The Remote Resort Fiji Reviews
Matilda Equiluz
We arrived at the airstrip and were taken by van about 5 minutes to the entrance of the property. The lobby is quite small, but we were welcomed by song and dance from the lovely staff who welcomed us with their special song.
Six of us arrived at the same time so we all sat down and filled out some paperwork, including a mini-bar request form. You can customize your minibar to include complimentary soft-drinks, water, sparkling water, etc. You can also opt-in to purchase alcoholic beverages for your minibar. We had some Fiji rum and a couple bottles of wine left over from our last resort, so we did not purchase anything for our minibar. The minibar was stocked by that evening.
We enjoyed how open the rooms felt, with the traditional style shutter windows that opened fully (and had screens to protect from the bugs). It was great to get a breeze into the room each day and listen to the crashing waves all night.
The living room has a comfortable sofa, bar with your pre-selected beverages and a Nespresso machine and tea. The bedroom features a king bed with an excellent view out towards the lawn and beach beyond. Next to the bedroom is the bathroom, complete with a private toilet room, two vanities, large closet, shower with dual shower heads as well as an outdoor shower.
The bathroom was a nice size and was nicely redone with modern sinks and a stunning shower. The products they offered were from the very well-known brand in Fiji, Pure Fiji. We loved the scents and each bottle was a big enough size that I may have brought a few home with me (hehe).
The activities hut on the beach provides complimentary non-motorized water sports like paddle boarding, windsurfing, sailing, snorkeling, etc. The resort also offers a number of incredible excursions included in the cost of your stay, including guided snorkeling, a visit to the local village, a visit to the Blue Lagoon and hikes to the lookout above the property. For a fee, the hotel also offers daily scuba diving.
We had the chance to scuba dive as well as visit the Blue Lagoon. Scuba diving was an absolute blast with the dive master, Sam. Sam took us on several exploratory dives around the area to discover new dive sites. We typically went out between 10 to 1pm and came back in time for a delicious lunch. There was a surprising lack of fish, but it was made up for with the most incredible coral we have ever seen. Massive fans, neon corals and endless colors made up every dive site and it was a very unique experience. Since the property is so small (18 rooms), there were only ever 3-4 of us diving, making it a very personal experience. The rates were very reasonable, and they offered discounts for multiple dives.
On our first night, Yasawa hosted the weekly communal Fijian-style dinner, called Lovo. The chefs prepared our food in the traditional underground oven outdoors and they sat us all at a long table for the 5 course meal. We felt this was a wonderful introduction to the property and we got to know the other guests! The food was fantastic and was accompanied by a traditional show of song and dance as well. Each chef came out and talked about their dishes and introduced themselves. We loved how personal the whole experience was and highly encourage everyone to attend this dinner.
Lunch and dinner menus changed daily, which was excellent and made every meal feel like you were in a different restaurant. They also offer room-service during the daytime. This is a great option for a tasty snack between lunch and dinner. On our beach picnic, we had the option to select from a wrap, two sandwiches (vegetarian and meat option) and salad. We also received fresh fruit and non-alcoholic beverages. You can also order alcoholic drinks as well and they will be delivered with your picnic.
Overall, dining was excellent. The option to request custom experiences as well is such a treat and I hope every future guest asks them for the experience they are looking for. From the communal Lovo experience, dining in the restaurant, to dining in our own private area of the beach, we adored our meals and the beauty around us.
Hi Karen! Thanks for reaching out :). At the time they did not offer an alcohol package but their drink prices were quite high. I would recommend either bringing some alcohol from Nadi on the mainland or if you drink more than 4 cocktails/wine a day, then the alcohol package may be the best deal. I did a bit of research just now and it seems like the alcohol package is somewhat restricted so if you are picky then it may not be worth it. We bought a bottle of rum and took it with us to the hotel :). I hope this helps!
