Hotel Kaveka

Looking at Hotel Kaveka’s entrance, no one would doubt that the hotel opened pre-1980. Dark wood buildings and a worn-looking welcome sign indicate the property’s age. But once inside the entry gates, the property doesn’t feel old, but authentic. Thatched-roofed bungalows are meticulously kept, and the overwater restaurant offers stunning views of the surrounding Cook’s Bay. The property is quiet, and it’s often easy to hear the ebb and flow of waves breaking at the shoreline. The majority of guests here are families and couples, with a fairly even mix of Europeans and Americans. 

Hotel Kaveka is located in Moorea, a mountainous island located 10 nautical miles off the coast of Tahiti. The beautiful, quiet island is popular with honeymooners and families, and has a relaxed, laid-back feel. Travelers headed to Moorea will first need to fly to Papeete, Tahiti, where they can then take a quick 10-minute local flight, or a 45-minute ferry to Moorea. Hotel Kaveka is about a 15-minute drive from the Moorea Airport, and about a 25-minute drive from the Moorea Ferry Terminal.    

Hotel Kaveka is located in Cook’s Bay, a popular spot for tourists thanks to its incredible scenery and central location on the island. Cook’s Bay is home to a few other hotels, and some shops and restaurants. Guests spending more than a day or two in Moorea should probably rent a car, though taxis are also widely available. 

Decor varies slightly from room to room at Hotel Kaveka, but Polynesian accents like bamboo furniture, floral bedspreads, and thatch-work wall coverings are fairly standard throughout. Rooms have mini-fridges, small flat-screen TVs, electronic safety deposit boxes, and air-conditioning units. All rooms also have small front porches with dark wood Adirondack chairs. 

The main differences between the bungalows relate to view (garden, lagoon, or beach) and sleeping options; most rooms have a king-size bed and one single bed, while the Family Bungalows add an extra single bed, and bathroom doors. Bungalows with only a single king-size bed have bathrooms that are completely open to the bedroom, save for the door to the water closet. The bungalows’ hot water is solar heated, so warm showers may be hard to come by on cloudy days.  

The main attraction at the Hotel Kaveka is its on-site restaurant. Restaurant Kaveka serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in an open-air setting overlooking Cook’s Bay. Breakfast is served buffet style, and is reasonably priced compared to many of its nearby competitors. The buffet is continental French, and typically consists of baguettes and toast, small cakes, and fresh fruit. There’s also an option to add freshly prepared eggs for a small fee. The lunch and dinner menus skew French, but also have sizable Chinese sections. Hotel guests can choose to pay full-board rates (all meals included) or half-board (breakfast and either lunch or dinner included). 

Besides the restaurant, there’s not much to do on-site. There’s a small beachfront with a few lounge chairs, but no pool. The beach is somewhat sloped, and is made up of tough, old coral rather than sand. The majority of guests at Kaveka take advantage of its central location, and spend their days exploring the island. Hotel staff members are happy to arrange excursions or help guests book rental cars.

There’s free Wi-Fi in the lobby at Hotel Kaveka, but guests have to ask staff members to turn on the network when they want to join it. This is slightly frustrating, but once connected, the signal is strong.