I have recently returned from a week at Laucala Island in Fiji with my family.
Quick summary - exceptional! We will certainly return. Definitely worth the journey. This place changed my perceptions of Fiji as a luxury destination.
Access - we were met directly off our flight from Australia, escorted through Immigration and Customs and taken directly to our private 45 minute connecting flight to the Island. It could not have been smoother. On arrival we were greeted by the Managers, senior staff and a wonderful local island welcome song performed by some of the staff. The runway on the island is sealed and can accommodate private jets and I understand it is a designated immigration port of entry (not relevant for us!).
Food - amazing (over 80% of what guests eat is raised or grown on the island, or purchased from local fishermen). Martin Klein, the executive chef, saw us every day and was amazingly responsive to our preferences. There are five main eating spaces:
(a) Plantation restaurant - in a reconstructed colonial style plantation house - the "flagship" restaurant. Also has a colonial style bar and quite an interesting wine cellar;
(b) Seagrass Lounge - a bar/lounge and restaurant offering Asian cuisine including teppanyaki - one of the best places to watch the sunset over a cocktai!
(c) Rock Lounge - perched high on a lushly vegetated peninsula with great views - great place for pre-dinner drinks;
(d) Beach Bar - right on the beach and next to the lagoon pool - we often ate lunch here, good for sushi and other light dishes;
(e) Pool Bar, overlooking the lagoon pool - salads and other light fare for a lazy day in the sun.
We enjoyed fantastic seafood, pretty good teppanyaki and lots of great, fresh, local produce. We ate in our villa on the first night (sitting on the beach in our private outdoor dining space), and experienced restaurant-quality service with two staff present throughout to serve dinner.
Setting is stunning - a variety of accommodation settings to suit preferences of those with families, those wanting more privacy, those wanting a more elevated, tropical vegetated setting etc. There are only 25 residences, the majority of which have private beaches (all have private pools), and it was so private that at times it felt as if we were the only people on the island. It is very spaced out and all villas are provided with one or two golf carts (depending on size of villa). I toured all the "special" villas during my visit so I got a good idea of the range of accommodation on offer. Note that the Virtuoso amenities include upgrade if available but this doesn't really make sense for this resort because of the nature of the villas - there is no difference in quality across any of them, just size (number of bedrooms) and location, which are both very much a question of guest preference. The "special" villas - one overwater two bedroom, the Peninsula Suite (one bedroom) and the Hilltop Residence (three separate one bedroom villas that are taken as one) all offer such particular locations/amenities etc that an "upgrade" might actually not suit guest preference (e.g. the Peninsula Villa is spectacular but not for those with vertigo; the overwater villa is not suitable for young children etc). Happy to expand further on this if others are interested in the differences between various accommodation categories/locations.
Villas - bure-style; all finished to the highest standard with an enormous amount of private indoor and outdoor space. I estimate we had at least 800 sqm, including garden, private pool and manicured private beach, with about 70 m of absolute beachfront (2 bedroom Beach Plantation residence). Our two bedroom villa had two indoor bathrooms and two outdoor bathrooms, baths hewn from massive pieces of stone, and numerous outdoor relaxation spaces including private outdoor massage pavilions, several loungers and a yoga platform on our beach, an outdoor dining and living pavilion, and a couple of daybeds overlooking our pool... There is a large living room in each villa, although I almost never used ours, preferring to relax outside whenever possible (sorry, no pics of this either).
Service - extremely friendly and very professional (any shortcomings more than compensated by the enthusiasm, care and attention and desire to meet guests' needs). The Manager and his wife are ex-Four Seasons, most recently in the Maldives, and they are very present in the resort. We were greeted by name from the moment of our arrival.
Activities - we ran out of time! Sailing (including a gorgeous dragon-class yacht), golf (a world class course that is not played nearly as often as it should be), tennis, all kinds of water sports (diving, snorkeling, skiing, kayaking, jetskis, fishing etc), gym, kids club, nannies etc. They put on a cultural night with a traditional kava ceremony, dance and traditional food cooked in a lovo, which our children loved, and which was a great opportunity to meet other guests and senior resort staff.
Spa - the setting was amazing (four private pavilion complexes - each consisting of three or four large treatment and relaxation spaces and private change and shower facilities - full of natural light, fresh air and open to the sounds of birdsong and the sea below - huge spaces), and the treatments were very good. I spent a lot of time there! The best resort spa setting I have experienced.
