Mar 23, 2015, 11:08 pm
Last edit by: jigri2003
Some info:
Prepaid meal plan rates as of Feb 2015 per post 1305: (breakfast price updated as of Jan 2020)
Breakfast: 4860 xpf (tax incl) per person per day
Half board (breakfast and a 3-courses dinner): 13 053 xpf (tax incl) per person per day
Full board (breakfast, a 2-courses lunch and a 3-courses dinner): 17 632 xpf (tax incl) per person per day.
Breakfast 50% discount: available only at check in time if it is taken for the entire stay. It does not apply for half board and full board. Post 1376
Guaranteed Upgrade Costs as of January 2015 per post 1293
Emerald to Sapphire: 15,000 XPF + 14% taxes per night
Emerald to Diamond: 25,000 XPF + 14% taxes per night
Emerald to Diamond Otemanu: 35,000 XPF + 14% taxes per night
Emerald to Diamond End of Pontoon: 45,000 XPF + 14% taxes per night
Full prepayment prior to arrival required
Direct Boat Transfers to/from Airport One-way: 7334 XPF (updated Dec 2019) (about 15 minutes). Resort will email you to arrange this ahead of time if desired.
Boat transfer from the Airport is not mandatory despite what any hotel emails might imply to the contrary. It's possible to take the free Air Tahiti shuttle to Vaitape (15 minutes), followed by a taxi to the IC Le Moana for 2000XPF (15 minutes), then the IC's shuttle between Le Moana and Thalasso for 3390 XPF per person one way (updated Dec 2019) (15 minutes). If all transfers go smoothly, the journey could be as short as an hour, or longer than two hours if you're unlucky.
Boat Times (as of Oct 2016, and current as of Jan 2020)
Leaving Le Moana:
7:45am
8:45am
11:45am*
12:45pm
1:45pm
4:30pm
5:30pm*
6:30pm
8:30pm
10:00pm
Leaving Thalasso:
8:15am
9:15am*
12:15pm
1:15pm
2:15pm*
5:00pm
6:00pm
7:00pm
9:30pm
10:30pm
* Boat times with a * can connect with the bus shuttle between IC Le Moana and Vaitape town, as shown below:
Bus Shuttles between IC Le Moana and Vaitape town:
Depart IC Le Moana:
9:45am
2:45pm
Depart Vaitape:
11:15am
5:00pm
The bus shuttle costs 1150 XPF RT/person.
Note: There is no ATM at the Thalasso. The closest ATMs are in Vaitape, the main town where the airport ferry stops. However, both IC Le Moana and Thalasso will give you a "cash advance" on your credit card for a fee of 5%. The transaction will post as a purchase.
XPF is also available at the airport in Pappeete from several ATMs.
POST 1795
Resort Email: [email protected]
Prepaid meal plan rates as of Feb 2015 per post 1305: (breakfast price updated as of Jan 2020)
Breakfast: 4860 xpf (tax incl) per person per day
Half board (breakfast and a 3-courses dinner): 13 053 xpf (tax incl) per person per day
Full board (breakfast, a 2-courses lunch and a 3-courses dinner): 17 632 xpf (tax incl) per person per day.
Breakfast 50% discount: available only at check in time if it is taken for the entire stay. It does not apply for half board and full board. Post 1376
Guaranteed Upgrade Costs as of January 2015 per post 1293
Emerald to Sapphire: 15,000 XPF + 14% taxes per night
Emerald to Diamond: 25,000 XPF + 14% taxes per night
Emerald to Diamond Otemanu: 35,000 XPF + 14% taxes per night
Emerald to Diamond End of Pontoon: 45,000 XPF + 14% taxes per night
Full prepayment prior to arrival required
Direct Boat Transfers to/from Airport One-way: 7334 XPF (updated Dec 2019) (about 15 minutes). Resort will email you to arrange this ahead of time if desired.
