Item: Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea
Rating: 9.6
Author: Marjorie Dumoulin-Lafond

In November 2022, during my honeymoon trip to French Polynesia, we had booked at the Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea where I would finally realize my dream of an overwater villa!

We spent two unforgettable days at this hotel, relaxing, tasting local specialties, including the famous raw fish in coconut milk, and snorkeling right from our bungalow. We would go down a few steps, and there we were among the corals and an array of multicolored fish!

What makes the Sofitel in Moorea so magical and romantic is above all its dream location between a lagoon with crystal-clear waters, white sand beach, and lush green mountains.

Booking With Points

Sofitel hotels are part of the Accor hotel chain, which has some 50 hotel brands around the world. Their loyalty program is called Accor Live Limitless – ALL.

Starting July 22, 2026, Platinum Card^® American Express holders can transfer their Membership Rewards points to ALL Accor Live Limitless, at a ratio of 2 Membership Rewards points for 1 Reward point (minimum transfer of 1,000 points). Points accumulated over the years on an Amex card can now be used to finance part of a stay like this one in French Polynesia. Amex has also announced that Platinum Card holders, including business versions, will automatically receive ALL Gold status later in 2026, with free Wi-Fi, welcome amenities, and upgrades subject to availability. Points also accumulate by staying at hotels, booking car rentals, and taking flights with partner airlines. Check out the complete program guide here and our article on the new transfer partnership.

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American Express Platinum Card^®

American Express Amex Membership Rewards

Annual fee: $799
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,190Total$1,190Plus $510 of bonus paid after the first year, not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $1,190
Welcome offerAfter $10,000 in 3 months: Up to 100,000 points

The Platinum Card^® is the best premium card in Canada for travellers.

With this welcome offer, you can earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards^® points:

70,000 points after charging $10,000 to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
30,000 points when you make a purchase between the 15th and 17th month after your Cardmembership begins

With this Card, you get:

2 points per $1 on eligible dining and delivery purchases in Canada
2 points per dollar on eligible travel purchases charged to the Card
1 point per $1 on all other purchases charged to the Card

You can use your Membership Rewards^® points in many ways:

Transfer points to airline partners: Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways / Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Delta SkyMiles, etc.
Transfer points to hotel partners, including Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy
Redeem points for statement credits to offset any travel purchase charged to your Card (1,000 points = $10)
Redeem points for statement credits towards other purchases (1,000 points = $10)
And more!

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards^® points to a partner loyalty program, you could earn up to:

100,000 Aeroplan points
100,000 Avios
100,000 Flying Blue Miles
120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

With this card, you also have advantages for your travels:

$200 Annual Travel Credit
An annual meal credit of $200
A $100 statement credit for NEXUS membership
Complimentary access for you and one additional guest to more than 1,550 airport lounges in over 140 countries
Hilton Honors Gold status
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
Access to the Fine Hotels + Resorts program

Last but not least, The Platinum Card^® offers a wide range of insurance coverage: rental car theft and damage, $500,000 travel accident, emergency medical expenses (out-of-province or out-of-country), lost or stolen baggage, flight delays and misdirected baggage, hotel or motel burglary, Purchase Protection, Purchase Security.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

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*Terms and conditions apply.
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of the information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

Annual fee

Primary card$799

Additional card$250

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

2xTravel
2xRestaurants
1xAll spending

Value

2nd Year Value$470

Transfer partners

AeroplanAirline
British Airways ClubAirline
Cathay Asia MilesAirline
Etihad GuestAirline
Flying BlueAirline
Hilton HonorsHotel
Marriott BonvoyHotel

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Airport lounge access$400

Travel creditsIncluded

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days

Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days

Trip CancellationUp to $2,500

Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500

Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000

Lost BaggageUp to $1,000

Flight DelayUp to $1,000

Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000

Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

Transportation to the hotel

To get to the island of Moorea from the port of Tahiti, we went to the ferry terminal that we had booked online, the Aremiti. The crossing to Moorea took about 55 minutes. Once at the port of Moorea, we easily found a taxi to take us to our hotel located less than ten minutes away by road.

Moorea is also only a 10-minute flight from Tahiti and the hotel is only 5 minutes from the airport.

French Polynesia: My Two-Week Itinerary in French Polynesia - Aremiti

The complex

When we arrived, we were warmly welcomed with a lovely shell necklace.

We opted for a half-board package which included a generous breakfast buffet and a three course dinner.

