view. Fully equipped kitchen,BBQ, spacious 2 bedrooms,180 degree view from the deck of Obay and Sharks tooth. April was still in the rainy season...lots of rain. Great owners and caretaker.

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Fare Hamara review

Guest: Sue (San Diego, USA)
Date of Stay: 11/21/10 Review Submitted: 11/30/10

We had a wonderful time at Fare Hamara. The location and view are simply superb! Our teenage sons loved it. The house is very well equipped, and the resident care taker was very helpful in every way. The owner provided us with very useful pre-trip information. It should perhaps be noted in the description that the bath house is separate from the main dwelling. Also, the really nasty mosquitoes and other insects should be highlighted. Nets might help. Overall, however, our Moorea stay was one of my most cherished vacations!

Owner response:The Welcome Packet has been changed to reflect that the bath is in a separate building less than five feet from the house with a connecting roof. We have electric mosquito atomizers and have never a problem with mozzies. The house and bath are fully screened.

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

Guest: Sea People
Date of Stay: 11/01/10 Review Submitted: 02/10/11

5 of 5 stars - In 8 weeks and 15 islands this was our favorite place. We absolutely loved Fare Hamara. It was perfect for our family of five and we would go back in a heartbeat. A cozy, well-equipped, charming house, ideal for those looking for alternative accommodation in the islands. Not for the over-water-bungalow crowd.

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Guest: hollyhiker
Date of Stay: 08/31/10 Review Submitted: 02/10/11

5 of 5 stars - Rustic Jungle Seclusion-Majestic Moorea and Opunohu Bay We have been to Moorea 4 times since 2004 and have stayed at resort hotels in overwater bungalows, beach bungalows and cruised on the Star Flyer from the StarClippers Fleet. Nothing compares to Fare Hamara. The location, the privacy, views and seclusion made this the best vacation we have ever experienced. We wanted to experience living like a local, and we truly felt this was our home for the short 5 days we were here! We rented a car, bought all groceries at the local market, chicken on the side of the road and baguettes for our meals. We cooked every meal at "home", and with all the utencils and appliances, was very easy. We loved just hanging out at "home" and reading the books and magazines, and taking pictures of the flowers and plants on the property. We brought all our own alcohol from the us, to keep costs down and to have our favorites at hand! From coffee on the deck each morning to happy hour sunsets at night, the views and peacefulness could not be better! We already are planning to go back next year, this will be our "home away from home" from now on (and will stay longer than 5 days)! Thanks to Jacques, the caretaker, just a phone call or short walk away, took care of any needs we had. Can't wait to hear more of his stories and learn more about Tahiti and some French next visit!

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Rustic Jungle Seclusion-Majestic Moorea and Bay!

Guest: hollyhiker
Date of Stay: 08/01/10 Review Submitted: 02/10/11

We have been to Moorea 4 times since 2004 and have stayed at resort hotels in overwater bungalows, beach bungalows and cruised on the Star Flyer from the StarClippers Fleet. Nothing compares to Fare Hamara. The location, the privacy, views and seclusion made this the best vacation we have ever experienced. We wanted to experience living like a local, and we truly felt this was our home for the short 5 days we were here! We rented a car, bought all groceries at the local market, chicken on the side of the road and baguettes for our meals. We cooked every meal at "home", and with all the utencils and appliances, was very easy. We loved just hanging out at "home" and reading the books and magazines, and taking pictures of the flowers and plants on the property. We brought all our own alcohol from the us, to keep costs down and to have our favorites at hand! From coffee on the deck each morning to happy hour sunsets at night, the views and peacefulness could not be better! We already are planning to go back next year, this will be our "home away from home" from now on (and will stay longer than 5 days)! Thanks to Jacques, the caretaker, just a phone call or short walk away, took care of any needs we had. Can't wait to hear more of his stories and learn more about Tahiti and some French next visit!

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8 weeks and 15 islands this was our favorite place

Guest: Sea People
Date of Stay: 07/01/10 Review Submitted: 02/10/11

We absolutely loved Fare Hamara. It was perfect for our family of five and we would go back in a heartbeat. A cozy, well-equipped, charming house, ideal for those looking for alternative accommodation in the islands. Not for the over-water-bungalow crowd.

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Guest: arden1 (Boulder)
Date of Stay: 02/26/10 Review Submitted: 02/26/10

This is a great little place to stay!!! You cannot beat the views from the deck and you are close to public beaches and shopping.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/18/09 Review Submitted: 10/18/09

We had a wonderful time at Fare Hamara, thank you. The house was equipped with everything we needed. The shower was awesome,the driveway fun, the grounds beautiful and the view was outstanding!!! Thanks again and I hope we make it there again some day.

