Yasawa Island Resort & Spa

ORIGINAL REVIEW: Our experience was ruined by the resort’s lodging us shamelessly in a shabby and deceptively named “beach front” bure (number 2).The owners will no doubt claim that they’re fixing the issues by renovation, but they can’t fix the fact that it’s far away from a beach that can hardly be seen, nor can they deny their willingness to house us this way. With further injury, they lied to us when we asked about moving us to an acceptable bure. They said that no rooms were available, although we have evidence that one was the whole duration of our stay. Our bure was old, grubby, and in disrepair, with things that were broken or nonfunctional, poor lighting, inadequate air conditioning, and leaky doors & screens that allowed biting insects in. We were really angry that we were not made aware of the state of the bure before booking and not given any meaningful compensation for the misrepresentation. Other complaints are that there were no buffets for breakfast or at the Lovo feast like most other Fiji resorts offer, the chef used way too much salt on the fish, it seemed cheap to us that they didn’t provide free laundry service but instead charged a lot per piece, activities are less spontaneous because booking is required for everything, the flies were really annoying, and the area allowed for kayaking was small. The local village tour was boring in that it entailed a lot of sitting around and sad in that it revealed a lot of trash on their beach and around their houses. EDIT: Because of an earlier condescending response from the owner who didn't even address the poor state of the bure, I'm adding clarification. The owner might now claim that they're updating the bures, but he can't change the fact that he was willing to put his guests in such a shabby place. He also claimed that there was no misrepresentation about the bures, but they really were blocked by large trees and well away from the beac as a Google search for the resort in satellite view would confirm. To emphasize, we did not see the way local people live. All we saw were several locals trying to sell us their wares. and we mostly just sat around doing nothing. He has told us that a chain style hotel with overwater bungalows, icy cold air-conditioning and buffet meals would have been more to our liking, but we didn't need icy-cold temps, just not flamingly hot ones in the bure. And we expected a well-run Fiji resort like they have at the Octopus, Tokoriki, and Matangi. These and many other resorts in Fiji offer way better choices if you really want an amazing Fiji getaway.

Let me begin by saying the location is beautiful with wonderful beaches, although coming from the US the trip was a trial with a long wait on the mainland before the flight over to the resort. But, and it’s a big but , it fell far below our expectations in many other respects. We were put in Bure #2, a so called beachfront bure. It was a distance from the beach and you could only see the ocean when standing ( not sitting) on the deck. The bure was in very shabby condition; cracks and stains on the walls, dirt in the corners, inadequate A/C , broken shutters and screens. I have seen better toilet rooms in gas stations! We have stayed in other small Fijian resorts on outer islands and never been in such poor accommodation. We did not expect or want a chain style hotel with icy A/C but we did expect a clean , comfortable and pleasant room with the promised view. We did ask to be moved immediately but were told the resort was fully booked. ( An online search suggested there was another room available). We had our last 3 days in bure SubZero which was a huge improvement. It really is beachfront! This was the first boutique adult-only resort that also fell short in the restaurant. The breakfast has no buffet where you can choose what fruit or pastries you want. A fruit plate is brought to your table and had very little tropical fruits. I asked for papaya and only got it once in 9 days! The breakfast menu is the same every day except for a daily special. Lunch and dinner are a choice of two starters, three main courses and two desserts. Fish was often spoiled by too much salt. The seafood platter was good but we were told we could only have it once even for a 9 day stay. The lovo feast night on Tuesday was family style seating and again no buffet style food presentation. Our beach picnic on Yawini was lovely but did need to be booked ahead of time which is understandable. But, even the snorkeling trips had to be signed up for the night before. Unlike other places we’ve stayed these were not offered every day. Snorkeling off the resort beach was limited. The village visit seemed to be a means for the locals to sell their goods . We didn’t go to the school and hear any singing because the children had tests that day! Why not reschedule the visit? Sadly there was quite a bit of trash there and it was frankly boring sitting waiting for the bus to pick us up. As always the Fijian staff were wonderful but that could not compensate for the other failings of this expensive resort.

