Hotel Vai Moana sits on a beautifully landscaped property with vibrant hibiscus flowers lining the walkways, creating a lush, tropical feel. However, while the setting is picturesque, the overall experience left much to be desired.
The Good:
• Scenic Property: The grounds are well-maintained, adding to the island’s natural beauty.
• Convenient Location: Within walking distance (1-2 miles) of markets, restaurants, oceanfront views, and some Moai statues.
• Quiet and Rustic: If you’re looking for a simple, no-frills stay immersed in nature, this might work for you.
The Not-So-Good:
• No Air Conditioning & Poor Ventilation: The rooms get very hot, even with windows open. No screens on windows or sliding doors, so leaving them open invites bugs. A small tabletop fan is provided, but it’s not enough.
• Sparse Rooms & Amenities: Rooms are very basic, dimly lit, with no fridges and limited towels. Beds were okay but not particularly comfortable.
• Limited WiFi: It only worked (sporadically) in the reception area.
• Minimal Staff Presence: While we eventually saw one or two additional staff members helping with breakfast, there was little assistance otherwise. The main staff member we interacted with was courteous but inexperienced. Requests, like pool towels, took a while, and the ones we received looked like old, left-behind beach towels.
• Pool & Bar Hours: The small pool is not well-maintained and closes at 7 PM—before sunset. The bar do
