Most Romantic Hotels in Tahiti

The Brando's 35 private beachfront villas feature modern Polynesian-style design: vaulted ceilings with thatched rooftops, wood floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows that allow indoor spaces to meld seamlessly with the outdoors. The bedrooms' king-size beds face wide windows with views of the lagoon visible through a screen of tropical vegetation. Each villa features a deck with a private plunge pool and a separate outdoor dining room beneath a tiki-style roof. Meals can be taken at anytime at this all-inclusive resort, and anywhere: in the villa, by the huge beachfront infinity pool, or on the pristine white-sand beach (all villas feature direct beach access). Guests can also dine at the two restaurants, including a formal one with a menu created by a Michelin two-star chef. Other unlimited activities include exploring the sheltered lagoon and nearby uninhabited islands in a Polynesian outrigger canoe or paddleboard, cooking classes, Polynesian dancing, yoga, and tennis, plus one daily treatment at Brando's holistic Varua Spa, which is tucked away in a cluster of coconut palms and has quiet spaces for relaxation, a steam bath, and a tea lounge.

Set on a lush green peninsula surrounded by a turquoise lagoon, the Intercontinental Tahiti Resort and Spa looks directly across 12 miles of sea toward the island of Moorea. The upscale resort's 245 rooms -- all with private terraces -- are situated in traditional three-story buildings or in collections of stilted overwater bungalows accessed via long wooden bridges. The 14 Junior Suite Overwater Lagoon Bungalows' wooden decks have cushioned lounge chairs and a small platform leading straight into the water. These bungalows are set at the end of the resort near the Lotus pool, a beachfront pool with a sandy bottom, swim-up bar, infinity edge, and hot tub. There is also a second pool with waterfalls and hot tub. Two restaurants offer nightly entertainment; Le Lotus, the hotel's fine-dining restaurant, serves French food in an intimate overwater setting.

The 150-room Le Meridien is one of the only upscale options in Tahiti. It's a 15-minute drive to both the airport and cruise ship pier, making it attractive to those in transit to other destinations in French Polynesia. The hotel melds Tahitian architecture with contemporary style, and spacious rooms and suites -- including overwater bungalows -- feature the hotel's signature beds, private terraces, and views of the ocean. Principle features include a huge sandy-bottom pool with a tiki-style bar, a narrow beach (free snorkels and kayaks are provided), two open-air restaurants, and a basic spa. While many areas of the hotel have been renovated, others are showing signs of wear and tear, and some travelers will feel that the hotel falls short of expectations for Le Meridien brand.

Set along the black-sand shores of quiet Lafayette Beach, the upscale 91-room Tahiti Pearl Beach Resort (formerly the Radisson Plaza) caters to families, honeymooners, and pre- and post-cruisers. Large rooms feature simple Polynesian decor and ocean viewsfrom private balconies but the furnishings are in need of updating. The hotel features aspa and fitness center as well as a huge infinity-edge pool and an open-air restaurant and bar, all within earshot of the crashing waves. While the hotel has undergone some sprucing up since it changed ownership, many areas are unkempt, run-down, and in need of renovation.