| Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 | |
Fiji - Likuliku Lagoon Resort - feedback / opinion please - urgent!Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Fiji | ||
My brother and sis-in-law have (tentatively) booked Likuliku for their upcoming wedding anniversary in May 2009... I request in-depth and impartial feedback from past guests at Likuliku (as some reviws have pointed these following drawbacks at Likuliku): 1) the resort island is not your typical "tropical paradise" covered with lush forest and waterfalls ... it has mostly dry scrub jungle (forget even thinking about waterfalls, like those on Taveuni island!) 2) the beach at Likuliku is covered with rough, coarse sand and some thorny weed(!) .. forget walkin' barefoot on this sand! the resort is not your typical, dreamy South Seas white sand beach paradise.. 3) the oft-repated complaint that, more than at other Fijian resorts, the low tide at Likuliu really is a big let-down for guests as half the time, guests are staring at the empty lagoon with the exposed hard coral (depressingly Martian landscape?)...by extension, the over-water bures are a joke, as half the time, they are just over-rocky coral bures! so that the time when the lagoon empties itself out, you can't dive/snorkel/swim but walkin' on rock-hard, sharp coral ... not a pleasant proposition for a couple intending to enjoy a South Seas aqua-paradise... 4) the complaint that the cuisine is more global than local (native Fijian)...that you never get to taste the native cuisine and are served a typical western diet 24/7.. 5) that food is served according to a regimented, disciplinary schedule and is not allowed to be served outside of such regimented hours! 6) that there is no interaction with any native Fijian population on the island (is there any native village at all on the island?)... are guests allowed to go on hikes or go on nature trails within the island(if at all any forest worth its name is present, that is!)? 7) the nightly nuisance of stone-hard fruit dropping off on the roofs of over-water bures (with the resident bat population wreaking havoc - of course, it's but thier island, you see!) 8) the absolute lack of privacy with the bures placed too near for individual privacy (over-water bures too!) 9) absolutely no shade on the beach ... not your typical tropical beach paradise with swaying palms skirting the beach and providing ample shade under which guets can relax (in particular, is there any risk of getting 'roasted alive' walking on an unshaded beach under a scorching tropical sun and staring at an equally depressing emptied-out rocky coral-filled lagoon, bereft of all water? 10) that the all-inclusive packages are exclusive of all/any drinks except water?! if so, does ordering drinks (alcoholic/non-alcoholic) cost us the moon?11) does Likuliku have any postives, if at all? Please give your invaluable feedback...In fact, would the foll. resorts be a far better choice for my broother/sister-in-law on their anniversary vacation to Fiji in May .. Yasawa, Wakaya, Royal Davui, Papageno, Tokoriki, Taveuni Palms, Taveuni Island Resort, Mataanoa, Vatulele, Namale, Matangi Island, Vomo, Wadigi and Qamea...Which amongst these would classify to be a perfect South Seas tropical beach/island vacation paradise fit for honeymooners or anniversary couples... Thanks in advance.. Edited by: inde_traveler | ||
I have not been to Likuliku. But I can address some of your concerns, particularly concerning what is and is not "typical" of south pacific island paradises. You'll have to appreciate that there is something of a contradiction in very upmarket resorts, which may explain some of the reviews you've read. Some people are motivated by dream fantasies, played up by marketing strategies, which don't have much to do with the realities of south seas islands. Some people want all the back-home amenities but in the 'paradise' environment. Others do want to experience a bit more of the local culture/country... anyway... 1) the resort island is not your typical "tropical paradise" covered with lush forest and waterfalls ... it has mostly dry scrub jungle (forget even thinking about waterfalls, like those on Taveuni island!) The error is in what counts as 'typical'. All of the islands of the Mamanucas and Yasawas are dry, and most are very small - enough for the one resort and that's it. For the area, Likuliku is typical. If lush, big islands are desired (for waterfalls you need bigger islands), then pick a different resort in a different area of Fiji (more east than west). 2) the beach at Likuliku is covered with rough, coarse sand and some thorny weed(!) .. forget walkin' barefoot on this sand! the resort is not your typical, dreamy South Seas white sand beach paradise.. Can't comment about the 'typical', except that this again seems to reflect erroneous expectations of guests. 3) the oft-repated complaint that, more than at other Fijian resorts, the low tide at Likuliu really is a big let-down for guests as half the time, guests are staring at the empty lagoon with the exposed hard coral (depressingly Martian landscape?)...by extension, the over-water bures are a joke, as half the time, they are just over-rocky coral bures! so that the time when the lagoon empties itself out, you can't dive/snorkel/swim but walkin' on rock-hard, sharp coral ... not a pleasant proposition for a couple intending to enjoy a South Seas aqua-paradise... Nothing atypical about this at all. Quite normal. Lagoons are very shallow, and the low-high tide difference throughout Fiji is large enough that they are usually exposed at low tide. Whether this is depressing or not again depends on what the guest imagines and wants. For many people, low tide represents a good chance to go explore the tidal pools for sea life. One solution is to find a resort not facing a lagoon or off-shore reef. Another solution is to walk to a different part of the island with beach not on lagoon (some exclusive resort guests do not want to walk, therefore the complaints). 4) the complaint that the cuisine is more global than local (native Fijian)...that you never get to taste the native cuisine and are served a typical western diet 24/7.. This is one of the implicit contradictions of upmarket resorts. They tend to cater to people who don't want a big change from what they're used to back home. For guests who DO want a local experience, it can be a bit of a letdown. 