Where to start your Tahiti Vacation: Intercontinental Tahiti Resort Review

* Advertiser Disclosure: World Travel Adventurers is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

If Bora Bora is on your travel bucket list, then you’ll be traveling through the island of Tahiti on your way there. Due to most flights arriving in Papeete late in the day, an overnight stay in Tahiti is usually required before flying to Bora Bora the following day. A great option to start your Tahiti vacation is the Intercontinental Tahiti Resort and Spa. We stayed at this luxury Tahitian resort for one night pre-pandemic before our weeklong stay at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui.

The Intercontinental Resort Tahiti is one of the best resorts Tahiti island offers and a popular place to stay for quick overnights due to being so close to the airport. Since it is an IHG property, you can use IHG points to stay there for free. It’s only one mile from Faa’a International Airport in Papeete, making it extremely convenient whether you’re just staying overnight or taking several days to explore Tahiti before moving on to another island in French Polynesia. Read our Intercontinental Tahiti Review to decide if this IHG Tahiti resort is the right choice to start your French Polynesia vacation. Of all the resorts in Tahiti, the Tahiti Intercontinental Resort is the most luxurious and popular.

**Our WTA score represents our own views based on our personal experience with the entity being reviewed.

Covid Restrictions for French Polynesia

Before traveling to French Polynesia, make sure to be aware of the strict Covid-19 restrictions in place. French Polynesia is open to travelers coming from the U.S. who’ve been there for at least 30 days prior to traveling. Travelers must have a negative RT-PCR test taken within 3 days of their international flight departure, must test negative on an antigen test upon arrival, and then take a self-test 4 days after arrival. Travelers must register on Etis.pf between 30 and 6 days prior to departure and present receipt of the health registration upon boarding their flight. Unvaccinated travelers or families with unvaccinated children over the age of 6 who don’t have proof of immunity are required to quarantine in Tahiti for 10 days at a designated site. See Tahiti Tourism’s Covid regulations here to learn more and get the most up-to-date information, since it could change soon.

 Booking Intercontinental Resort in Tahiti with IHG Points

Intercontinental Tahiti is an IHG property that currently requires 65,000 IHG points per night for a standard room. It used to require 50,000 IHG points around our visit but IHG has since done away with award charts. The redemptions at their properties now range from 10,000 to 100,000 points per night.

We earned our IHG points from our IHG credit card sign-up bonus. Depending on which IHG card you open and the current offer, the welcome bonus could be enough for 2 nights at this property. To learn more about IHG credit cards, check out our favorite travel reward credit cards. Click on “Other cards” and then scroll down to “Hotel cards” to find details on the IHG cards and to apply for one.

Intercontinental Tahiti Resort Reception

The open-air lobby of the Intercontinental Resort Tahiti offers a beautiful view of the lagoon. We arrived at sunset so we didn’t get to witness the full blue color of the water until the next morning, but it was still breathtaking with the mountains in the background. The resort has a lagoonarium, or a natural swimming pool with fish and sea creatures. The lobby overlooks the lagoonarium and the lagoon, and the kids couldn’t wait to go swimming.

We checked in quickly and received an upgrade to a standard room with an ocean view. Bertaut has IHG Platinum elite status that he earned through his IHG credit card, which gave us eligibility for an upgrade at check-in. We received a ride to our room and help with our luggage. The kids got a kick out of the traditional Polynesian clothing the bellmen were wearing.

InterContinental Tahiti Rooms

Our standard room was 307 square feet plus a 65 square foot private balcony overlooking the lagoon and Tahiti’s sister island, Moorea. The ocean view from the balcony was absolutely lovely and the highlight of our room. Large glass sliding doors allowed a lot of natural light to enter the room and maximized the lagoon views.

Our room had a king bed and they brought a rollaway bed for the kids to share. Technically this room has a maximum occupancy of 2 adults and one child. Since our kids were small enough to share a rollaway, no one had an issue with it.

