Garden Island Resort ★★★

Great resort for diving - the convenient location close to the Rainbow Reef can’t be beaten. Super relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff. There is a basic continental breakfast included which was a happy surprise for us. Our room was a good size and very comfortable. Dive shop located on site. Reception was wonderful in helping us to organise activities during our stay including a great on site massage.

Food and drinks are quite pricey which is worth considering given the only other options are a taxi ride away. The wifi was very average and non-existent in our room. If you’re scared of bats this place would be a no go as there are hundreds of them in the trees above the pool. They’re quite loud but they don’t really fly around and didn’t bother us at all.

close to ocean and diving

restaurant food wasn’t very good

Garden Island Resort was a great place to stay on our trip to Taveuni. Since the price was low, we weren't sure what to expect. The room was large and both the bed and sitting area looked right out at the beautiful view. The beds were large and very comfortable. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. It was nice having live entertainment in the lobby/eating area in the evening. The location worked great for us since it was convenient to almost everything we wanted to get to.

It was tough to connect to the internet as there was no connection in the rooms and it could be a bit spotty in the lobby. When we arrived, we saw the hotel transport driving away--even though we had scheduled transport. We had to find someone to contact the hotel to get the driver to come back to get us. Thankfully, the hotel was nearby, so we didn't wait long.

The staff were so friendly and made us feel like they were truly delighted and grateful to have us there. The island is divine. The rainbow reef amazing. We felt so welcome.

Needs just a little maintenance and extra cleaning. Our sink never drained. But taveuni had a tough time during covid so we didn't resent that. It didn't affect our love of the place.

The staff, the dive centre, the reef, the food.

The staff were lovely. The room is a great size, and bed is very comfortable. The facilities were great.

Food was terrible. I literally couldn't eat there.

The people! They were phenomenal. The dive staff made everything possible, and the hotel staff were the friendliest people I’ve ever met, warm and personal. Food was also good

Would have liked a sandy beach, but not as important as the other qualities

the staff!!! they were awesome. Day & night!!!

well - thought the rooms were in need of refreshing. The first experience was that we had to move rooms - no flushing toilet. the aircon in second room had no remote. And the bats were a problem to being able to relax in the pool (but they’d gone in the last night?) Strange pillows - not good for comfort for sleeping but great to hug. Need a line for drying clothes in room. The dining room options are way too expensive after visiting other resorts & experiencing their food.

nice setting with super friendly staff

i bit far from the airport and rooms starting to need some attention

The staff at the resort made you feel like family. Always addressing you by name and with a smile. Lovely views from restaurant, and great overall atmosphere.

Leaving

watching sea

Breakfast, food very expensive, no milk for tea, coffee and tea making front of bathroom, Aircon linking, many times about to slipped and fall. Room service filthy

The rooms are comfortable. They open out to the beach, thought truth to be told the beach is full of coral and not one for walking along or wallowing in because you would come out bleeding. But it looks nice. For those with wetsuit booties and fins, it's worth going for a snorkle (enter from the dive shop ramp). There is fabulous snorkelling only 20m or so from shore, but getting in with bare feet would be difficult. The dive shop is professionally run by helpful and proactive staff, especially Joho and Leo. The meals are restricted to one or two choices and is fairly expensive. The pool and restaurant ambiance was good. Staff were friendly.

The internet is expensive and simply doesn't work and there are no refunds offered. It is billed per device. We were there for 3 days and bought Wifi for four devices. Complained multiple times. Nothing was done. Every time it would barely be able to load a standard web-page for about 5 minutes before kicking you off. Attempts to rejoin were as likely to fail as succeed. Other guests had the same issues. Makes it difficult to transfer funds or organise fothcoming accommodation. As mentioned the beach is not one you will be swimming in or strolling along without wetsuit booties due to the coral. It is shallow for quite a way out and full of sharp coral, but as mentioned this gives way to wonderful snorkelling about 20m from shore. We came from Maravu Lodge which, while a little more rustic offered a better experience and better value for money. Better beach, even if it was a walk and it had free Wifi that just worked (important if travelling with teenagers).

The staff was very good took care of our needs. the views exceptional from our room and from the eating area. The rooms were clean and the flowers on the bed made it beautiful, furnishings were up to date. Next trip I will bring my children and stay a little longer.

I didn't like the dark open hallway from your room to the main area of the lobby I felt very uncomfortable. Need to improve on the lighting.

We went there for the diving on the Rainbow Reef. The Padi dive shop was well organised with good gear to hire, the dive leader, Leo, was knowledgable and took care of everyone well and the dive boats were safe and well equiped. The staff were all genuinely friendly and made us feel very welcome.

The wine list, it could have been better and had more variety.

Really - can I go back to Fiji yet? I highly recommend this hotel. It was definitely more money than Maravu (where I had originally planned to stay) but it was clean and insect/rodent free, which is VERY important to me. Plus, I can’t say enough how amazing the staff were.

The staff made us feel very welcome. The food was good. We liked the swimmingpool and the beautiful view. Diving was good. We enjoyed the daily fresh flowers on our bed.

Being ripped off by local taxi recommended by a receptionist - furthering her own interests. Dealing with booking.com wasn't a good experience.

This resort is nice but when you compare it to international standards it probably just scores 3 stars. Location - 2 stars - depends what activities you are wanting to do. It's on the opposite side of the island to lovena (1.75 hours) and bouma national park (1.5hours) but the closest to the rainbow reef so it's a scuba divers heaven. It cost us $100fjd to catch a return taxi to lovena/bouma national park. The local bus can take you to both for $5fjd but return times are a couple of hours after drop off and you may not have enough time to do the entire lovena coastal walk and swim and make it back in time for the return bus. For bouma you will have enough time to do the 3 falls hike, swim and make the return bus. The room - 3 stars - We stayed in a deluxe suite with an outdoor spa which was clean and comfortable. Bed was large and padded but the pillows are too big and we found oursleves adjusting all night long (like a cross between memory foam and goose down on steroids). Shower was spacious and had great pressure/different settings. Tv had a movie channel for when you're feeling lazy. Even with an outdoor curtain and blinds the sunlight was still very strong in the mornings so forget about sleep ins. Having said that you are greeted with stunning coastal views at your door step every morning. Facilities - 3 stars - They have free kayak and snorkel gear hire so you can kayak to the island just across the way (korolevu approx 2.5kms one way) and do some fantastic snorkelling across the rainbow reef. There's a cute little volley ball area and the pool, although cold, was always clean and inviting. Hammocks and sunbeds in abundance. Wifi is available at a cost. Massages also available.