Mana Island Resort & Spa - Fiji

The village visit was a lovely part of our stay. We walked down to meet the locals, bought some Roti, and our daughter got her hair braided. We also went on several snorkelling trips to the outer reef, including an amazing shark snorkel with our 8yo daughter. We had a great family holiday over four nights on Mana island, and wished we could have stayed longer. The rooms were tidy and comfortable, the staff were lovely, there was lots to do, the food was good, and the snorkelling right off the beach was wonderful. I spent hours looking for an island resort that was reasonably priced, with beach snorkelling and good food, and Mana fit the bill. One thing that would have improved it: an à la carte option for traditional Fiji dishes like roti, curry, or kokoda. If you aren't there on Fiji night, you miss out on local food, which is one of the main reasons we travel abroad. We'll be back!

The spa stood out as a calm little sanctuary, and dinner at the South Beach Restaurant was excellent, almost like having a private fine dining meal. The buffet was generally nice and the snorkelling was good. The island setting is beautiful, and the staff were friendly, though we were given a list of rules as soon as we arrived. We had a spacious, quiet 'deluxe' ocean front bure at the far end of the resort, but it didn't feel deluxe. The room seemed old and tired, and the bathroom was especially disappointing for a resort with this many stars. The shower and water pressure caused problems, and some doors wouldn't close properly. The couch reminded me of one from student accommodation years ago. I'd have thrown it out. Like other guests have said, maintenance is letting the resort down. Mana Island itself has superb beaches, but the property seems badly in need of fresh investment.

The meals were the one letdown. The Asian dinner night was delicious, while food on the other days was just okay and nothing special. Aside from that, we had a wonderful stay at Mana Island Resort & Spa last week. Our beachfront bungalow was perfect, with a stunning sea view, and I can highly recommend it. Having a buggy to get around the island was a real bonus. We especially loved Sunset Beach on the far side of the island. The evening views of the sunset there were unforgettable. There were plenty of activities, too. We took a really enjoyable trip to Castaway Island Beach, and there were lots of other excursions and things to do around the island. The staff were helpful and very friendly, and the whole place felt relaxing and pleasant.

What soured the trip was the checkout. I was charged twice for lunch after waiters brought two dockets to our table. I assumed the second was for drinks, but it was a duplicate food charge. I tried to sort it out when leaving, but the manager refused to refund it, and I left Mana island in tears. That was a real letdown after how kind and accommodating the other staff had been. We spent about $6k for a week, and the manager wouldn't return $60. We won't be back. I also told them it was my birthday, but there were no birthday wishes or special touches, which was sad. There were other problems. The rooms badly need refurbishing: ours had mould in the bathroom, plumbing that didn't work, and a king bed made from two singles that kept sliding apart. Bugs were everywhere, including cockroaches, ants, and snakes mentioned in the compendium. They were in the bathroom, on the floor, and in the kitchenette; even a crumb was covered in bugs within minutes. There were loads of flies in the buffet restaurant, so grab a fly fan if you can. The pool needs repairs too, with broken light fittings, a loose LED strip my baby kept trying to grab, screws sticking out under bridges, and broken planks. More shade is needed. The buffet breakfast and dinner were pretty solid, though the live cooking stations had long waits and on a couple of nights there were no tables, so we had to return later. Cocktails were pricey but strong and delicious. The beaches were stunning, our room had aircon, and snorkel gear was easy to borrow for free. Most staff were so warm and friendly, always saying Bula to my baby and making us feel welcome, with the manager at chack out as the exception. The spa was amazing. My mana massage was fabulous and left me feeling like a new person. The ocean view rooms had a beautiful view and were conveniently close to the main restaurant and pool. The boutique was a bit expensive but had the essentials. Keep in mind that you have to take a ferry to the island. Our return trip for two adults and an infant cost about $750FJD. At the end it was a very bittersweet stay. I kind of wish we'd booked Plantation, Sheraton, or Outrigger instead, since I've heard great things.