Place We Love: magic stays in the Pacific

Our favourite resorts across the Pacific. Stay for a week, a month or a lifetime.

1.Taumeasina Island Resort

Taumeasina Island Resort in Samoa was marketed as four and half star luxury, situated on its own private island when it opened a few months ago.
Seeing is believing and we can happily confirm, this resort lives up to expectations.
We stayed in a family villa, comfortably sleeping six people, with a full kitchen, laundry, two bathrooms and three bedrooms.
The villas have been tastefully furnished and all have water views or direct water access.
The resort has 80 ocean view hotel rooms and 25 two and three-bedroom waterfront villas.
Taumeasina Island Resort caters to couples, families travelling together and the business and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) market.
There is even an outdoor kids play area, and very attentive staff available to baby sit should mum and dad want a night off in one of the resort’s restaurants or bars.
The resort has two private beaches, a cascading resort pool, fine dining and casual restaurants, lobby bar, sunset bar overlooking the ocean, day spa and a number of venue options for wedding ceremonies.
The wedding chapel is particularly stunning, set out on the peninsular of the island, the open-air venue ensures year-round breezes, and privacy within the resort complex.
For the more active guests the resort offers snorkeling, kayaking catamarans, tennis court and beach volley ball equipment.
Taumeasina also has state of the art conference facilities, business centre and meeting spaces perfect for business groups.
The island boasts views of the turquoise lagoon and Pacific Ocean, as well as the lush mountainside of Upolu island.

2.The Havannah Vanuatu

The Havannah is one of Vanuatu’s most awarded resorts. From the World Traveller’s Award for Vanuatu’s leading resort to Condé Nast’s luxury hotel winner, the accolades speak for themselves.
Guests often talk about the total relaxation, when we spoke to them here’s what they said: “Relaxing holiday with no interruptions and plenty of time to read a book or two. Great and friendly staff.” “We loved the Havannah and loved our escapade to the volcano.”
“Would highly recommend to all our friends, the relaxing style of the resort where we were able to do as much or as little as we liked. The water sport equipment was great too.”
“The Havannah is so tranquil and easy going. Nothing is too much trouble and the staff is perfect.”
“We only came here with the intention to relax – done! The location, staff, villas and inclusive activities are great!”
“A luxury resort surrounded by and complementing the intense natural beauty. Wonderful, warm and professional service, divine food and luxury accommodation. We are already planning our return trip!”

3.Sheraton Samoa Hotel

Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey’s Hotel and Bungalows in Apia is hard to define. A business hotel with a resort feel, where historical colonial façade meets modern design and unparalleled views. From the moment you set foot into the new lobby, it’s all style and sophistication, yet it retains the typical Samoan charm you would expect from a beach resort.
Hotel guests enjoy access to numerous facilities. Relax and soak up the sun beside two swimming pools. Enjoy peace of mind with a relaxing treatment at the Manaia Polynesian Spa. Stay in shape with state-of-the-art equipment at Sheraton Fitness, accessible 24 hours a day with your room key.
Club guests have special access to the Sheraton Club Lounge. A relaxing, upscale space, the Club Lounge offers complimentary breakfast, afternoon hors d’oeuvres, and a variety of beverage options. Take advantage of the private Club Lounge, where you can connect with friends, meet with your team, or simply relax by catching your favourite TV show. Need to get some work done? A copier/fax/printer and complimentary office supplies are ready to go.

4.Naisoso Island Resort

Naisoso Island Resort Villas has bagged another win at the World Luxury Hotel Awards, global tourism’s highest accolades for upmarket accommodation.
Naisoso was nominated for Luxury Villa Resort, Luxury Private Pool Villa and the Best Service Villas.
“We are so proud of our achievement and for all our staff’s dedication and hard work,” manager Nyssa Berryman said.
The award follows Naisoso’s first win for Luxury Villa Resort in 2014, and is another addition to an increasing number of honours, just three years after opening.
“Naisoso Island Resort Villas are still in very early days and we have so much more we intend on rolling out so being recognised so early on is very exciting.”
Located on the private island of Naisoso in Nadi, they are Fiji’s sole provider of upmarket villas and holiday homes, with its size, luxury amenities and self-catering options crafting a unique niche in Fiji’s bustling tourism industry.
Only a few minutes’ drive from Fiji’s main airport, the villas command a unique mix of central proximity with extreme privacy and security. They are the only high-end villas and holiday homes that offer self-catering options and full resort services in Fiji.
Villa sizes begin from 346 sqm and each is large enough for families and groups. Its returnee rate includes guests booking their third and fourth trips. Simply, Naisoso is ideal for short to medium term stay – most don’t want to leave.
The pool area is particularly inviting, with an open-air bar and causal dining area. There is also an air conditioned restaurant and undercover restaurant and bar area close to the impressive reception area.

