Savasi Island Resort — Hotel in Northern

Our family of four (two adults and kids ages 8 and 11) just returned from an eight night stay at Savasi. Visiting Fiji from the States was certainly a bucket list trip, and it did not disappoint. ||We stayed in the Sea Breeze villa, though we quickly realized a toilet needed to be repaired so management moved us into Blue Lagoon 2 for a couple of days during the maintenance. ||The BEST parts of our stay: |-We loved the reef/rock pools surrounding the resort and our kids never tired of exploring the abundance of sea life. |-As mentioned many times before in other reviews, the grounds around the resort are breathtakingly beautiful. |-We also had a wonderful couples massage at the spa and I can’t recommend their services highly enough. |-The cultural experiences (Meke performance, kava ceremony with Isaac, and visit to the village with Alec) were so special to our family. We really love opportunities to expose our kids to different cultures and learn about traditions and values of the communities we visit, so this was greatly appreciated. |-Snorkeling Split Rock and Natewa Bay were worth every additional penny. Stunning. |-Most importantly, big kudos to the kitchen staff for accommodating our daughter’s celiac disease (gluten allergy), as they went above and beyond to offer GF baked goods, noodles, etc. Likewise, both of our kids are still in a picky phase and they were thrilled with the kids menu offerings. The food/restaurant was really a highlight all around and we always enjoyed our dining experiences each day. ||The good: |-Kayaking around the lagoon and visiting the blow holes made for a fun morning activity for us. |-The main beach next to Sea Breeze is small but relaxing. |-The majority of staff were really joyful and kind. |-When we had issues (like wasps in our rooms), we used the resort app to put in a request and the staff quickly tried to remedy. ||Things to think about:|-It was chaotic and stressful to move rooms, but primarily because we had planned activities that meant scrambling to get everything together with little notice. This was not the only time we felt like communication from the front desk left a little to be desired. Not a lot of acknowledgment or apology when issues arose, and I guess that was a surprise after reading so many comments about the superior hospitality. |-We had SO MANY bugs in both villas (mostly wasps and both big and small ants… even some lizards and what we think was a mouse that scampered across the roof beam.) Its a tropical environment, so I do realize it’s to be expected to an extent, but they were all over the beds every night, along with mysterious wood shavings from the ceiling that would fall all throughout the day, and it just zapped our ability to relax and sleep well. Sometimes housekeeping would let down the mosquito netting, but it wasn’t consistent, so we spent a good twenty thirty minutes wiping all the pillows and sheets down and draping the netting most nights. |-To that end, there are also only a couple of open shelves and an open closet with roughly 8 hangers in both villas, so we had to wipe down trails of ants around our clothes every morning and night as well. It would be so helpful to have luggage caddies in lieu of dressers at least. Bring packing cubes-especially if you have an extended stay. |-When staff is out (it seemed everyone in Activities got sick 2-3 days out of our stay) there is little to no communication, so nothing was listed on the main board during that time and that was a bit tricky with busy kids. Probably not an issue for couples looking to do nothing more than read on the beach. ;) |It would be fantastic if they found a way to bring back on site activities like a cooking class, garden tour, crab races, etc. Those were not offered during our stay and off-site activities add up quickly in cost for a family. |-Lastly, again- a tropical environment- but I do feel like some things were in need of cleaning and repair around the resort. There were three lounge cushions for several cement loungers by the beach, for example, that were thrown under a hut overnight but that meant dragging them out to the chairs each day and at least one looked like it had mold. The kayaks need a good clean and some seat repair. That sort of thing. Not deal breakers, but I think it would help improve the overall resort experience to spiffy them up. ||All in all, Savasi is charming and I would recommend it to others. I think 5-6 days is probably the sweet spot for enjoying most of what the resort has to offer (at least with kids that will eventually seek more activity during down time on site). It’s really nice that older children are welcomed despite the small, boutique environment. I also love that this resort provides a far more authentic Fijian experience than I suspect you’d find elsewhere. These memories will certainly be among our family’s favorites for...

