If you desire to branch out from the usual F.P. itinerary of Bora Bora, Moorea and Tahiti, and see the much less visited Huahine, then Maitai Lapita is THE place to stay. Period. It is a short walk along the shore to the island’s only town (ignoring a few small villages with few amenities, elsewhere on Huahine), which has other dining venues (don’t you dare miss Izzy’s), a pharmacy, a hardware, misc. clothing stores, and a fairly well-stocked grocery/liquor store. Locals bring their produce and set up shop along the short commercial strip. We stayed at the Maitai five nights, and were very pleased. Whether we return to Huanine again is an open question (so many islands, so little time), but if we did, we would certainly return to Maitai. Check-in: Smooth and efficient. The other couple with us went first, while we relaxed on the nearby couches. To enter or exit the resort, it is necessary to pass through the lobby where check-ins and check-outs are handled, and I saw many other guests checking in and out with ease. Bungalows: Clean and well-kept. Ours was on the small pond, which provided a pleasant view of the flowering water lilies. I recommend the bungalows on the pond. Staff: Fabulous, which is common in F.P. We have been to F.P. three times, and stayed at seven different resorts on five different islands, and it is our experience that resort staff are invariably pleasant, helpful and kind. Maitai is no different. Pool and beach: You can see the numerous available photos at Tripadvisor. The pool was recently renovated, and we used it regularly. The water was warm. We didn’t use the beach or swim in the ocean, but we saw many locals, including children, doing so. Breakfast: It is OK. Not to the bounteous level of the 5 star resorts in FP, but then we were not paying 5 star resort prices to stay at Maitai. But do try the vanilla coffee. Dinner: WOW!!! We were on half-board, and received breakfast and dinner with our stay. Their menu is on line at their web site. This entitled us to two courses, so my wife and I split a first course (we both recommend the hot goat cheese crisp salad with hazelnut dressing), each had a main course (all of which we enjoyed), and then split a dessert (we both recommend the chocolate/praline dessert). The quality of the dinners was as least equal to the level of dinners we have had at the other resorts we have stayed in. My report about dinners at Maitai would not be complete without a big thanks and shout-out to Tomita, our waitress. What an incredible addition to our dinners. We were so grateful for her warmth, charm, advice and friendliness. I can’t say enough about Tamita and the other staff in the dining room. We looked forward to our dinners while at the Maitai. Conclusion: If the Maitai is within your price range, please go. It is reason enough to make a detour to Huahine. Which is to say that Huahine is a marvelous island, and you should absolutely hire a guide to show you around the island, but the Maitai itself is sufficient to put Huahine on your radar.…