More Beautiful than the Photos - awesome home!!

“This home is far more beautiful than the photos - it's really 5 star and everything detail is thought of. Sandrine and Willer met us at the ferry with the car with lays (a necklace of flowers), they drove us to the home and explained everything. This home is stunning, from the view, to the french press, from the sheets and bedding, to the kitchen wear and bathroom with all the supplies you could need.There was beer, wine and a fantastic bowl of fruit. I didn't want to leave this gorgeous home and I never got bitten by mosquitoes there because the ocean breeze is wonderful. This view from the balcony is simply stunning, you can see the tiny airport strip across the water.I love this home, stunning design and the host managers were a lovely couple too!” - Amira and Andy, September 2022

Untoppable!

“This bungalow is quite honestly stunning. Untoppable, even! 180 degree wrap around view of the north lagoon alone is just incredible. But the house itself is fabulous-genuinely everything you could want and more. And perfect ambient lighting too (so important yet so many air bnbs fall down on this!). Local hosts Christophe and Ginou were very helpful, greeting us at the ferry and making sure we were settled in ok. The car rental is a must and we took full advantage of it. We also used the kayak a few times which was really good fun. Ultimately probably the best and most relaxing break we’ve ever had.” - David, July 2022

Rockstar Hosts! A Magical Honeymoon.

“We loved this bungalow, it is directly overlooking the beautiful bora bora lagoon, it exceeded our expectations. The bungalow is gorgeous with very modern and artistic accents. The layout was amazing and to complete the layout was amazing kitchen to could completely open to the huge covered deck with its own gorgeous and well thought out furniture setup. The couple are rock star hosts and the helpful recommendations for local excursions was a plus too. They thought of everything; 2 bikes, kayak’s with all the necessary gear, snorkeling gear available for our use at no cost. Then all of the other personal touches were amazing! The affordable car rental they provided was the cherry on top. I would recommend this Airbnb 100%!! Thank you for helping making our honeymoon magical!” - Marisa and Chris, November 2019

A view that will mesmerize you for hours.

“If you are lucky enough to have the timing of your vacation plans mesh with this bungalow being available, do not hesitate to reserve Here Moana before someone else beats you to it. This home has all the comfort, style, and amenities you would ever expect. The view from your deck will mesmerize you for hours. Watching the sunset will be a daily must. Your local contact is Christophe and fulfills his duties perfectly. Be sure to rent the car that is offered with the bungalow. You will need it. Pack your bags and get ready for a memorable stay.” - Tony, October 2019

​Loved every minute!

My wife and I stayed at the Bora Bora Bungalow for 5 nights and loved every minute! View and setting is fantastic... the host are great. We own/design luxury botique hotels and can attest to the highest level in aesthetic, quality and design details! The home is exactly as advertised and the quality of bedding, linens, dish wear, appliances, A/C and amenities were exceptionally curated and of the highest quality. Everything was wonderful. Note: you do need a car, period. There really isn't anything like markets, restaurants etc, that is within walking distance. The car the owners provide was terrific and we highly recommend that you rent their car if available. This was our sixth visit to Bora Bora and this home is truly the absolute best vacation rental accommodation on the Island...we loved it and will return! - October 2019

Even better than expected

We loved our stay at the bungalow. Everything was just perfect, even better than expected. I can’t think of a single negative thing to say. Thank you so much! - Melissa M., September 2019

​Truly exceptional in every way

Our stay at Here Moana was truly exceptional in every way. We loved the beautiful interior, high end features and unique artwork. Our island hosts, Christophe and Ginou, prepared the home so well, with flowers, wine and great tips for enjoying the island. The cleanliness, details and amenities, including the use of the rental car, kayak and washer and dryer, added to the amazing hospitality. And the view overlooking the lagoon was outstanding! We loved our stay--thank you - Cynthia and Eugene W., April 2019

​Lovely week in a fabulous villa

​We stayed a week in the bungalow, and found it extremely comfortable, everything is top notch, and pictures are all correct. I found the lighting switches fairly confusing, but hey that’s me. The views are spectacular. The car is a must, as too far to walk to any shops or restaurants. We went to the beach virtually everyday, it was great. We hired a boat from La Plage, which was also worthwhile, but I would advise hiring the pontoon boat rather than the small one, it’s only 3000 francs more, which we had. The small boat was 17000 francs for the morning. We ate at St James and was really good.

