Yasawa Island Resort

My wife and I were looking for a honeymoon getaway via Costco Travel. Considering how far from home it is and the cost, we were a little hesitant about choosing Yasawa Island Resort. However, after 7 days of pure bliss, we now have a core memory of a place we previously only thought existed in dreams. Located in the heart of Fiji's archipelago, Yasawa Island Resort is nestled away from the hustle and bustle of the mainland. Arriving at the resort by charter plane was an experience on its own. On the way, you get to see how clear the turquoise waters are. How gorgeous the beach sands are. And just how many islands Fiji has to offer. A breathtaking backdrop that feels almost surreal. Prior to landing, we were already greeted by the stunning and lush greenery, inviting us to trust in nature. Even the airstrip itself is green. As soon as we landed, we were welcomed by song and Salusalu (Fijian Lei). After a bumpy but short van ride, we arrived at the resort itself. Once again, welcomed by song, but this time, to include the entire staff! All the while being handed a fresh coconut to drink and a vibe to soak in. This was the commitment stage. The promise to fully immerse ourselves in this. The promise to disconnect from our technology driven society and embrace the experience the resort has so carefully preserved and curated for the guests. The exceptional service provided by the staff is what truly sets Yasawa Island Resort apart. Every day, we felt genuine warmth and hospitality. The staff's attention to detail and commitment to ensuring our stay was perfect was evident in every interaction. Whether it was organizing a special excursion (daily private beach picnics), accommodating dietary preferences, or simply offering a friendly smile, the team at Yasawa Island Resort went above and beyond to make our stay unforgettable. And it was. We stayed in the Deluxe Beachfront Bure. To us, it was perfect. A beautiful living room, a comfortable bed, and an outside shower that’s simply to die for. Since there are no TVs or wifi in the rooms (the purpose is to disconnect from technology, remember?), we were falling asleep to the sounds of the ocean waves gracefully crashing onto the shore every night. We were fortunate enough to have a full moon one night, so we walked the beach, and it was breathtaking. The moonlight lit up everything around us and with the ocean right there, everything was a shade of blue. A sight I will never forget. We saw a few people in the reviews complaining about the food, so we didn’t know what to expect. Glad we didn’t listen. The food was incredible!!! You have breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For breakfast, you have a bunch of choices, with every day having a new ‘breakfast special’. For lunch and dinner, the chef gives you two options to choose from. Suffice to say, me thinking I was going to lose weight while on vacation was a complete pipe dream. Especially with that dessert always doing what it was supposed to do. The activiti

When we decided to go to Fiji, we had a specific experience in mind: we did not want the sterile, crowded, large resort that might as well have been in Mexico or someplace else. While we did want comfort and luxury, we also wanted value, beauty, authenticity, and a distinctive character. We did extensive research and It all pointed to Yasawa Island Resort. We were not disappointed with what we found during our stay. Our bure was large and comfortable and right on the beach. It was well-maintained and very clean. Housekeeping came every day and even left fresh flowers. We had turn down service every night. Sure, there was the occasional lizard and a few ants but they were never a bother. YIR is a beautiful, unspoiled, place—the resort has purposely disturbed the environs to the smallest amount possible to accommodate the bures and other facilities. This means that you are surrounded by lush plants and flowers. If a lizard or a few ants are the result of that, it’s a trade that I’m willing to make. The staff are unbelievably attentive, kind, and dedicated to your happiness while on their island. They treat you like honored guests or family and you quickly develop one-on-one relationships with each of them. The staff learn your names and remember facts about you. They are proud to share their home and their culture with you. Each staff member exudes joy and it is infectious. It rained frequently during our visit (we knew it would be the rainy season when we booked), which made some of the planned activities difficult, but Pedro, Smiga, Dan and all of the staff worked hard and still made sure that we got to do the things that we wanted to do. It was a significant logistical challenge but they did it and remained unfailingly cheerful throughout it all. The food was delicious and abundant and the restaurant seevice, friendly and attentive. The massages and other spa treatments were excellent and having the services done overlooking the ocean was magical and relaxing. Get the Ultimate Spa package for a spa service every day—it is very much worth it. On Christmas Eve, the children from the local villages came and shared Christmas with us by singing carols. They had been practicing for weeks. Afterward, each of them shook the hand of each guest—a touching show of friendliness and respect. The children also came caroling on Christmas morning and stopped at each bure to share a song just for us. These children included many children of staff members and you could see their pride as they watched and took pictures and videos of their children like any proud parent. To have been able to share in their Christmas—to have them share their Christmas with us, total strangers—was so special and hospitable and unforgettable. Before heading to Yasawa Island, we spent a couple of days at another resort on the main island of Viti Levu. More than once, when we told the Fijian staff at that resort or at various places in and around Nadi that our next stop was Yasawa

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 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!

This resort is very remote so quiet and beautiful. The friendly staff are absolutely wonderful and will do anything to make your stay great. The bure's are large and all have direct access to the beach. As there are only 18 of them, the number of people on the island is limited, which is great. There are activities available every day or just lay by the lovely pool or in your own private sunshade on the beach. There is plenty of food available as there are 3 course lunches and dinners every day and a large choice of breakfast options. We especially liked sitting in bed every morning with a cup of tea and watching the waves on our own beach. The beds and pillows are beautiful to sleep on. If you want to stay on an island that is not crowded and has unspoilt nature and still has a primitive feel then this is the place for you. In addition to the island costs you will have to add in the cost of the chartered flights to and from, but this was a lovely experience of flying over the coral beaches. Lovely relaxing stay.