I will try to post some more detail and pictures shortly. If there's anything anybody is particularly interested in, feel free to PM me.
Ericka
Jul 13, 12, 5:23 am
Sounds awesome. Any pictures? :)
Also, how did you find the fish life? Did the coral appear healthy?
Kagehitokiri
Jul 13, 12, 8:54 am
thanks ^^
first report and pics here, and actually probably most pics anywhere
surprising no resort has done that spa concept before, sounds brilliant
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2012/0116/life-fiji-laucala-dream-island.html
“We have two bakers from Germany who get up early every morning in case someone drops by,”
golf with resident PGA-circuit pro Tony Christie
David McLay Kidd’s immaculate 18-hole Scottish carpet carved through Laucala’s dense jungles
Baghoarder
Jul 13, 12, 10:01 pm
The Beach Bar (views across lagoon pool and across sea to the jetty):
The verandah at the Plantation Restaurant. Breakfast and dinner are taken here, with dinner either a seven course degustation or a la carte. Note dinner can also be taken in the Seagrass Lounge, for a more casual environment with Asian cuisine (Thai chef).
Two views of the Seagrass Lounge. The first is of the lookout pavilion, which is one of the best places in the resort to watch the sunset, cocktail in hand! The second shows the view down from the lookout to the Seagrass Lounge proper. There is also an outdoor teppanyaki bar on a lower level (barely visible)
The Peninsula Suite seen from the sea (one bedroom). This suite is quite spectacular (probably not suitable for those who suffer from vertigo!) and very private BUT:
- it is only accessible by private walkway opening off the Seagrass Lounge (or from the water, up many stairs). Not sure whether noise from the Lounge could be heard in the villa at night or not (not that any of the restaurants are noisy)
- rooms are smaller than in other villas, partly because some are split level
- I preferred the layout of other villas
- less usable outdoor space because of the cliffside location (no garden as such), but lots of large terraces and decks, a private beach accessible by MANY stairs, and a SPECTACULAR infinity pool!
Two bedroom Beach Plantation Villa - some interior views:
The solid stone bath in one of the two indoor bathrooms:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/members/baghoarder-albums-laucala-picture4246-villa-bathroom-indoors.jpg
A view into the master bedroom from the entry breezeway:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/members/baghoarder-albums-laucala-picture4245-view-villa-master-bedroom-entry-breezeway.jpg
The interior of the master bedroom. Construction methods are very traditional, with many architectural and interior decorative forms inspired by flora and fauna on the island. My children loved this pendant light!
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/members/baghoarder-albums-laucala-picture4244-villa-master-bedroom.jpg
A view of one of the two outdoor bathrooms and private massage pavilions:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/members/baghoarder-albums-laucala-picture4247-villa-outdoor-bathroom-private-massage-pavilion.jpg
Baghoarder
Jul 13, 12, 10:28 pm
The Spa - a view of one of the private outdoor relaxation spaces in the secluded, private treatment pavilions. To get the full effect here, imagine you are sipping warm lemongrass tea as you recline after your treatment, listening to the sounds of birds in the tropical foliage and the waves breaking gently on the shore down below, and enjoying spectacular views across the water!:D
All the treatment spaces in a pavilion (a double massage room, a second large space with a beautiful carved daybed where introductory rituals are conducted and an outdoor Vichy space with two beds) have huge doors and windows that are open for your treatment. There is also a separate (dedicated) change and shower space for each pavilion.
Also, how did you find the fish life? Did the coral appear healthy?
I didn't get out to the reef proper (yet another reason to return, as if I needed one!), but it was impossible to enter the sea from the resort without being surrounded by schools of small fish, which the children just loved!
Musken
Jul 13, 12, 11:15 pm
Thanks a lot for this report
NYBanker
Jul 14, 12, 12:17 am
This looks very nice. Thanks for sharing.
Groombridge
Jul 14, 12, 12:59 am
Thanks for this terrific report, and for all the photos! I have been really interested in this place, emailing them a few times for details, and your reports adds to the likelihood that I'll go.
Since you were able to see a bunch of the different types of accommodation, what are the pros/cons -- and what would be your first choice?
kurl
Jul 14, 12, 6:41 am
Amazing report and pics - thanks!
Was the resort full when you were there? How crowded do the public spaces/restaurants/etc. get?
Kagehitokiri
Jul 14, 12, 9:25 am
There are only 25 residences...and it was so private that at times it felt as if we were the only people on the island...I toured all the "special" villas during my visit
Was the resort full when you were there? How crowded do the public spaces/restaurants/etc. get?
