More about Te'ora
Te´Ora, Easter Island. A wonderful place to stay.
by TripAdvisor Member Geachers
We have just returned from 4 nights on magical Easter Island where we stayed in the equally magical cabin Te´Ora Raa. We were greeted at the airport with flower garlands and then given a quick tour of the town and shown the best places to eat, where the supermarkets are and all the other facilities you might need on the island. The owner Sharon was incredibly welcoming and very knowledgable about the island and all manner of things. She is able to arrange tours or car hire etc and nothing is too much trouble. The wooden cabin itself was gorgeous, with an ocean view. We woke up and fell asleep to the sound of the waves, it was bliss. The cabin had a great shower, fully equipped kitchen and a living area with balcony to watch the waves. We ate at home most nights to appreciate and spend time in our surroundings, it really was wonderful.
Te`ora.... fantastic stay
by TripAdvisor Member happy-traveller0
We had a fabulous time on Easter Island, staying at Te´ora.... due to the hospitality of Sharon and her assistant Luna! They were most helpful, in showing us around the village, recommending places to eat, visit and even organised our tours.... in the most relaxed and friendly of environments!! The accommodation itself was really beautifully finished, stylish and clean with great views of the ocean and pacific sunsets.... we had the slightly more expensive cabin called `Raa´. If we return to the island we would not want to stay anywhere else and would highly recommend it!
Wonderful Cabins and hostess at Te'ora Rapa Nui
by TripAdvisor Member Holy_Innocent
My wife and I had a most wonderful experience at Te'ora in early March, 2007. Our hostess Sharon was most gracious and helpful and fun to converse with. The setting is wonderful if you don't mind a more rustic or natural setting (as opposed to a traditional hotel room). We thoroughly enjoyed the clean and comfortable room, good hot water in the shower, free access to clothes washer (that was a treat since we were overdue to wash everything by the time we arrived here), and an efficient small kitchen set-up which was a covered outdoor area for our room.
We have to mentioned "Michigan", the lovable house dog who watches the place, Sharon and the guests with great loyalty. Be sure to play fetch with Michigan. Be aware the he makes himself at home anywhere he wishes (except inside your room) and is a joy to have around.
The location is excellent (across the road from the sea) and a 10 minute easy walk to the town center or harbour and Scuba shop. Sharon got me in touch with a car rental agency which was very reasonable in price as well as many recommendations for eating, shopping and site seeing - a wealth of information.
We recommend Te'ora 1,000% for everyone, unless you insist on the usual comforts of a hotel (reception, restaurant, pool, etc.) or you want breakfast included since this is not a B&B. But otherwise, a wonderful place to sleep, veg and chat. There are only 3 well-appointed rooms, all with separate cooking and washroom facility. And very reasonable price. Sharon is an ex-pat from Canada/USA.
Sharon is training a young woman originally from Denmark to help her run the place (sorry, forgot her name) who is very sweet and helpful. She may be the person that meets you at the airport and takes care of you instead of Sharon.
Easter Island Charm
by TripAdvisor Member caiistoga
Stayed a week on Easter Island at Te'ora. We stayed in Ra'a, another girl stayed in Iti and a couple was staying in the middle room (Sharon's room) - they were all very nice people to meet and it was all the lodging could accomodate - 3 rooms, small and intimate setting, not loads of people, which was nice.
The Te'ora hotel, which you can't really call it that, with only a few rooms, was a comfortable place to stay. Before I stayed at Te'ora, I had several email conversations with Sharon, the owner, who was very helpful and insightful. We chose Te'ora Ra'a (the best/larger room). It was pretty much a studio on top of the garage, with a small staircase leading to the sliding glass doors of the room's entry. There is a small leather loveseat with a large coffee table (and several smaller ones beneath it) and a tall lamp to the right when you walk in. To your left there is a small round table and several newer leather chairs around it. Directly behind the table is a very small stove/oven, a small sink and small refridgerator (minibar size). There are a couple of shelves above housing silverware and plates, etc. The bed, which I'd say is about queen-size, is further back from the loveseat. There is a small TV in the corner, so you could watch it while lying in bed if desired. The bed was comfortable and the linens clean - even the comforter (which was like a duvet cover, but unfilled, since it'd be too warm). Inside the room, there is a door leading to the bathroom which consisted of a pedestle sink, the toilet, and a standup tiled shower. The room has glass windows throughout and the views from the room are fantastic - only a road separates the room from the ocean. I can not downplay the views at all - simply gorgeous. Te'ora is located at about a 10 minute walk from the main street of town.
