Laucala, Fiji - trip report
Aug 31, 2018, 8:00 am
#197
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: UK
Posts: 1,644
Aug 31, 2018, 4:29 pm
#198
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: England
Posts: 1,361
Sep 7, 2018, 1:15 am
#199
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: England
Posts: 1,361
We booked our second visit to Laucala for 3 nights, just to see if the service had improved. It had not, but I still extended to stay 5 nights. I know that Laucala and North Island are amongst the most expensive properties in the world, but having tried both twice, I feel they are justifiably so. Reassuringly expensive, you might stay.
I had far too many moments of deja vu with the service at Laucala, often referencing where they went wrong last time and seeing it repeated this time. No serious failures, just a combination of death by a thousand cuts. It had definitely improved, but not to the point of praising any seismic shift from previously. The main surprise was how little anything had changed in the 2 years since my last visit, with the largest being a change of executive chef and therefore all menus. Properties 10x cheaper can deliver more refined service, so at times it played on my mind as I had a little grumble and then spoke to the GM at the end about it. Yet none of them can offer what Laucala can in terms of facilities and the supreme wow factor. Having recovered from their 2016 natural disasters, the beach was perfect and the setting easily amongst the most astonishing I've ever seen - think frequent changing colours of clear, blue ocean and a large marine life to add to the colour. But the real reason to visit Laucala is for what's on offer; nowhere else on the planet can you jump into a swimming pool with a 2,000m diameter then go horse riding right on the beach outside of your villa, decide to go for a swim with the horses, jump in a submarine (sans horse) and then go play on an empty 18 hole golf course whilst the instructors race after you to pour you more champagne.
Laucala does not exist to make money. Everyone can figure that out within 5 minutes of arrival, but they just seem to throw in more and more without even a moments hesitation - 24/7 nannies, dedicated activity guides and even weddings simply being part of the daily rate.
A new GM had only been in place for 3 weeks, but his background seems to suggest he will succeed. I cannot be too optimistic, as a lot of what he wants to implement his predecessor spoke to me about in 2016, but time will tell. I hope to see it next year, as we will likely pick Laucala for our honeymoon. Like everywhere else, it is not perfect, but it is an unbelievable joy to experience.
Unbelievable joy in action
I had far too many moments of deja vu with the service at Laucala, often referencing where they went wrong last time and seeing it repeated this time. No serious failures, just a combination of death by a thousand cuts. It had definitely improved, but not to the point of praising any seismic shift from previously. The main surprise was how little anything had changed in the 2 years since my last visit, with the largest being a change of executive chef and therefore all menus. Properties 10x cheaper can deliver more refined service, so at times it played on my mind as I had a little grumble and then spoke to the GM at the end about it. Yet none of them can offer what Laucala can in terms of facilities and the supreme wow factor. Having recovered from their 2016 natural disasters, the beach was perfect and the setting easily amongst the most astonishing I've ever seen - think frequent changing colours of clear, blue ocean and a large marine life to add to the colour. But the real reason to visit Laucala is for what's on offer; nowhere else on the planet can you jump into a swimming pool with a 2,000m diameter then go horse riding right on the beach outside of your villa, decide to go for a swim with the horses, jump in a submarine (sans horse) and then go play on an empty 18 hole golf course whilst the instructors race after you to pour you more champagne.
Laucala does not exist to make money. Everyone can figure that out within 5 minutes of arrival, but they just seem to throw in more and more without even a moments hesitation - 24/7 nannies, dedicated activity guides and even weddings simply being part of the daily rate.
A new GM had only been in place for 3 weeks, but his background seems to suggest he will succeed. I cannot be too optimistic, as a lot of what he wants to implement his predecessor spoke to me about in 2016, but time will tell. I hope to see it next year, as we will likely pick Laucala for our honeymoon. Like everywhere else, it is not perfect, but it is an unbelievable joy to experience.
Unbelievable joy in action
Sep 7, 2018, 6:25 am
#202
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: England
Posts: 1,361
A missed opportunity to ask, although I am quite sure that "no" is not in the vocabulary at Laucala. Playing golf whilst on horses or against horses must just be a standard request.
Likely just rinse and repeat now. There will definitely be some gems out there, but in terms of beach resorts I think Kokomo and Miavana openings have shown that it's really best to wait a few years after any (alleged) top-end resort opens to know if it's worth it or see it settle into something worth the spend. I imagine even North Island and Laucala launched to much fanfare but took a few years to find their feet. Still, just give me a few more months until I discover something shiny and I'll forget all this.
