Waitui Basecamp - Hostel

Do not recommend Waitui. We booked 6 nights and found the description and reviews misleading. There’s nowhere suitable to swim, the water stays below knee depth and is murky, with stingrays and snakes. For snorkeling, swimming, or even lying on a beach, you have to pay for a ride to blue lagoon. The food fell far short of the “5 star chef” claim. Breakfast was almost nothing, and lunches were dry bread with salad, boiled rice with salad, cold egg with salad, or cold noodles, with no meat or fish. Dinner was the best meal, but still didn’t taste like a 5 star chef had made it. Even with only 3 guests there, they wouldn’t fry fresh eggs for breakfast, so we had to eat them cold. They say the place is next to a 5 star resort and guests can use its facilities, but what they meant was 4 wooden shacks, dorms and double rooms, with no facilities. The terrace was the only common area, and it was also where we ate, where the WiFi was, and where staff spent their time. The guest bathroom was in that living area, far from the tents and full of huge wasps. Staff had claimed the bathroom by the tents. There was nowhere to get away from staff or mosquitoes. The manager played loud music in the common area all the time. When we asked him to turn it down, he ignored us. The next day, when we asked again, we were the only guests apart from one other girl. I said, “Could you maybe turn down the volume of the music?” He spluttered “WHY?!” and “No!!” before looking away. When we asked what that was about, he lectured us for having no manners because we hadn’t said “please”. There’s no nice beach, hiking isn’t great, and there’s virtually nothing to do on the island without paying. We once asked to be picked up from blue lagoon at 4, but staff forgot and came 2,5 hours late, even though we were the only guests besides one other girl. Then, an hour before departure, the manager told us our card had been declined when we booked. He said he’d known from the beginning but hadn’t mentioned it until checkout. We didn’t have enough cash, and not all our cards worked, so the last hour was stressful.

The staff and management make you feel at home and part of the “Waitui family”. There are fun activities centered around the sea and beaches, as well as chances to get closer to Fijian culture. It’s a perfect island getaway.

The tent I booked was big enough for two, but it wasn’t very clean and had too many ants inside, and they can bite. There’s no fan, so it was hot all day. I also didn’t like having to eat with all the other tourists at one big table, even when you’d rather not. I spent 4 nights there. The staff were friendly and felt like family, and the setting was very original. You take a ferry from Nadi or lautoka, then the staff collect you in their own small boat. They may welcome you with a song. The host provides all meals, with no menu or ordering. There are no supermarkets, though you can buy some snacks and drinks at reception. There are some free and paid activities to join each day.

Waitui is a tucked away bay that makes a good escape from a hectic life. The management looks after the place well, with plenty of activities for both young and old. When you arrive at the beach, the team welcomes you with a song, which makes you feel great. The chef’s food is delicious and mostly local or inspired by local cooking. You can choose glamping or a Bure. Glamping is a cozy tent with shared toilets, which could use some improvement. A Bure gives you more privacy and a great view over the Bay. There are also 2 well behaved dogs who come along on beach walks and treks up the hill. That’s part of the Waitui experience. I highly recommend it.