Truly, the most incredible vacation we have ever taken, and the team at Savasi had everything to do with our amazing experience. We are the owners of a Bed and Breakfast (Gold Mountain Manor in Big Bear, CA), so we have an extra critical eye when traveling.||Savasi Island provides transportation from the local airport, which is just 10 minutes down the road. Our driver, Babu, was waiting for us and quickly grabbed our bags. From landing to driving into the resort, it took no more than 20 minutes. Pulling into the check-in area, Ma (General Manager) and members of her team were waiting, greeting us with a traditional Fijian welcome song. Ma then sat down with us, and we were brought fresh fruit juice. Ma wanted to get to know us and what we were looking for on our vacation. We were then fed a full breakfast (most flights arrive early in the morning), and then Ma showed us to our private villa. It was clear from the very beginning that guest experience means everything to the Savasi staff.||Our private villa (Clifftop 4) was amazing. A large infinity pool that overlooks the ocean and reef was the highlight. The villa was furnished with local items. There were beautiful rustic hardwood beams and accents throughout. Our villa had a private outdoor shower, air conditioning, a mini fridge (stocked daily with water and milk) and a hot water kettle. Coffee and tea were restocked daily. Housekeeping did a wonderful job, cleaning the room each morning and then back in the evening for turndown service and fresh towels. ||All meals were provided and the team in the restaurant/bar were friendly and attentive. Sandra, Sala, Mila, Isaac and Rico were all incredible hosts. We got to know each of them and they shared details about their lives and Fijian culture. Rico is full of joy and his love of music and dance shines through in the evening. Meals were all incredible - fresh ingredients from their local garden and refesh fish were all amazing. On our final night, they surprised us with a private dining experience in the grotto. ||We took advantage of both the spa and local activities that the resort coordinated. Mita and Charolette in the spa were incredible - the best massages and treatments we've ever had. The spa rooms open fully, so you have fresh air and the sound of waves crashing in the distance. The spa menu is extensive and they can custom-tailor your experience. The spa team is very sweet and we got to know them well during our time.||For activities, there was little we didn't do. The Kokomana Chocolate tour, the farmers market in town, snorkeling at Split Rocks and Natewa Bay and a full day trip to Taveuni. Eddie, the activities director, was a blast to hang out with. He was our private guide on our day trip to Taveuni. He grew up on Taveuni, so he was able to take us to experience things that you might not normally see. We visited the international date line and stood in both today and yesterday (very strange), the old Catholic Church with a huge cross on the hill overlooking the islands and the village where Eddie grew up and where his family currently lives. We visited two different remote (by hike or boat only) waterfalls. The highlight was all of the animal life we encountered - manta rays, spinner dolphins, sea turtles - just incredible! We snorkeled the Rainbow Reef and saw dozens of varieties of fish, including a white tipped reef shark. While the trip was a bit expensive, $800 USD, it was worth every penny! Finally, several days later, Eddie took us night snorkeling right off the resort. We saw tons of things that aren't out during the day. Lobsters, shrimp, giant hermit crabs, moray eels, etc. Sounds scary, but Eddie made it comfortable and loads of fun!||I've covered a ton in this review, but I feel like I've only scratched the surface of our experience. I cannot think of a single thing that disappointed us at Savasi Island. If you are contemplating a trip to Fiji and looking at Savasi, look no further. You will not be...

Truly, the most incredible vacation we have ever taken, and the team at Savasi had everything to do with our amazing experience. We are the owners of a Bed and Breakfast (Gold Mountain Manor in Big Bear, CA), so we have an extra critical eye when traveling.

Savasi Island provides transportation from the local airport, which is just 10 minutes down the road. Our driver, Babu, was waiting for us and quickly grabbed our bags. From landing to driving into the resort, it took no more than 20 minutes. Pulling into the check-in area, Ma (General Manager) and members of her team were waiting, greeting us with a traditional Fijian welcome song. Ma then sat down with us, and we were brought fresh fruit juice. Ma wanted to get to know us and what we were looking for on our vacation. We were then fed a full breakfast (most flights arrive early in the morning), and then Ma showed us to our private villa. It was clear from the very beginning that guest experience means everything to the Savasi staff.

Our private villa (Clifftop 4) was amazing. A large infinity pool that overlooks the ocean and reef was the highlight. The villa was furnished with local items. There were beautiful rustic hardwood beams and accents throughout. Our villa had a private outdoor shower, air conditioning, a mini fridge (stocked daily with water and milk) and a hot water kettle. Coffee and tea were restocked daily. Housekeeping did a wonderful job, cleaning the room each morning and then back in the evening for turndown service and fresh towels.

All meals were provided and the team in the restaurant/bar were friendly and attentive. Sandra, Sala, Mila, Isaac and Rico were all incredible hosts. We got to know each of them and they shared details about their lives and Fijian culture. Rico is full of joy and his love of music and dance shines through in the evening. Meals were all incredible - fresh ingredients from their local garden and refesh fish were all amazing. On our final night, they surprised us with a private dining experience in the grotto.

We took advantage of both the spa and local activities that the resort coordinated. Mita and Charolette in the spa were incredible - the best massages and treatments we've ever had. The spa rooms open fully, so you have fresh air and the sound of waves crashing in the distance. The spa menu is extensive and they can custom-tailor your experience. The spa team is very sweet and we got to know them well during our time.

For activities, there was little we didn't do. The Kokomana Chocolate tour, the farmers market in town, snorkeling at Split Rocks and Natewa Bay and a full day trip to Taveuni. Eddie, the activities director, was a blast to hang out with. He was our private guide on our day trip to Taveuni. He grew up on Taveuni, so he was able to take us to experience things that you might not normally see. We visited the international date line and stood in both today and yesterday (very strange), the old Catholic Church with a huge cross on the hill overlooking the islands and the village where Eddie grew up and where his family currently lives. We visited two different remote (by hike or boat only) waterfalls. The highlight was all of the animal life we encountered - manta rays, spinner dolphins, sea turtles - just incredible! We snorkeled the Rainbow Reef and saw dozens of varieties of fish, including a white tipped reef shark. While the trip was a bit expensive, $800 USD, it was worth every penny! Finally, several days later, Eddie took us night snorkeling right off the resort. We saw tons of things that aren't out during the day. Lobsters, shrimp, giant hermit crabs, moray eels, etc. Sounds scary, but Eddie made it comfortable and loads of fun!

I've covered a ton in this review, but I feel like I've only scratched the surface of our experience. I cannot think of a single thing that disappointed us at Savasi Island. If you are contemplating a trip to Fiji and looking at Savasi, look no further. You will not be...