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Idyllic location

Guest: hpotnan (Arizona)
Date of Stay: 06/28/09 Review Submitted: 07/15/09

The location of this house was terrific, on a hill with lush foliage overlooking beautiful Opunohu Bay, private and quiet, yet close to nearby towns & shops. House was very clean and the kitchen had everything we might need (except microwave). Really good screens- so no mosquito problem. It was a great help to be met at the ferry by the caretaker who assisted with luggage and stocked a few food items for our Sunday arrival. Beds were very comfortable, with ceiling fans and high ceilings providing good air circulation which made sleeping great. Location of the house fairly high up on the hill makes this a fabulous spot with beautiful breezes - though not a real easy walk home if you like to walk everywhere. It was a short drive to good snorkeling at the pretty public beach not far from the house, or to shopping, or good 'snack shops' that we found had excellent less-expensive food. The guest book has some very helpful suggestions for things to do on the island, and the owner was very friendly and helpful prior to our arrival. The house is really lovely, and we spent every morning on the wrap-around porch enjoying the incredible view and changing colors of Opuhonu Bay. We would definitely return!! P.S. double check the ferry schedule - ours was changed at the last minute due to a 'holiday' that we never knew anything about. We got the last ferry that day to Moorea, 10:30 AM!!!, thanks to help from a very nice local Polynesian in Papeete]

Owner response:We listen to your comments! We now have a microwave in the kitchen.

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Privacy in Paradise

Guest: chillphx (Phx)
Date of Stay: 05/22/09 Review Submitted: 06/01/09

6 /1/09 Just returned from our 4th trip to Moorea and loved this site. Lovely home offers privacy and terrific views of the bay. Well equipped with all the modern American required conveniences minus a microwave. Suggest renting the open air Suzuki from Avis to tour the island and climb the hill up to the home. Homeowner provides excellent pretravel guide and suggestions.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The Shangri La of the South Pacific

Guest: The Shark (Sacramento, CA USA)
Date of Stay: 04/01/09 Review Submitted: 04/24/09

The views, and sunsets, from this private home on Opunohu Bay (which is mostly undeveloped) are simply out of this world. The incredible privacy of this place, its comfort, as well as the ability to prepare some, or all, of your own meals are major selling points in my view. I have stayed in this home on three occasions (once with friends, once with my 70+ year-old parents, and once with my husband on our 1st anniversary) and on every one of these occasions the experience has been fantastic. To take best advantage of all there is to see and do on Moorea, plan on renting a small car while you are there. The caretaker, Jacques, is a wealth of information about the island. This phenomenal place is truly one-of-a-kind and highly recommended!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A home away from home in Paradise

Guest: Norm and Marolyn (United States)
Date of Stay: 03/19/09 Review Submitted: 04/12/09

This home has the best view of any facility in Moorea, and is absolutely private.It is 100 yards off the road, and no one can see it. We just spent 3 weeks there, and this was our 4th time back. We think Moorea is the most beautiful of the Pacific Islands, and the view from here is gorgeous of both the ocean and mountains.The kitchen is as fully equipped as most homes, including a gas BBQ. The outside deck circles the house, sunsets are fabulous. Seven of us spent hours on the deck every morning and night watching yachts, cruisers, outrigger canoes, tropical bay, and ocean waves on the outside reef, all at the same time from a distance that no one could see us. Jacques, the caretaker, was available at our call, and a great host and Island guide whenever we so requested. We have taken friends on previous trips, who have returned twice since on their own. The house and yard are imaculate, and bathroom is spacious and very nice indeed.We have three scuba divers in our group, and the rest are snorklers. All agree these beaches and waters are plentiful with fish, and as good as it gets. We caught and purchased local fish, and cooked most of our meals right there at Fare Hamara.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

I would give this property a 10 out of 10!

Guest: Lela Rue
Date of Stay: 07/01/08 Review Submitted: 02/23/11

If you are traveling to Moorea, I highly recommend staying at Fare Hamara. This was our second trip to Moorea, so we knew what to expect from the island. However, we didn't know what to expect from the rental house, Fare Hamara. I can tell you now, that we were very impressed! The website photos do not do justice to the house. You really need to see it for yourself. Your rental fees include rides to and from the Moorea airport by the caretaker, Jacques. He was interesting and thoughtful from the minute he picked us up. Once we arrived at the house, we were blown away. The house is huge. The view is breathtaking. The furnishings are comfortable. The kitchen has tons of gadgets. It had everything we could have thought of that we might need. The house is set on a hill away from the road. It is private enough that you can walk around in your bathing suit, but close enough to town that you can easily walk to the beach or small shops. There is a beautiful public beach and small grocery store within a mile of the house. We walked there every day for a fresh chocolate croissant and a swim. The owners, Bob and Mary, were very nice and professional. The caretaker, Jacques, was always there to help us when we needed him, yet he stayed out of our hair when we wanted privacy. Overall, I would give this property a 10 out of 10! I will definitely go back.

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