Fiji Center

5 Words that best describe your Lalati Resort & Spa:

• Intimate
• Rejuvenating
• Affordable
• Romantic
• Adventurous

Tell us the best thing about Lalati Resort & Spa :

It’s hard to pinpoint the “one thing” of which we are most proud, as everything combines to make the complete package. Take an unspoiled location, and mix in the most remarkable people on the face of the earth, an intimate boutique and personal experience, and that barely touches our source of “pride.” If we had to choose just one “best thing” I would have to say it’s the genuine spirit of Lalati Resort – which shines off the glimmering bay, and in the eyes of the warm and gracious staff as they welcome guests into their hearts and lives.

Tell us about the best thing about Lalati Resort & Spa location:

Lalati Resort is located off Fiji’s Pacific Coast, on Beqa Island. The resort sits at the mouth of Malumu Bay, a “safe harbour” and picturesque, calm bay that opens to Beqa Lagoon. We are the closest resort to the majority of dive and snorkelling sites in Beqa Lagoon, so a quick 5-15 minute boat ride will get you to the most incredible underwater wonders, and have you back by lunchtime.

Beqa is beautiful and mystical, with no roads leading around the island, and a 30-40 minute ride away from the main island. This keeps the location pristine and untouched, and the reefs healthy and teeming with life. The island itself is remote and unspoiled, yet close enough to the main island that a quick boat ride will allow you to participate in main island activities as well, back before sunset to your outer island “home.”

Why future visitors to Fiji should visit Lalati Resort & Spa location?

The location of Lalati Resort is a kind of dichotomy. It’s far off the beaten path … in fact, there is no path/road on Beqa Island. All travel around the island is via boat. This keeps the island and surrounding lagoon untouched. Lalati is not located close to any other resorts, so the setting is ours and ours alone. Yet the dichotomy comes into play when you consider we are only 30 minutes away from the “adventure capital of Fiji.” It’s the best of both worlds.

You are surrounded by peace and serenity, yet adventure can be found all around you. Beqa Lagoon has some of the best diving and snorkelling spots in all of Fiji, with one of the most famous surf breaks in the islands. Our bay is calm, great for kayaking, wakeboarding, waterskiing, swimming. And another 30 minutes will take guests to zipline canopy tours, white water rafting, jet skiing safaris, city tours, bamboo raft rides and have them back on their outer island paradise before sunset.

Can you give us a quick/brief history of Lalati Resort & Spa?

Lalati Resort & Spa was originally set up 10 years ago as an eco resort for upscale surfers. However, its close proximity to the majority of the best dive sites in Beqa Lagoon soon earned it a reputation as a great dive destination. Lalati started with 5 oceanfront accommodations, and second owners added a honeymoon suite, a hillside accommodation, pool and spa. It gained a reputation mainly as a relaxing and restful retreat.

In December 2009 new owners took the helm, giving Lalati a new life, breath, and energy. Prices were brought in line with other resorts in the 4-star category, and the new pricing brought an immediate increase in occupancy, as well as popularity to the resort’s the premier honeymoon suite. An additional honeymoon suite was created, and a second hillside cottage was brought online to meet this demand and also meet the needs of dive groups, who began booking the resort with regularity in early 2009.

The resort was well known for its fine cuisine, and the menu was further developed, with international guest chefs brought in to increase options and offer additional training for the chefs. A full activities staff was hired, which includes an activities director, activities coordinator and full time guides. This staff explored the seas and land, creating a host of adventures for our guests to experience.

The spa was expanded, with an array of treatments added to the existing spa menu. “Special Event Massages” were created, including a Moonlight Massage on the pier, and an Ultimate Day Spa Experience – with treatments performed offsite on a private white sand beach only accessible by boat.

The resort now enjoys an organic garden that produces some of the fresh, seasonal fruits and artisan vegetables, and a new hydroponic garden created in October is producing spectacular herbs and vegetables.

Lalati’s current reputation is that of an outer island sanctuary offering romantic interludes, intimate small group experiences, a full array of activities, and a haven for honeymoons, destination weddings, divers, snorkelers and explorers. We like to say we are “one resort … with endless possibilities.”

What are the priorities of Lalati Resort & Spa towards your customers/guest?

Lalati guests ARE our priority. We operate on the adage that there is no request too big, or too small, for our attention. We try to find out as much about our guests as we can before they arrive. Being small (10 villas/cottages) allows us to cater for special requests, whether that would be special dietary requirements, a unique wedding venue, an anniversary celebration, or a visit to a previously unknown dive site. Our goal is to provide our guests with a special holiday experience distinctive and tailor-made.

Describe a typical vacation day for Lalati Resort & Spa guests?

Wake up to a brilliant sunrise (or sleep in to the sounds of the waves gently lapping the shore). Breakfast is ready when you arise – a spread of fresh fruits, coconut scones or hot cinnamon buns, while you wait for your made-to-order hot breakfast item to be served with a warm “BULA” and a friendly smile.

The day holds many possibilities – a snorkelling safari to the best spots in world famous Beqa Lagoon. A guided kayak to infamous Bat Island. An invigorating hike up the mountain for views to die for. Maybe you’d like to dive the world class sites just minutes from your front door, or surf Frigate’s passage, a famous left-hand break where double overheads are common. For romance and rejuvenation, you can’t beat a Robinson Crusoe style getaway for the day, on a private beach only accessible by boat, with a gourmet picnic basket and esky of ice cold sodas and Fiji beer. Or rejuvenate with a Beqa Hot Rocks massage, a coconut scrub or seaweed mask, or all three!

