Reviews for Faanui Vacation Rental - VRBO 77626 - 2 BR Bora Bora House in French Polynesia, Splendid Villa Overlooking the Lagoon of Bora Bora

Days in Paradise!

Guest Carolyn
Date of stay 05/11/13
Review Submitted 06/01/13

Well sometimes people describe things as "just like being in paradise" but this home makes your vacation "truly being in paradise"! When you wake up from your comfortable and beautifully decorated home and look out the window to the most perfect view in the South Pacific, you will feel like you have picked the absolute best vacation rental! We travel a lot, always stay in a rental home as we are owners of a vacation property ourselves, so we are quite discerning when it comes to accomodations. This home and the owner are the best in all regards. Pierre goes totally out of his way to make sure everything is perfect for you and ...IT IS! He is exceptionally accomodating, responsive and very easy to work with! The home is great: very spacious lanai and living room, complete lovely kitchen, comfortable beds, air conditioning, beach towels, Wifi and HDTV. Very clean and so well decorated. The views are spectacular! You will love this place. We can't wait to come back!

Owner response: Dear Carolyn and Jim! Great to hear from you! Thank you so much for your very nice review! So glad you enjoyed the house! It would be my pleasure if you would like to return in the coming years! In the meantime, enjoy your memories and keep in touch. All the best to you both! Warmest regards, Pierre

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Where dreams come true...

Guest Stacey
Date of stay 04/22/13
Review Submitted 05/09/13

My husband and I stayed for 9 days at this fabulous home to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary! I was a little hesitant to book through a private party but as soon as I spoke to Pierre (the owner) I felt completely at ease. In addition to being helpful and prompt in all communications, he is such a warm and friendly person. I really enjoyed speaking with him on skype and felt as if it was important to him that we had a great vacation. Not just because we were renting from him but because he is just that kind of person. From the moment we stepped through the door, we knew this was a great choice. The place is even better than the website depicts and I cannot say enough about the stunning view of the lagoon! We awoke every morning overlooking a spectacular sunrise and enjoying breathtaking views from the lanai! What a great home! It is spacious, very clean, comfortable and truly felt like a home away from home. The retreat at Villa Vahimanui has the best of both worlds: very quiet area if you want to relax and get away from everything and just a short drive away you have access to a restaurant, bar and water sports. Going to the " Lagoonarium" was amazing! Playing with stingrays, turtles and tropical fish was one of the coolest things I have ever done on vacation. We were also very happy with our choice of renting a small motor boat at "La Plage" as it was a much more personal experience than the larger catamarans. We highly recommend this home and Pierre definitely added to the great overall experience. We were looking for a low-key place to relax, unwind and celebrate our wedding anniversary and the retreat at Villa Vahimanui fit the bill perfectly. Everything here was a delight!

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

Owner response: Dear Stacey and Terry! I am so happy to read your comments! I do my best to make sure that my guests spend a wonderful stay at my house! Your kind words are my greatest reward! Thank you so much for staying with us! Warm regards! Pierre

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

BEST FAMILY VACATION!

Guest Heather
Date of stay 12/01/12
Review Submitted 12/15/12

My family and I stayed at Villa Vahimanui for 2 weeks in December 2012. We had a fabulous time in this beautiful home! The pictures don't do this place justice! They cannot capture the unbelievable beauty of the lagoon in front of the Villa! The views from the porch are spectacular! The house itself is very clean and well-equipped with many useful amenities. The 2 bedrooms and the bathroom are spacious and comfortable, the kitchen well-equipped. We rarely ate out because the kitchen had everything we needed to make just about any home-cooked meal. Some of our favorite memories are the great meals we had on the porch. It was enchanting to eat while looking at all that beautiful azure water or while watching the sunset! Snorkeling was amazing -and so easy- we could just walk right down the beach and get in! A final note about the owner. Pierre is a pleasure to work with and is very professional in his correspondence with potential renters. Everything that he claims is true. He is very courteous and will go out of his way to make sure that all questions are answered promptly and that you have a wonderful vacation. THANK YOU Pierre!

Recommended for: Families with teenagers, sightseeing.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 11/11

Little piece of Heaven on Earth!