Boat transfer from the Airport is not mandatory despite what any hotel emails might imply to the contrary. It's possible to take the free Air Tahiti shuttle to Vaitape (15 minutes), followed by a taxi to the IC Le Moana for 2000XPF (15 minutes), then the IC's shuttle between Le Moana and Thalasso for 3390 XPF per person one way (updated Dec 2019) (15 minutes). If all transfers go smoothly, the journey could be as short as an hour, or longer than two hours if you're unlucky.
Boat Times (as of Oct 2016, and current as of Jan 2020)
Leaving Le Moana:
7:45am
8:45am
11:45am*
12:45pm
1:45pm
4:30pm
5:30pm*
6:30pm
8:30pm
10:00pm
Leaving Thalasso:
8:15am
9:15am*
12:15pm
1:15pm
2:15pm*
5:00pm
6:00pm
7:00pm
9:30pm
10:30pm
* Boat times with a * can connect with the bus shuttle between IC Le Moana and Vaitape town, as shown below:
Bus Shuttles between IC Le Moana and Vaitape town:
Depart IC Le Moana:
9:45am
2:45pm
Depart Vaitape:
11:15am
5:00pm
The bus shuttle costs 1150 XPF RT/person.
Note: There is no ATM at the Thalasso. The closest ATMs are in Vaitape, the main town where the airport ferry stops. However, both IC Le Moana and Thalasso will give you a "cash advance" on your credit card for a fee of 5%. The transaction will post as a purchase.
XPF is also available at the airport in Pappeete from several ATMs.
POST 1795
Resort Email: [email protected]
IC Thalasso Bora Bora Master Thread [merged]
Nov 3, 2015, 9:53 am
#1891
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,431
I spent 2 nights at Moana and 3 at Thalasso in late June. Yes, the property and rooms at Thalasso are much nicer than Moana (5 stars vs 4 stars), but there are practically NO fish at Thalasso. There's a coffee table with a glass display over the water, but nothing came when I dropped food. No fish when I was snorkeling around the bungalow. Overall, I'd prefer Thalasso due to the resort itself, but I would still be more than happy to stay at Moana. I don't think it's a huge step down. Both properties have good and bad.
Nov 3, 2015, 10:16 am
#1892
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 8,460
I spent 2 nights at Moana and 3 at Thalasso in late June. Yes, the property and rooms at Thalasso are much nicer than Moana (5 stars vs 4 stars), but there are practically NO fish at Thalasso. There's a coffee table with a glass display over the water, but nothing came when I dropped food. No fish when I was snorkeling around the bungalow. Overall, I'd prefer Thalasso due to the resort itself, but I would still be more than happy to stay at Moana. I don't think it's a huge step down. Both properties have good and bad.
What's cooler? A picture with fish or a picture with you surrounded by a dozen sharks?
Nov 3, 2015, 10:33 am
#1893
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,431
On a side note, we've now stayed at the Hilton (2013) and both IC properties (few months ago). Our favorite was the Hilton. It was the best compromise. Room nicer than Moana, better location (to us, at least), and our tour guide also told us that it has the most fish.
But as with everything-- different strokes for different folks.
Nov 3, 2015, 11:49 am
#1894
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Angels
Posts: 196
Is the fence still in place which protects their little coral lagoon from the rest of the lagoon? Last time we were there the fence wasn't high enough during high tide and a shark wondered in, but then couldn't get back out. They carefully and thoughtfully guided it out with the fence down in one section.
Nov 3, 2015, 3:39 pm
#1896
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 105
Did the loophole allow you to book dates that were already released or just the dates that weren't yet released/not yet bookable on the website? I think I know the second loophole, but curious about the first scenario.
Nov 3, 2015, 3:57 pm
#1897
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
Makes it much better value? 
It was a no-brainer 50,000 per night at the IC or $1200 at the St Regis, anyway, save a bit of $$$ from the boat ride and you can spend elsewhere
Nov 3, 2015, 4:43 pm
#1898
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: Hilton - Diamond, IHG - Spire Amb
Posts: 901
How many other days are you hoarding?
