- All Matangi Island Hotels
- Matangi Island Hotel Deals
- Hotels near Matangi Private Island Resort
- By Hotel Type
- By Hotel Class
- Near Airports
There was nothing really wrong with this trip it just wasn't what we were looking for. AC was only over the bed and it didn't really get it cool enough. Not having wifi or TV in the room really made for a boring time in the room when it was raining. The staff and food were as reported, AMAZING! Very polite and accommodating. The daily activities were a lot of fun and are worth it. …
Matangi is a magical place. We returned rented the two bedroom bure with our 21 year old son. We have a wonderful time. My husband and son enjoyed fabulous scuba diving and I stuck to fabulous snorkeling. The food was outstanding. The location and setting, the service are perfect. The warmth of the owners and staff are what keep Matangi the most special place. We hope to visit again. Thank you!…
I have no clue where to start except, you WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. As I reflect on the trip I get teary eyed just thinking of what an amazing time my husband and I had. We traveled from LA to Matangi and stayed 11 unforgettable days. Our main focus was to SCUBA dive and relax. Getting there was a long trek but worth every minute. 10.5 hour flight to Nadi then a 90 min flight to Taveuni, a 20 min truck ride tot the boat and then a 30 min boat ride to Matangi. As long as you sleep on the first plane ride you are good!! My advice is to take something to help you sleep, a good travel pillow, ear plugs and eye mask. Fiji airlines does give a blanket on the flight. We were advised to have Fiji dollars for when we visited the villages and to use the ATM when we landed in Nadi. We did that and only were charged $2.38 from the bank. I did notify my bank and credit card that there would be charges in Fiji.(Helpful hint: If you have Costco Citi Bank card you are also charged no foreign transaction fees, however the entire island of Fiji will add a 2.5% tax if you use it, however it ends up being a wash after you get the perks from that credit card.) Once we got on the boat we both knew we were on the last leg of the journey! As we were arriving we saw about 10 people on the beach singing as we arrived! They were welcoming us to the Island. As soon as we stepped off the boat we were welcomed with big smiles and song then escorted to the dining area where they asked us to first enjoy a breakfast and gave us a real coconut drink and some cool washcloths that smelled amazing to help rejuvenate us. After we ate they invited us to sit down where they talked to us for a few minutes, took some info and then escorted us to our amazing bure. The bure was as nice in person as it was in the pictures online. The first day was relaxing, we had a massage, booked our dives for the next day and explored the island. Everywhere we went there was a friendly smile and a joyful "Bula" (meaning hello/welcome). We felt welcomed in all areas of the island including where the people lived, where they had a clam farm, etc... where ever we went the staff knew our name and which bure we were in. They would walk up to us personally, shake our hands, welcome us and introduce themselves. It felt better than home, because they did everything for us and with a smile. I love that no one had a chip on their shoulder. The 2nd day was the start of our SCUBA diving and I will say it doesn't disappoint. It is one of the best places I have ever dove. Every time I went underwater I was saying to myself "WOW!!!!" Diving left at 9am and we returned around noon. We quickly scheduled an all day trip to the Rainbow Reef, which is a day trip from 7-3. Rainbow Reef is a definite must! You do have to have some experience with diving because it is in the middle of the ocean and deep with a lot of current. Bali was our guide for this day and he was great!! Eric was the dive guide most day and we loved him as much! Jack was the captain and he was a lot of fun to talk to as well! In between dives we would visit a local beach where we would have "tea time" and cookies. We really enjoyed this tradition and even on our non diving days my husband and I would enjoy tea time in our bure looking out to the ocean. We did 6 days of diving and also an all day Taveuni excursion tour with Tim (who is truly amazing and so nice!) We visited two water falls, the date line, lunch at a beach and went to town. Don't expect good souvenir shopping because there isn't a lot for tourist, it is basically for the locals to do their daily shopping, however they do visit a grocery store if you want to buy drinks or food. You will need Fijian money for donations at the water falls. Never worry about food for an all day trip. Matangi hooks you up with a 5 course meal for lunch!! I was thinking we would get a sandwich. Nope!! We got chicken, quiche, potato salad, fruit, cookies! Everything tasted amazing. Again, it was so nice to be taken