The only downside was the walk up the hill, it is very steep and incredibly hot, my calves ached for days at first, not used to that many stairs, we were told by Ed about the closure of the driveway and given a partial refund, so it was not a surprise. Hopefully the driveway will be open very soon for other guests, because of this we could not use any of the toys, like bikes, kayaks or paddle boards, I would never have been able to carry them down and back up the stairs, which is a great shame.

I would thoroughly recommend staying here, it is the best on the island, and if we return we would not hesitate to stay here again. Thanks Ed for letting us stay in your amazing bungalow and a special thanks to your Bora Bora hosts for their lovely welcome and the help on our arrival with our bags. - Diane D., Feb 2019

Kudos to your stylish architecture. We loved it!

We weren't regretful for choosing this place instead of a hotel. Even if prices were comparable we would have a difficult time not choosing this bungalow in the future...it was that fantastic. First, it's absolutely beautiful and modern. The height gives you a wonderful view with a large patio to relax anytime of the day on. Having the car, kayaks, paddle boards, snorkel gear, grill, washer/dryer, and satellite TV made it more awesome! Very close to things (20 min and we where we needed to be). Felt very safe. We will without hesitation book here again. The hosts that greeted us Christophe and Genou were also incredibly hospitable. - Ayanna

Absolutely beautiful and modern

Here Moana Bungalow was fantastic! First, it's absolutely beautiful and modern. The height gives you a wonderful view with a large patio to relax anytime of the day on. Having the car, kayaks, paddle boards, snorkel gear, grill, washer/dryer, and satellite TV made it more awesome! Very close to things (20 min and we where we needed to be). Felt very safe. We will without hesitation book here again. The hosts that greeted us Christophe and Genou were also incredibly hospitable. - Aryanna, September 2018

Spectacular

Our expectations were exceeded during our stay at Moana Bungalow. The view is captivating and always changing. We found peace by watching the weather come across the water and tourists enjoying their island excursions by boat. We cooked, relaxed, swam and biked. Everything we needed was provided for us. Staying in a private residence as opposed to staying in a resort was our perfect form of bliss. You will not be disappointed by booking your vacation at Moana Bungalow. - Shawn in Portland, Oct 2017

Our memories of this place will continue for a long time

Right from the beginning Ed answered all the questions we had for our dream vacation to Bora Bora. For months we asked everything, down to the detail, and he was quick to respond to all of our questions. This really made us feel comfortable going to place we've never been and living there for 11 days. The customer service from Ed, Christophe, Coralie, and Ginou were outstanding all the way through our trip.

The place is as beautiful as the pictures online show. The view is breath-taking. The place was clean and smelled of fresh local flowers that were provided. Even though it's above the main road, there isn't much traffic on the island and the sound dampening of the place kept everything peacefully quiet. Group tours stop along the road to take pictures of the place due to their famous history once or twice a week so it kind of makes you feel like a star!

The couch, chairs and bed were all clean and comfy and plenty of bathroom amenities are provided. The kitchen had all the utensils you need to cook your own meals the whole time. The entertainment center and included movies were all of great quality and extremely appreciated on our rainy days.

We rented the car for the trip and although it's a small hatchback, it provides plenty of room and was highly used throughout our trip. The place is too far to walk to most places and with the many trips to Chin Lee's, it was a must have.

We utilized the provided two-person kayak which was of top quality. I was nervous at first at using an inflatable kayak to paddle across the lagoon but it's really sturdy and proved to be easy enough to setup, use and tear down. There is a community dock that was really nice to have. When we booked our snorkeling trip through Pure Reef Snorkeling, which we highly recommend, they were able to pick us up and drop us off right there so we didn’t have to drive anywhere.

If you plan on snorkeling at the bungalow or taking any snorkeling excursions bringing your own gear so you can be confident they fit and work every time would be a plus. The snorkeling just off the beach of the bungalow is nice when the water is calm.

Although we began our Bora Bora trip at the Four Seasons, we're glad we were able to end it here at Ed's beautiful bungalow. Would we stay here again? Yes! We have so many pictures of the view, all the boats and yachts that go by and the sunsets that our memories of the place will continue for a long time. Thank you Ed!

Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.