The room itself was adequate and we had mostly all that we needed. The furnishings were nice and all of the windows were big and sliding - but also had blinds on them to shut at night or for privacy. Mostly, we always left the windows open and the blinds down - for the ventalation and the privacy. We never locked our door and we never had any problems. (There is hardly any theft on Easter Island because there is nowhere for anyone to go). Te'ora Iti is located maybe 15 feet from the bottom of Ra'a's stairs. Iti was a room with a queen bed, clean linens, and a bathroom. Iti's kitchen is actually located to the left of the base of Ra'a's stairs (not right outside Iti's door) - but still it is within 20 feet of Iti's front door. And there's no real view from Iti either. But it did seem like a decent place to stay.
While we were at Te'ora, the owner, Sharon, was gone on vacation, but her assistant was there. Her name was Luna and she is originally from Denmark, speaks English fluently and excellently and was very nice. Her husband Tuti is rapa nui and is in a music group called Matato'a - Luna will encourage you to go to his show which is put on at a restaurant. Do it! It was amazing, the music is wonderful and the dancing is intense - similar to hawaiian or polynesian, but maybe with a flair. Also, do choose to get the umo (dinner that is baked in the ground the traditional way) - it's kind of like a luau.. but the food was very good, especially the chicken. It's an experience that you should definitely do if you're on Easter Island and it's worth the $25,000 CLP that it costs. I think the umo is 10,000 ($20US) and the show is $15,000 ($30US) for a total of $50/person. We decided that we were there and we might as well do it, and we were not disappointed. In fact, we went a second time. If you go a second time, you do not have to pay for the show a second time, just umo if you choose it.
Back to the hotel - Te'ora. There is a main laundry room that the maid uses and you are free to use that too, just buy your own soap. Luckily, we had thought about that before leaving the US and had bought cheap trial/travel size detergent. It came in handy. They also have a small office set up in the garage (which is not used as a garage) - they have a dial-up connection, which is really really slow. So if you're used to DSL or cable, it's not even worth it. There is wifi in town though - no idea about the speed. The negatives about Ra'a were: that it had some low wood beams, and if you're tall (5"10 - 6ft) you will hit your head a couple of times, especially near the small kitchen area. There were ants - which we were warned about, and not much anyone could do about either... just a pest (not tons of them either). They were not in the bed, just mainly on the bathroom floor and on the kitchen countertop area. There is hardly any storage for your clothes - there are some shelves in the living area that we took all of the stuff off of and put our clothes on, and then there are some hangers in the bathroom on a pole. There is a resident dog, named Michigan, who is a very friendly and nice dog, but we had a couple of nights where he was barking and barking and we couldn't get him to shut up for quite a while, so that was annoying. Also, when the garage phone rang, we could hear it loud and clear - this happened a couple of mornings, but not all the time. In the bathroom, there is a sign not to throw toilet paper in the toilet, they want you to wipe and then put it in the trash (because they have a wussy sewage system or something), but we found that disgusting, so we used smaller amounts and flushed and no problems. They also have a thing downstairs that you're supposed to light if/when you want hot water - we just left it on all the time, so we didn't have to run back an forth (thought that would be ridiculous) but it was fine to leave it lit. We also found the kitchen to be sort of incomplete - no paper towels, no salt/pepper or any spices, the coffee container was empty, the tea container had 1 teabag left, just things like that. In addition there were a couple of times that we wanted to talk to Luna - but she was nowhere to be found. To her credit, she does not live at Te'ora and probably can not be expected to hang around all day. Our room was cleaned once the entire week we were there, which honestly was fine. We exchanged towels whenever we needed, so daily cleaning wasn't really necessary. No clothes dryer - line dry only.
The positives were: VIEW, location, clean linens/clean room, nice furnishings, hot water, kitchen table is nice to have, washing machine to use, friendly staff, cute looking property.
Negatives always have to be more explained than the positives! But, in saying all of this, I would stay here again. I think that the price and accomadations were right, especially compared to other places on the island. I think that this is a nice place with a decent price, nice people and they pick you up and drop you off at the airport. They will set up any tours you need or car rentals too. We rented a jeep and it was well worth it, I would recommend it. And before you arrive, if you have any questions, it seemed that Sharon was happy to answer them and quick to respond with helpful information. Also, Sharon helped us rent a similar room to Ra'a from one of her relatives, and it was right next door to Te'ora (Iti was already booked), so that was helpful. Feel free to ask about Guty's cabin, I think it was $65US/night or so.
