Aimeo Lodge in Moorea, Tahiti

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Updated: January 11, 2021
By Santorini Dave

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Review of Aimeo Lodge in Tahiti

(Permanently closed.)

Aimeo Lodge – Lovely setting with affordable above-water bungalows, but isolated and tired.

The former Club Bali Hai (one of the first on Moorea Island) looks outdated and a little unloved, but the prime advantage is the exquisite bayside setting, and the kitchenettes in all rooms. There are bungalows of thatched roofs and rattan walls above the water or almost on the sand, and a few less appealing ones squeezed between the inlet and road. A newer two-level motel-style block provides minimal views, and also backs onto the road, but offers decent rooms at more-than-decent rates. The attractive pool faces the bay, with abundant palms adding to the tropical vibe, and a sliver of sand merges with the turquoise waters. But it is isolated: about three kilometers from the facilities at Maharepa village.

Aimeo Lodge – The Basics

  • Location: In Paopao village at the southern end of Baie de Cook (Cook’s Bay) on the northeast coast of Moorea Island. About 3km from Maharepa village; 9km from the airport; and 12.5km from the ferry terminal for services to Tahiti.
  • Guests: Caters for anyone, but possibly more suitable for younger travellers on a budget.
  • Beach: The beach is barely adequate, but rare along this coastline.
  • Views: Almost all bungalows and rooms face the water, but most views are blocked by trees or other buildings.
  • Wi-Fi: Available free only in the lobby area; not in the rooms or restaurant.
  • Parking: Enough free and secure parking at the entrance.
  • How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
  • Phone: (689) 87 27 82 53
  • Email: hubertboutin@mooreaproperty.com
  • Website: aimeo-lodge.com

Aimeo Lodge – Amenities

  • Pool: Some resorts of this size and standard don’t have a pool, so this one facing the bay is welcome, although smallish.
  • Spa & Fitness Center: Not expected or provided at this sort of low-key resort.
  • Private Pools/Jacuzzis: Not expected or provided.
  • Activities: Free rental of kayaks.

Aimeo Lodge – Food and Drink

  • Restaurant & Bar: Alongside the bay providing sublime views, L’Ananas Bleu offers a limited menu, with a focus on seafood and pasta. The plastic tablecloths and so-so service even adds to the relaxed ambience. But for some reason, it’s only open for breakfast and lunch.
  • Breakfast: Provided in some rates. Otherwise, breakfast is reasonably priced, and served in the fetching bayside café.
  • Room Service: Not expected or provided.

Aimeo Lodge – Rooms

  • Room Types: Bayview Rooms • Garden Bungalows • Garden Villas • Family Garden Bungalows • Bungalow Suites • Overwater Bungalows • Honeymoon Bungalows
  • Smoking Rooms: No smoking allowed in the rooms, but permitted in the gardens.
  • Best Room: Only a few metres from the shore, the Overwater Bungalows face the delightful bay with a dramatic mountain background. Featuring a private patio, with ladder to the sparkling waters below, kitchen and separate lounge room.

Aimeo Lodge – What’s Nearby?

Restaurants & Bars

    These 3 places are within a short walk along the main road:

  • Restaurant Te Honu Iti – isolated bayside setting with haute cuisine and occasional live music. About 600m south.
  • Allo Pizza – wood-fired gourmet pizzas and barstools for people-watching. Also popular for steaks, salads, wine and sashimi, but no bay views. Deliveries to local hotels. About 750m north.
  • Hotel Kaveka – French, Chinese and Tahitian cuisine, as well as seafood and steak. Overwater setting and live music on weekends. About 1 km north.

Otherwise, ring for a free transfer to these places in Maharepa village, about 2.5 km away:

  • Moorea Beach Café – gorgeous waterside setting for wood-fired pizzas, breakfast, salads, grills and burgers. Popular for sunsets, daily specials and bakery next door.
  • Rudy’s – on the convenient southern edge of the village for imported steaks and local seafood. Classier than the distinctive white-and-red stone building suggests, but no views. Try the Grilled Lobster Flamed Cognac.

Nearby Market or Grocery

  • A grocery store with limited supplies is about 100m south of the lodge. Or stock up on supplies at the supermarket in Maharepa.

Local Transport

    There is no public transport around Moorea Island. 4 or 5 buses run daily between Maharepa and the ferry terminal (but not the airport) to tie in with arrivals/departures. Ask reception for details. To Maharepa village, walk, hitch or organise an unmetered taxi. For elsewhere, rent a car or motorbike.

Aimeo Lodge – The Hotel

The lodge has a magical setting alongside Cook's Bay.

Alongside Cook’s Bay on Moorea Island, the setting of the lodge is magical.

Dramatic cliffs and mountains are across the narrow bay.

Across the narrow bay are some dramatic cliffs and mountains.

The lodge features tropical palms and lawns.

The lodge provides a genuine tropical setting, with plenty of palms and lawns.

The bungalows and villas are traditionally-designed.

Bungalows and villas feature a lovely traditional design, with wooden walls and a thatched roof.

The lobby and guests' lounge feature Polynesian decor.

And the main building with the lobby and guests’ lounge is also designed in a Polynesian style.

The pleasant guests' lounge features a library.

Near the lobby is a pleasant guests’ lounge with a library.

Motel-style Bayview Rooms blocks are at the back of the gardens.

The Bayview Rooms are in a motel-style block at the back of the gardens but views are quite limited.

The pool is smallish but welcoming.

The pool is smallish, but many resorts and lodges of this size and standard have no pool at all.

Overwater Bungalows have a lovely design.

The design of the above-water bungalows is lovely, but they don’t extend into the water as they usually do at other resorts.

Some bungalows face the inlet and the noisy road.

Some bungalows are less appealing: facing an inlet and backing onto the noisy road.

The restaurant deck offers great bay views.

The decking in front of the restaurant at the lodge provides stunning views across the bay.

L’Ananas Bleu restaurant offers great bay views.

The views are the main attraction of the modest restaurant at the lodge, L’Ananas Bleu (The Blue Pineapple).

Restaurant Te Honu Iti has a good bayside setting nearby.

Restaurant Te Honu Iti is an isolated bayside café within a short walk south of the lodge.

Hotel Kaveka nearby offers French, Chinese and Polynesian food.

A 15-minute walk north of the lodge, the restaurant at Hotel Kaveka offers a wide range of French, Chinese and Polynesian food.

Rudy's specializes in steaks and seafood.

On the southern edge of Maharepa village, Rudy’s is a classy restaurant specialising in steak and seafood.

Moorea Beach Cafe offers great food and views.

Also in Maharepa, about 2.5km from the lodge, Moorea Beach Café provides tasty food in a superb bayside setting.

The small village of Maharepa features a supermarket.

The village of Maharepa, some 2-3km from the lodge, offers a limited range of facilities, including a supermarket.

Maharepa features lovely shops and cafes.

Maharepa provides several lovely shops and cafés.

Tourists can avail decent facilities in the village.

The village offers enough facilities for most holidaymakers.

The ferry terminal is 12.km from the lodge.

The lodge is about 12 km from the terminal for ferries to the main island of Tahiti.

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About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave Author Bio. Santorini Dave was started in 2011 by a guy who loved Greece, travel, and great hotels. We're now a small team of writers and researchers on a mission to deliver the most helpful travel content on the internet. We specialize in Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, and Greece and recommend the best hotels, best neighborhoods, and best family hotels in top destinations around the world. We also make hotel maps and travel videos. I can be contacted at dave@santorinidave.com.