Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort

Incredible place, never wanted to leave. This review is long overdue (Sept 2023) never realized I hadn't posted it. It is very tricky to put into words the feelings that we have about JMC. To say that it feels like true Fiji but also a world class resort just doesn’t really capture the magic that has been created here. We love Fiji, and have been lucky enough to visit many times, however none of our visits have compared to JMC. From the moment we arrived we were welcomed and felt instantly relaxed and at home. Nothing was too much trouble. The facilities and the activities were amazing, but it is Kitty and the people that truly makes JMC so special. Kitty's warmth, the management of the team and very clever observation and intuition skills are something to be admired. From Rennie and Milly that made our girls feel so safe and happy, to Masalina who brought us in some aloe-vera plant from her home for our sunburn, to all of the team that made sure we had everything we didn’t even know we needed, helped us, taught us more Fijian culture, talked with us (especially Elijah) and just seemed to know everything about us. There is such a skill in being able to deliver that kind of service and warmth. Aside from the stunning scenery, crystal clear water, gorgeous bure, gardens, pool and fabulous snorkeling right off the beach (and we are told incredible diving) some highlights for us were the beautiful choir, the local school, the meke and lovo, the absolutely amazing surprise evening pier dinner (do this if you get the chance), the private island picnic and the mangrove planting. There were a multitude of activities we could choose to do. We sadly didn’t have enough time to do them all. And the food! Such a variety and quality and the service for all the meals was absolutely excellent, with the team even remembering the girls favorite drinks. Our ocean view bure was spacious for four of us (2 x adults 2 x kids) and perfectly located with gorgeous views, frangipani breezes and very peaceful. We also splurged and stayed a couple of nights in the premier Villa which was amazing, especially the alfresco shower & plunge bath. In all of our visits to Fiji, we have never utilized kids clubs or nanny services; we go away together to be together as a family, however, after the first few days, we could not get our youngest (10yrs) out of there! JMC has a buddy program for kids & teens if they would like to participate and we were lucky enough to meet Rennie who was incredibly kind, caring and so much fun that our daughter never wanted to leave. For our teenager (14) , who is very reserved and definitely would not spend time with strangers, she happily spent time with Milly, even seeking her out on many occasions to see what was on for the day with her, and happily walking from the village back to JMC with her, with hardly a backwards glance. This is testament to the kindness and friendliness of these two lovely people. There were many tears when we left, mine included; our youngest begging us at the airport to turn around and get back on the next flight out. We weren't even allowed to wash her special tee-shirt she was given in case we “washed the memories off” We all agree that JMC is the best holiday we have ever had. For a place to have that impact on all of us in just 8 days is incredible. We all still say that it feels like a bit of a dream.

Holidays with the accountants. This is a expensive holiday, in my mind unnecessarily expensive. They charge the very top western prices, while paying local expenses and wages. Evidence of cost cutting popped up everywhere. The lovely local workers were clearly strained. Sadly, I think you can do a lot better for such significant spend.

I can not attest to the rooms because we were staying in an Airbnb down the street. However, we spent A lot of time at the resort. Their dive team is amazing, but specifically dive master Thomas. We did 7 dives with him, and I will admit I seem to have an issue with panicking when descending. He gave me the time to adjust, relax and calm down before completing our descent. He was very knowledgeable about the areas we were diving and really made us feel like we were close friends! We also had 2 dinners with the resort. The first was on our 20th anniversary and they made it feel extra special even though we were an outside guest. Our table was decorated, the group playing guitar during dinner came to our table with the entire staff to wish us a happy Anniversary; which included the song “Stand by me”. It was beautiful. In addition to this, they even gave us a decent size cake for us to celebrate with. Next time we visit Fiji we will be staying at this resort. They do not treat you like guests, they treat you like family!

Our experience at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort was beyond amazing. The staff were so helpful, and Dan, truly made our experience exceptional. His dedication and attention to detail were impressive. The team’s warmth and professionalism made us feel at home. I was also able to complete my PADI scuba diving certification during the trip! The instructors were fantastic, ensuring I felt comfortable and safe. Highly recommend this resort for both relaxation and adventure!

Although we didn't stay at the resort, we did book dives through their Dive Shop. Aggie, Bait, and the rest of the dive & boat crew were extremely professional and kind. The dive masters were attentive while on the dives, making for a very safe and fun experience. I only wish we had a few more days on the island to book more dives with them. You will not be disappointed in their service!