Fiji is comprised of 333 islands. That can make deciding where to spend your vacation days a bit overwhelming. Viti Levu is Fiji’s big island; it’s where more than 70% of Fijians call home, and it’s the easiest island for travelers to reach, thanks to Nadi International Airport. It’s also where you’ll find the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa.
Accommodations
The InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa features 266 Fijian accommodations spread throughout 35 acres. Two-story lodgings are clustered together, almost in neighborhoods, throughout the oceanfront property.
I stayed in a Lagoon View Room on the second floor. The lovely panorama of Navo lagoon and uninhabited Navo Island in the distance is the star of this room category. Views could be enjoyed while lying in the king bed or relaxing on the balcony, either on the cushy daybed or from a massive soaking tub. Dark wood furniture popped against the white wall and light-colored tile floor. Two large pieces of red wall art, inspired by Masi bark cloth (also known as tapa cloth), added pops of color to the space.
The bathroom featured double sinks and a generous amount of vanity space for two. The smart layout of the area allowed two people to use the space at the same time and still maintain some privacy. The walk-in shower and water closet were located behind the vanity, each with its own separate frosted glass entry door.
Other amenities included an electric kettle and a French press, along with a nice selection of coffee and tea; the small refrigerator was even stocked with milk. But perhaps the most thoughtful room amenity was the drying rack on the room balcony. From dripping swimsuits to snorkeling gear to bits of laundry, I used it constantly during my stay.
Those with mobility issues or concerns should be sure to book ground-level accommodations. There are no elevators.
Public Spaces and Facilities
During your stay, you’ll likely have the opportunity to take part in one of a dozen complimentary activities. Depending on the day of the week, there might be a marine life talk, kava tasting, or traditional weaving demonstration.
Along with a family pool, there is an adult-only infinity pool overlooking Natadola Beach. Guests have full access to the beach, but there are no special services such as loungers or umbrellas. Pay attention to signage that warns of possible strong currents, as there is no lifeguard on duty.
Spa InterContinental features a hydrotherapy area with an ice room. A variety of treatments can be booked; the Natadola Bay Honey Retreat is the spa’s signature experience. The facial, massage, and body scrub combination includes honey harvested from bee boxes scattered across resort grounds.
The par 72 Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course doesn’t skimp on vistas; 15 out of the 18 holes feature ocean views.
Unique Experiences
Water enthusiasts will want to save a morning to take part in the Coral Planting Safari that departs from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. A pair of local, female marine biologists provides an in-depth look at the lifecycle and struggles of coral reef systems in Fiji and beyond.
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After prepping what’s best described as ocean-safe cement balls, participants take a quick boat ride to a nearby reef where the biologists search for viable broken fragments and free dive to reattach them to the reef. Snorkeling guests watch the entire fascinating process from the surface of the water. Participants with strong free diving skills (Expect water depths from 12-20 feet) can also help plant coral among the reef.
Tourism and hospitality company, Rosie Holidays, staffs an on-site tour desk. Guests can book a variety of tours and excursions, including a Sigatoka River Safari, a full-day tour that transports folks by bus and jet boat to a Fijian village to experience a kava ceremony and lunch. The resort’s exclusive Rise Above the Reef experience introduces travelers to female artisans, offering a behind-the-scenes look at their homegrown supply chain. Every purchase supports the livelihoods of women in rural and remote areas across Fiji.
All of the guest rooms and suites at the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa are stocked with ironing boards featuring hand-printed covers created by the women of Rise Beyond the Reef.
Dining Options
During your stay, you have a handful of dining options to choose from. Sanasana is the resort workhorse serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is served buffet-style, lunch a la carte, and dinner service often offers the option to choose between the two.
Toba Bar & Grill skews comfort food with a Fijian flair. Lunch and dinner options range from burgers and pizza to Khow Suey (Burmese soup, crispy onion, cashews, lime, chicken, egg, rice noodles), a haloumi bowl (couscous, cucumber, onion, olives, zaatar, pomegranate molasses), and baked king fish.
Signature restaurant Navo overlooks the lagoon and the island of the same name. Breakfast service is available for adults only, offered daily via a small buffet and an a la carte menu. At dinner, guests with children are permitted from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Selections might include Kokoda Urau (lobster, lime, coconut cream, lemon grass), oyster mushroom risotto, and smoked chicken. Dinner tables at Navo are decked out with several goods from Rise above the Reef.
For those seeking nightlife, Kama Lounge crafts cocktails overlooking Natadola Beach.
The resort also organizes hands-on cooking classes. Learn how to prepare Fiji’s national dish, Kokoda (a blend of raw fish, coconut, and citrus) or Fijian-Indian curry. For a spirited evening, sign up for a cocktail class.
Bottled water has traditionally been the safest source of water in Fiji; thus a disturbing amount of single-use plastic bottles are utilized in the hospitality industry. It’s good practice to carry a reusable water bottle and ask for filtered water from the hotel restaurant. Hopefully, water refill stations will become standard operating procedure.
Family-Friendly Offerings
The daily activity schedule is brimming with kid-friendly activities such as coconut games, hermit crab races, and tie-dye classes. The Planet Trekkers kids’ club offers programming for young guests ages four through 12. Additional fees apply. Babysitting is available for children of all ages.
Good to Know
Anticipate about an hour drive from the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa to Nadi International Airport. Airport transfers, by car or even helicopter, can be arranged by the resort.
The resort is spread out, but pathways to move about are paved. The resort features two Garden View Accessible Rooms adapted for guests with mobility issues.
For a more serene resort experience, Club InterContinental accommodations (bures 31 – 38) are a bit removed from the busiest areas of the property. Club guests enjoy several offerings such as breakfast, non-alcoholic drinks throughout the day, daily afternoon high tea, and sunset cocktails and canapés. Club InterContinental also features an infinity pool with a birds-eye view of Natadola Bay.
Rates for a Lagoon View Room at the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa start at $350 (FJ$800), breakfast included. Refreshingly, there is no resort fee; however, there is a preauthorization of $175 ($FJD 400) per night, per room upon arrival. Additionally, a 2.5% surcharge applies to all international debit/credit card transactions.
Check rates online at Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda.com, or Hotels.com.
Review and photos by San Francisco Bay Area travel writer and television correspondent Dana Rebmann. Her stay was organized by InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, but as always her thoughts and opinions are her own.
