Plantation Island Resort

The kids had a great time doing activities like tie-dye shirts, kayaking, snorkeling, pool swimming, frog racing, and cultural dancing. It's my first time here, and I can see the appeal: a beautiful spot with a great setup for families. Staff are all friendly, and kids eat free at most places, which is great.

Our stay at Plantation Island Resort recently was deeply distressing. On the last night, I woke with extensive clusters and lines of extremely itchy bites across my torso, arms, and back. My baby had bites too, thankfully far fewer than I did. I reported it at checkout and gave them photos. There was no apology at the time, and I was told to write a statement. After I emailed, the resort said the bites were likely from sandflies or mosquitoes and that they hadn't found visible evidence in the room. But bedbugs hide in places like seams and headboards. Mosquito bites don't usually appear in a line, and sandflies tend to bite around ankles and feet. The pattern, clustering, itchiness, and timing seemed very consistent with bedbugs to me, though the resort said it was likely something else. This disrupted what should have been a relaxing holiday and caused a lot of stress. Back home, we took serious precautions, including throwing out items that couldn't be adequately treated, and I had the house fumigated so we wouldn't risk bringing anything in. We spent over AU$5,000 on accommodation, so this was deeply disappointing. Most frustratingly, after denying the possibility, the resort never replied to my follow-up email or offered a meaningful resolution. Families, especially those travelling with young children, should be cautious and make sure concerns like this are taken seriously before booking.

It's a lovely place to stay, with a relaxed feel and plenty of fun activities if you want them. The staff are friendly and helpful, though food options are limited, so bring lots of snacks. We upgraded from a Garden Room, which was dark, dingy, and in need of an update, to a Poolside room, which is great.

We came as a family of twelve, from toddlers through to grandparents, including a child with severe autism, and everyone had a great time. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the facilities and experiences were amazing. If you want quality time together with children, this is the place to go.