The facility has:

a restaurant with a cathedral wooden roof,
a contemporary restaurant, a central bar overlooking the lagoon,
and a beach bar.

I particularly enjoyed the superb central bar which offers delicious cocktails, espressos, and tapas, all with a breathtaking view of the beach and lagoon. The Pure restaurant also offers a stunning view, in addition to offering a sumptuous seafood menu and local specialties.

The resort also has a private beach (which some consider one of the most beautiful beaches in the world!), an outdoor pool, and a lovely zen spa, the Jardin Spa & Beauty.

Review: Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort | ALL - View of the overwater bungalows from the beach

Activities

Many activities are available on-site and others a short drive away, such as the Green Pearl golf course.

Right on the hotel beach, you can enjoy non-motorized water activities, such as kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and scuba diving.

The Jardin Spa & Beauty offers a soothing atmosphere with its tropical garden decor featuring a pond and waterfall. It offers a range of treatments based on pure essential oils and natural exotic ingredients such as raw coconut oil, tangy orange, sweet vanilla, fruity mango, or avocado.

We also attended a cocktail party during a nice presentation given by a pearl specialist. There is also a pearl store on site.

Otherwise, from the hotel, several excursions or taxi trips are possible. For example, during our stay on the island, we went to a charming open-air restaurant to soak up the island atmosphere. We also toured the island by Jeep, with several stops, including at the magnificent public beach, the Moorea lookout for a panoramic view, and in a pineapple field.

Moorea is also the must-visit place for a snorkeling excursion in the lagoon, by catamaran or aboard a Polynesian outrigger canoe. You could also plan a quad excursion or take a cooking class to learn how to make traditional raw fish.

Overwater Bungalow

For accommodations, the Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort has 113 luxury bungalows built over the water, on the beach, or in the heart of landscaped gardens.

We had booked a Deluxe Overwater Bungalow. With a thatched roof, its decor was both chic and traditional. We enjoyed a lovely indoor/outdoor shower and a Nespresso machine as well as direct access to swim in the lagoon.

All accommodations are equipped with free Wi-Fi and a flat-screen TV. Some higher-category ones feature a hot tub and a Bose sound system.

Room categories include:

Deluxe Bungalow With Garden View

Superior Bungalow Lagoon View

Deluxe Beach Bungalow

Superior Overwater Bungalow

Superior Overwater Bungalow Horizon

Deluxe Overwater Bungalow

Deluxe Overwater Bungalow Horizon

Villa Ravello

Snorkeling right from our two-level terrace was a huge highlight for us! We actually preferred the snorkeling experience at this hotel over the Intercontinental Bora Bora Thalasso and Spa where the water was much deeper from the villa.

Plus, I loved my view from the bungalow, both of the lagoon and the mountainous landscape. It was a delight for the eyes, especially during the sunrises and sunsets!

Conclusion

The Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort is ideal for travelers who want to relax and snorkel. The small resort is overflowing with lush vegetation, in addition to being located on the edge of a magnificent lagoon with views of the island of Tahiti.

We didn’t want to leave this site because it was the perfect little paradise for us!

If you want to see a Polynesian show, make sure to choose a date that falls on a show night, because at the time of our visit, there were only two nights a week. Finally, we definitely recommend this hotel for beach weddings and honeymoons.

To read my other articles on my trip to French Polynesia:

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American Express Cobalt^® Card

American Express Amex Membership Rewards

Annual fee: $191.88
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $255
Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months: Up to 15,000 points

The American Express Cobalt^® Card is a versatile American Express card, whether you want points for travel or cash back.

American Express Cobalt^® Card welcome offer

The welcome bonus is paid out monthly over your first 12 months. You earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $750 in net purchases to your card, in any category (1X, 2X, 3X or 5X). That adds up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points over the year, a welcome offer valued at $255.

Earning the full bonus means $9,000 in net purchases spread across 12 monthly billing periods. This offer rewards steady monthly spending rather than one large purchase.

You can use these points as statement credits on everyday or travel purchases, at the same rate either way: 1,000 points = $10.

You can also transfer them to Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways and Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. With the full welcome bonus, that is a choice between:

15,000 Aeroplan points
15,000 Avios points
15,000 Flying Blue Miles
18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

American Express Cobalt^® Card benefits

Here is what the card gives you, starting with the benefits cardholders use most.