25 villas, 80 bedrooms, 160 guests
plantation house - 80+55 seats
seagrass lounge and restaurant - 35 seats on 4 levels
beach bar - 40 seats
rock lounge - 30 seats
pool bar - 20 seats
Was the resort full when you were there? How crowded do the public spaces/restaurants/etc. get?
You're welcome!
It wasn't full but if it had been I suspect we would not have noticed. The private villa facilities are so good and so extensive that we rarely saw some guests, including people staying just a few villas along from us. Nothing was crowded at all. Occasionally I was the only guest at lunch at the Pool Bar (the Beach Bar, with its terrific location, tended to be a bit more popular), which I loved!
Baghoarder
Jul 14, 12, 3:35 pm
Thanks for this terrific report, and for all the photos! I have been really interested in this place, emailing them a few times for details, and your reports adds to the likelihood that I'll go.
Since you were able to see a bunch of the different types of accommodation, what are the pros/cons -- and what would be your first choice?
My first choice (with young children) is what I actually had - a two bedroom Beach Plantation villa. Ideal for its central (yet still incredibly private) location and good balance of space for a family.
In the "standard" category, not that anything is standard, there are one, two and three bedroom villas. If you want one or two bedrooms in this category you have a choice of three different settings. For three bedrooms, you have a choice of beach plantation or seagrass. Each will appeal to different people for different reasons. The resort will take great care to ensure that you are selecting the option that is best suited to your tastes and preferences.
There is no difference in quality of interior fit out, look and feel between villas in the various locations.
Rooms are slightly smaller in one bedroom villas but still extremely spacious and the beach space is also still very generous. The bedroom in the one bedroom villas is split level with a generous lower seating area (in addition to the entirely separate main living bure).
Private pools go up in size as the number of bedrooms goes up but again, even in a one bed villa the pool was a very good size.
Two bedroom villas have two master bedroom suites. Three bedroom villas have two masters and a third smaller bedroom suite with twin beds (each room has dressing room and bathroom). Beds are massive, carved wooden affairs that cannot be separated into twins, but the resort will put two single mattresses on them if guests request this, or they can set up an additional single bed in the room.
The locations for standard villas:
1. Beach Plantation villas - all with private beaches which benefit from good sunlight during the day, the most centrally located, in the more "manicured" setting of the central coconut plantation (regular plantings, mown lawns, long vistas etc). Easy walking distance to the jetty, the water sports and dive centre, the lagoon pool, Plantation restaurant, Pool Bar, Beach Bar, gym, concierge, cultural centre etc. Golf cart ride to Rock Lounge, Seagrass Lounge, spa, golf, tennis etc.
2. Seagrass Villas - on Seagrass Bay, which is a very pretty little cove just past the point where the Rock Lounge is located. These villas are set in a more densely vegetated location and are more remote from the central area of the resort (golf cart ride, 5 minutes max) and would probably suit people looking for more privacy and seclusion. Private beaches are more shaded here because of the vegetation.
3. Plateau villas. These are apparently the least popular of the three categories, presumably because they have no direct beach access. They are in an elevated location (but apparently the resort aims to dedicate a private beach from one of the beach plantation villas for guests' private use if they book a plateau villa). Located close to the spa and very similar in feel. Incredibly secluded and private. Lots or terraces, pool, outdoor space but not the same usable garden space because of the steep hill and the dense foliage. These villas have lovely views. I really liked the feel of these but would still go for a villa with beach.
The "special" villas are the one bedroom Peninsula Suite (located near and accessible only via the Seagrass Lounge), the two bedroom overwater villa (located just to the west of the beach plantation villas) and the Hilltop Residence (located, as the name suggests, on top of a hill with panoramic views).
Peninsula Suite - a very dramatic choice - really perched on the side of the cliff! Not for those with vertigo. Has beautiful views of the water and the resort itself. Although it's extremely private, the access point is not private. The rooms seemed a little smaller to me than rooms in the standard suites; the bedroom, dressing room, bathroom etc is split level. There are several beautiful decks and terraces, and an amazing infinity horizon pool immediately outside the living area that seems almost to spill over into the sea.
Overwater villa - would probably be my choice without children. One of the most popular options. Definitely not suitable for young children. Two bedrooms with generally similar interior layout to other two bedroom villas. Lots of deck space and moorings. A stunning infinity pool that is built into the rocks and has a little waterfall.
