Denarau Island, Nadi, Viti Levu, Fiji
TEL: 679-675-6800
FAX: 679-675-6801
Website
I spent a week in this hotel last Australian summer, during the Christmas period, and I had an unforgettable time.
Denarau Island is just Paradise, all green and posh with lovely beaches, palm trees and the care and attention of the always welcoming Fijean people.
The location was fantastic, the apartments were huge and very classy. The room had a big bedroom with a large firm comfy bed, flat TV and plenty of storage room, alarm clock and nice views of the ocean. There bathroom was also huge (shower+bathtub) with a good selection of good quality toiletries. The living room was also huge, with sofa, TV, an eating area and some cupboards. My apartment supposed to have a kitchenette, but it only have some plates, cutlery, a kettle, and a mini-fridge, so it was impossible to cook some of my meals on my own as I intended initially.
The infinity pool was one of my favourite spots. They provide you with free towels, you can order drinks from the side bar, and choose the pool that suits you best: families, children or adults only. They are not deep, so even bad swimmers can enjoy a swim without being afraid of drowning, especially not having a life saver program in place. The spot is wonderful as it is by the beach and the chairs and big umbrellas are stupendous. Heaven!
The hotel shares a private beach with the Sheraton and other hotels and it is wonderful having the option of walking around or having a swim if you want so. Mind the sharks. You can also do water sports, paragliding among other things, in this beach.
The inner part of the hotel, is covered by gardens, tastefully laid out, and decorated with traditional Fijian elements of pottery and wood. Really beautiful!
There are three restaurants at the hotel, all very expensive, but the food is good, the settings excellent, and the staff very charming and attentive, although a bit distracted at times. If these options were not enough, the restaurants organise nights devoted to Fijian cuisine, Spanish cuisine, etc. also at very expensive prices. For example, a Spanish cuisine night was 130 US$ and the wines were not included! If you have a kitchenette, you can buy your groceries at the supermarket at Denarau Port and cook yourself.
The staff were uber-friendly and helpful: cleaners, porters, waiters and waitresses, gardeners, towels booth people - almost everybody. They would always say Bullah to you with a big smile, and treat you like a king/queen, so customers can enjoy the Fijian hospitality and have Fiji Time the way it should be enjoyed.
There is a Tour Desk at the Lobby and the people working there are fantastic, caring and very helpful. My especial thanks to Sereana, who made possible the impossible for me and did always everything with a big smile and a chillout Fiji Time. Most tour operators pick up /drop off from hotel, but most of them require a minimum number of people to operate.
Golf cars to take you and your luggage around, to move people around if the weather is bad, or just have mobility problems, or just if you are feeling a bit lazy to walk to your apartment.
These a family friendly place, and there are tons of activities planned for the kids and the whole family, and the staff really enjoys dealing with kids as Fijeans are also family minded. Having said this, there are set activities organised every day at set times that are targeted to everybody in the hotel, not just families.
There is a small gym at the hotel, for those who mind their fitness during their holidays, but don't expect too much..
TEL: 679-675-6800
FAX: 679-675-6801
Website
I spent a week in this hotel last Australian summer, during the Christmas period, and I had an unforgettable time.
Denarau Island is just Paradise, all green and posh with lovely beaches, palm trees and the care and attention of the always welcoming Fijean people.
The location was fantastic, the apartments were huge and very classy. The room had a big bedroom with a large firm comfy bed, flat TV and plenty of storage room, alarm clock and nice views of the ocean. There bathroom was also huge (shower+bathtub) with a good selection of good quality toiletries. The living room was also huge, with sofa, TV, an eating area and some cupboards. My apartment supposed to have a kitchenette, but it only have some plates, cutlery, a kettle, and a mini-fridge, so it was impossible to cook some of my meals on my own as I intended initially.
The infinity pool was one of my favourite spots. They provide you with free towels, you can order drinks from the side bar, and choose the pool that suits you best: families, children or adults only. They are not deep, so even bad swimmers can enjoy a swim without being afraid of drowning, especially not having a life saver program in place. The spot is wonderful as it is by the beach and the chairs and big umbrellas are stupendous. Heaven!
The hotel shares a private beach with the Sheraton and other hotels and it is wonderful having the option of walking around or having a swim if you want so. Mind the sharks. You can also do water sports, paragliding among other things, in this beach.
The inner part of the hotel, is covered by gardens, tastefully laid out, and decorated with traditional Fijian elements of pottery and wood. Really beautiful!
There are three restaurants at the hotel, all very expensive, but the food is good, the settings excellent, and the staff very charming and attentive, although a bit distracted at times. If these options were not enough, the restaurants organise nights devoted to Fijian cuisine, Spanish cuisine, etc. also at very expensive prices. For example, a Spanish cuisine night was 130 US$ and the wines were not included! If you have a kitchenette, you can buy your groceries at the supermarket at Denarau Port and cook yourself.
