Funky Fish Beach & Surf Resort - Hostel

Ben and John were especially kind. Once they heard it was our first trip to Fiji, they shared plenty of helpful travel tips. Most of the team at Funky Fish Resort came across as friendly and professional. The staff member at reception who was in charge of activities was a very different experience. We were polite with him, but he seemed rude and uninterested, and rarely explained things clearly. He didn’t remind us about activities, so we had to check the details ourselves each time. He said he’d tell us when the fishing trip was, then never followed up. On checkout day he spent much of the time chatting on his phone with friends, and his delay nearly caused us to miss our boat. It’s a shame this affected our stay when the rest of the staff had made such a good impression.

The girls cooked good food, and most of the staff were friendly, especially Irena and Katharina. The natural setting is nice for snorkeling, though I didn’t see many fish, just two octopuses. Two days felt about right, one for snorkeling and one for a hike. After that, I was bored. The manager felt odd to me, and I got the impression he didn’t like me. At checkout he said I’d pay for the boat somewhere else, but charged me to get there without explaining that beforehand. When I went back to ask about the amount, he questioned why I was paying more. The boat price had gone up 25% from what I was originally told. I wouldn’t trust him. I asked twice for pool towels and he ignored me, giving an excuse.

We left Funky Fish after about two hours, within an hour of arriving we’d decided to find another place to stay. The resort wouldn’t offer even a partial refund, and we’d paid a fair amount. It isn’t realistically much cheaper than other resorts. Another group who arrived that day was also trying to find somewhere else. The resort was in very poor shape. It looked run down, the so-called beach was more like a swamp, and the pool area was dirty and shabby. The warped wooden terrace looked as if it could give way at any moment. We arrived on New Year’s Eve expecting activities and music, but one staff member was covering the whole bar and restaurant area. Booking.com listed menu choices, yet we were told, “you eat what the chef cooks.” Fish was served for lunch. I don’t eat fish and had said I was fine without lunch, but they brought it anyway and asked me to try some. Later, while we were by the bar and pool with other guests, a staff member sprayed weed killer or insect repellent, and it drifted over the pool and bar area. I usually take bad reviews with a pinch of salt, but I wouldn’t want anyone’s Fiji holiday spoiled by staying here. The two hours we spent were extremely poor.

A lovely, clean pool and beach, and a really nice location. Great place if you surf. If you don’t, activities mean taking a boat, which you can arrange at Reception. Scuba diving and snorkeling are available too. Thanks!