Guest Steve and Diana
Date of stay 11/02/12
Review Submitted 11/11/12

From the time we first contacted Pierre, the owner, about his villa to the time we shut the door and left, experience could not have been any better. Pierre was so gracious and accomodating and more than happy to answer any questions about his home and Bora Bora. The villa is exactly as pictured in the listing. Pierre has furnished his home well, including furniture, electronics (flat screen TV and Wifi), bedding and kitchen items. The master bedroom is huge and the 2nd bedroom was perfect for our 2 teenagers. This home is so much better than a hotel where the family would be cramped inside one room. The villa was very clean in all aspects. Having groceries and a kitchen equipped with new appliances and amenities made it easy to fix our own meals. The views of the lagoon from the porch were so beautiful that we ate almost every meal there. We enjoyed our morning coffee on the porch overlooking the lagoon and its crystal blue water! Bora Bora is such a great spot for snorkeling and diving! Just in front of the villa we saw turtles, beautiful fish and stingrays! Incredible! This was our first time to French Polynesia (Bora Bora) and it more than exceeded our expectations largely in part to you Pierre and your splendid home! Our stay at Villa Vahimanui was truly a memory of a lifetime!

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 11/11

Like staying in a Postcard!

Guest Courteney
Date of stay 10/20/12
Review Submitted 10/29/12

This was the second year for us to stay in what we feel is our second home on Bora Bora. We are a family that rarely returns to the same location but this excellent house fits our family of 4 so well we were compelled to come back! Beautiful home, clean, comfy furniture, everything in working order and as described in listing. Pierre -the owner of Villa Vahimanui- is great... from the seamless reservation process to sending us emails to make sure that everything was fine during our stay. He provides a sanctuary! The views are incredible and the location is the best on the island in our opinion. One is hard to pick a favorite feature but I would have to say the sunset over the lagoon on the porch was probably my favorite part. From the moment we arrived until the day we departed, we experienced unbelievable weather, terrific snorkeling and incredible dining especially at "Le Mai Kai" in Vaitape. This home is a home away from home and after 8 days, it was hard to leave! If you want to experience the best of Bora Bora, this is your destination! Absolute paradise! Nothing better!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 12/12

AWESOME!

Guest Dave H.
Date of stay 09/23/12
Review Submitted 10/04/12

We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary at this amazing house with our 2 sons. After researching the web and talking with others, we booked Villa Vahimanui for 10 days.All our expectations were surpassed! Pierre was very thorough in providing us with details on the house and nearby activities. He accounted for our every need -from the well equipped kitchen and comfortable furnishings to WIFI and HD TV. Eveything Pierre says about his house is absolutely there: the views, the tranquility and the feeling of being at home in such a beautiful place.We enjoyed cooking our own meals and eating at the table out on the porch overlooking the lagoon. The views are to die for and the sunsets on the porch are priceless! Nothing is more relaxing than sitting in a lounge chair sipping a glass of wine and watching the colorful lagoon and the many islets in front of us.We were so smitten with this beautiful home on Bora Bora that we plan on coming back next year. Thank you Pierre for a truly unforgettable stay in one of the most beautiful places in the world!

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

Owner response: Dear Teri and Dave! Thank you very much for your kind words! With the pleasure to see you again next year with your 2 nice sons. My very best regards. Pierre

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 9/9

FANTASTIC LOCATION WITH A GREAT VIEW!!

Guest Kimberly S.
Date of stay 07/14/12
Review Submitted 09/04/12

My husband and I rented Villa Vahimanui for our Honeymoon. The owner (Pierre) is lovely, contacts you before you purchase, when you purchase and while you are there. He is ready and willing to answer questions as well as provide great suggestions for enjoying Bora Bora. We found the Villa to be exactly as described and pictured on VRBO.It was cozy, relaxing, very clean and tastefully decorated.We had plenty of space for the two of us! The view of the lagoon from the Villa was breathtaking! We found very good restaurants in the area such as the Maikai and the Saint James. The villa met all of our expectations and more! To anyone reading this, we can highly recommend this property!!

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

Owner response: Thank you so much for your kind words! I am so happy that you enjoyed your honeymoon in our house. I like my guests to feel at home. Warm regards. Pierre

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 11/11

THE PERFECT LOCATION TO ENJOY BORA BORA

Guest Sabine and Stefan
Date of stay 04/15/12
Review Submitted 05/12/12

Our stay at Villa Vahimanui was wonderful! Pierre (the owner) is especially helpful and promptly responds to your questions. Before our stay, he sent us per email a lot of information about Bora Bora (restaurants, shops and activities).The location of the house is fantastic: there are just 15 houses in this quiet and residential area, located in a manicured tropical garden. 3 of these houses belonged to the famous actors Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson! Just incredible! The pictures of the website are totally accurate. The house is newly decorated, comfortable, very clean and supplied with anything you need. The owner even supplies beach towels (many beach houses require renters to bring their own). But the most amazing part of this house is the view! When we walked into the living area and saw the 2 sets of sliding windows, we were overtaken by the most amazing view we have ever seen! The water is that gorgeous lagoon blue color. We also had excellent meals while there. Be sure to go to the Saint James (restaurant with waterside dining) and to the famous Bloody Marys for excellent barbecue. We would definitely recommend Villa Vahimanui and can’t wait to come back!

