KidsHolidaysOnline
family travel in Australia and the Pacific
Hotel Search
Specials
Home
|
|
KidsHolidaysOnlinefamily travel in Australia and the Pacific |
Hotel Search
Specials
Home
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Malolo Island Resort, Fiji Review Malolo Island Resort is located on the island of Malolo in the Mamanuca group of islands. The resort is reasonably small, compared to some of the other Fiji island resorts like Mana or Castaway, and we had some trouble getting accommodation for the dates we wanted, so book early. We visited in October 2003. Getting There 
We left Denarau marina at 9 am on the Tiger IV catarmaran. On the way the boat stops at a number of resorts to drop off and load passengers. First stop was South Seas Island, a beautiful postcard perfect Fijian island which is mainly used for day trips. Then it was on to Treasure and Beachcomber, then Mana and Castaway and lastly Malolo Island Resort. It was a two hour trip on the way out but only 45 minutes for the return journey. First impressions of Malolo were great. The beautiful sandy beach stretches the entire length of the resort. We were transferred by small boat to the Malolo jetty where we were greeted by Fijian music and a shell necklace. At the end of the jetty is the beachfront bar where we were given a cold tropical juice. After a quick tour of the resort we were taken to our room – only 15 minutes after we arrived.
Malolo Island Resort Rooms 
All the accommodation on Malolo Island Resort are bures. They are nearly all beachfront, with a couple set back about 20 metres but offer direct access. There are two main types – oceanview and deluxe oceanview. We stayed in a deluxe oceanview which are slightly larger than the oceanview. The room had a separate main bedroom and a large lounge which had two single beds for the kids. The bathroom had a shower but no bath. There was a walk in robe off the main bedroom with plenty of space to store all your clothes. The rooms were air conditioned with a split system positioned between the main bedroom and the lounge. The rooms also feature a lounge suite and a fridge. On the covered balcony with fantastic views overlooking the ocean are two chairs and a table. The rooms are fairly spacious however the layout could have been better designed. There is also a Family Oceanview Bure available which holds up to 8 people.
Malolo Island Resort Features 
The resort is reasonably small, with all the main areas centrally located, not too far from the accommodation. The beach bar is a popular location for both drinks and meals. The happy hour between 5.30 and 6.30 each night is popular, but never too crowded to stop you getting a seat. You can watch the sun set over the horizon listening to the Fijian band while the nightly fire lighting ceremony takes place.
The beach is great, with swimming and snorkelling directly in front of the accommodation. Plenty of sun lounges available scattered along the beach and hammocks under the trees. The beach is lined with shady trees for some respite from the hot Fijian sun.
The resort features two pools, one for adults only and one for the kids. The adults pool has a spa area and a swim up bar and is located at the base of the terrace restaurant. The kids pool is located below the adults pool, separated by a waterfall. It has a sand based shallow end, perfect for younger kids. The deeper end is tiled and deep enough for the older kids. Sun lounges surround both pools with umbrellas to protect from the sun. The shallow sand pool is also covered by a shade sail. Some extra sun lounges with umbrellas would certainly not go astray, especially when the wind picks up on the beach and everyone heads for the pools.
Malolo Island Resort Food We had an all meals included package, which usually works out to be good value. The kids ate free, regardless. Breakfast featured a choice of continental, with the usual cereals, toast, fruits and sweet breads and a full hot breakfast with the addition of bacon (shoulder only), hash browns, scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausages and baked beans as well as a chef who will prepare fresh egg dishes the way you want. Breakfast was reasonably priced, the kids enjoyed the choices, especially the fruit. For lunch you could either eat at the beach bar or the terrace restaurant. At the beach bar you could pick from toasted sandwiches (around F$8), coral trout and chips, a seafood basket (F$14) or a choice of a number of gourmet pizzas (F$18). The terrace restaurant featured an all day menu, with soups and starters, salads, sandwiches, good selection of burgers and seafood, pasta, chicken and meat dishes. Prices were reasonable from around $F8 up to $F25. For dinner there were three restaurants to pick from. The beach bar or the terrace restaurant with the same choices that were available for lunch, or the Treetops restaurant, a more up-market setting overlooking the resort, with a different menu each night. The treetops restaurant was a little more expensive (from around $F28 for mains) however we were a little disappointed with the food quality, especially the ‘fresh lobster’. Probably worth a visit, just for the quieter setting and views. Places are limited so you will need to book a day in advance. One highlight was the choices and quality of the desserts at both the treetops and the terrace restaurants. Once a week the traditional Lovo feast is held, which is a selection of meats, fish and vegetables cooked in an underground oven followed by a traditional Meke of Fijian song and dance. Theres also a weekly barbeque night with meats, chicken and fish along with a selection of tropical fruits, salads and desserts. Both good value. Malolo Island Resort Drinks Each night the beach bar offered a happy hour, with local beer and spirits half price and cocktails from $8 from 5.30 till 6.30 pm. Overall the drinks were a little on the pricey side, with Fiji bitter at $4.90 a bottle, cocktails from $11, fruit punch $5.50 and soft drinks from $2.50. The beach bar can get busy during happy hour but service was good. Service tended to be a bit slower at dinner time, but not enough to be of a worry. Bottled water was $2.50 for a small bottle and $5.50 for a larger bottle. Malolo has it’s own water catchment that supplies clean filtered water. It’s hard to avoid drinking this local water at some stage of your stay. It is used for ice in drinks and is supplied free at meal time. The water appeared fine and we had no problems from drinking it. Malolo Island Resort Activities  Plenty of activities available, some free and some at a cost. The free activities included snorkel gear (we took our own so I’m not sure on the sizes available) with snorkelling directly in front of the resort. Fish feeding daily at the end of the wharf. Good quality canoes with plenty of local attractions within easy reach of the resort including an island, shipwreck and deserted beaches. Excellent hobie cat sailing (near new boats) also available, without the usual wait found at some resorts. Some good bush walks up the hill to Jona’s lookout and down the other side to the deserted and beautiful Likuliku beach as well as a longer hike to the mangrove swamps.