We chose this particular bungalow based on photos and reviews. We much prefer a home setting rather than a hotel and Ed and JoAnne's Bora Bora home is beyond any other we have experienced. They've put so much thought and love into every aspect. We never felt like we were renting a vacation home - we felt privileged to be there. Previous reviewers covered all the basics - amazing kitchen, perfect use of space, wonderful shower and bed, all the amenities: wifi, large TV with BluRay, local hosts on hand to help with any issues, and of course the view from most of the house and especially from the balcony.

We chose the rainy season to visit and that's what we got. 5 of the 7 days it rained, often heavy and with high winds. Though it would have been nice to see a little more sun, we were very content sitting on the balcony with a good book and a cup of coffee or wine depending on the time of day. Watching the water change moods and all the activity that continues rain or shine was so relaxing, I'm sure we would have spent a good deal of time doing just that even if the sun was always shining.

Not to say we didn't explore the island. We drove from end to end many times, discovering lots of wonderful restaurants, several based on Ed's recommendations. MiaKai was amazing, Bloody Mary's was touristy but fun. For casual food Aloe Cafe in Viatape is fantastic and The Lucky House in Matira has a terrific lunch including wood fired pizza. Took some nice walks between rain showers.

The locals are very warm and friendly, even if we don't speak the same language. Only managed to snorkel one day, though that was one of the main reasons for the trip. We went out with Puresnorkel and in spite of the inclement weather had a good time. They offered to take us again at half price since it wasn't the best experience and we would have taken them up on it if the weather had improved. If we ever manage to make it back to Bora Bora we will definitely want to make Here Moana our home base, even if it rains every day. - Sallowe - February 2016

View of the lagoon is amazing!

“We were allowed to live in this dream accommodation for a whole week. I don't even know where to start raving: Christophe and his wife picked us up and brought us to the accommodation. The apartment is extremely clean!!!! Everything is taken care of. Upholstery and cushions are like new. The view of the lagoon is amazing! We spent countless hours on the terrace! The equipment is great: we rode the bikes around the island every morning. We used the kayak and had a lot of fun with it. Washer and dryer were perfect! We also rented the car and that was good too. Christophe was always available and had lots of good tips. The island isn't particularly big and so, funnily enough, we met him almost every day. The departure was very difficult for us! Thanks for this great time!” - Andrea, March 2022

Muy recomendable

“Muy recomendable, la casa se encuentra muy bien equipada y se tienen muchas alternativas para realizar actividades al aire libre.” - October 2019

It is like a high-end hotel

“We absolutely loved this property! The views from the balcony were mesmerizing...we could not get enough of just being out there for every morning, lunch, and sunset. Christophe and Ginou were amazing local hosts who took the most excellent care of us, as well as keeping the property in pristine condition. It is like a high-end hotel. We are grateful for our time here, we have no complaints, and we will be back again! Thank you for one of our best vacations ever!” - Steve, October 2019

Better than staying in a five star hotel!

You won't find a smarter place at Bora Bora! The private residence is perfectly located, the view to the lagoon is just gorgeous - sunset at it`s best! Bikes and snorkel equipment as well as a car can be used. Cool to discover the great variety of the Island. Christophe and Ginou, the local hosts - a french couple - were looking after us like family members. They welcomed us @ the Vaitape harbor, showed us the way to the apartment and gave us tips where to go and were always ready to help. Charming and very helpful. In the apartment you will find "the book" with the best addresses @ Bora Bora: snorkeling, day pass, restaurants, medical care, fun sports, restaurants, shopping etc.

Better than in a five star hotel! We believe that staying at Ed's apartment is a much nicer and more interesting experience than spending in one of the hotels. You get in touch with locals and you have a much bigger variety of entertainment. There is always the chance to spend a day in one of the most famous hotels - day pass - as for example @ LE MERIDIEN BORA BORA and relax for a day at the white beach. Ed is a generous, fair and solid partner. Always within reach, even though he lives on the other side of the world... just great. We appreciated our stay very much indeed and are very grateful to have found Ed. Congratulations: Your apartment is a jewel and having you as a "landlord" is a lucky chance! Simone K. - September 2014

What an amazing honeymoon stay!

