Hotel Kia Ora Resort & Spa

We had a really lovely stay at Kia Ora. I was a little nervous after reading some of the reviews but we really enjoyed the resort. We stayed in a pool villa 3 nights and overwater bungalow our last night. Both rooms were very nice and I would recommend both. We went snorkeling off of our overwater bungalow and it was enjoyable with a turtle sighting. Our first day our blue lagoon excursion was cancelled (all excursion boats were due to safety and large swells but dive boats did go out) and Fisher was super helpful finding us a snorkel trip to the aquarium since it is close to the hotel and more sheltered. We also enjoyed the Polynesian dinner. I recommend getting there early for dinner to get a seat closest to the show. Other information: If you are a diver the Blue Velvet on site dive shop is through 6 passengers. The main difference I could tell is getting brought by boat vs car ( we had booked directly through 6 passengers and didn’t realize the resort connection). Overall great stay and I would definitely return!

We truly loved our stay at Kia Ora in Rangiroa. Initially, we thought it might be a solid 4-star experience — but after spending a few days there, we both agreed it deserves a full 5. Yes, it’s not cheap, but when you consider how much effort it takes to maintain such a high standard in such a remote corner of the world, it’s easy to appreciate the value. Everything runs smoothly — from the well-organized excursions (with effortless pick-ups and great guides) to the absolutely delicious dinners (I had the best octopus of my life there!). The atmosphere feels relaxed and authentic, with just the right balance between comfort and island simplicity. The Polynesian show was fantastic and full of energy — a perfect way to end the evening. And as the sun disappears over the Pacific while you sip a Polynesian cocktail, you realize you’re witnessing the most beautiful sunset you’ve ever seen.

This resort was like staying at a very old, unkept lake cabin. The furniture was old, the bedding was from the 1970s, the air conditioning barely kept the bed area cool, certainly did not keep any other area cool. Wood floors, baseboards, etc were rotting, everything was damp as the building was open to the outside air (roof does not meet the top of the structure). Bugs and insects in the room. The sunbeds were dank, musty and unusable. Mold in the hot tub. |On the bright side, staff in the restaurant were very good and worked hard. The chef went out of his way to accomodate us. His special chow mein was amazing! Trip to the local winery was informative and well worth the trip. Diving and snorkeling was, of course, amazing.|This is not a 4 star hotel, but one can't really expect that this far out. However, some updating would go a long way in making this resort better.

Stayed 10 nights. The stay was excellent , had one hiccup , the people in the next bungalow had 3 little girls and they were celebrating a birthday. we complained at 9pm, the staff had us moved and upgraded by 9:30 that night. Amazing service.|Actually all the prices and fees were very reasonable considering your in French Polynesia ! Tania and Ghislaine was very responsive to all our needs.|Food ,snorkeling, and atmosphere was great ,relaxing and quiet.|Would we go there again, absolutely! You go to a out of the way island resort for one reason, "peace and quiet".|Dave and Nancy

If you're looking for a more laid back, out of the way, no glitz and glamour, and a just chill atmosphere, then this is your place. If you want another Bora Bora wow factor, then don't come here. This was the last stop of 3 for us (coming from Moorea and Bora Bora) and frankly this was just what we needed. An easy kick back resort where you could lay out at the pool, stay at your villa, or head out on an excursion for the day.||You're on an atoll so it's very flat and different from many of the other islands yet there is still plenty to do if you want to. Obviously, this is a divers paradise so that's what most visitors do here...but you don't have to eiher.||Pro-tip...if you're not going to stay in one of the overwater bungalows, at least stay in one of the Beach front Villas. We chose the Deluxe Beach front because there are only 3 of those that have a plunge pool as opposed to a jacuzzi and they are all on the sunset side of the property.||One other note, it's our understanding that this resort will be starting and 3 year renovation in Nov. 2026 and will be closed for that time. So, if you want to stay here, now is the time. That being said, just know that it's a little dated but not horrible as some of the other reviews have suggested. It is what it is...