The room decor had a Polynesian flair, with traditional wooden furnishings and a timber floor. It felt earthy and tropical with a splash of color in the pillows and headboard. A partial white sheer canopy over the bed gave it an island vibe. Compared to the newly renovated and ultra-luxurious Conrad Bora Bora Nui, however, the decor seemed a bit outdated.

The bathroom had a window looking into the bedroom so you could still enjoy the views while getting ready. You could close the blinds for privacy. There was a large soaking tub and a separate shower. The bathroom had two sinks and a separate room for the toilet. The toiletries were in large refillable bottles attached to the wall next to the bathtub and in the shower.

In-room amenities included free wifi, refrigerator, tea and coffee making facilities, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, flat-screen cable TV, safe, and phone.

Intercontinental Resort Tahiti Pools and Gardens

The resort has two pools set among tropical gardens and a salt-water lagoonarium with live fish. We didn’t feel comfortable swimming in the lagoonarium after dark due to reduced visibility, and didn’t have time the next morning. We did swim in both swimming pools.

Our room was near the smaller pool with a sand bottom and beach area. This pool had a swim-up bar, which was already closed by the time we arrived. Apparently it is the only swim-up bar on the island of Tahiti.

There was a hot tub by the sand-bottom pool but unfortunately it wasn’t working properly and was the same temperature as the pool. We spent some time swimming in both pools and exploring the property during our very brief stay. The kids liked the sandy beach area and the lagoon views from that pool were spectacular.

Polynesian Show

Intercontinental Tahiti has a fantastic Polynesian show that they perform on certain nights of the week. During the night we stayed, the cast was practicing outdoors and guests could watch. We enjoyed watching them rehearse for their show and were amazed by the talent of the local Tahitian dancers and singers. They were wearing regular clothing instead of their costumes, but it was really fun seeing them practice.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by WTA Academy (@protravelhackingmasterclass)

Intercontinental Tahiti Restaurants

During our very brief stay, we didn’t eat at the hotel other than order some smoothies by the pool. We arrived after dinner and left early the next morning before breakfast, so didn’t have the opportunity to review the food. The smoothies we had were tasty though.

The hotel has 2 restaurants, Le Lotus and Te Tiare. Le Lotus serves gourmet French cuisine in an overwater setting with views of Moorea. Te Tiare is located next to the infinity pool and serves Tahitian cuisine with Polynesian theme nights and an open kitchen. The poolside Tiki Bar serves drinks with live music while Le Lotus is a swim-up bar. There’s also a lobby bar terrace that serves a light menu.

Spa & Fitness Center

We didn’t have time to check it out but there’s a Deep Nature Spa near the lagoon and 24 hour fitness center. The spa provides beauty treatments and wellness packages with Polynesian techniques. There’s a steam bath and cold plunge pool. The gym has cardio machines and free weights with panoramic views of the garden and lagoon.

Last thoughts on Intercontinental Resort Tahiti

During our very quick stay at this hotel, we enjoyed the breathtaking views of Moorea and the lagoon. The property has lush gardens, two large pools, and the opportunity to swim with fish in the lagoonarium which is something we’ve never seen at any other resort. We thought the decor in our standard ocean view room could use a refresher, but everything was clean and comfortable.

Service was proficient but not exceptional, and no one left a lasting impression on us. While typically we receive a brief tour of luxury resorts after check-in, no one offered to show us around the resort. We also did not receive a welcome drink or welcome gift, which is fairly standard for luxury hotels, especially when you are an elite member of their loyalty program.

It was convenient being so close to the airport since we arrived late and left early the next morning. It’s nice being able to use IHG points and save over $300 per night. This Tahitian resort is a convenient place to start a Bora Bora vacation. We recommend staying here for a night or two and then heading to the breathtaking and family-friendly Conrad Bora Bora Nui for a vacation you will never forget. Check out our suggestions for tours in Bora Bora that you shouldn’t miss.

*Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.