care of and not worry. Another day my husband and I ventured the 3 mile hike around the Island where you go up and look over Horseshoe bay. There are two different routes, we took the hardest route, if I did it again I would take the coastal easier route. It was a nice hike, however, I would wear bug repellant, long pants and long shirts and hiking shoes. It is very muddy, a lot of spiders and spider webs everywhere! It definitely felt like the jungle. I had my hubby lead the way and he had a stick to wack webs out of our way. You definitely will see wild goats, pig & piglets and cows. Don't expect a panoramic view of Horseshoe bay due to the canopy but you will see good glimpses. It is not a well paved path but it is well guided and you won't get lost. They do offer private trips for couples to Horseshoe Bay twice a day. The AM is longer and you get a nice lunch. The PM trip is less time and you get a cheese platter. we did add Champagne. I thought it was a fun excursion that does fill up fast. The only thing that was disappointing was we were told there was running water and there wasn't. My husband had to use a bucket of ocean water to flush the toilet. Also, there are a lot of ants, so when we placed the covered cheese platter down (for 15 minutes), when we came to it it was covered in ants. We felt this was a waste but didn't let it ruin our time. One of the best excursions we did, and it was last minute was visit the Togo Village for 2 hours. What a beautiful experience!! When you go know that men should not wear a hat, ladies need to have their shoulders and knees covered. (you are given a sarong when you arrive at Matangi so you can use that.) We met the ladies from the village, the chief, the school principal and the beautiful children who were very curious but happy to see us. We got a tour of their village including the school and their churches. We were able to purchase some arts and crafts here that the ladies from the village had made. We even had a Kava ceremony with the chief and ladies. You will need Fijian money if you go here as well because the ask for a donation for the school and if you choose to buy anything. Again we were welcomed with open arms and when we left they sang us a song. I absolutely recommend this! Every morning at breakfast you choose your lunch and dinner. We were there 11 days and every day there was something different & delicious! I loved every meal. I never was hungry the entire time I was there. There is homemade cookies and bread and butter at every meal!! I think I ate more bread and butter the time I was there than I do in an entire year because it was so fresh & delicious! The cookies were so yummy! You quickly find your favorite. I think I ate 10 a day!!! We bought the meal plan up front but ended up being too tired two nights so we didnt eat dinner. It was easier to do this and already have it paid before we arrived, but if you are not sure if you will eat every meal maybe doing the alternative is better. At dinner time ta few of the Matangi staff come and sing during dinner. They do this out of the kindness of their heart and it is so wonderful and relaxing! One night the local village and Matangi workers put on a Fijian dance show. I was blown away by their generosity and kindness to do this for us that I was moved by tears! The Fijians are the most happy and kind culture I have ever known! They truly show brotherly love to everyone! I absolutely loved that night! One night Tim did a Kava ceremony. A bunch of us kept asking for it, so not sure if it is a weekly thing or that he knew a lot of us were interested. Tim did an amazing job!! We all tried Kava (some more than others). He taught us about the culture, traditions and how Kava is made. I did enjoy doing this ceremony but I do not need to try Kava again. Id rather have a glass of wine! During the day they have little activities to learn about the culture. Sireli did an amazing coconut demonstration where he taught us all about husking and coring a coconut to demonstrating how they used every single part of the coconut. The Fijian people are definitely resourceful and do not waste a thing. He even made us a Fijian snack with coconut milk and crackers! WiFi is only good in the eating are and by the pool. You do get only 1 device hook up and if you need any other device you are charged a weekly or daily rate. It isn't much. At first you think ughhhh! But it is nice to be disconnected from the world and just enjoy what Matangi has to offer. My husband works on vacation and would be up at 4 am sitting in the restaurant on his computer. He would be there when Bale & Sera set up for breakfast. Bale quickly learned the way my husband took his coffee and would spoil by just bringing it to him without even questioning if he wanted some. We just loved her! We would have cocktails in the afternoon and evening and we would get a chance to talk to BiBi & John. They were always so kind and fun to