We stayed in the overwater bungalow for 3 nights on our honeymoon in September and while the room and snorkeling were great, service and food were lacking. Upon arrival, the staff welcome was lacking for a resort of this type and we found this to be the case throughout our stay. While they took us to our room on a golf cart, the driver went over the resort information but we felt they didn't do a great job explaining the breakfast and dinner hours, pool hours, etc. When we went to the front desk to ask about pool hours and other general hotel questions, they didn't seem to know the answer which was quite odd or if they did, they were quite rude about it and didn't seem to want to help us. There's only 1 restaurant on-site and the food is mediocre at best. At one of our dinners, we got a fish dish and the fish was frozen in the middle. When we pointed this out to the waitress, there was no apology made and they took away the dish without much clarity on if they were bringing a new dish out. During breakfast, we ordered an omelette with ham & cheese and 2 fried eggs and the omelette came with only cheese and they completely forgot about the fried eggs. They kept saying it was coming, but it took ~30 minutes for eggs which is ridiculous. For one of our lunches, we ordered a sandwich from the bar and they completely forgot to put in the order until we said something 30 minutes later when we found it odd that everyone else was getting their sandwiches. When we pointed this out, the person who took our order asked if we had already paid and completely forgot about the order. Also, they do a Polynesian buffet on Wednesday and Sunday nights with a performance, which we feel is a total ripoff. It was $80+/adult for mediocre food and you don't have another option for dinner because there's no other restaurants, they have no room service, and the bar where you can order sandwiches during the day closes food orders at 5pm. We recommend either ordering sandwiches from the bar before they close or somehow getting food from a restaurant somewhere else on the island. The Polynesian performance was also lackluster - we've seen a few prior to this and this was the worst we've seen. It seemed like no one wanted to be there to perform, while all other performances we've seen, the performers were high energy and clearly proud of the performance and sharing their culture.

Wanted to share what a special experience we have had at Hotel Kia Ora: the accommodations are top notch. Some of the suites you can get with your own pool and the bungalow is clean and comfortable with fresh towels housekeeping daily. For my finance's birthday, they made a whole special cake and sang to him, so much more than I had expected! So much attention to detail. And also great air conditioning! Altogether, highly recommend, it was a wonderful time!!

We stayed at Kia Ora in Rangiroa for part of our 10-year anniversary trip, and it exceeded all our expectations. We booked a villa with a private pool and spacious outdoor area, and it was perfect for relaxing after excursions. The room was spotless and well-designed, with a large shower and a unique outdoor bath that added a touch of luxury. We loved that the hotel didn't feel like it could be in Miami and had a local but upscale vibe.||The food at the resort was consistently delicious, and the Polynesian night was a standout with great entertainment and a festive atmosphere. Breakfasts were also solid, with fresh, quality options to start the day right. At checkin, we were surprised with a bottle of local wine to celebrate our anniversary—such a thoughtful and appreciated gesture.||The snorkeling on property is fantastic, especially around the overwater bungalows. We saw an incredible variety of fish just steps from the shore. Even better, we booked a drift snorkel and visit to the “Aquarium” through the resort—this was the absolute highlight of our 12 days in French Polynesia. If you can, ask for Ugo as your guide—he made the experience unforgettable.||The resort has a much more laid-back and tranquil vibe compared to resorts in Bora Bora, which we loved. We’re in our late 30s/early 40s and found the pace, setting, and atmosphere to be just right.||We also loved the overwater bar—a very cool spot with amazing drinks and a great view. From the resort, it’s an easy walk to Tiputa Pass, where we saw dolphins jumping out of the water. The resort also offers bikes and scooters, making it easy to explore the island at your own pace.||Honestly, we can’t understand the negative reviews—our experience was nothing short of fantastic. Kia Ora delivered on every level, and we’re already dreaming of coming back.