Imagination Island

The views from our “penthouse” room were spectacular, and snorkelling was easy and great. The crispy fish was especially yummy, but my favourite part was the staff. EJ and the team clearly enjoy their work and know how to do it well. EJ can solve just about anything, whether it’s arranging a family fishing trip, finding a way for a guest to watch the US superbowl, or helping us get a boat. We also got lucky with amazing weather. We’d been staying in gizo and spotted a great rate on booking.com. After a chat and cappachino with Alice at their cafe on gizo foreshore, we were heading over before lunch. They honoured the rate and we paid direct. I hardly ever write reviews, but our stay at imagination island made me break that habit. It’s now my favourite place to stay in the solomon islands.

Getting here takes a little effort, but it’s so worth it. The rooms are really rustic, with gaps and old school timber, and the wifi cuts out while the power comes and goes. Still, it all feels worth it. The swimming and snorkelling have been called a very large aquarium, which isn’t far off. Reef sharks even circle around the restaurant. It’s an amazing place to get away from everything, and you won’t want to leave.

We spent five lovely days on imagination island, and since we were the only guests, it felt like having a private island paradise. The resort is just a short boat ride from Gizo town and airport. Our rooms over the water were large and well placed, with wonderful views and lots of fish in the lagoon. Staff were fantastic, always friendly and helpful. We swam, snorkelled, and took it easy in a hammock with a book. There are plenty of activities and day trips, and it would be a lovely holiday spot for an extended family. It’s a rustic, somewhat dated place and won’t suit everyone. There’s no air conditioning or hot water, though at 30C I didn’t want a hot shower anyway. The accommodation is fairly basic, water comes from rain, and the toilets are composting. Power is solar with a generator running eight hours a day. Our bed was very comfortable, and fans kept us cool at night. Internet and mobile coverage from Gizo were good.

EJ and the staff are ready to do what they can to make your stay enjoyable. The accommodation is well placed, with roomy balconies and great views. You can use the resort to unwind or as a base for diving and exploring farther afield. Snorkelling around the reception, bar, and restaurant is good, and that area works well for lounging in a hammock, enjoying seafood and a drink, or spending time with good company. The place exceeded my expectations for staff, food, and relaxation.