Please email me for pictures of the views and property - unfortunately, I forgot to take pix of the room! And the files are too big to attach to this review, but I would be happy to email some of the pictures that I have (of Easter island, views from the room, and on the Te'ora property).
Te'ora: the place to stay and enjoy
by TripAdvisor Member IgorShp
One of the best places I have ever been staying.
It's not a Holiday Inn, and does not pretend to be,
but it gives so much more instead of the regular
maid service and a morning newspaper under the
door; first of all due to the great personalities
of the owner Sharon, her assistant Luna)and
her dog Michigan. We didn't have a chance to meet
Sharon in person but corresponded a lot
by email; her replies were always very informative
and helpful (e.g. about when it's better to
book things in advance and when it's better to
play by ear). It's conveniently located
within 10-15 min. of a nice walk along the
ocean to the central street with a bank, shops,
restaurants, etc.
Only a narrow road separates the balcony of
Te'ora Ra'a from the ocean. From the same balcony
you can also see some of the Moais (and walk there in
about 20 minutes). Spending an evening on the balcony
with a bottle of wine will stay in your memory for long.
If one day my wife and I come back to the Easter Island
again (as we hope) that will certainly be our first
choice to stay!
Why look for any other place
by TripAdvisor Member cuch5
Honestly, read this review and read no further. In short, we were picked up from the airport by Luna, who was the most thoughtful person I think I have met. She is Danish, speaks English, Spanish and some Rapa Nui. I think she was learning French or she knew it at some point. We sat and had a cup of tea at the outdoor area. She showed us a map of the places to see. And explained why we should see
them. Was able to give recommeneded prices for things around the Island. She invited us to a traditional Island dinner that same night. IF you are there for one night, SEE THE SHOW! I was a little surprised that she was willing to arrange a rental car for us for 4 days. She also arranged for us to stay an additional night at their place, and since we liked the area, we stayed nearby, which she all arranged. There is no food provided, but what is the point, with cheap food to the local market, to the outdoor kitchen area, who needs over priced and salty food? We went in the rainy season, and Luna apologized for the weather. She was polite, funny, social, and informative. The beds were comfortale, clean, and I felt safe! STAY here!! Thanks Luna! C&E from Chicago
Terrific In All Aspects
by TripAdvisor Member EgorDay
My wife and I just got back from a trip to Easter Island. We stayed at Te'ora, a "residential" type hotel. It was superb. The hotel is an ocean front property with a great view. The accommodations were clean and comfortable, with free access to a washer and dryer (which we used) and to the internet. The property is a short walk to town. The owner Sharon and her assistant Luna were terrific. Sharon made arrangements for us before we left home for some tours, and for a rental car (she was like our own concierge and really helped us plan our itinerary for exploring the island). Sharon responded promptly to my e-mails that I sent before we left home inquiring about the property. None of the other hotels that I e-mailed responded at all. The value for the money at Te'ora is unbeatable. Highly recommended: don't stay anywhere else.
true comfort and welcome
by TripAdvisor Member SuzanneSavona
I stayed at Te'ora in the cabin called Ra'a for 6 nights and when the time came to go home, I didn't want to leave! Te-ora is run by an expatriate Canadian, Sharon Diotte, who has lived on Easter Island for many years and knows it intimately. It is Sharon's personal touch in giving assistance and advice in regard to anything to do with the island, that makes this place so special - warm, welcoming, comfortable, peaceful and attractive. Guests are met at the airport and transported back to Te'ora via the main shopping street and given a mini-run-down on the best restaurants and cheaper food supply places etc. Don't worry if this goes over your travel-raddled head at this stage as Sharon is available at Te'ora more often than not to answer your questions and point you in the right direction, especially with regard to tours. She has local knowledge that is invaluable. Also, be sure to ask about the Rapa Nui music and dance show she recommends - the energy and colour of this will blow your mind!