talk to. They would give you the best Breadfruit chips to munch on!!! One thing I loved about the staff at Matangi is if you had a question about anything, anyone would solve it for you. I never was told to go ask someone else or that they did not know the answer. They ALWAYS solved it for you. They NEVER "Passed the buck!" while there i would hear the farewell song when someone left. The day we left I was dreading hearing the song because I knew it would break my heart. As we left to go home tears were streaming out of eyes as they sang and waved goodbye to us. It was such a beautiful fare. I loved it! I know this review is long and I am sure I am missing something, However, I did try to hit on everything! If you are wanting to bring anything to Fiji, the schools would love supplies! I wish I knew that. I promised Koro & John that if I came back I would bring them a Yeti cup. They are so expensive and can not get in Fiji. I used mine daily for water! Laundry is done everyday. It is brought back at night. Never fret if you are missing something, because they will hand dry things for you and you will get it the following day. I can't say enough about the staff. Sereli, Serina (Brother & Sister) are so sweet!. The landscapers, housekeeping, turn down service is wonderful! I can not wait to visit Matangi again! A trip I will always remember and the people I met will always be in my heart!…
Two tickets to paradise? Have you ever considered what it’s like to travel with chronic illnesses, rare diseases, allergies and dietary restrictions? Where. Would. You. Go? With whom? How? And what could you do anyway? You begin to take stock make lists and thoughtful considerations… First things first… budget, safety, activities, medications, escape plans, emergency services… Okay, now B R E A T H E Research. Evaluate your needs, and look online. I was presented with an opportunity, for the first time in years, to have a trip with my daughter. My favorite person, and the one I want to share my best moments with, always. My reality? I am a burden. I’m sick. I’m disabled. What if something went wrong? Okay. I considered my daily fatigue, pain and restrictions, I thought… where can we possibly go? Somewhere clean, relaxing, affordable, where I can be as active or inactive as necessary. Sounds like a good recipe for a beach vacation. Actively and deliberately the task of finding the perfect location took a bit longer than I thought, and I considered alternatives. Then I googled, “beach vacations with disabilities and food restrictions”, and I fumbled upon this resort called, Matangi Island Resort in Fiji. It was the only one I found. Of course, Hawaii was a closer trip, but, expensive and I desperately wanted to explore a new place with my daughter. The months leading up to the departure were a bit crazy, I worried about everything, from food, to accommodations, and making an emergency preparedness plan. Once you’ve been thrown into, “sick life”, not just,” I have a chronic illness life”, the medical PTSD, will cause you to do whatever it takes to avoid the hospital and ER is front and center. Too many times in the ambulance, the beeping, the scurried anxiety, the IV, the taste of saline entering your mouth as the drugs and fluids start to flow. It’s even worse thinking about this in a different country. You get clearance from ALL of your specialists. ALL OF THEM. You pack a month’s worth of medications for a week long stay. You pack your blood pressure medicine, thermometer, pulse oximeter, there’s an EpiPen in every bag. The resort is alerted that someone is coming with medical and dietary limitations, as is the airlines. You pack very heavy bags, with very few articles of clothing, but a lot of everything else. Of course, you pack snacks, in case your concerns and limitations are neglected. As a sick American, you learn quickly, you can only rely on yourself. You survive the flight. It wasn’t comfortable, and yes they neglected to follow through with my dietary restrictions, but, we de-board the flight, and suddenly breath in this heavy feeling, warm air. You’re greeted by smiling eyes people with dark, rich skin, warm, friendly and just offering to help. WHERE AM I? This, is Fiji. We boarded a small airplane that holds maybe 15 passengers, and we’re lifted into the air, and amazed by the islands and sandbars that you can see, far below. It’s loud but the thrill of what you see awakens every sense of awe, that was shoved far away, forgotten after years of hell. The small craft lands and you’re on this tiny runway, and there’s a little shack. People arranging their boats to other islands, which I assumed we’d need to do as well. I tell them where we’re going, and there’s nothing to be arranged, because our hosts from Matangi resort, are waiting for us. Yes. Expecting us, ready for us. Wow… We’re in a van with an older couple also going to Matangi and we enjoy a 20 minute drive, where the man who was driving the