Fodor's Expert Review Sofitel Tahiti Maeva Beach Resort

Shaped like a ship, this resort is situated on Maeva Beach, the only natural white sand beach on the island. The huge lobby is decorated with Polynesian totem poles and cane furniture with vibrant cushions. Rooms are also brightly decorated in orange, pink, white, green, and yellow fabrics from the Parisian design house Robert Le Heros. A feature of the bedroom is the sheer curtain printed with famous sayings of Paul Gauguin; as they are in French, it's best to ask the staff to translate. The grounds are very spacious and there are lovely views of Moorea from the pool. Le Bounganville restaurant has international cuisine and a Polynesian buffet the first Sunday of the month, while Le Sakura serves Japanese fare. There's a L'Truck stop across the road from the hotel.