Hilltop Residence - the premium option. Very separate from the rest of the resort, reached along one of two access/service roads (by golf cart). Three separate one bedroom villas that are taken together. The main one has a library, very large living area and very impressive outdoor spaces including a mini lagoon pool (the idea being to replicate the main lagoon pool experience on a smaller scale for those seeking more privacy and seclusion). The second villa has a private pool. The third villa, located between the other two, has no pool. These villas are in a garden setting, mown lawns, coconut palms etc and really do have absolutely spectacular views in all directions. However, even if I were in the market for something of this size and price point, I would probably not choose it because of the lack of direct beach access.
thecoolhunter
Jul 23, 12, 2:24 pm
very interesting read thanks!!
so for water/beach access you would recommend the plantation villas? I guess peninsula suite has a spectacular setting but no ideal water access?
MightyTravels
Jul 23, 12, 2:35 pm
Thanks for sharing!
Please forgive my ignorance but there seem to be more than one hotel/resort on the island. What's the exact name of the resort?
Baghoarder
Jul 24, 12, 3:03 pm
very interesting read thanks!!
so for water/beach access you would recommend the plantation villas? I guess peninsula suite has a spectacular setting but no ideal water access?
Plantation villas and Seagrass villas all have private beaches.
Peninsula suite has a small private beach but IMO it is not as good a beach as the other villas have and is only accessible by a (pretty long) flight of wooden stairs. It is not the best choice if you want easy and direct beach access or a beach vista from your villa. But, yes, its views are absolutely spectacular!
Baghoarder
Jul 24, 12, 3:04 pm
Thanks for sharing!
Please forgive my ignorance but there seem to be more than one hotel/resort on the island. What's the exact name of the resort?
There is only one resort on the island. It is called Laucala.
Larkin
Jul 25, 12, 7:35 am
Thank you so much for this great report! We have been looking to go back to Fiji for several years after enjoying Wakaya several times, but were waiting to hear more on this place which sounds spectacular. After your teview we will be making plans for next summer!
thebluejean
Nov 21, 12, 1:27 pm
Thanks for this lovely report! I wonder if there are travel agencies that can provide a better rate instead of the rack rate. Do they ever have a promotion or high/low season price? I know in Malidves, all the hotels (including top-end) will have lower price during raining/shoulder season.
Kagehitokiri
Nov 21, 12, 3:03 pm
travel agencies that can provide a better rate
promotion
low season price
Malidves
comparables are north and fregate in the seychelles
necker is same price, but kind of different, in the caribbean
wakaya is 2nd most expensive in fiji, also yearly rate
yearly rates (no seasons) are better for travel in peak and holiday season
almost all amanresorts have yearly rate (no seasons) (although "exclusives") >
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxury-hotels/1297098-amanresorts-thread-2012-started-amanjunkie-post18219136.html#post18219136
can also think of it as low season rate, and additional rates would be even higher
development/operating cost of private island can be insane
(aman can recoup development via residences)
comparison with #bedrooms >
11 north €3884 500 acres (additional bedrooms for children only)
22 fregate €3850 (€5852 2BR) 300 acres
40 laucala $4560 ($6600 2BR $9840 3BR) 3000 acres
necker 8 $3925.75 / 14? $3,895 74 acres
15 wakaya $2280 2200 acres (not incl at least one 7BR residence?)
thebluejean
Nov 21, 12, 4:06 pm
almost all amanresorts have annual rates, but lots of "exclusives"
I know the amanresorts will publish the prices for high/low season. Sometimes they will have "package promotion" with same rate but with added benefit such as half-board or spa package.
I just wonder if Lucala also has published prices for high/low season since the price is not available on the website.
Baghoarder
Nov 21, 12, 6:18 pm
Thanks for this lovely report! I wonder if there are travel agencies that can provide a better rate instead of the rack rate. Do they ever have a promotion or high/low season price? I know in Malidves, all the hotels (including top-end) will have lower price during raining/shoulder season.
I have PM'ed you but for completeness on the thread - I am not aware of seasonal rates. However I booked through DavidO - some Virtuoso amenities apply. DavidO, as usual, did a fantastic job of making the arrangements for me. :)
thebluejean
Nov 21, 12, 8:29 pm
I have PM'ed you but for completeness on the thread - I am not aware of seasonal rates. However I booked through DavidO - some Virtuoso amenities apply. DavidO, as usual, did a fantastic job of making the arrangements for me. :)
Thank you for your reply. I will contact DavidO for more information.