5X points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada: groceries, restaurants and bars, and home food delivery. A spend cap applies.
3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada.
2X points on eligible gas, public transit and ride sharing purchases in Canada.
1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
1X point per dollar on everything else, with no category restrictions.
Points that hold the same value either way: 1,000 points = $10 as a statement credit, or a 1:1 transfer to several airline and hotel loyalty programs.
No minimum income requirement, as with every American Express Canada card.
Additional cards at no extra cost: the first and every other supplementary card is $0.
The Hotel Collection: a room upgrade when available, 12pm check-in and late check-out when available, and up to $100 USD in hotel credit on amenities charged to the room for a stay of two or more consecutive nights, booked through American Express Travel.
Front Of The Line^® presale and reserved tickets for concerts and theatre performances, plus offers and events curated for cardmembers through Amex Experiences.
A soft credit check before you apply: you can see whether you will be approved with no impact to your credit score. This applies to American Express personal card applications.

The 5X categories and where they apply

The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers three kinds of merchants:

Groceries: Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, Safeway, Whole Foods.
Restaurants and bars: sit-down meals, takeout and drinks.
Home food delivery.
Convenience stores (Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven): not part of 5X, 1 point per dollar.

The 2X rate covers gas stations such as Esso, Shell and Petro-Canada, along with public transit and ride sharing.

With the American Express Cobalt^® Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:

Category	Points per dollar
Grocery (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.)	5
Home food delivery	5
Restaurants and bars	5
Convenience stores	1
Streaming services	3
Service station	2
Transport	2
Travel	1
Other	1

That works out to a 1 to 5% return on those purchases. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month across groceries, restaurants and food delivery, you earn $50 back per month, or $600 per year from that category alone. Transfer the points to a program such as Aeroplan instead and the return can be higher.

You can also stack these categories with the hundreds of stores that offer 5x points.

American Express Cobalt^® Card insurance coverage

The card comes with a broad insurance package. The amounts below are the coverage limits; conditions, age limits and exclusions are set out in the certificate of insurance linked in the Insurance section above.

Travel insurance

Emergency medical: up to $5,000,000 for the first 15 days of a trip.
Travel accident: accidental death and dismemberment of up to $250,000 for you, your spouse and dependent children under age 23 when travelling on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and the tickets are charged to your card. Supplementary cardholders and their families are covered too.
Flight delay: up to $500 for necessary hotel, meal and sundry expenses bought within 48 hours when you are delayed or denied boarding for four hours or more and no other transportation is available. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and delayed baggage coverage.
Delayed baggage: up to $500 for essential clothing and sundries bought within four days when your outbound luggage is delayed six hours or more. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and flight delay coverage.
Lost or stolen baggage: up to $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined, for checked or carry-on baggage and personal effects in transit, when the airline tickets are charged to your card. Within that limit, jewellery is capped at $300 per occurrence and golf clubs, including golf bags, at $250 per occurrence.
Hotel and motel burglary: up to $500 against the loss of most personal items if your hotel or motel is burglarized, when the stay is charged to your card.

Rental car insurance

Theft and damage coverage is included for a rental car with an MSRP, for its model year, of up to $85,000 excluding all taxes, for rentals of up to 48 days. To use it, decline the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or any similar option from the rental company and charge the full rental to your card. There is no cost for this coverage, and it replaces the daily insurance the rental company charges, usually $16 to $23 per day.

Mobile device insurance

Your device is covered for up to $1,000 per occurrence when it is charged to the card, for up to two years from the date of purchase. The payout is based on the depreciated value of the device, which falls by 2% of the purchase price for every completed month, less a 10% deductible. Theft and accidental damage coverage starts on the 91st day after purchase, because the first 90 days are covered by purchase protection.

Purchase protection and extended warranty

Eligible items charged to your card are insured against accidental physical damage or theft for 90 days from the purchase date, up to $1,000 per occurrence for all items combined. The card also extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items, with indemnification limited to $10,000 per insured item and $25,000 per Cardmember per policy year for all items combined.

American Express Cobalt^® Card fees

Card fee: $15.99 per month, which equals $191.88 per year, for residents outside Quebec. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year.
Additional cards: $0.
Purchase interest rate: 21.99%.
Cash advance interest rate: 21.99%.
Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%.
Minimum income required: none.

Because the fee is billed monthly rather than in one annual charge, you can stop and restart the cost in step with how much you are actually using the card.

Legal

American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.