Likely just rinse and repeat now. There will definitely be some gems out there, but in terms of beach resorts I think Kokomo and Miavana openings have shown that it's really best to wait a few years after any (alleged) top-end resort opens to know if it's worth it or see it settle into something worth the spend. I imagine even North Island and Laucala launched to much fanfare but took a few years to find their feet. Still, just give me a few more months until I discover something shiny and I'll forget all this.
Sep 7, 2018, 9:04 am
#203
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
FS maldives is first "hotel" with submarine by same company, costs $1680 per hour, company had announced plans to offer for fee at more resort hotels
there are just so few (and understandably so) of a certain type of property, that has little in common with a "hotel" no matter how good the latter is
personally, part of reason i did necker island last minute was the low occupancy, and it was incredible having the main area of the great house to myself, also could have had private villa as no villa rooms were occupied. last year they frequently added availability at last minute. when i was there, branson was not, may have been part of why. i remain curious re renting from home owners (only a few) on moskito island, as common areas were nice and value should be good.
for me, things like that have made hotels and cities appeal even less, no matter how good
there are just so few (and understandably so) of a certain type of property, that has little in common with a "hotel" no matter how good the latter is
personally, part of reason i did necker island last minute was the low occupancy, and it was incredible having the main area of the great house to myself, also could have had private villa as no villa rooms were occupied. last year they frequently added availability at last minute. when i was there, branson was not, may have been part of why. i remain curious re renting from home owners (only a few) on moskito island, as common areas were nice and value should be good.
for me, things like that have made hotels and cities appeal even less, no matter how good
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Sep 7, 2018 at 10:06 am
Sep 7, 2018, 9:36 am
#204
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
We booked our second visit to Laucala for 3 nights, just to see if the service had improved. It had not, but I still extended to stay 5 nights. I know that Laucala and North Island are amongst the most expensive properties in the world, but having tried both twice, I feel they are justifiably so. Reassuringly expensive, you might stay.
I had far too many moments of deja vu with the service at Laucala, often referencing where they went wrong last time and seeing it repeated this time. No serious failures, just a combination of death by a thousand cuts. It had definitely improved, but not to the point of praising any seismic shift from previously. The main surprise was how little anything had changed in the 2 years since my last visit, with the largest being a change of executive chef and therefore all menus. Properties 10x cheaper can deliver more refined service, so at times it played on my mind as I had a little grumble and then spoke to the GM at the end about it. Yet none of them can offer what Laucala can in terms of facilities and the supreme wow factor. Having recovered from their 2016 natural disasters, the beach was perfect and the setting easily amongst the most astonishing I've ever seen - think frequent changing colours of clear, blue ocean and a large marine life to add to the colour. But the real reason to visit Laucala is for what's on offer; nowhere else on the planet can you jump into a swimming pool with a 2,000m diameter then go horse riding right on the beach outside of your villa, decide to go for a swim with the horses, jump in a submarine (sans horse) and then go play on an empty 18 hole golf course whilst the instructors race after you to pour you more champagne.
Laucala does not exist to make money. Everyone can figure that out within 5 minutes of arrival, but they just seem to throw in more and more without even a moments hesitation - 24/7 nannies, dedicated activity guides and even weddings simply being part of the daily rate.
A new GM had only been in place for 3 weeks, but his background seems to suggest he will succeed. I cannot be too optimistic, as a lot of what he wants to implement his predecessor spoke to me about in 2016, but time will tell. I hope to see it next year, as we will likely pick Laucala for our honeymoon. Like everywhere else, it is not perfect, but it is an unbelievable joy to experience.
I had far too many moments of deja vu with the service at Laucala, often referencing where they went wrong last time and seeing it repeated this time. No serious failures, just a combination of death by a thousand cuts. It had definitely improved, but not to the point of praising any seismic shift from previously. The main surprise was how little anything had changed in the 2 years since my last visit, with the largest being a change of executive chef and therefore all menus. Properties 10x cheaper can deliver more refined service, so at times it played on my mind as I had a little grumble and then spoke to the GM at the end about it. Yet none of them can offer what Laucala can in terms of facilities and the supreme wow factor. Having recovered from their 2016 natural disasters, the beach was perfect and the setting easily amongst the most astonishing I've ever seen - think frequent changing colours of clear, blue ocean and a large marine life to add to the colour. But the real reason to visit Laucala is for what's on offer; nowhere else on the planet can you jump into a swimming pool with a 2,000m diameter then go horse riding right on the beach outside of your villa, decide to go for a swim with the horses, jump in a submarine (sans horse) and then go play on an empty 18 hole golf course whilst the instructors race after you to pour you more champagne.
