I have been searching for a very special hotel in Fiji for a long time. We spent a lot of time figuring out which Fiji island to choose for our short stay. We were browsing booking.com but nothing seemed really tempting. To reach some hotels you need at least 1,5 day. The ones next to Nadi (where the airport is), seemed to be too big (like for 500 guests) or weren’t close to the coral reef, or simply didn’t have good reviews. In the end, by accident, I found a hidden gem – Navini Island Resort.

Navini Island Resort – the dreamiest hotel in Fiji

Yes, you won’t find this place in any hotel search website. Navini Island Resort (not to be confused with Naviti – it’s a completely different place!) boasts that it doesn’t need advertising to thrive. The hotel has so many loyal guests spending their Fiji holidays here every year, gaining new customers thanks to first-hand recommendations. I came across this place completely by accident. Navini Island Resort is repeatedly named as a hotel with one of the best coral reefs in Fiji. The shuttle from Nadi Airport takes only an hour, so the hotel was a perfect option for us. Another advantage? Zero day trippers!

The best holidays in Fiji

What makes this place so special? Navini Island Resort is located on a tiny island called… Navini. The entire “resort” actually consists of only 10 villas (called bure), so maximum  20 guests can stay on the island at the same time. Fun fact – there is always more staff than guests. Villas are scattered throughout the island, giving a lot of privacy and freedom. We really felt like we were on our private island. Bures are located directly on the sandy beach, just a few meters from the spectacular coral reef!

The reef itself is unique too. It is protected since 1988, meaning eg. fishing and organized snorkeling trips are prohibited. Thanks to this, many species thrive here. You will come across hundreds of parrotfish, moray eels, clownfish, sea cucumbers, reef sharks or turtles 🙂 The hotel provides all snorkeling equipment for free, as well as kayaks and SUPs. There are also free boat trips organized every day: either to another reef, to a Fijian village or fishing expeditions.

Tip: It’s good to have a basic rash guard or just a neoprene suit. Sun in Fiji is very strong, you may get a sunburn easily while snorkeling. In addition, the suit will protect you from injury if, for example, the wave will push you towards sharp corals or rocks.

How do the bures look like?

Guests have their own villas, we have been accommodated in Deluxe Premier Bure. It offers a spacious room with an enormous bed, outdoor bed and shower. As a welcome gift, we received a Fijian chocolate and a fruit basket. The whole room was also decorated with flowers. When we were leaving, we also got a small souvenir – a cream from the local Pure Fiji brand (mini cosmetics from this brand were also in the bathroom). I really love how they pampered us here! The only one tiny minus: our bure was located on a more rocky side of the beach, the other villas had sand right away.

Tip: Each guest also gets a sulu, a kind of pareo to cover the hips, you have to wear it if there are some Fijian attractions in the evening 🙂

Dining at Navini Island Resort

Meals are served 3 times a day, you pay depending on how often you eat. Each day there is a different menu to choose from. Alcohol is paid additionally, the bottle of wine costs approx. 20 EUR.

Tip: All meals are served according to Fiji time, meaning you can throw away your watch – you will hear the drums once the meal is ready to be served!

Each guest may also get a complimentary dinner on the beach, lightened up by the sparkling torches. We really loved such a romantic scenery! Usually, all meals are eaten together with other guests. When we were visiting Navini Island Resort, there were 3 other couples (10 people together with us), I must admit that after 3 days we felt like one big family 🙂 In the evening everyone gathers to participate in all sorts of attractions: Fijian dances, Fijian cuisine, and kava drinking ceremony.

Tip: Be sure to try kava! It is prepared from the root of kava plant and has a mild psychoactive effect, totally opposite to… the regular coffee. You’ll get sleepy and relaxed. The taste is a bit strange, to be honest, it tastes like muddy water with a hint of pepper, but actually, I liked it!

Navini Island Resort – our review

We were delighted with this hotel. Navini Island Resort makes a really amazing impression. It is difficult to choose whether we liked it more here or Dana Villas in Santorini. We loved the idea of a secluded island, focused on sustainable development and support for the local community. There is a beautiful tropical garden, with my beloved frangipani flowers. Owners (who also live on the island) aim at creating a relaxing oasis away from civilization. For this reason, WiFi is only available next to the dining room. Initially, I wasn’t happy about this, but after the first day, I noticed benefits. You are totally cut off from negative media and nothing really disturbs you. There are also no TV sets in the villas. At Navini Island Resort, you can truly rest and connect with nature.

I also really liked the atmosphere itself. Everyone is very laid back and so friendly, nothing snobby or stiff at all. The hotel is a pure paradise for all tranquility-seekers. Nowadays, when we are constantly surrounded by technology, just a couple of days away from civilization are a real luxury!

Info: Navini Island Resort

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