The staff were uber-friendly and helpful: cleaners, porters, waiters and waitresses, gardeners, towels booth people - almost everybody. They would always say Bullah to you with a big smile, and treat you like a king/queen, so customers can enjoy the Fijian hospitality and have Fiji Time the way it should be enjoyed.
There is a Tour Desk at the Lobby and the people working there are fantastic, caring and very helpful. My especial thanks to Sereana, who made possible the impossible for me and did always everything with a big smile and a chillout Fiji Time. Most tour operators pick up /drop off from hotel, but most of them require a minimum number of people to operate.
Golf cars to take you and your luggage around, to move people around if the weather is bad, or just have mobility problems, or just if you are feeling a bit lazy to walk to your apartment.
These a family friendly place, and there are tons of activities planned for the kids and the whole family, and the staff really enjoys dealing with kids as Fijeans are also family minded. Having said this, there are set activities organised every day at set times that are targeted to everybody in the hotel, not just families.
There is a small gym at the hotel, for those who mind their fitness during their holidays, but don't expect too much..
SO SO
-- I booked for a room-apartment with kitchenette facilities (so it was NOT an studio), but I was placed in one that has none. I had to request cutlery and croquery. I realised that there was a mixed up with my room type when I had unpacked everything, so I did not want to make any fuss and pack and unpack again, but the type of room was clearly shown in the voucher I provided with my online booking details.
-- No free Wi-Fi in the hotel!! Hello Hello Mr Hilton, are you in the 21st century YET? Paid Wi-Fi is so very last century.
-- Denarau Island is a wonderful place, but it is isolated from Nady and real Fiji. Perhaps you are not interested in real Fiji or Fijians, so this might not be a problem for you.
-- Everything is ridiculously expensive. The restaurants, the mini-shop and the coffee shop. Prices we pay in Australia or more. One wonders whether the locals benefit from this prices and the profits that the hotel makes.
-- There is nothing more annoying that having people drinking for hours in groups inside the pool when they could easily do so on the side chairs or at the bar. If you want to swim you have to deal with these people. I have no problem with people having a good time during their holidays but not at my cost. I love swimming, so I think it is not too much to ask to being able to enjoy the wonderful pools that this hotel has for swimming or bathing. But the hotel cashes in with the sale of alcohol, so the drunkards win.
-- Unlike most of the staff and the two big restaurants, some of the staff at the Spices small cafe were rude, unwelcoming and/or treated customers as they were making us a favour. This is not a charity shelter. We pay a lot of money to be there, and we have to work hard to get the money, so please remember this. :)))
== The cyclone season around Christmas Time can be nasty. Check your period of holidays when visiting Fiji. I went during this season and I had gorgeous weather except for the first day.
== There are tons of mosquitoes in the evening and night if you seat outdoors, they will certainly like you. Use repellent.
== Port Denarau Shopping Mall is a 20 minute walk from the hotel, and you can find a bit of everything, restaurants, supermarkets, bottle shops, chemist, souvenir shops and pubs. The place and the prices are for foreigners so you will pay a lot for everything, but way less than you will pay in your hotel of selection. If you stay for a week or more in the hotel you will certainly want to buy some snacks and food items to have in your room. There is a beauty salon, nails place and hairdresser, too!
== The city of Nady (pronounced Nandy) is 30 minutes away by car.
IF THIS WAS MY HOTEL I WOULD...
-- I would make sure that you provide the room you say you would.
-- I would provide a free shuttle to Port Denarau or give customers vouchers to take the Bullah Bus.
-- I would provide free Internet not just at the Spices Cafe, everywhere. If Wi-Fi is a problem, high speed LAN would make wonders for guests!
-- Create an Fiji traditional restaurant. This is Fiji, no?
-- I would reduce the pricing of most things at the little shop, as they are ridiculously expensive. No tourist likes feeling squeezed as a lemon just because he/she is on holidays.
-- I would request a drinking etiquette and ban drinkers from the pools like right now. Can we keep some etiquette at a posh hotel or is this too much to ask?
TIPS
# If you don't want to take the Bullah Bus to Port Denarau, you can easily walk to the mall. It takes about 20 minutes. Still, the weather is humid and hot, so carry an umbrella and drinking water. Another option is taking one of the minivan buses that the locals take, which costs a fraction of the price and take you there the same. Ask at reception for details. The buses stop at few metres from the lobby.
# Learn to say hello and thank you in Fijian language to the staff as they really appreciate this. After all this is their country.
# If you want to enjoy a spa without paying the prices you have at the hotel spa, go to the Pure Fiji spa at Port Denarau. There is also a hairdresser and nails salon next door at a fraction of the price.
# There are a couple of supermarkets and bottle shops in Port Denarau, so you can buy your groceries from there if you want to cook some of your meals.
# If you don't want to use strong DDT repellents, buy Reniu lemon grass spray repellent from the hotel mini shop. They are environmentally friendly and keep the mosquitoes at bay without infusing with chemicals the people around you while you spray it...
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