5.Holiday Inn, Port Vila

Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu located on the beautiful First Lagoon in Port Vila offers guests a choice of several packages for the perfect holiday.
For the ‘Stay Romance’ package, guests enjoy superb service with their own personal waiter while dining in a private cabana surrounded by tiki torches overlooking the tranquil waters of Erakor Lagoon.
Delicious food, fabulous wine and great company makes for an unforgettable experience at the Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu.
And if you’re traveling with kids, mums and dads can send them (aged 3-12) to the Resorts’ free Kids Club facility which will ensure every member of the family enjoys some treat time.
The resort boasts two swimming pools, over-water bungalows, a ball room and conference facilities, water sports and day spa. And located just five minutes from Port Vila town, guests are perfectly placed to experience all of Vanuatu’s capital’s highlights.
Several other tailor-made packages are available to suit families, couples, business groups and wedding parties.

6. Amanaki Hotel, Apia

Amanaki Hotel sits across from the Mulinuu Reserve and is a 5-minute stroll to Apia’s CBD. Convenient for the corporate or leisure traveller, Amanaki offers well appointed, air conditioned rooms accompanied by scenic waterfront views of the Apia Harbour.
Guests can enjoy spacious rooms serviced daily, breezy private balconies or a swim in the beautiful tropical styled swimming pool. The onsite restaurant serves up tasty meals at affordable prices and a well stocked bar offers a variety of local and imported spirits, wines and beers.
Even the Prime Minister of Samoa is reported to say Amanaki has the best fish and chips in Apia – and located close to the fish market, it’s no wonder they pride themselves on the freshest seafood on the island.
Amanaki is a favourite for locals and expats to enjoy an after-work drink or meal. The Samoan family run hotel is a hive of activity but also offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of Apia after a day out exploring.

7.Hideaway Island Resort

Port Vila’s favourite island resort for diving and backpackers, Hideaway offers straight from the beach diving and snorkelling along with a genuine island resort feel.
Share rooms start at just $65 per night, but there are also over-sized family villas complete with their own private beach access.
Home to the world’s first underwater post office, it is such a thrill for the kids (and grown ups) to post their own waterproof post card at Vanuatu Post’s amazing post office under the sea at Hideaway.
The resort is also highly regarded for it’s restaurant – the coconut chicken curry has been a long time favourite for repeat guests and day visitors alike.
Hideaway welcomes day guests for a nominal fee. You can hire snorkelling gear or book in for a dive. A free ferry operates from the mainland at Mele Beach, on Mele Bay which is about a 15-minute drive from downtown Port Vila.
It is particularly popular on cruise ship days and located near most of Port Vila’s favourite attractions, it’s a great place to perch yourself to explore the Mele Cascades, the Vanuatu Jungle Zipline, the Secret Garden and the Summit Gardens.

8.Warwick Fiji

The Warwick Fiji is part of a large international chain with several properties in the Pacific; this is a hotel of substance with a grand foyer and impressive entrance driveway.
There are five unique restaurant choices, three bars and a romantic private island bure dining option. The culinary landscape covers Japanese, Italian, local seafood specialities, and the brasserie style Bula restaurant.
The Wiki Walu restaurant is located on its own private island and is very popular with both in-house guests and visitors from neighbouring resorts – do book ahead.
Pappagallo is the hotel’s Italian restaurant located within the main hotel complex. This restaurant engaged famed Brisbane (and now Vanuatu-based) chef Mario Alfieri to design its menu. The result is authentic Italian food with a Pacific twist.
Apart from the beach there are two pools, a kids’ club and a full suite of activities from kayaking and canoeing to fish feeding and glass bottom boat tours. There’s also a floodlit tennis court, two squash courts, a gym, an archery range, bicycle tours and village tours. For something more relaxing, there’s the spa set on the water’s edge where you can luxuriate in a range of treatments from aroma salt and milk baths to tropical manicures and pedicures using Pure Fiji and Pevonia Botanica products. So plenty to amuse the entire family.
Room choices include garden and ocean view hotel rooms, suites and family rooms.
Located on the Coral Coast, the Warwick has its own private white sand beach and is within easy distance to several of Fiji’s best attractions, including Beqa diving and Rivers Fiji Whitewater rafting.
More can be found here: www.warwickhotels.com