Laucala does not exist to make money. Everyone can figure that out within 5 minutes of arrival, but they just seem to throw in more and more without even a moments hesitation - 24/7 nannies, dedicated activity guides and even weddings simply being part of the daily rate.
A new GM had only been in place for 3 weeks, but his background seems to suggest he will succeed. I cannot be too optimistic, as a lot of what he wants to implement his predecessor spoke to me about in 2016, but time will tell. I hope to see it next year, as we will likely pick Laucala for our honeymoon. Like everywhere else, it is not perfect, but it is an unbelievable joy to experience.
So here goes:
(1) Was the air con up to bhrubin standard this stay?
(2) Was there an airport waiting lounge as was expected a year or so from your first visit?
(3) Was there a butler for your villa this stay? If so, did that aid in service delivery?
(4) Was the food as good or better/worse this stay?
(5) Was the beach any better than your last stay?
(6) Were you dreaming about me again? I’d hoped engagement might preclude those fantasies.
Sep 7, 2018, 1:37 pm
#205
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: England
Posts: 1,361
(1) Was the air con up to bhrubin standard this stay?
(2) Was there an airport waiting lounge as was expected a year or so from your first visit?
(3) Was there a butler for your villa this stay? If so, did that aid in service delivery?
(4) Was the food as good or better/worse this stay?
(5) Was the beach any better than your last stay?
(6) Were you dreaming about me again? I’d hoped engagement might preclude those fantasies.
2). We never actually got to use it - Kokomo dropped us back at Nadi right next to the Laucala plane, so we got out and walked 10 meters to Laucala's plane. However, I did ask to see the lounge on our departure and here's a pic:
Overall, not bad. Cheval Blanc and The Brando's are better, but neither of those have jets that will leave whenever you wish - at Laucala you will be waiting for only as long as you wish. They have 2 (soon to be 3) jets and will work to your schedule. This means coming from LAX you'll arrive before 6am and be in Laucala by 7am, then leave at 6pm on your final day to get the 9pm flight. Gives you 2 extra days - all free, naturally.
3). They had not implemented this, even though the last time the GM said they were going to. The current GM said they were going to as well. I really think this will make all the difference to delivering excellent service, but first they actually have to deliver it.
4). Better in some places, not as good in others. The chef had only been there 2 months, so a lot of things were changing and new staff were still due to arrive. It had the same inconsistency as last time, where you'd order something twice and get something different. They are implementing some rather novel ideas, like a frozen seafood truck that will go around offering free lobster to guests. Because why not. The quality of the produce is excellent, as 80% of it comes from the island.
5). 100%. Finally I could walk on it barefoot, which I then stuck to when playing golf too.
6). Always. Barely worth the time for either of us to ask or respond.
I actually spoke to the GM about this and said that surely they can't let a Four Seasons top them. Laucala used to charge ~$1500 for the sub, yet when the owner found out he was furious as he wanted it to be free so every guest could enjoy it. Now let's hope FS makes him even angrier and we end up with some nuclear submarine available to take us for complimentary tours around the Pacific.
Sep 14, 2018, 1:46 am
#206
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: England
Posts: 1,361
Sep 14, 2018, 3:34 am
#207
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA1K, *G & Wife of UA1K MM
Posts: 3,432
Sep 14, 2018, 8:02 am
#208
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Here there and everywhere
Posts: 6,303
Still laughing! Wonderful stuff!
Sep 14, 2018, 1:33 pm
#209
formerly declinespecificinformatiom
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 1,140
And I’ve certsinly angered some small minded mangers myself who insist their resorts are perfect
Sep 14, 2018, 1:42 pm
#210
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
I very much appreciated and enjoyed your reviews. For that much money, they need to really deliver and be just as ready for the constructive criticism when anyone thinks they don’t. If they can’t learn from it and improve, then there’s no hope for them.