My fiancée and I recently stayed at Paradise Cove Resort, and overall we had an amazing experience. The location is absolutely stunning, and from the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed by the warm hospitality of the staff and the beauti ... See More
My fiancée and I recently stayed at Paradise Cove Resort, and overall we had an amazing experience. The location is absolutely stunning, and from the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed by the warm hospitality of the staff and the beautiful traditional welcome song.
A special thank you to Joey, who helped arrange a surprise birthday dinner for my fiancée by the poolside. It was a wonderful experience and one of the highlights of our stay.
Several staff members truly made our trip memorable. Knox, the bartender, was outstanding. He shared a lot of knowledge about the area, local culture, and activities, and always took the time to chat with guests. Una was equally fantastic. She recommended the Sunday church service in the village of Soso, which ended up being one of the most meaningful experiences of our trip. She also answered our many questions and shared interesting history about the area.
When we arrived, we had some issues with our room safe, Wi-Fi, and telephone. Api and Delai responded quickly and professionally, getting everything working in no time.
We also completed the Sunset Point trek. After we spent some extra time enjoying the sunset, Inosi came up to meet us and waited patiently before giving us a ride back down. After being eaten alive by mosquitoes, that ride was greatly appreciated! Along the way, he shared stories and knowledge about the island, making the experience even better.
I’d also like to recognize Matthew, one of the newer team members, who was incredibly friendly and welcoming. He answered many of my questions and demonstrated excellent hospitality throughout our stay.
Nabz and Joela were also wonderful. They helped ensure our luggage arrived safely and intact, checked that nothing was damaged, and were consistently friendly and kind whenever we interacted with them.
The cultural performances in the evenings were beautiful. They were engaging, entertaining, and provided a wonderful opportunity to experience Fijian culture. Seeing the indigenous Fijian staff sharing their culture, stories, and hospitality was one of the things I appreciated most during my stay.
The dive shop experience was mixed. Tex stood out as someone who truly embraced hospitality and made guests feel welcome. Unfortunately, some of the other staff members did not seem to share the same enthusiasm for guest interaction.
As for suggestions, I would love to see more traditional Fijian foods incorporated into the menu. As a Fijian, I was hoping to see more dishes featuring local staples such as taro and cassava. I also felt that some members of the food and beverage team could benefit from being more knowledgeable about the menu items when guests have questions.
My biggest suggestion relates to the Sawa-i-Lau Cave tours. Visiting the caves was one of the primary reasons I traveled all the way to the Yasawas. Unfortunately, I learned that the trips are only available on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I understand there are logistical challenges, but it was disappointing to miss out. I was told that chartering a private boat would cost approximately FJD $2,000, which felt prohibitively expensive.
I wonder if there might be opportunities to accommodate guests in these situations by posting notices, maintaining a sign-up board, or helping connect interested guests who may be willing to share the cost of a boat trip. I believe many visitors come specifically to experience the caves, and a system like this could create more opportunities for guests while making the trip more affordable.
Overall, Paradise Cove provided us with an unforgettable experience. The natural beauty, cultural experiences, and genuine warmth of the staff made our stay very special. Vinaka vakalevu to everyone who helped make our trip so memorable.