We spent 10 days at Yasawa in September 2024 and I have tried several times to write a review but honestly find myself at a loss for words to adequately describe our amazing experience. Some background…. I saw the original episode on HVTV Island Hunters almost 10 years ago and said to my husband “We have to go there!” Life got busy with raising children and caring for parents and then the world shut down and we pretty much decided the trip just was not going to happen. Our 4 adult children stepped in and told us we HAD to go because they had heard us talk about it so many times! Having said that we both wondered if Yasawa would live up to our dreams of it. We can say it lived up to and exceeded every expectation we had! Travel - the trip is long from the east coast of the US but so worth it! This is our first time using Costco travel but definitely won’t be our last! They did a phenomenal job! Pay attention to luggage weight restrictions! For the long layover in Nadi walk over to Gateway Fiji and enjoy good food and relax by the pool! The flight to Yasawa is quick and fabulous! The Resort - beautiful beyond words. Meticulously maintained. Updated furnishings. Comfortable beds. More than we could have imagined from the moment we landed and the staff singing upon our arrival to our first walk on the beach! The Bure was very large and private and beautiful! Meals were delicious and the food was fresh and plentiful. Activities were awesome! We had a private beach picnic almost every day and each beach was different and beautiful. We snorkeled, went to the caves, visited the village (and worshipped with them at church) and hiked! Starting each morning with an oceanfront couples massage was to die for. We made new friends and got to know the lovely staff and did not want to leave after 10 days. The Staff - Yasawa is amazing but it is the staff that makes it so special. They truly treat you like family! So kind and joyful. They will go above and beyond to make sure your experience is the BEST. A few examples: Paul answering allll my emails and questions and helping me plan a surprise vow renewal and birthday celebration for my husband… Dan making sure we got to go to Yawini Beach on our last morning as it had just re-opened…. We also really enjoyed meeting James McCann (the owner) and the time he spent with us sharing the history of Yasawa! The choir and cultural evening were so special! Honestly just the most lovely people! To wrap it up…. We said this was a “once in a lifetime trip”…. But after the first day we had already decided to return! Until next time..

We have visited Fiji 6 times and have in the past stayed at various 5 star hotels and resorts. This time we chose to stay at Yasawa Island Resort for a week and this is by far our stand out favourite of all the places we have enjoyed over the years in Fiji. The resort is the only one on the island and has only 18 bures making it a peaceful, pristine, and perfect place to escape our busy lives and immerse ourselves in this tropical paradise. The bures are spacious, well appointed with fans and A/C and are designed to enjoy the balmy breezes as you relax in your lounge area or on the verandah and watch the sparkling sea while listening to the gentle waves ocean and the birdsong from the palm trees. We also had our own designated hammock and two comfortable banana chairs under a thatched beach hut, so no scrambling for chairs or lounges on Yasawa, they are your for your exclusive use over your entire stay. Priceless. The food is definitely restaurant quality. We thoroughly enjoyed our activities including snorkeling tours, visiting the Blue Lagoon Limestone Caves and swimming in the magnificent cathedral like cave lagoon, and a private champagne island picnic on stunning Yowini beach where we were dropped off by boat at a remote breathtaking location. There were also island walks, village visits, the Village church choir, a traditional Fijian Meke and Lovo feast, and traditional Fijian kava ceremony with story telling. Another gem is the Baravi Spa where you can organise a package and have a treatment of your choice every day of your stay. I adored my daily pampering, absolutely amazing; a must do when you stay. The most beautiful and special aspect is the Fijian people and the staff at Yasawa who went above and beyond to make our stay truly memorable. They are genuinely caring and dedicated people. If you are looking for a holiday destination to totally relax, renew, disconnect from the world and reconnect with yourself, Yasawa Island Resort is where you will find it. We’re definitely coming back!

This was our first trip to Fiji, and we were concerned that it wouldn't live up to our previous vacations in Bora Bora and Hawaii. Those concerns were forgotten within the first day. This trip exceeded all of our expectations and Fiji is our new favorite destination. This is solely due to the incredible experience that we had at Yasawa Island Resort & Spa. The flight to the resort is absolutely breathtaking and surprisingly smooth for such a small plane. After landing on a grass runway, there is a brief ride to the resort during which you learn all about the island and the people that call it home. Upon arrival at the resort, the staff greets you with a song and fresh drink before you are shown to your bure. The bure is spacious, comfortable and quiet. With so few people at the resort, you rarely see or hear other guests outside of the common areas. Having your own designated beach chairs and hammock is such a nice perk! It would be nice if the outdoor shower was a little more private, though. Every member of the staff is amazing. From the first day, everyone knows you by name and treats you like family. Starting each morning with the joyful smiles of Manasa and Wati is a blessing that sets the mood for the rest of the day. We celebrated my husband's birthday our first night at the resort and the staff arranged for a special birthday cake and song. So thoughtful! Special thanks to Sai for taking such great care of us all week and to Pedro, Smiga and the rest of the crew at the activities center. You can find fantastic snorkeling just in front of the resort and there are many activities that you can participate in throughout the week. Highly recommend signing up for a couple of private beach picnics. Don't forget to take your snorkeling gear with you! Be warned that the walk to the lookout is not a relaxing stroll. It's quite a climb with a beautiful view as a reward. If you visit the Sawa-I-Lau (Blue Lagoon) caves, be sure to check out the goods from the local villagers. We didn't bring money with us, so they let us charge our purchases to our room. If you're interested in the seafood platter, then make sure to request it early in your trip as availability is limited. Don't forget to attend happy hour each evening to sign up for the next day's activities. If you're looking for a luxurious resort with modern amenities and a bustling nightlife, then this is not the resort for you. However, if you're looking to unwind in paradise and escape reality for a bit surrounded by the most amazing people, then this is definitely the right place. We were already planning our next visit before we left the resort. Can't wait to return!