Romantic Turtle Island Fiji
Turtle Island from the air.
Turtle Island is not just the most romantic resort in Fiji, it’s one of the dreamiest places in the world. I’ve written about Turtle Island before, but my husband and I recently visited again, and I can’t resist telling you about the improvements.
But first – some Turtle Island things that didn’t change
The scenery – coral islands surrounded by cerulean sea – is just as beautiful as ever. I was grateful that the seaplane taking us to Turtle Island traveled low and slow because I needed time to ponder this heart-meltingly gorgeous sight. How could I have forgotten how beautiful this place is? the voice in my head wondered.
Turtle Island hospitality is extraordinary.
The hospitality is still warm and authentically Fijian. When we landed in front of the resort, two sturdy Fijian men waded out to carry me from the plane to the shore. “Bula, Elizabeth. Bula, Richard. Welcome home.”
We were soon introduced to Mama Adi , who walked us to our bure (Fijian villa), and explained that she would be on hand to keep our quarters clean, do our laundry, arrange activities, bring us meals, book spa treatments, and generally spoil us.
It sounded too good to be true – but it wasn’t. She did everything she said, plus brought us a pot of tea in the morning, dropped off fresh cookies and a platter of tropical fruit every afternoon, and took pictures of us and assembled them into a beautiful album.
Turtle Island improvements
Privately owned, 500-acre Turtle Island consists of 14 beachfront bures, numerous precious cove beaches, an open-air sand floor dining area, well-stocked bar, chic grill restaurant, extensive organic gardens, stables, spa, boutique, and water sports center.
Turtle Island bures are twice the size I remembered.
The first thing we noticed is that the bures are twice the size they used to be. Now the super spacious villas have ample space for a king canopy bed (which Mama decorated with just-picked red hibiscus), a large hot spa, huge walk-in shower, two sinks, two toilets, a separate sitting room and large wet bar. Outside, we enjoyed the water view from our hammock in a private garden, our chaises on the beach, and – best of all – our queen day bed on our covered veranda.
Red hibiscus bloom all over Turtle Island and the mamas love decorating with them.
In addition to the larger bures, we also really appreciated the new spa. Formerly, therapists carried folding tables to the bures, but now guests enjoy the convenience of a stand-alone spa. That’s good news, but even better is the fact that the four-hand lomi lomi massage was just as good as I remembered.
Authentic Turtle Island
Having said that, what really sets Turtle apart from all other Fiji resorts is the opportunity to experience authentic Fijian culture. The 80-130 staff members – including gardeners, furniture makers, cooks, engineers, bar men, boat men, and folks who work in the spa, boutique and restaurant – all live on the island much as they would in their home village.
Village kids – some the children of staff members – arrive on Turtle Island for a concert.
Staff members laugh, play pranks on each other, and burst into song at the slightest provocation. They also go to great lengths to make sure that guests enjoy themselves. It doesn’t take long for new arrivals to notice that the Fijian way of life places a high value on kindness and joy.
The staff, together with all current and past guests, are known collectively as the “Turtle family.” Everyone is called by their first names and greeted with a huge smile and a warm bula (welcome, hello). Former guests include Al Gore, John McCain, Kevin Spacey, and Ringo Star (who signed the guest book as Richard Starkey).
Multiple crescent beaches means that couples can have one all to themselves.
Romantic Turtle Island
During our visit, two couples were on their honeymoon, another was celebrating an anniversary, one invited everyone to witness their vow renewal in the chapel, and another dressed in traditional tapa cloth for a commitment ceremony on a private beach. It’s not surprising that many Turtle guests return at frequent intervals. It’s also not surprising that Turtle Island is a favorite place for destination weddings.
Turtle Island is surrounded by a sea of beautiful aquamarine water.
We snorkeled every day, went for a walk around the island, kayaked, went fishing, and spent countless hours gazing at the beautiful blue lagoon and white sand beaches that surround the island.
What we didn’t do was just as important: no rushing (“Turtle time” is very flexible), no reading bad news (no newspapers), almost no screen time (even though wi-fi is available), no answering robo marketing calls, and no enduring the noise of neighborhood leaf blowers. (Mama swept leaves off of the veranda with a handmade straw broom.)
Dining on the sand, Turtle Island Resort, Fiji.
Richard and I shared some meals with other guests, but savored several lobster lunches alone on secluded beaches and enjoyed dining at tables for two set by Mama on our beach, on our porch, and at the end of the dock. In each of these magical settings, our dinner music was the sound of breeze rustling through palm trees, fish jumping, and guitars being strummed by our Turtle family elsewhere on the island.
While I couldn’t always make out the words they were singing, I knew their song meant “welcome home.”
Bula friends,
If you love tropical islands, you may also want to consider Huahine in French Polynesia.
Category: Destination Weddings & Honeymoons, Fiji, Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
We loved staying in an overwater bure at Likuliku Lagoon Resort on Fiji. Now we’re tempted to marry each other again and go on a second honeymoon to Turtle Island!
Fiji a beautiful landscape is blessed with great weather, making it a paradise for the vacationers.
Lovely write up, my fiancée abd I are going to be heading to Fiji as part of our round-the-world honeymoon, and I think I have just found where we will be staying!