5) that food is served according to a regimented, disciplinary schedule and is not allowed to be served outside of such regimented hours! This is the rule, rather than the exception, especially on small islands with one resort. 6) that there is no interaction with any native Fijian population on the island (is there any native village at all on the island?)... are guests allowed to go on hikes or go on nature trails within the island(if at all any forest worth its name is present, that is!)? As I said, many of the Mamanuca and Yasawa resorts, particularly of the 'exclusive' sort, are built on small uninhabited islands. There are by definition no locals to interact with, aside from the staff. If interaction is desired, then research to find a bigger island is needed - and probably the 'exclusive' scenario will have to be abandoned. 7) the nightly nuisance of stone-hard fruit dropping off on the roofs of over-water bures (with the resident bat population wreaking havoc - of course, it's but thier island, you see!) Can't comment. That's paradise for you... 8) the absolute lack of privacy with the bures placed too near for individual privacy (over-water bures too!) Yes, this is easy to see even on the resort website. Personally, this does not look like a good deal to me. If someone wants bures further apart, look elsewhere. On the other hand, space is something of a premium on these small islands, so one has to be realistic about having an isolated bure and bit of the island all to themselves. 9) absolutely no shade on the beach ... not your typical tropical beach paradise with swaying palms skirting the beach and providing ample shade under which guests can relax (in particular, is there any risk of getting 'roasted alive' walking on an unshaded beach under a scorching tropical sun and staring at an equally depressing emptied-out rocky coral-filled lagoon, bereft of all water? Nothing special about Likuliku in this respect, certainly not atypical. It mostly depends on the angle of the sun and the lay of the beach. It also has to do with the nature of the tides and how that affects the tree line. On the same island one beach can be shaded and another not. 10) that the all-inclusive packages are exclusive of all/any drinks except water?! if so, does ordering drinks (alcoholic/non-alcoholic) cost us the moon? Can't comment, although, again, the setup doesn't sound unusual. I've seen other people commenting that a couple of duty-free bottles of spirits isn't a bad investment when visiting some of these resorts. I can't comment on all of the other places you mention. The Taveuni resorts are located at Matei, the north end of Taveuni. I can't vouch for the beaches (same problems with low and high tide). And there won't be a sense of being on a small, isolated island. On the plus side, the climate will be wetter, the diving better, and excursions to jungles and waterfalls possible - generally more opportunities for more activities. For what it's worth, Matei is something of a spread out village, catering more to the plush resorts in the area, but not strikingly 'local' or 'traditional' in character. | 1 | |
dear oldpro... a million thanks for your detailed, point-by-point reply that clarified all our queries....my bro and sis-in-law seem besotted with Likuliku and so your feedback counts a lot in them confirming their bookings there. warm regards | 2 | |
Old Pro - well done! One of the most balanced and in depth answers I have ever read here, could well be included in the FAQ section. Your photos are pretty darned good too. Thank you. | 3 | |
Well said Old Pro. I enjoyed the photos too - good to see old haunts through others eyes. | 4 | |
I had my own visions of paradise before I arrived, let's have no illusions about that. But I was prepared to explore the reality I found. For that reason my time in Fiji was a real and positive learning experience, both about Fiji and about myself. For the photo-lovers, here are a few of rainy Taveuni and of a much dryer Waya Island in the Yasawas. You'll notice I enjoyed poking fun at paradise. | 5 | |
Now, I haven't been to Likuliku, but I like to comment to the "Martian landscape" and the "thorny weed". Tidal differences vary between 10 cm and 2 meters here in Fiji, like on a springtide you have a huge tidal flat, exposing a large area of reef which then definetly looks kind of sad, whereas there are times you hardly have a tidal difference, all what you see is that the beach became wider. I don't know when you will be there exactly, here is the link for the tidal chart in may http://www.mobilegeographics.com:81/calendar/month/6273.html?y=2009&m=5&d=19 , The thorny weed: this might be an algea/seaweed what is seasonally washed onto shores, mostly that happens in the warm season. Either resorts rake it together (which I would expect to be done at Likuliku) or - if another spring tide is to be expected, they might just leave it, because the sea will take it back. Some years ago the island beaches of Fiji were covered in pummis pebbles, which arrived on this shores after a volcano eruption , people worked hard to get rid of it, burrying, scooping it out from the sea, or hoping for a strong high tide to take it away. Still up to today it happens that you get all of a sudden get a load of this pummis onto "your" beach. All are natural " events" which can happen to each other island resort you might choose. I hope that complements oldpros excellent reply. | 6 | |
Dear Bulabear and OldPro, Thanks a lot for your measured and in-depth analysis of all aspects of the place ... your posts have been an eye-opener of sorts! My bro and sis-in-law have confirmed Likuliku for their upcoming vacation to Fiji in May .... I'm sure they'll have a great time there .. Regards | 7 | |
If its lush and has waterfalls it means it rains a lot and it may not just rain at night. | 8 | |
Dear smandkjc Thanks for your pesrpective on Likuliku resort in particular and the Fiji islands in general ... Yes, each island and resort has its own character and USP .. and each tourist's requirements and/or tastes may also (indeed, they do, even within a family!) vary widely! Regards | 9 | |
From this thread, it seems as if Likiluki is overmarketed out just because of the O/W bungalows. So, if I wanted my honeymoon in Fiji, which Island or resort would any of your recomend for: Beachfront luxury bungalow on a white sand beach steps from the water One travel agent was pushing Qamea in Taveuni Or.... Would the Cook islands be a better option and if so, where? Thanks! | 10 | |