Most water based activities were fairly costly. The banana boat ride was a 15 minute trip around the resort but at $60 for a family ($20 adults $10 kids) was a bit much. The kids went again as part of the kids club activities, but were still charged $10 each. Handline fishing was a two hour trip to (reportedly) the best fishing spots around the resort. The cost was $20/adult and $10/kid and although there are fish everywhere we didn’t catch anything. The boat had plenty of room and was covered to protect us from the sun. Monster tube rides were also available at the same cost as the banana boat.
Jet skis were $65 for 15 minutes, which ended up closer to 25 minutes and were great fun. Parasailing was available, but at the nearby Castaway Island resort.
The daily trip to the local Fijian village (Yaro) is a must. The village is located about 15 minutes by boat from the resort. The visit starts with a traditional kava ceremony. Be warned you are expected to drink the kava, even the kids. The taste is not good however we all managed to keep it down (some people clearly were struggling). After the kava, we were able to buy souvenirs from the villagers, with plenty of shells, necklaces and carvings including kava bowls and masks. Prices were only a little cheaper than you’d pay in the shops, but at least you know where your money goes. We were free to wander around the village and talk to the villagers and take plenty of photos, especially of all of the young Fijian kids. The cost was $20 for adults and $10 for kids. A traditional church service is available to guests at the village each Sunday morning.
Malolo also offers full diving facilities with a wide range of dives available, including a introductory course and night dives.
Other activities included snorkelling safaris to selected sites, island hopping ($59pp) and dolphin trips ($55pp).
Malolo Island Resort Kids Club  The kids club at Malolo was good, and because the resort is only small, it was never crowded. The club house is reasonably sparse, plenty of room for the kids, but only a limited number of games and puzzles, a TV, pillows and cushions and some oversized balls. The club opened at 9:30 each morning till lunch time, then an afternoon session and each night from 7pm – 9pm.
There was usually three Fijian staff at each session and their friendliness and energy really made the kids club a highlight for the kids. The number of kids varied from around 6 up to about 15, however we visited near the end of the Australian school holiday period, so numbers may be a little higher during peak times.
Daily activities included painting, craft, games, fish feeding, crab hunting ( the crabs were trained by the kids and used in the nightly crab races), beach games (egg throwing, egg and spoon races, tug of war), shell collecting, water sports (banana boats and tube rides), coconut husking, cooking, swimming and treasure hunts.
At night the kids could eat in the terrace restaurant from 5.30 to 6.30 and then its off to the kids club for activities or a movie from 7 till 9.
The night time activities included crab hunting, games, movies, crab races on the pool deck and the kids could dress up and join in the fun of the Fijian meke.
There was a registration form to fill in for each session. The supervision was fairly flexible. If you let the carers know that your kids were free to come and go there was no problems with them leaving the club. However if you told them that the kids were to remain in the club until the session was over, then they would be well looked after, and would only be allowed out with a carer. Also at the end of a session if you weren’t there to pick your kids up, they were escorted back to you.
Our kids really enjoyed this kids club and some days we would only see them during the lunch and dinner breaks or when they wandered past on their way to feed the fish at the end of the wharf. But this resort offers much more for the kids. The kids pool is excellent and the beach is long and sandy with good swimming for the kids (however does drop away sharply in depth at around 15 metres out). The kids loved a ride on the jet ski and the banana boat was also very popular). Combined with a good kids club, there’s plenty to keep the kids occupied.
Malolo Island Resort Entertainment Some sort of entertainment was provided each night on the pool deck. It included crab races, quiz nights, Mr & Mrs Bula contest or some other activity. Once a week, following the Love feast, a traditional Meke of Fijian song and dance is performed by the local Fijians. This is great entertainment and the kids are able to take part in the performance. Malolo Island Resort Boutique The boutique is located next to reception and you can purchase cold drinks, chips, sunscreen, hats, clothing and handicrafts. The boutique also had a computer for internet access. Complimentary beach towels are left in your room each night. Baby sitting is available at $5 hour – you need to book 24 hours in advance. A nurse is available on the nearby Castaway Island for any medical problems. Summary Malolo Island Resort is an excellent resort with modern accommodation, good food, plenty of activities and a good kids club. The kids probably enjoyed Malolo better than any other Fiji resort we’ve visited. Links Fiji Mainland Accommodation Fiji Island Accommodation Fiji Family Travel Guide Readers Reviews Trip Advisor Reviews Website |
|
|
|
|
|