Navutu Stars Resort Yasawa Islands — Hotel in Yaqeta

I which I could give it more stars for the wonderful staff and our bure but this is an overall review of the island.|We arrived at the pick up point for Navutu Stars which because of the shallow reef system is a long way from the resort itself and was a little surprised to see a small runabout come and pick us up for a very upmarket resort.|On arrive we were met by a large Welcome home sign and singing .Taniele or Dan (Guest Relations Manager) got us to sit down and fill out the paperwork and explained everything to us. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, wifi etc. There was also an option of a free 20 minute massage but only available on day 1 which I thought was odd as it is maybe not you want as you just arrive.|Breakfast is provided in the package and you can either purchase a meal plan that consists of a 2 course lunch and a 3 course dinner at FJD$225.00 per person / day or half board dinner plan option that includes a 3 course dinner at F$169.00 per person /day and you purchase lunch a la carte with this option or just do as we did purchase a la carte off the menu as we are not big eaters and it worked out a lot cheaper. Happy hour is round the bar from around 6:30pm|There are 2 Garden Bures number 2 which you have to climb up 15 concrete steps alongside a very loose hand rail that was reported to the staff as completely unsafe or go down logs steps to the beach and then walk up and around other bures to get to the main area. Our friends stayed in this one.|We had Garden Bure 9 which was behind and in between the beachfront bures which was on level ground thankfully with my wife's bad legs. We would not have been able to stay in bure 2. Thankfully when I inquired the reservation people locked in this bure for us and explained to us that it only had the 2 steps to get on the veranda.|What can I say about our garden bure 9 it was 5 star it had large French doors with filtered views of the lagoon with a large king bed, Lounge, Fridge with 2 free 500ml bottles of water provided daily (You can't drink the water on the island unless from the restaurant bar where ice is also available but you can buy bottle water at FJ$5:00 for a 1.5 ltr bottle) a safe,2 umbrellas, a his and hers night robe. In the separate bathroom are bottles of supplied body wash, shampoo and conditioner along with a his and hers hand basin (my wife liked that).|Now in regards to the resort.|The close down for covid has not been kind to Navutu Stars all the sand shown in the current Navutu Stars photos of the beachfront bures has been washed away and instead a one metre high rock wall has been built to hold back the sand with steps down to many exposed rocks. A lot of the Bures thatched roofs need replacing or redoing the boutique shop has now gone but there is a activates bure where you can get fins etc from. The concrete saltwater swimming pool is nice but no hand rail to get in or out which would be helpful even though the concrete steps don't appear to be slippery |Due to low numbers there is not a lot of free activities and most are paid for snorkelling trips from the resort. The main attraction at the resort was the children from the village coming to sing on Sunday afternoon but when we were there this was cancelled for some reason which was a real disappointment.|There is access to the lagoon at all tides from the beach through the boat channel and their house reef is about 70 metres off the beach between two buoys best viewed at mid or low tide where the area around is sandy and you can stand if you get tired. I saw a clam, nemo's ,a stingray and many other fish while snorkelling out there.|Do remember to take insect repellent as there are small mossies on the island that do bite even while sitting on the lounges under the trees and you will get bitten like we did. They do lite mossie coils for dinner at night.|The Staff and Food.|The Staff could not do enough for you they were exceptional from Reception to the Restaurant (the food was incredible and well prepared), the bar and happy hour the free plunger coffee and tea bought to our room anytime we wanted it. The cleaning staff and the lady who turned down our bed every night and lit the mossie coil (yes there are mossie so remember to close your French doors before heading to happy hour).Even the staff raking the leaves early in the morning all seem happy working there.|We did not have any complaints and the guys who took us on a snorkelling trip were great.|In closing unfortunately for an upmarket resort it wasn't quite what I expected. There is a resort for everyone but this one not really for me as an elderly couple but a great experience...

Review of our vacation in May/2022:

What a Paradise! This phrase is perfect to define Navutu Star Resorts, in Fiji. After browsing a lot, I decided to stay in this hotel most because of the great reviews and also because of the few accommodations that it has (so, more exclusive).

But, after we arrived, we discovered that the most incredible and impressive issue about the hotel is the nature itself and, in special, DAN and his team: it’s something really difficult to describe how superb are DAN, the manager, and his team.