van was showing us places of interest, an area where, ‘Survivor’, was filmed, (honestly one of the reasons I thought Fiji would be cool to visit), and we’re dropped off, where a boat is waiting for us. They load us and our baggage onto the vessel. Captain Jack takes us on the last 15-20 minute leg of the journey, to the resort. We are all in AWE, the water is clear, pristine waves of sapphires and emeralds, the air is clear, it’s raining a little, but it’s warm. You’re in this tired, and energized state, this lush green place, the islands, it’s exhilarating and you’re so unsure of what you’ll meet, upon arriving to the resort. In the United States, you know, you’ll check in, give a credit card, be given directions to your room, handed an electronic keycard and be left alone. This is NOT, the United States. As we approach the resort, there’s singing and clapping. Wait, what’s going on? Some event, likely? Yes, only you don’t know, YOU, are the event! You step off the boat with assistance, into a few inches of warm water, and EVERYONE greets you with a warm smile, a handshake and an exchange of names. There’s a table that they seat you, a fresh coconut with a straw and pink flower, a damp cloth for your face. No credit card, no magnetic room key, no TV, but a meal, fresh air, and smiles. They take your luggage to your room, in fact you barely think about the fact that you have in fact, brought luggage with you! There’s a spread of fresh fruits, juice, toast, pastries, made to order coffees are soon brought, with a menu, the first of two. One is for the breakfast that morning, the other comes to pick your selection of lunch and dinner. All the meals are included in your stay. You find yourself in a dazed bliss, belly full of delicious, clean, fresh and safe food, with all of this unexpected luxury surrounding you. No, it’s not like a, “Ritz or Four Seasons”, type of luxury, its nature combined with a warm luxury. There is want for nothing in this place. You may think you’ll be able to stream Netflix from your room, or probably a cable TV setup. Nope. Just Wifi available for one device, and only in the dining area and pool area, because, “Matangi is a place to disconnect, unwind, and relax”. WHAT? You’re shown to your bure, every one of them a private oasis just a few feet from the water. There are lounge chairs, umbrellas, a hammock, sun and shade with a dream porch with comfy outdoor furniture to simply sit, check out the view. No social media, no news, because you have officially entered your vacation. A veritable detox that the soul yearns for in the everyday minutia of how we operate daily. That cog in the wheel that isn’t allowed to not be constantly informed of everything that’s happening in the world. Instant gratification now comes in the form of warm water hitting your feet and wrapping around your ankles and you realize you don’t even need to check the air quality index, you can breathe deeply, and that sense of calm washes over you. They tell you when mealtimes are, which are all in the dining area, no room service, you take this little walk on the pristine shoreline to get your meal, a daily changing menu with 3-4 options. During the meals is when you get the information of the activities and so on, to which I doubted I could participate in. Seems like enjoying the beach in front of our bure will be paradise enough for me. You learn about the daily snorkeling, at 10:30am and 3pm, there’s a spa, a private dinner and a private picnic in horseshoe bay. There are scuba dives, and trips to the village, a costal walk, cooking demonstrations, craft demonstrations. All of it seem an impossible feat to this sick lady. Then the most unexpected shift occurs. Clean food, water and air. Warmth, smiles, care, nurture surround EVERYONE. Every one of my dietary and medical needs are met with warmth and compassion. It’s profoundly improving my energy and pain levels. My lungs are working better, so my heart works better and my energy increases, the fatigue start to fade and I feel like a person again. Not just a medical experiment, but an actual person, someone I thought was long lost, gone. Maybe just moments here and there where I have small alleviations from symptoms and medications, hospitals and doctors appointments. Then my American mind starts to spin… Is this too good to be true? What’s the catch? Nothing this good is possible, right? wrong. Turns out, the digital detox is exactly what’s needed! The first time snorkeling they tell me to use a noodle to help conserve my energy, as Tim, the co-concierge takes me in my very first snorkeling experience, in the boat area. I’m well instructed and gain confidence, so he takes my daughter and I further out into the water, the crystal clear water, as he dives down to show us enormous clams, purple starfish, and so many different fish, that you mostly see in aquariums. They’re just swimming around in their natural habitat as we get to witness this underwater