We stayed here for a week on our honeymoon and could not have asked for anything better. We had such an amazing time in this modern, clean, and very well located bungalow. Christophe and Ginou (the hosts) were always there when we needed anything and never kept us waiting. The brand new vehicle they have available for rent is also such a huge convenience. We used it every single day as each excursion was in its own area of the island (35km around), so a vehicle was definitely necessary. Both the home and the vehicle were very clean. All appliances are updated and work great.

From the washer and dryer, to the kitchen appliances. The entertainment system with flat screen TV and netflix, as well as satellite TV was another huge bonus, and a great way to relax after a full day of fun in the sun! Thank you so much Edward, Sandrine, Christophe and Ginou! You made our first visit to Bora Bora an amazing experience and we have nothing but great things to say about your home, your vehicle, and your professionalism! - Avat, September 2018

Bungalow in Paradise!

We loved this place! It was modern and chic with with everything we needed for a visit to paradise! The views are amazing. We rented their car which I would recommend as it made getting around very convenient. The bed very comfortable! The TV is smart so we were able to cast our downloaded Netflix from our tablet easily. Not that we watched a lot of Netflix but at least we were able to do so! Kitchen fully stocked and modern. The hosts picked us up from the airport and were very helpful and easy to reach although we didn't really need them! Great vacation! - Tricia in Texas, March 2018

Definitely would recommend

My husband and I stayed at Ed's bungalow for a week in May 2016. All descriptions of the property and pictures are accurate. The view from the deck and living room were beautiful. The car was definitely needed to get around and go to town for meals and shopping. We found the bed esp comfortable and slept very well during our stay. We definitely would highly recommend Ed's place to other guests. - May 2016

One can actually FEEL this incomparable beauty

Hello Ed, We have been picked up today in the morning by Christophe. Everything was just you said... and much more! Today you made us happier than we usually are... We have arrived to the conclusion that you don't rent your bungalow for money. You do it because of goodness and you want people to share what you have when you see and FEEL this incomparable beauty. Thank you for this, that can not be bought by money. Such a good taste of yours about the furniture and the sense of practicality! Everything you see, have a touch of delicateness in this bungalow. - Elisabet and Mario - May 2015

"Honeymoon in Heaven"

My wife and I stayed here the first week in October 2014 as part of a 2 week honeymoon. We stayed the first week here and the second week at the Pearl Beach Resort. I feel like this was the way to do it. 10-14 days is perfect for Bora Bora. Since we traveled 20 hours to get there from New Jersey, we wanted to stay long enough to enjoy ourselves without feeling rushed. We are 31 and 28 years of age. This place was amazing! We were definitely nervous renting this property site unseen and it only having one review. We gambled and we won big time!

First, let me tell you that the photos on the website are exactly like the place looks. It is amazingly clean, modern and laid out perfect for a couple on their honeymoon. The kitchen was modern with an induction stove and all the cookware you need. Eating out in Bora Bora is expensive. Having the kitchen allowed us to go into town to Chin Lee or Super U grocery stores and get stuff to cook our own gourmet dinners. Furthermore, the view from the balcony is the ultimate place to sit down and enjoy your dinner and some drinks.

The owner Ed was extremely helpful. We were able to communicate with him daily via email if we had any questions. The wifi in the house was an added benefit that allowed us to stay in touch with the rest of the world if we so desired. Download the Viber App before you go so you can make phone calls using the wifi connection on your mobile phone. Ed also provided us with a rental vehicle for the week which was our most valuable asset during our stay. Having the vehicle allowed us to come and go at our leisure whether it was running into town to shop, driving down to Matira Beach for the day or headed to a restaurant for the evening. You will need a car to be able to do what you want, when you want without waiting on scheduled buses.

Activities: The house comes with two stand-up paddle boards, snorkel gear and two bicycles. We didn't use the bicycles because we witnessed too many times the dogs that wander the street chase after cars. It happened twice to us. We brought our own snorkel gear so we were good on that. The stand-up paddle boards were a lot of fun but just be prepared to carry them down the steep driveway and back up when you are done.

That brings me to the driveway. If you are afraid of driving up a steep incline and turning around in a small parking lot like Austin Powers then you might want to leave the driving up to someone else. The parking spot for the bungalow is atop a steep driveway. Once you do it once or twice you get a good handle on it. I found it to be adventuresome.

Staying at the bungalow allowed us to see the mainland of Bora Bora and how the people of Bora Bora really lived. We were able to make our own meals which definitely kept the price down on our vacation. We had a stunning view to look at each morning, day and evening.