Hi Gretchen! Thanks for reaching out! We did not have travel insurance, but it is definitely a good idea. Keep in mind travel insurance usually only is available within 14 days of booking your trip so just something to keep in mind as you plan! and I think so- personally, this area was just insanely cool and beautiful. Being so remote is truly magical. I would definitely consider it for 3 nights if you can plan to arrive early and leave on the later side :). Feel free to email me if you need any help planning! te...@voyagerguru.com xx, Maren
There are 15 words in the Fijian language meaning Heaven and 'Yasawa' is the first. Yasawa Island Resort and Spa is an exclusive all-inclusive resort on one of the most remote and unspoiled islands of Fiji. Just 18 luxury bungalows are hidden among the palms, each just a few steps from a pristine white beach. Swim in crystal clear waters, explore any of our 10 private beaches, dive on vividly colored corals, connect with an ancient culture or indulge in Fiji's first beachfront spa. Whatever you choose to do at Yasawa, you'll do it in complete seclusion.
Stay with Yasawa Our 18 traditionally thatched, beachfront bures are understated in their luxury. Nestled among the palms, each air-conditioned bure has a discreet outdoor shower; an expansive deck with daybeds to wile away the afternoons; a separate living area with mini bar and iPod docking station; a hammock strung between the palms; incredible views of the ocean, and your own thatched cabana with sun loungers on the edge of Yasawa's famous white sand beach.
Yasawa Island Resort and Spa is inclusive of all gourmet meals & snacks, all non-alcoholic beverages, and complimentary wifi in all of our public spaces. Our inclusion of all standard activities (kayaks, stand up paddle boards, tennis, guided walks, catamaran, etc) plus all scheduled activities like Village Visits, half day Blue Lagoon Caves trips, guided snorkelling trips and private beach picnics make a stay at Yasawa incredible value and offers you a stress free way to enjoy your Fiji holiday.
There is no shortage of resorts in Fiji, but we have barely scratched the surface of the South Pacific destination here at TPG. So when we booked a $395-per-person round-trip flight deal to Fiji, my wife, Katie, and I set out to review three Fijian resorts -- one Marriott, one IHG and one Hilton. First up was the Marriott.
Marriott Bonvoy point collectors -- and credit cardholders with anniversary free nights -- will appreciate that there are four Marriott Category 5 hotels on Fiji. Having just opened in April 2017, and as the only resort on Fiji's mainland with overwater bungalows, the stunning Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay got the nod.
Unsure of our lodging plans, we originally booked a fifth-night-free award at this property. The five-night stay cost 140,000 Marriott points. TPG values those points at $1,120, meaning we'd be paying the equivalent of about $224 per night for the stay. If you're looking to do the same, availability isn't a problem.
Although we originally booked five nights at this property as a placeholder, we decided to check out three resorts in Fiji during our stay instead of just one. I was unable to change the duration of the stay online, so I called Marriott reservations. The agent also was unable to change the length of the stay either, so she put me on hold to call the property.
She came back to tell me that the person at the property that deals with these issues wasn't available. Her suggestion: I should call Marriott reservations back during business hours in Fiji and ask another agent to call to make the change. Since that customer-unfriendly solution was my only option, that's what I did. Even after the change was made, the confirmation still showed 140,000 Marriott points for the reservation -- with the 70,000 difference not refunded.
For those with a Marriott cobranded credit card, the Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay -- and the other three 35,000-point Marriott properties on Fiji -- are a great use of the free night certificate (up to 35,000 points) granted as a perk of four different cards, including the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card, Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card from American Express (closed to new applicants) and Marriott Bonvoy Premier Plus Visa Signature (closed to new applicants)
The country of Fiji consists of about 330 islands, of which 110 are inhabited. The largest of these is Viti Levu, which is almost the exact same size as Hawaii's Big Island. Viti Levu is the home to most Fijian residents, hosts many of Fiji's tourists and has the country's international airport.
We arrived at the hotel at 7:30am after a red-eye flight to Nadi Airport and a 45-minute taxi ride. At both the gate to the property and lobby drop-off, we were greeted with a hearty and welcoming "Bula!" -- the common Fijian greeting.
A bellhop opened Katie's door, retrieved our bags from the trunk and started small talk with Katie while I paid the taxi driver. We were shown into the open lobby and asked to take a seat on one of the lobby couches to wait for a check-in desk to become available.
Around 8am, a check-in agent retrieved us from the couches and began our check-in. We expected that we might be able to complete the check-in process but have to wait for our room, since it was a full seven hours before the resort's check-in time and the resort was fully booked that night. However, we were pleasantly surprised to be handed our keys and told our room was ready for us.
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