Raiatea
& Tahaa
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Le Tahaa Private Island Resort & Spa
Yes, there is heaven on earth, and it is located at Le Tahaa Private Island & Spa. The music of a conch shell sounded through the air as we approached the over water thatched covered pier and within seconds of stepping out of the boat we were greeted with a cool drink the color of the lagoon and tiare scented towels. The entrance to the reception area is the ultimate portal of entry into a world where the spirit of Polynesian warmth and hospitality has deservedly earned Le Tahaa the coveted Relais & Chateaux Award, ranking it among the world’s very finest hotels.
On our way to our over water suite we visited an exquisite beach villa complete with walled patio courtyard garden and private plunge pool. Brice, the resident manager and our guide, related the story of a guest who had checked-in to one of the beach villas for a four night stay. The next morning he extended his reservation to six months!. Once you have discovered perfection why trade it for anything less? Le Tahaa is the ultimate South Pacific fantasy where every aspect of your stay will be seamless. A few moments later we were entering our over water suite and all I could seriously ask Ellen was, “Is this real or am I dreaming.” The beauty of the setting is so overwhelming that one feels they are experiencing the cliché of seeing the oasis in the desert. Our view from the bungalows picture window and deck was of Bora Bora no less! While checking out every amenity you can imagine, the phone rang; it was Brice calling to inform us that he had arranged for us both to have a message at the spa in the next hour. One week of packing and unpacking, carrying all kinds of computers and cameras on and off planes had certainly worn us out, and the thought of indulging in a spa treatment kept us going. How did he know?
The spacious spa looks out on a little inland lagoon and includes a special message bungalow set up for couples to enjoy at the same time and, the sound of a fountain whispers nearby.
All meals were superb from the lunch at the poolside La Plage, complete with a natural white sand beach floor to the dinner at Vanille, artfully set in the tree-tops like a ships crow’s nest. We enjoyed a simple lunch of a grilled chicken baguette and thin crust fire-baked pizza. Dinner we enjoyed a savory smoked salmon and fennel linguine. With desserts like lemon sorbet and Tahaa vanilla crème brulèe decorated with a dendrobium orchid and fresh fruit who can say no? The cocktails are works of art garnished with combinations of tropical fruits and flowers twisted like origami on the rim of the tall hurricane style glasses.
The following morning we swam from our suite to one of the motus and snorkeled along to the outer reef with the deep ocean beyond. We allowed the incoming current to float us back to our bungalow; it was so incredibly easy, serene and relaxing. No, we did not want to face packing up on our return and if someone in our office called to tell us we had won the lottery, you would still find us drifting about the islands currents. All I can say is that Le Tahaa is the crème de la crème.
Highlight: For Ellen it was reuniting with one of her
favorite dive masters, Stephane, of Blue Nui Dive who she had dived with
in Manihi. He is at home in the ocean and takes his time to point out
all the sights under the sea plus how many people do you know who have
a Moray Eel for a friend? There was no time for diving here but Ellen
was encouraged by Stephane’s high praise of the diving experience
she would have at our next stop in the Tuamotu Archipelago island of Fakarava.
Kudos to Le Tahaa for being able to provide such a stellar diver to guide
their guest through the world of under water wonders. The entire Le Tahaa
experience is a dream and a sweet sleep from which you never wish to be
awakened even if it is for only one night of your life.