Conde Nast Traveller 6 October 2020 – Likuliku Lagoon Resort, Malolo Island, Fiji
We’re not saying we want to have a Tom Hanks-and-Wilson moment at Likuliku Lagoon Resort—but we’re also not saying we don’t. We’d happily give it all away for a stay at this drop-dead gorgeous island retreat, where barefoot luxury and a belly full of fresh fish are the only orders of the day. You can’t go wrong with room selection, with traditional “bures” clustered either along the beach or strung above the lagoon, the latter accessible only by a wobbly wooden gangplank. Besides location, all that distinguishes huts are private plunge pools and outdoor showers (for those who like a little island breeze where the sun don’t shine).
Standouts are the service—expect staff to remember your name, what time you roll out of bed, and how you like your joe—and the food, which is swept into your daily tariff. Chef Shane’s Fijiana, the on-site restaurant, serves up Indian- and Chinese-inspired cuisine via a menu that changes daily—one evening, you’ll inhale a plate of salt and pepper snapper, sprinkled liberally with shreds of green papaya, tamarind sauce, and a spritz of lime, and the next, a crispy kaarage fried chicken coated in hot mustard, pickled ginger, and nori seaweed.
Still hungry? The daily continental breakfast buffet deals in fresh-squeezed juice, towers of tropical fruit, and flaky pastries, breads, and yogurts, though we’ll go to bat for the poached mud crab omelette—and tell Shane not to be shy with the chili and papaya relish. Sundays are for family-style Magiti Banquets. When you’re not cracking jokes over piña coladas at Masima or Dua Tale, try tagging along for a jet ski tour of Mondriki Island (of Castaway fame), or hug a paddle board on the azure ocean waters.
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