Since the first time you arrive at the island, you will feel a different kind of energy. SAI is always smiling, as all the others staff members. And not a false smile, but a true happiness because that’s how they live in this so isolated area: happy with what they have and happy to receive guests after a nightmare called pandemic of coronavirus.

We went to the hotel in April/2022, after postponed it more than one year because of the border’s restrictions. And it worth to wait so many! The island of the hotel is really impressive: everything preserved, with a beautiful sea, completely isolated from the chaos of big cities and modern life, just accompanied by birds, a lot of fish in the beach, wind and a luxury hotel.

The hotel is really luxury, with a very clean and spacious room, which was decorated for us since we were in honeymoon. We stayed in a room with a immersive pool in it and also in a beachfront. Both of the incredible, each one with it owns charms.

The food is amazing: thanks a lot for all the unforgettable breakfasts and dinners. And also the great cocktails in the evening before dinner.

Everyday they have a diferent activity, which can be a walk in the middle of the preserved mountain, or a boat to a completely empty beach. And we did this last one: they prepared some snacks and took us to a totally empty beach… as you arrange with them, some hours late they will come back to get you. More than perfect!

The nature in this island is really impressive and unforgettable. But DAN and the hotel staff tem make your stay even more special! Thanks a lot for give us memories that will be forever in our hearts!!! And sorry to be so late in writing this review…

We also contract a wedding in the hotel, since we didn’t have a ceremony in our country because of the pandemic. And it misses words to define how incredible DAN and his team made it: a real DREAM becoming true, with a catholic priest blessing the couple in the beach, with a local choir team also blessing our ceremony with beautiful and spiritual local music.

By the way, we were at the hotel in my wife birthday… and, of course, the staff team made is really special, with non dairy desert surprise, music and a vibrant and peaceful energy… thanks thanks thanks for being so special!

We will be forever grateful with DAN and his team to give us a so...

Would not return and wish we never came.

One star for the few staff members who were cordial and kind and for the free-running island dogs that were better hosts than anyone working at the resort.

Navutu Stars is a rundown resort in bad need of updating in both its facility and staff - both of which may have been hospitible at a time, but have lost their lustre and ability to support guests paying alot of money to stay ($800CAD/night).

Because the huts are not air conditined, open windows will leave the room hot, damp and even wet. All our clothes were beyond wearing and musty. Beds were damp and uncomfortable. Our fridge leaked all over the floor, to add to the moisture.

The food is low grade and insanely priced. For $150 ($90CAD) per person, per day, breakfast and dinner are offered. Lunch is a seperate charge. Keep in mind, they advertise breakfast as included, though you come to find out that is only a continental one, once you arrive. Paid breakfast is a basic bacon, eggs, pastries and fruit. Dinner is low quality meats, fish or a poorly made pasta choice. For an added charge ($25 FJD), you can have salad or veg with dinner. Lunch offers a seperate pay menu where, for example, you can pay $55 FJD ($33CAD) for a sandwich with two slices of plain white bread, a few grams of low quality meat and eight french fries (I counted because I could). Lunch resembles something made in a highschool cafeteria, or worse.

Alcoholic drinks are insanely priced, poorly made and made by bartenders who are annoyed with any order placed.

The staff, for the most part is friendly to say hello to, but once a request is made for a towel, water, a drink from the bar, etc., their demeanor changes and you become annoying to them. But they'd be happy to sell you excursion after excursion at inflated, unfair prices.

The resort owner sits in view of all guests and refuses to greet, smile or even acknowledge your presence. It sets a foul mood for the entire visit. At $800 CAD per night (not including food or drink) a simple smile or "hello" goes far. You can see where the staff get their training.

The beach is very small and the hut access to the water is limited and rocky making it near impossible to access the water from your room. It may be a water front hut, but not water front access unless you enjoy destroying your feet on the inhospitable rocks.

Wifi is shoddy and unreliable.

Overall, our two day stay was two days too long. If not for the island dogs, this would have been a one star review.

With the many choices available in the Yasewa islands, some of which we stayed at, at similar and sometimes cheaper costs, there is no reason to stay at or return to the Navu-two Stars resort.

There are 5 star resorts to choose from at...