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

Owner response: Dear Stefan and Sabine! Thank you very much for your kind review! I am so happy you enjoyed Villa Vahimanui and Bora Bora. It is a real pleasure for me to share this little paradise! I hope you will have the opportunity to come back someday! Warm regards. Pierre

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 17/17

PARADISE FOUND!

Guest Sabrina
Date of stay 11/24/11
Review Submitted 12/17/11

We were looking for a romantic and relaxing vacation to escape the horrible Canadian winter and that is exactly what we were treated with. We rented Villa Vahimanui for 2 weeks and had a fantastic time. Dealing with Pierre (the owner) was extremely easy. We emailed Pierre several times before choosing his villa and he answered all our questions. He was very helpful, patient and supplied us with such great information about the area. The location is spectacular with a beach front and gorgeous views of sunrise and sunset. The view from the balcony is breathtaking! The villa was found to be exactly as described in both photo and text formats. The house is well-decorated and in excellent condition. It is very clean and comfortable. We cooked most of our meals at the villa and everything worked just like at home... All in all, it was just like being at home instead of a hotel room...The house has everything you could need, from many cooking implements to cable and internet. I recommend getting a car to explore the island like we did. It gave us freedom to come and go. We rented Pierre’s car and saved a lot of money (car rental companies are very expensive on Bora Bora). We found all the locals to be very nice and we felt quite comfortable, safe, and relaxed everywhere we went. We stayed at Villa Vahimanui for 14 days and couldn’t be happier! Waking up every morning to the lagoon breeze and amazing sunrises was something we will remember forever! Stop looking!!Paradise found!!

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 28/28

2 WEEKS IN PARADISE!!!

Guest Helene
Date of stay 10/11/11
Review Submitted 10/31/11

Dear Pierre! We just wanted to say thank you for everything! You were fantastic to deal with: you know everything about the island and gave us many helpful tips and great ideas. Your villa and its views were amazing. This whole experience was wonderful! Thank you so much for your phone call during our stay. Your local correspondents, Eulalie and David, have to be some of the nicest people we've met. They were so friendly and helpful. The 18th was my birthday and they came with a beautiful necklace for me! Even with the language barrier, we still all managed to share some laughs! We enjoyed your beautiful paradise: everyday as we drove around and saw the lagoon and all its shades of blue, it took our breath away! Snorkeling was everywhere excellent! We came back home with many happy memories and of course 900 pictures of the villa and lagoon! Again Pierre THANK YOU for sharing your world with us and if we ever have the opportunity to come back, we will certainly look you up!

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 33/35

MARVELOUS VILLA IN BORA BORA

Guest Jose
Date of stay 09/12/11
Review Submitted 09/27/11

We had a great time at "Villa Vahimanui". The house was beautiful and very confortable. Everything was clean and functional and the information on the website was extremely helpful. The internet high speed connection was very useful as I had to work and send emails to my company in Madrid. Elena and I enjoyed snorkeling in the lagoon and sitting on the porch with a drink admiring the sunset. It was so nice and quiet on this side of the island and the view was just stunning! We really enjoyed our stay in this villa on Bora Bora and are already thinking about coming back one day. I will definitely recommend your house to my family and friends in Spain. Thank you again for everything! Elena and Jose

Recommended for: Families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 35/35

Beautiful home, horrible construction noise!