I stayed in Ra'a, one of 3 'rooms' which comprise Te'ora.The 2 others looked equally comfortable and attractive, with Iti being the smaller. Ra'a is a large studio bed-sitting room and is situated over the garage (the other 2 rooms are at ground level). It is extremely comfortable, clean (not a bug to be seen!) and attractively furnished. There is a wonderful double bed, good well equipped kitchen, comfy couch with coffee table and dining table with 4 chairs; the spacious bathroom has oodles of storage space. An outside deck runs the length of the room and in this elevated position you get the most wonderful views over the ocean, the town of Hanga Roa and on to the volcano Terevaka with a distant glimpse of one of the things you are sure to have come to see - Ahu Tahai, one of the (reconstructed) sites of the great statues, the moais - awe-inspiring! The sun sets in a blaze of colour, going down behind the navy headquarters on the headland just to the left of Ra'a. The waves roll in onto the rocky shore over the road just below your deck and windows with the most beautiful soothing sound day and night - heaven! Te-ora is located just out of town, a leisurely 10 minute walk away. Be sure to let Michigan, Sharon's friendly, very people-orientated dog come for walks with you - he loves it and knows his own way home when he wants. It's great way to help you feel at home, walking with a 'local', even if it is only a dog! The energy at Te'ora is very positive - a wonderful place to stay in an extraordinary destination.
A Sacred Place to Respect and Preserve
by TripAdvisor Member JanetteWhitmore
Easter Island is a wonderful destination! The island is safe and peaceful. The Rapa Nui people are genuinely kind and easy going. We highly recommend staying at Te Ora, a beautiful secluded, 3 room Inn on the coast, walking distance from town and some of the Moai. The view is incredible. The accommendations are clean and comfortable. It felt like our home away from home. The owner Sharon is warm and welcoming. Sharon is also very knowledgable of the Island and the culture. We were able to e-mail her prior to our arrival and she was extremely helpful in planning our stay. We were picked up at the airport by her two lovely assistants, Luna and Andrea.
Andrea is a certified tour guide. We planned a tour with Andrea and highly recommend her. After our first half day with her, we were so delighted with her warm nature, knowledge and respect for the Island that we booked her everyday for the rest of our stay. Andrea's rates are reasonable and worth it. She taught us the importance of respecting the sacred places on the Island and the rich history behind them. This is one of the benefits of touring the Island with a guide. We learned not to touch, stand or sit on any or the Maoi and/or Ahu. We also learned not to take anything from the Island such as rocks, wood, flowers etc. and to always give gratitude to the spirits. We strongly feel that as world travellers, it is our responsibility to learn and respect the culture of the lands we visit. This is especially true of a place like Easter Island. This Island, its people, language, and culture need to be preserved and treated as the sacred gifts to mankind that they are.
Also, please treat yourself to the amazing experience of the Matatoa dinner show. Sharon and Andrea can give you the location of the show. The Emu dinner is the traditional Rapa Nui meal, cooked underground. It is healthy and delicious. The music and dancing are spellbinding. This is an experience you cannot miss. If you want to breathe and feel the heart of the Island and her people this show is the place to be.
We hope you will enjoy your visit to "The Naval of the Earth." There is no other place where you can feel closer to Mother Earth's heart than on this Island. Please treat the Island and her people with the deep reverance and respect they deserve.
Janette And Jacob Whitmore
Best Choice on the Island!
by TripAdvisor Member CKF
There can be no better place to stay on Easter Island than Te'ora Ra'a! We stayed for 3 nights and wish it could have been longer. The owner, Sharon, was extremely helpful with island information, details, and tour reservations long before we even arrived. She responds to e-mails promptly and goes out of her way to make you comfortable. Sharon (or her associate) will meet you at the airport with a flower lei and point out restaurants and shops that she recommends. I suggest taking notes along the drive, as we should have! Sharon's dog, Michigan, enjoys the guests and followed us/led us around the island for three hours our first day! He even sat with us at an outdoor restaurant while we sampled our first pisco sours.
When we arrived at our room, we could not believe our good fortune. If you can stay in the upper room, do so. We looked out from our waterfront balcony and could easily see Ahu Tahai across the way. The balcony is a wonderful place to watch sunrise, sunset, or the passers-by. The room is furnished with a kitchen area, large, comfortable bed, and a sofa. Leave the windows open for a beautiful ocean breeze all day and night.
It is an easy walk into town from Teora. There are many outdoor restaurants and the prices are reasonable. We enjoyed the Cafe Tahai and Moana in particular. Catch one of the high-energy shows featuring Rapa Nui music and dancers if you can. Attending Sunday morning Rapa Nui church service is a treat. We had an outstanding full-day tour of the island and moais with Andrea Allende, arranged by Sharon.
FYI-you cannot throw toilet paper into the toilet at Teora--it goes in the garbage can. Breakfast is on your own. Also, there are many dogs roaming freely on Easter Island, but all seem friendly.
Te'ora Ra'a is the perfect place to stay on Easter Island. With its direct ocean view, proximity to town, and fabulous owner, you cannot go wrong. We highly recommend Te'ora!
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