Maybe a dumb question but considering BB is an all suite location, is it possible to use a BOGO weekend cert at this place?

Yes it is. Either at Thalasso or Le Moana. And you can use it on an overwater bungalow.

Question for those of you who paid for a night or more (adv purchase rate) using PC Rewards Visa card at Thalasso: did you guys get 3 points per $1 on your rewards Visa? It seems they have not accounted for this on my account. Also, the charge shows up as "MOANA RESORT" and Thalasso is nowhere to be mentioned. I inquired about this with the hotel and they said that's just how it rings up... weird.

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So weird... ugh. Anyway, I got the receipt scanned by the Thalasso and sent it as an attachment to Chase just for their reference.
Also, I purchased the Ambassador membership with my PC Visa. Am I supposed to also receive points for that purchase as well?

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Hmm... Yea I contacted them. It *explicitly* needs to be a hotel stay. Ah well. They did account for the Thalasso (Moana charge) stay and will be crediting the points to my next statement

...for the first night.

I'll have to post a comprehensive recap of our time in IC Le Moana, Thalasso and Tahiti in September, but I can now provide some info on these "mystery rooms."

We did 4 nights at Thalasso, all on points. No messing with BOGOS and stuff, just a pure free stay. I am RA, however...so here's the scoop:

The front desk manager claimed that they were full for the first night, so we could not get an upgrade. The other three nights were upgraded without cost to a sapphire level OWB, so I didn't object.

The "Family Coral Suites" are called "Motu Bungalows" at the Thalasso. I don't know why they have the name difference, but they really are a bargaining tool for the hotel, since almost nobody brings their kids, and eveyone wants OWBs. Who would want to stay in a "Family Suite" when they're there on their honeymoon or anniversary?

The Motu Bungalows are actually quite large and different from the OWBs in layout. There are two bedrooms, each with their own bathroom. It actually was sorta convenient for each of us to have our own shower and sink 'n stuff.

The Motu Bungalows have a garden patio with a small grass yard in the back, but there is no view whatsoever. These rooms are indeed in the back of the resort, and one does pass by the employee quarters to get to them. It's only a 5 minute walk (or less) to get to the lagoon beach, spa, pool and restaurants, however.

Interestingly, the Motu Bungalows have a full kitchen. Stove, microwave, half size fridge, lots of cabinets, etc. If one is looking to buy a bunch of food and cart it to the resort and eat on the (relatively) cheap, the kitchen is a plus. Since the OWBs only have a packed minibar fridge, I was happy to cool down the case of Hinanos (Tahitian beer), along with several bottles of fruit juice mixers, that we got from the market on the main island, in this extra fridge.

I can see where some family of means would have the kids and nannies stay in a Motu Bungalow while the parents canoodle together in the OWBs. Most travelers without children in tow, however, are there for the views and OWBs. It is pretty chintzy for the Thalasso to relegate points stayers to these rooms, especially since the paid-stay prices are the same as the emerald (lowest-end) OWBs. The Thalasso truly is using them as a tool to wring cash out of points stays. Air Tahiti Nui also does this upsell game on many award first & business class tickets, by the way.

The Motu Bungalows are very nice on the inside, and they aren't at all horrible or smell like diapers or anything -- it's just that the OWB experience is way, way more what people who go there are looking for. When you get back home, everyone will ask if you stayed in "those huts on stilts in the turquoise water." If you didn't, it'll take quite a bit of wind out of your sails when telling your "vacation in paradise" story...especially when you show them the photos of the pool, beach and OWB areas.

We sure were happy to move into an OWB for free the other three nights at Thalasso, of course. The whole upsell racket leaves a bad taste in your mouth, but that's the kind of stuff you write about in the survey they leave for you to drop off on checkout...if ya had to pay for the upgrade

WonderDude, thanks for the coral suite details. ^ Do you happen to have any photos you can post of the room?

Also -- you were upgraded on your award stay simply based on your RA status? You did not pay to upgrade on your additional nights, or did you?

I know you said you'd provide a more comprehensive review...guess I'm just chomping at the bit here.

WonderDude, thanks for the very detailed review! I've been checking availablility for my dates in Bora Bora and so far the Coral Suites are fully booked (don't show up to paid reservation queries) for the one night we are in Thalasso and they are available to award bookings the two following days but we are moving to Le Moana.

I tried dummy bookings and if I wanted, I could book 4-6 paid OWB bookings each night for the dates we are there. In other words, the hotel isn't full. We are going end of this month.

I am PLT but not an Ambassador so given the wide availablity, I think at the very least we will get a cash upsell, at the very best, they may sell me an Ambassador membership and sweeten the deal with the upgrades.

So maybe I am better off leaving the negotiations until we get there?

Good idea let us know how you get on.

We're back and things went quite well! We didn't get stuck in the dreaded Coral Family Suite, we were upgraded without even asking for it to an Emerald OWB. I am only guessing, but there were about 8 kids at the swimming pool so maybe the family suites were required by actual families! I wasn't about to question our good luck! We were only charged one way of boat tranfers as we relocated to Le Moana the next day using the free shuttle. We got a free bottle of wine because I am PLT and a fruit platter. Hardly any fish under the bungalow. No mention was made of Ambassador or any attempt made to upsell us. We had Emerald bungalow 139 which faces the shuttle boat docks but you still have a good view of the beach. We mostly self-catered with bread, fruit, noodle cups, etc to save money but also did one island night with buffet and show. The food was OK, if there hadn't been a show, I would have been disappointed with the food for the price we paid.

I've read rave reviews about this hotel. I've just looked at the price per night for June

KING OVERWATER EMERALD Room - 71,300 + 13% tax (about �600 per night). This is there cheapest room on www,6c.com

Is the hotel normally the expensive. Can it be got for cheaper

I'm an RA so IU guess I'll get some form of upgrade

Thanks

When I emailed this hotel prior to my Tahiti trip last year, I was told they would give me a 1 category upgrade from whatever I booked as an RA.

Lucky you got a bottle of wine, we only got the fruit platter and a bottle of water and I'm RA!