Guest Renter37
Date of stay 09/01/11
Review Submitted 09/22/11

My husband and I reserved this home in March, 2011 for a vacation in September, 2011. About ten days before our departure, we were notified by the owner that there was construction going on by the house. I emailed with my concerns about the noise and was assured "none of the guests had complained." Upon our arrival, we found the home to be lovely and just as described. It was clean and spacious. However, within a stone's throw, a four story cement apartment building was being constructed and construction had obviously been underway for some time. Although we had been told by the owner construction took place only from 7am-5pm each day, the whole time we were there, it started before 7am and ended between 6 and 6:30pm. It also took place from 7am-12pm on both Saturdays. The noise was terrible (hammers on metal, jackhammers, yelling, cement mixer, crane noise) and we were unable to sleep in or enjoy the balcony. And, if the drapes were open, you could see eye to eye with the crane operator, so there was no privacy. Since it gets dark at six, we pretty much had to leave the house during all daylight hours. I would not have rented the house had I known about the construction. I hate to be negative, but our trip was a once in a lifetime experience and each day was marred by the noise. We made the best of it and left the house for most of the day, but I was very disappointed. We realize the construction was not under the owner's control, but, it was definitely much worse than we were told it would be. If there is not construction, I think anyone would enjoy their time in this well-appointed home with a great view (when a crane does not obstruct part of it).

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: This construction was not under the owner's control. It is the last authorized construction in the area. It is not next to the Villa but 80 meters below. The construction does not and will not obstruct in any way the view of the villa or damage the beauty of the location. The construction will be completely finished at the end of October 2011.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 22/23

Best lodging deal on the island

Guest Jaque
Date of stay 10/10/10
Review Submitted 11/09/10

We stayed at this villa for two weeks and had a wonderful time. For the price, I think it is the best deal on the island. Eating out is expensive and we saved a lot of money by being able to shop at the grocery store and have meals at home some of the time. It was often more convenient, private and pleasant to have our meals, particularly breakfast, on the large dining table on the porch with a stunning view of the lagoon. We spent quite a lot of time on that porch. It was always cool and shaded. It often had a nice breeze, but it never got too windy, even when it was very windy right down on the road. The house sometimes got a little warm in the afternoons, but the porch was always pleasant. Everything cooled down enough at night for sleeping, sot the AC in the one bedroom was not really necessary, but a nice plus. The house is set up from the road far enough that there is almost no road noise. It is within sight of the airport, but we almost never heard the planes. The view is gorgeous and the location is convenient. I was able to have one of the dive companies pick me up on "our" dock so I didn't have to drive to go diving that day. I think you get a lot more for your money staying in a house than in a motel or even in one of those overwater bungalows. Those things look cute, but are pretty small and set very close together. We liked our big two bedroom house with its huge airy porch much better. Be warned that the driveway is steep and scary at first. And parking is challenging up there. I got used to it pretty quickly and was soon an expert parker. Just don't rent a big car. Andif you are troubled by mosquitos on the porch (mostly early morning and evenings), they sell those mosquito coils in town. They worked well enough for me that I never had to spray bug stuff on myself. I just sat near the coil, read my book and enjoyed the view. Lovely.

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 58/59

Great Property !!

Guest Bibi06
Date of stay 06/26/10
Review Submitted 08/25/10

We spent wonderful vacations in this lovely place. The description and pictures of the property are totally accurate and the house is very clean. The bungalow is situated in a great spot, right in front the sea. The beach is located a few meters away. Vaitape, the main city, is a few minutes drive, with all the shops. We suggest this place to anyone who wants to come, this is a great place for families (the size is okay for 4/5 people, not more) or romantic getaways. The owner has been very helpful and answered all the questions, he is a really nice man, thanks for everything!

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 55/57

Vacation Rentals by Owner

Splendid Villa Overlooking the Lagoon of Bora Bora [#77626] | View Property

Traveler Reviews (14)

Days in Paradise!

Days in Paradise!

Where dreams come true...

Where dreams come true...

BEST FAMILY VACATION!

BEST FAMILY VACATION!

Little piece of Heaven on Earth!

Little piece of Heaven on Earth!

Like staying in a Postcard!

Like staying in a Postcard!

AWESOME!

AWESOME!

FANTASTIC LOCATION WITH A GREAT VIEW!!

FANTASTIC LOCATION WITH A GREAT VIEW!!

THE PERFECT LOCATION TO ENJOY BORA BORA

THE PERFECT LOCATION TO ENJOY BORA BORA

PARADISE FOUND!

PARADISE FOUND!

2 WEEKS IN PARADISE!!!

2 WEEKS IN PARADISE!!!

MARVELOUS VILLA IN BORA BORA

MARVELOUS VILLA IN BORA BORA

Beautiful home, horrible construction noise!

Beautiful home, horrible construction noise!

Best lodging deal on the island

Best lodging deal on the island

Great Property !!

Great Property !!