Matamanoa Island

The sea was the highlight for us, especially in the sunshine, when it showed so many shades of blue. It was magnificent, and we had an unforgettable, wonderful time over the Christmas holiday. The resort is adults-only and the island's only resort. There was rubbish along the beach, though, and it seemed like the natural environment wasn't being cared for. I spent half an hour picking up what I could see, doing my best. The last photo shows it. Mosquitoes were everywhere, day and night. There was also just one restaurant on the island, with average food and very limited choices. They weren't serving breakfast as a buffet.

Your singing was beautiful, and it was lovely to see you putting on entertainment so everyone could have a good time. Thanks to everyone working here. You treated me, my boyfriend, and my two uncles with smiles and kindness throughout the trip, and made our experience amazing. Thank you!

The people here were a real highlight, and I had a great time diving. I stayed in a room rather than a bure. It was clean and quite spacious, and really nice, though it could use a little work, like some paint. There was a patio outside with a table and three chairs. I just wish the louvered windows were clear or frosted instead of black, so more daylight could get into the room.

The reef right by the hotel is lovely, and our bungalow at the far end of the resort was probably the quietest spot. The rooms were pleasant, and having a private pool for each villa is the main plus. The views are beautiful, but the island itself feels neglected. Stones and bricks were lying around, and it seemed only the paths got cleaned. Big palm leaves were cleared only after landing on a walkway, and the mess became more noticeable farther from reception. Food was very average. We stayed four nights and saw the exact same menu every day. I tried to order the same lunch dish each day, but it was always unavailable. Several other dishes were unavailable too, with the waitress simply saying they couldn't be had that day. Once they didn't even have bananas for a banana split, which was hard to understand. One night dinner took over an hour to arrive. Guests who came in after us had already finished eating while we were still waiting. We eventually went to bed hungry. It was nowhere near what we'd expected. Service came across as indifferent. I don't need staff hovering over me, but during our stay it felt like people were there out of obligation, without much genuine hospitality. That's not what you'd expect from a place centered on guest service.