Page 1 | 2 | 3

LAUNDRY
Another nice amenity is that guests can have their laundry done cheaply (another reason to pack light). For example, washing a pair of underwear costs only 30 US cents. The only reason they charge at all is so people won’t abuse the system by getting everything washed twice a day. Washing, of course, hurts the environment.

SNORKELING
The first thing we did was put on our bathing suits. My dad really wanted to go snorkeling, but he didn’t feel comfortable jumping in the bath-like water (a perfect 82 degrees) because he hadn’t snorkeled in a while. To my surprise the activities guys said, "Don’t worry – we’ll teach him." The next thing I knew, there were two guys in the pool with him, and a third around on the deck giving him a refresher course. It didn’t stop there. When we went on a reef (a 10-minute boat ride away), they were in the water on each side, holding his hands to make sure nothing went wrong. I thought, Are you kidding me? Where else can you get this kind of service? It didn’t cost us anything -- and they weren’t looking for tips, either. In Fiji you don’t tip individuals – only at the end of the stay do guests give money. It goes to a Christmas fund, which is divided up with everyone at the end of the year. To top it off, while snorkeling my dad lost his favorite ring. The Fijians said, "Don’t worry, Frank. We’ll find it." And they did!

FLOAT
Guests don’t even have to get in a boat to snorkel. Down at the end of the long dock are loads of reefs and incredible fish. That was where my dad and I jumped in when he felt comfortable going without his entourage. Fifty yards away is a float. It’s a perfect place to take a break, relax, and soak in that it’s not a dream. You really are in the middle of the South Pacific.

INTERNET
After rinsing off the salt water at the outdoor shower, we took a few laps in the calm pool. I then tried to relax on one of the colorful orange day beds. I lay there with my legs crossed and thought to myself, This is unreal – I have to tell my brother and sisters. So I grabbed my laptop from my room and logged on the internet. Can you believe they have wireless internet? The only negative was that it wasn’t cheap: $42 FJD ($24 USD) for one hour. Ouch! But that’s probably a good thing, so people won’t spend time working online. When I inquired why it is so expensive I learned that in Fiji, resorts are not charged a one-time fee; instead, they are billed by the minute. The money they recoup from guests does not even cover their costs to the internet company. To use the wireless, you have to be in the bar area (where the router is located). FYI: Fiji uses the same electrical outlets as Australia, so make sure to bring a three-prong slanted plug adapter and a transformer for any electrical equipment. Fiji uses 240 volts; the U.S. operates on 120 volts.

FOOD
Another huge plus about this resort is that all meals are included -- and the food is divine. Chef Vijendra Kumar uses fresh ingredients, including local seafood and produce from the resort's organic garden. We dined outside under the stars every night except once, when it rained. And after every meal but breakfast we had at least one dessert. That’s right -- they were so good, we had to order more than one. The hotel also offered private settings, like dinner at the end of the dock or a picnic on your own private island. The island can be reached by kayak (15 minutes) or motorboat (5 minutes). But since I was with my dad, not you-know-who (Paris), having dinner in the dining room was fine.

GUESTS
Not only is the staff friendly, but the guests are as well. Something about the Fijian spirit evokes friendliness within everyone. Guests never walk by each other without saying "bula!," and many times people stop and chat. Most guests hail from the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, with a few from Europe. Some were on honeymoons. Many guests were celebrating birthdays or anniversaries, but some were just water enthusiasts. My dad made friends with everyone (as he always does), and we even some meals ate with other guests. What surprised me most was that some people had kids with them, but I didn’t know it until later. That’s because Cousteau has an amazing children’s program.

KIDS LOVE IT TOO
Seriously, I have never been to a resort that took better care of kids. I didn’t realize there were kids on property, except for hearing an occasional meltdown in a bure when walking to my room. First of all, children are discouraged from being around the big pool (called the Serenity Pool). That’s okay – it probably would be too boring for them. Their own pool has a slide. Parents loved that kids under 5 get their very own nanny, while those older than 5 are put in a group with no more than two other children. The program runs from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., with one-hour break. Here’s the best part: It’s free! Of course, kids love it. Every parent I spoke to said their kids didn’t want to leave. That’s probably because Fijians are such great people. Honeymooners will be pleased that kids rarely eat in the main dining area -- and if they do, it’s early, before everyone else. It seemed to me that most guests had breakfast with their child; then the kids had lunch and dinner with each other at the kid center, which everyone preferred.

1 | 2 | LAST PAGE >>