You're not seeing things — that's the actual view from our room!! This is the guesthouse we rented on Moorea for $180 USD a night (March 2019). Beyond the priceless, jaw-dropping ocean views, it also comes with a private pool. Who says you have to blow your budget on a resort in Tahiti? If you're a budget-conscious traveler looking for incredible bang for your buck, this villa-style guesthouse is the one you've been waiting for!!

Tahiti Travel Information

★ 【Bora Bora Activities】Shark & Ray Swimming + Snorkeling Day Tour｜Jet Ski｜ATV
★ 【Moorea Activities】ATV & Jet Ski｜ATV｜Jet Ski
★ 【Island Hopping】Bora Bora Flights＆Shuttle Boat｜Moorea Ferry
★ 【Accommodation】Tahiti Accommodation Guide
★ 【Guide】Trip Preparation｜Budget Travel Tips｜Bora Bora Attractions｜Moorea Attractions

The guesthouse is located in an upscale residential neighborhood on the hillside right next to the Sofitel resort.

Being a gated community, the entrance is secured with an iron gate that requires a passcode to open. Our host sent us the code in advance via text message.

Since the villa sits on a hillside, the path from the gate to the guesthouse isn't far, but it's quite steep. Strolling down empty-handed is perfectly fine, but we wouldn't recommend hauling luggage on foot! There's parking available inside the gate — we ended up renting a car, and all it took was a quick check-in with the host to confirm where to park.

We made it! Welcome to Villa Dream Lagoon!

Before reaching the room, you pass through a small courtyard — which is exclusively ours to use. Since the villa sits up in the hills where mosquitoes tend to be more active, our thoughtful host had placed mosquito coils on the ground~

The view from the courtyard!!

Honestly, this view felt even more expansive and breathtaking than the Horizon View Suite we stayed in at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui!!!

Right next to the courtyard is the entrance to our room~~~~

The room itself isn't huge, but it has soaring high ceilings crafted from beautiful woven rattan material — giving it such a warm, tropical character~

The interior is decorated in rich, warm wood tones throughout, complemented by pineapple-print throw pillows made right here on Moorea. That local touch adds so much character to the design!

Small as the room is, the host made brilliant use of the space by fitting in a two-person sofa — giving us somewhere cozy to relax beyond just the bed. On the nearby shelf, a fresh pineapple echoed the pineapple pillow motif. Adorable!

Coffee, tea, and — most importantly — an electric kettle!!!

The host also prepared a thoughtful welcome gift: locally made Tahitian biscuits, perfect for pairing with tea or coffee!

There's even a waterproof guide to Tahitian fish in the room that you can bring right to the beach with you~

It clearly illustrates which fish you should NOT touch — super handy when snorkeling!

The bathroom has a wonderfully unique design — the ceiling, like the room, is made of woven bamboo, and the shower area features two ventilation windows. Small but oh-so-elegant.

The cutest little wooden washbasin!

The host thoughtfully stocked the bathroom with all the essentials!

Even the toilet seat is made of wood!

The view through the floor-to-ceiling windows is slightly framed by the garden trees, but that actually adds a lovely sense of privacy~

Stepping outside, you get a full view of the entire guesthouse and garden. The host lives in the house up front, and that tall bistro table and chairs on the right? That's the breakfast spot!

And there's a massive pool — all ours~~!!!

The host was up early diligently cleaning the pool~

Waking up to see the misty silhouette of Tahiti island across the water, reflected in a brilliant blue lagoon, framed by overwater bungalows, wispy clouds, and a perfect blue sky… Our hearts were absolutely full!!!

On one of our mornings, we pre-booked breakfast with the host ($15 USD per person) — and it was so worth it. He prepared a gorgeous spread of tropical fruits, locally made Tahitian juice, and yogurt!

Plus several types of bread featuring local Tahitian flavors!

We couldn't finish everything! Since we had an island tour planned that afternoon, we packed the leftover bread as a handy snack on the go.

Paired with that endlessly beautiful view — highly recommend! If we hadn't had an early morning jet ski activity the next day, we would have ordered breakfast two days in a row!

The next morning, we had breakfast in the courtyard.

With a view like that as your backdrop, even a simple tuna salad sandwich tastes extraordinary!

