Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort

The next island over from Tahiti proper is Moorea, and it’s here, on the island’s longest white-sand beach, that you’ll find Sofitel Kira Ora Moorea. This shallow lagoon is the perfect setting for a couple of rows of classic overwater bungalows, while a few more stand on solid ground just beyond the beach, as does the resort’s most extravagant lodging, the two-bedroom Luxury Villa.

It doesn’t get much more spectacular than this, between the lush green mountains and the crystal-clear waters of the lagoon. The bungalows come with everything you’d find in a dry-land luxury suite, from air conditioning and wi-fi to lavish oversized bathrooms with rain showers. And the overwater accommodations add glass floor panels, for a view downwards into the lagoon.

Le Jardin Spa & Beauty is as extravagant as you’d expect, and the Sofitel brand’s French heritage is evident in the attention given to the cuisine: Pure, the restaurant, combines French and Polynesian flavors and techniques, and the wine list goes long on French vintages. The view, naturally, is an extraordinary one, and dinner is accompanied by live entertainment drawing from the local Tahitian culture.