On a more serious question: How many are truly hoarding award nights with no airline booked, no real intention of using the award nights but merely dreaming they can go multiple times in a year? Seems some are holding multiple bookings at multiple times of the year knowing full well they won't be using all of it. I bet the majority of award nights being held end up getting cancelled.
On a more serious question: How many are truly hoarding award nights with no airline booked, no real intention of using the award nights but merely dreaming they can go multiple times in a year? Seems some are holding multiple bookings at multiple times of the year knowing full well they won't be using all of it. I bet the majority of award nights being held end up getting cancelled.
Nov 3, 2015, 9:47 pm
#1899
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Earth ... for now
Programs: UA 2MM * Marriott Ambassador LT Titanium * IHG Diamond Ambassador * Hilton Diamond *
Posts: 1,787
I would say that it's way cooler to try enjoy where you are and the surrounding without having your eye constantly on the camera. There are tons of existing extraordinary images and films that you can enjoy at home, if you prefer to look at a screen.
Nov 4, 2015, 12:43 am
#1900
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 8,460
But those aren't of me experiencing BB. And I'm not going to photoshop myself into them either as that is cheating.
Nov 4, 2015, 2:33 pm
#1901
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Angels
Posts: 196
Similarly, I was able to piece together 8 consecutive nights over about a 12 month time period. Several came in the last 30-60 days. IME, a long time horizon, patience, flexibility, and tenacity in checking award space are virtues that will serve you well for this award redemption.
Nov 4, 2015, 5:27 pm
#1902
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: LAX
Programs: United Silver, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 988
Nov 5, 2015, 6:35 am
#1903
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Midwest U.S.A
Programs: Too many to list. Since the early 90's.
Posts: 1,407
Sorry, but that door closed a while ago. No so-called loophole. Just have to check every now and then to see if someone canceled an award night and to see if it went back into available inventory. We happen to pick up the nights we want months back, but we won't be there until this summer (winter in FP).
Nov 5, 2015, 7:03 am
#1904
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1
Planning to honeymoon here in Sept or Oct 2017, yes 2017 lol. We are saving points for both hotel and airfare in the meantime but very clearly from reading this thread, it will be difficult to find multiple nights in a row. I have been lurking for a bit trying to best understand the situation. If someone could correct me if I'm wrong and/or give some pointers on how best to snag nights, it would be greatly appreciated. And of course I understand so much could change at any point.
Each night around midnight EST a new night is released for reward availability 330 days out? This is when I should be on the reservation page looking to grab it? Best to do one night reservations at a time that way I can change the itinerary if needed? We are coming from Boston - anyone fly first class from here or it seems that flying first class from LAX is way more popular.
Thanks so much in advance!
Each night around midnight EST a new night is released for reward availability 330 days out? This is when I should be on the reservation page looking to grab it? Best to do one night reservations at a time that way I can change the itinerary if needed? We are coming from Boston - anyone fly first class from here or it seems that flying first class from LAX is way more popular.
Thanks so much in advance!
Nov 5, 2015, 3:44 pm
#1905
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 113
Planning to honeymoon here in Sept or Oct 2017, yes 2017 lol. We are saving points for both hotel and airfare in the meantime but very clearly from reading this thread, it will be difficult to find multiple nights in a row. I have been lurking for a bit trying to best understand the situation. If someone could correct me if I'm wrong and/or give some pointers on how best to snag nights, it would be greatly appreciated. And of course I understand so much could change at any point.
Each night around midnight EST a new night is released for reward availability 330 days out? This is when I should be on the reservation page looking to grab it? Best to do one night reservations at a time that way I can change the itinerary if needed? We are coming from Boston - anyone fly first class from here or it seems that flying first class from LAX is way more popular.
Thanks so much in advance!
Each night around midnight EST a new night is released for reward availability 330 days out? This is when I should be on the reservation page looking to grab it? Best to do one night reservations at a time that way I can change the itinerary if needed? We are coming from Boston - anyone fly first class from here or it seems that flying first class from LAX is way more popular.
Thanks so much in advance!