Recommend April 2014 - (Page 35)

MCLENNAN COUSTEAU and luxury with its 19 bures (cottages) and villas. Over lunch, Hudson Mitchell, the resort's director of sales, marketing and guest services, explains that the 525-acre retreat limits its "population" to 44 guests 14 years and older at any one time-sizing up to a threeto-one staff-to-guest ratio. Aside from smiling Fijians who quickly learn our names, we rarely encounter others outside of the Dive Namale Watersports & Activity Center and Main Dining Bure. Escape artists into one-on-one time can opt for dining in bures, nooks near waterfalls or on an empty beach. We explored all three while staying in the Dream House, a 2,000-sq.-ft. hideaway overlooking the sea. No doubt guests are tempted to never leave these posh digs. Why bother when there's a dreamy water feature feeding a swimming pool that drops further down to a spa tub. The massive deck's private cabana-style daybed and shower off each bedroom truly take it over the edge. Mitchell explains that at Namale, the word "no" doesn't exist. "At the luxury level, you don't dictate to your clients. They dictate to you." That mantra proves a magnet among guests ranging from "once in a lifetime" couples to high-proﬁle travelers demanding discretion. Warm-hearted hospitality keeps the resort approachable despite atypical amenities like a digital golf driving range, hardwood basketball court and 2-lane/10-pin bowling alley. More customary, the recently refreshed Spa & Sanctuary sedates within a hydrotherapy area where ﬂoor-to-ceiling windows unfold to the sea. After a foot soak in coconut-infused water, we melted into The Spirit of Fiji treatment that blends luxurious Swedish-style strokes with spiraling movements. The resort's warm and fuzzy check-out ritual found us engraving our names and artwork onto small bricks of wet cement. Mitchell says that the high percentage of return guests channel their inner child to comb resort paths for their creations. All-inclusive rates start at $995 per couple for Garden Tropical Bures to $2,300 for up to four in the Dream House. The foodiefriendly Eat, Drink & Be Happy package extends one free night on 5-night bookings made through June 30 for stays through Dec. 31, 2014. JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU RESORT: It's a no-brainer that a resort with Cousteau in its moniker would be eco-centric. Sprawling within a former coconut plantation on Savusavu Bay, the 25-bure Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort-Fiji (JMC) goes beyond the casual splash with PADI-certiﬁed L'Adventure dive school and environmentally responsible activities. General manager Mark Slimmer notes that since JMC draws couples, families and divers, courses range from basic to advanced certiﬁcation. Dive vessels haul aquatic addicts to coveted sites in 10 to 15 minutes and highly touted Namena in 45 minutes. We're quick to catch that adventure is only part of the plan. "Our goal is to motivate visitors and especially divers to act as ambassadors of the environment," says Slimmer. JMC resident marine biologist, Johnny Singh, introduces guests to organic gardens with "edible landscaping" and water reclamation system masked within ﬂower-festooned lagoons. The welcome routine revives with a 15-minute foot massage on the deck of traditional Fijian-style bures refreshed last year. Although JMC's all-inclusive plan isn't quite as extensive as Namale's, it covers non-motorized watersports, cultural treks, yoga, rainforest hikes and Bula Club for kids 12 and under. We opt for a quick boat ride to private Naviavia Island where guests can reserve half- or full-day soirees with snorkeling, kayaking and gourmet fare prepped by resort chefs. Since JMC's Dining Bure features two 7-day menus, those staying two weeks will never order from the same line-up twice. The ultimate "nightcap" ﬁnds us on a mat seated around a kava bowl as the "Bula Boys" croon local and American classics. At press time, rates started at $1,005 nightly. KORO SUN RESORT: Shining with luxe Edgewater Bures that debuted last November, the 43-bure/villa Koro Sun Resort caters to divers, honeymooners, soft adventure lovers and those simply craving relaxation. These couples-only newbies go romantic via an elevated private porch with beach area and ladders leading directly into a blue lagoon. Reﬂecting a 30 percent grand opening discount through 2014, nightly rates start at $525 per couple. pleasant in paradise Among the various wholesalers packaging the whole shebang is Pleasant Holidays. "Fiji embodies what most people envision as the quintessential South Paciﬁc paradise," says Nadine Lu, Pleasant Holidays' product director, South Paciﬁc. "It's spectacularly beautiful, with pristine beaches, lush tropical vegetation and warm, crystal-clear waters." Lu notes that the hospitable Fijians up that appeal. "It's very family-friendly, with nanny services available at most resorts, plenty of activities for all ages and unique cultural encounters like kava ceremonies allowing travelers to experience local village traditions," she says. "It's also very private, making it ideal for romance vacations and honeymoons." Pleasant expects its steady growth in U.S. bookings to continue thanks to Fiji Airways' increased A330 capacity. Lu adds that many bookings include two islands, with most opting for several days on Viti Levu before visiting either the Mamanuca or Northern islands. The wholesaler's portfolio encompasses 33 hotels and resorts, three intimate cruises and a bevy of commissionable activities. To help agents up their Fiji mojo, Pleasant's extensive online resource center provides training, marketing materials, webinar information and promotions. The current Hot Deals campaign offers $500 savings on new all-inclusive/air-inclusive bookings made by April 14 for stays through 2014 at participating properties. Agents also earn booking points for travel to any Pleasant destination with the wholesaler's TRIP program (Travel Reward Incentive Program). Especially for U.S. east coast travelers, Lu recommends a longer Fiji vacation for better balance. "Fortunately, most resorts offer special stay/pay plans that make longer stays more advantageous," she says. "It's also a great stopover for Australia and New Zealand vacations packaged by Pleasant Holidays' luxury Journese brand." pleasantholidays.com april 2014 35 34-36 ASIA SP FIji.indd 35 3/25/14 8:11 AM http://www.pleasantholidays.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend April 2014

The Islands of Tahiti Travel Planner
Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Commune Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Collette
What's New In Mexico
Fiji: Fantasy Islands
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
RCI’s Vision of the Seas
Florida Keys
Oahu, Aston-Style
3 Isles: The Azores, Canary Islands & Gotland, Sweden
Sun-Kissed Islands: Belize & Peru
Afloat on the Indian Ocean: Zanzibar & Madagascar

Recommend April 2014