marvel! The motion of the water had a bit of an impact on me, and the rest of the day was spent lazing around! The next day, we planned the snorkeling for later in the day, so we won’t feel so nauseous from the motion of the water. We hop aboard the vessel, they’re taking us to, Horseshoe Bay, because the tide was too low in the later afternoon. This time, the water wasn’t bothersome, at all! Our snorkeling guide, Paul, shows us the amazingness of the underwater world at Horseshoe Bay! I was definitely coming back to LIFE here! In the evening for dinner, Paul and Tim sing to us, Paul strumming his guitar and Jim on the ukulele, and suddenly we hear some favorite songs from home, most of the songs are in a different language, but the sound of John Denver’s, ‘Country Road’, was immediately definable and thoroughly enjoyed by us! The ambience is set, and make no mistake, this resort is all about sustainability, which comes to my delight as a Gen-X, middle aged, Bay Area mom! The candlelight, delicious, clean and organic, fresh meals. Tim offers us a little excursion that my daughter desperately wants to participate in, checking out the natural waterslide and the walk to the waterfall. YIKES! Okay, what do I need to do, to make this successful? Water… lots of water, stay hydrated and knowledge of places to rest. They lend us a backpack that I can load up with bottles of water, and other necessities, to put mine and my daughter’s mind and ease! We meet up with a young couple, there, celebrating their one year anniversary, after celebrating their honeymoon at Matangi the year before. We clicked with them immediately and shared a lovely day, exploring the waterfall, the slide, the picnic, and promptly make plans to snorkel together the following day at the shipwreck! When I reflect on my trip, I think about how much, EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON at Matangi Resort set me up for a successful vacation with my most significant loved one, ever, my daughter. We learned from the young couple that they planned this stay to be longer than their first stay. Then we begin to meet others, who have been there multiple times! As every morning Bale prepares our coffees perfectly, Siteri, Sera, Koro bring us our foods, John and Salote prepare the cocktails and smoothies, Paul and Jimmy serenade us every evening, while Tim and Sireli inform us, check in with us, and just chat, you feel you’ve made another family. Your Island family. You may see some that you’ll never know their names, as they clear fallen coconuts and leaves from the path, it never stops you from a friendly exchange of, “bula”, with a warm smile and wide open eyes. You learn that island time is exactly the clock you need, until it’s time to catch your flight. Don’t be fooled. You won’t want to leave. It’s like Neverland, you being to forget why you live where you do, and you want to be adopted into this island mentality, the once cannibalistic society turned christian, you have a concern for most americanized Christianity of, “I’ll love you if…” no ifs about it, they’re puristic about it. Jesus says we’re all equal, “as I have loved you, love one another”. Its the kind of Christianity I’ve always wondered, where it existed. We found it in paradise. Where you’re loved and accepted as you are. Where you’re nurtured and met, where you need to be met. So as they gather to serenade you as you board the boat to make your return to whichever country you come from, the tears will inevitably spill. Your heart will long for their daily presence, the moment you drift away from this island resort they call Matangi. It’s entirely clear why so many people have returned several times. One woman said she learned about Matangi, (this was her 3rd trip), after hearing about it from a man who had been there 18 times! I get it. I’ll never forget it. This was an experience met with compassion and care that nurtures body, mind and spirit and gave my daughter and I some truly unforgettable moments that my heart will cling to forever. As the velvety warm air wrapped us, and a hug from everyone we saw as we were departing all I can say is thank you Matangi for giving this sick woman and her only daughter a moment that revived us both and gave me a reprieve from my identity as a sick person. Because now I know, Matangi will be there, and I can return to her embrace again and I’ll be reminded of what’s possible, despite limitations.…
An amazing resort with breathtaking views. We recently spent 4 nights there for our 25th anniversary. We also renewed our vows there and it's something I'll never forget. The people and the food were amazing, our bure was spectacular. My husband loved his scuba diving and I loved to sit by the ocean on one of their swinging beds just taking in the surroundings. A very relaxing, tranquil and beautiful spot, run by amazing people. We hope to go again!…
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your Listing