Morning from the courtyard: golden sunlight spilling across a still, glassy sea, Tahiti island emerging hazily through the morning mist. Good morning, Moorea!

On our first day, we arrived right at dusk — and the villa bathed in the glow of a golden sunset was absolutely stunning. Morning and evening each have their own unique kind of magic~

If your schedule allows, staying in to watch the sunset from the villa is absolutely one of our top recommendations!!

We'd already spent six nights in Bora Bora before arriving, so honestly, we didn't have huge expectations for Moorea. But this guesthouse completely blew us away. The ocean views rival any five-star resort, there's a private pool all to ourselves, and the room — though compact — is decorated with incredible taste. The service from our host was simply outstanding. Every activity pickup, taxi booking, and rental car arrangement was coordinated by him after we confirmed the details — all we had to do was wait in the room for our ride! This little guesthouse truly lives up to its name and delivers a genuine villa-level experience. We honestly can't recommend it enough~~~ The only minor downside? Being up in the hills, there are more mosquitoes than on the flat~

🔔 October 2023 Update 🔔 Unfortunately, this guesthouse is no longer in operation. Below is a list of Moorea resorts and Cherry's hand-picked guesthouse recommendations — hope it helps!

Hotel Name	Type	Star Rating	Price Reference
Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora Beach Resort	Resort	5-Star	Check Rates
Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa	Resort	5-Star	Check Rates
Manava Beach Resort & Spa Moorea	Resort	4-Star	Check Rates
Moorea Beach Lodge	Guesthouse	3-Star	Check Rates
Moorea Sunset Beach Residence	Guesthouse	3-Star	Check Rates
Village Temanoha	Guesthouse	3-Star	Check Rates
Haere Mai I Te Fare	Guesthouse	3-Star	Check Rates

For more articles about Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Moorea — including must-see attractions, overwater bungalow experiences, getting around, and complete travel guides — keep reading below! 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

Guides & Planning Resources

【Tahiti Travel Guide】Complete Trip Planning | Weather, Visa, Island Transport, Currency Exchange & Packing Checklist
【Tahiti Travel Guide】Tahiti on a Budget — 9 Money-Saving Tips for the Budget Traveler (with Sample Itinerary)
【Tahiti · Air Tahiti】Our First Time Flying Air Tahiti ☆ Aerial Views of Bora Bora's Stunning Lagoon ☆ Transit Info

Bora Bora

【Tahiti Travel Guide】7 Must-See Bora Bora Attractions, Activities & Experiences | Bora Bora
【Tahiti · Bora Bora】Bora Bora Airport Transport Guide ☆ Air Tahiti's Free Shuttle Boat ☆ Exploring Vaitape Harbor
【Tahiti · Bora Bora】Swimming with Sharks and Rays in Bora Bora ☆ A Must-Do Experience
【Tahiti Overwater Bungalow】Dream Come True: Our Bora Bora Overwater Bungalow Review! ☆ Conrad Bora Bora Nui
【Tahiti · Bora Bora】Conrad Bora Bora Nui Resort Review | Discovering the Full Beauty of Bora Bora
【Tahiti Travel】Views That Rival an Overwater Bungalow? | Horizon View Suite | Conrad Bora Bora Nui
【Tahiti Travel】What Room Can You Get with Points?! Lagoon View Suite Review! | Conrad Bora Bora Nui
【Tahiti · Bora Bora】A Romantic Dinner Under Bora Bora's Stunning Sunset | Bora Bora Yacht Club
Let's Go Watch Sea Turtles in Tahiti! | Le Méridien Bora Bora

Moorea & Tahiti Island

【Tahiti Travel Guide】11 Must-See Moorea Attractions & Must-Try Foods | Moorea
【Tahiti · Moorea】How to Take the Ferry from Tahiti to Moorea ☆ Complete Transport Guide ☆ Tahiti-Moorea Ferry
【Tahiti · Moorea】Exploring Moorea by ATV ☆ Hitting Both Must-Visit Viewpoints in One Go!
【Tahiti Travel】5 Experiences in 1 Activity | Moorea's Must-Try Jet Ski Tour
【Tahiti】Tahiti's Must-Try Street Food: The Famous Food Trucks ☆ Tahiti Food Truck

More Travel Articles

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