The best advice I could give to someone looking to come here is to do what we did. Stay at this breathtaking bungalow for a few days to learn the layout of Bora Bora, eat meals at a reasonable price and enjoy the view. Then I would head to a resort and stay in an overwater bungalow for the rest of the trip.

Tip: Check with Ed to see how long you can rent the car from him. We were fortunate enough to rent the car from him while we stayed at Pearl Beach Resort. Each resort (even the ones on the motu's) have a parking lot where you can keep your rental car parked. We made friends with another couple from our resort that did not have a car. We took them to places they never would have gone easily if having to arrange travel through the resort. They said meeting us and going places by using the car was the highlight of their trip.

best breakfast: cook it at the bungalow looking out at your beautiful view best lunch place: Snack Matira best place to eat dinner: Mai Kai Marina & Yacht Club Restaurant activities: Maohi Nui tours (6 hour shark and stingray snorkel with lunch) make sure you tell them that you are staying at the condominiums and they will give you a deal and come pick you up by boat.

Without a doubt, hands down, I would recommend this bungalow to friends and family. "Duckster2" - October 2014

The kitchen is incredible

After staying in hotels on Moorea and Tahiti, this bungalow was a welcome change, especially with the limited choices on the island for vacation rentals that are modern and updated. The owner, Ed, and his wife, have done an exceptional remodel of this place; and the proximity to town is good for shopping. When you arrive on island, you will be greeted by a local French couple, Christophe and Ginou; they are very gracious and helpful with recommendations on where to shop for groceries and dining.

After staying in hotels on Moorea and Tahiti, this bungalow was a welcome change, especially with the limited choices on the island for vacation rentals that are modern and updated. The owner, Ed, and his wife, have done an exceptional remodel of this place; and the proximity to town is good for shopping. When you arrive on island, you will be greeted by a local French couple, Christophe and Ginou; they are very gracious and helpful with recommendations on where to shop for groceries and dining. Although we never ate out the entire time we were there! The kitchen is incredible and provides everything you need to prepare your own gourmet meals.

We considered staying at one of the hotels that are on their own motus, but we didn't want to be isolated, and wanted to feel at home with the convenience of a kitchen to prepare our own meals ( restaurants are scarce and the food isn't always very good), wifi for internet access, and laundry facilities which are hard to find on island, and often not even available at the hotels. The views are to die for, and there are all the comforts of home, including a grill. For a day of fun at the beach, they provide paddleboards and snorkeling gear, as well as bicycles in case you decide to set out for a day of exploring the island.

We loved this place so much we plan on staying again and again for our visits to Bora Bora. Highly recommended and one of the best values on the island. - Island Lady, Google Review

Much more amazing and special than staying at one of the very expensive resorts

I doubt you'll find a more modern and wonderfully located private residence to rent in Bora Bora, unless it’s at one of the luxury hotels that charge ten times more than this vacation rental. And the view is breathtaking...much better than the view from the few bungalows on the water! Plus, we were able to cross the street to snorkel and ride bikes from our location. The owners have designed the most efficient and luxurious bungalow, with an amazing view of the Bora Bora lagoon.

The bungalow is fully air-conditioned and has beautiful newly remodeled finishes in the kitchen, bath and living space with lots of light wood and the most modern appliances. We loved the new indoor and outdoor furniture - especially the padded lounge chairs with ottomans on the large deck overlooking the lagoon, plus the dining table with padded chairs for outdoor dining on the deck.

The provided BBQ, bicycles, paddle boards, washer and dryer and snorkel equipment were just icing on the Tahitian cake. The bungalow is less than 15 minutes by car from the main town and ferry dock in Viatape, so you have easy access to the grocery store, restaurants and shops.

If you want to stay in touch with the world or be entertained, the bungalow provides satellite cable, a really cool 3-D television, Blu-Ray player and sound system, all stuff not found in many people's permanent homes. The WIFI was dependable and robust throughout our stay.

Also, the local caretakers speak English and greeted us upon arrival on the island, helped us pick up our rental car, showed us the way to the property and spent time showing us how to work everything and give us tips on area. A wonderful personal touch!

Staying at this private bungalow was a much more amazing and special experience than staying at one of the very expensive resorts! We were more than pleased. Gary P. - August 2014