After lunch, participate in an herbal hike to discover the treasures of the rainforest, or wakeboard in Malumu Bay. As the sun sets, head out to the pier for a fun “chasing the sunset cruise” with appetisers and Lalati’s famous rum punch. For the ultimate romance, have a candlelight dinner alone under the thatched gazebo at the end of the pier, and top it off with a Full Moon massage, before you drift blissfully to sleep in your private villa, only to awaken the next day to further discovery.

Tell us about Lalati Resort & Spa Accommodation facilities. What are the best features of Lalati Resort & Spa?
Lalati Resort has a total of 10 accommodations – 5 Oceanfront Villas, 2 Honeymoon Suites and 2 Seaside Cottages. All accommodations are oversized, large and roomy, with king beds and separate sitting rooms. Large lanais give our guests additional outdoor living space, with hammocks and patio furnishings just perfect for gazing at the sea or enjoying our spectacular sunrises.

Our Beachfront and Garden Honeymoon Villas are hideaways we like to boast about. Both have large, airy interiors with object d’art and large 4-poster palmwood beds, elevated to catch the gentle tradewind breezes. The Beachfront Villa has an additional private outdoor courtyard, with doors that open for ocean views, or close for total privacy. The courtyard features a hot tub, outdoor rock shower, mini waterfall and double daybed for lounging. The Garden Villa has a large front deck with Jacuzzi for soaking and relaxing, and a “wet room” – tiled room off the Jacuzzi with a beautiful wood and stained glass wet bar. The Garden Honeymoon Villa also comes with a complimentary mini bar, replenished daily. Both Suites have TV and DVD player with a library of DVDs readily accessible.

Oceanfront Villas feature uninterrupted views of the reef and bay, and have 2 separate bedrooms. One with king sized bed and sitting room, a second with a queen bed that can also double as a second sitting room.

Seaview Cottages are the “entry level” accommodations, but are reminiscent of lakeside or seaside summer cottages. They have large sitting areas, private bedrooms, and sea views.

The main bure holds the bar, restaurant, kitchen and also serves as the general meeting place – a place to gather for a coconut demonstration, starting spot to a “medicine man” tour or hike up Lalati Mountain, or just a place to lounge, play a board game, or read a book under a ceiling fan.

What Services and Activities does your resort offer to your guests…
Lalati Resort, being a premier honeymoon destination, offers many romantic excursions. A “Chasing the Sunset” cruise, private beach picnics, private guided coastal kayak trips, couples massages, romantic candlelit dinners at the end of the pier, or on your own private deck, are just some of the romance services the resort staff offers.

Adventure activities include scuba diving, snorkelling (both shore snorkelling and boat snorkelling safaris), surfing, wakeboarding, mountain treks, half and full day kayak trips, gamefishing, beach bonfires, poolside barbecues, beach volleyball and fish feeding.

Cultural activities include the famous Beqa Firewalking ceremony, kava parties, village visits, herbal medicine walks, coconut demonstrations, Fijian cooking lessons, and stories of myths and legends.

Spa treatments include wraps and scrubs, facials, and an array of signature massages including the Beqa Hot Rocks Massage, a perennial favourite amongst guests.

We all love Food… so what about the cuisine at Lalati Resort & Spa?
Lalati cuisine features fresh seafood and fish from Fiji’s unique bounty, and the finest local and imported meats. Produce is locally grown, much from our organic and hydroponic onsite gardens. Our internationally trained local chefs create menus that reflect a Pacific Rim influence, with international flair. We have a ‘guest chef’ program as well, bringing professional chefs from around the globe to share recipes and menu items, ensuring that the offerings are always fresh and innovative.

What is the best time of year to visit Lalati Resort & Spa?
There are benefits to visiting Lalati, and Fiji, year round. In the winter, you’ll find cooler air and water temperatures, and greater underwater visibility. In the summertime, the warmth of the sea is perfect for swimming and sunning. Activities are year round, and romance is always welcome, no matter the season!

We all know all Fijian resorts care a lot about their staff… tell us what the guest can expect of Lalati Resort & Spa staff?

In a word, the Lalati staff is “real.” Everything about the staff is genuine and authentic. Laughing, smiling faces, warmth and welcome, it all comes from the heart. The resort maintains a casual Fijian elegance, and the staff reflects this spirit, with their easy, breezy manners and a sincere desire to make the Lalati experience an unforgettable one.

Lalati guests can expect great service, a fun staff and a lot of laughter along the way.

How important is the environment and what is Lalati Resort & Spa “eco policy”?
Since we are located in such a pristine environment, protecting this ecosystem is of utmost importance to us. Built to be a sustainable resort, Lalati features modern composting toilets, biodegradable products, and wash water gardens.

In place of a septic tank that could leach into the ocean and damage the reefs, the toilets feed into a composting system. Hot water for the shower is heated on demand, to minimize the use of fuel. Sheets and towels are laundered every other day. Water is provided by the pure Fijian rain, collected on food-grade roofs and double filtered. Kitchen waste is recycled, together with grass clippings, to create a rich compost for the on site organic gardens. Non-compostable leftovers are carted, daily, to the nearby village to feed the village pigs.

We practice a “no touch” policy for snorkelers and divers, and are in the process having the bay designated as a marine reserve. We are a designated “Shark Free Marina” and member of Project Aware and “It’s a Green, Green World.”

In keeping with cultural sustainability, we encourage the village staff to preserve their local traditions, culture and crafts. Lalati frequently hosts Fijian Firewalking Ceremonies on the grounds, and supports their efforts towards self sustainability. All staff come from the local surrounding villages, which forms an intimate bond between the resort and its staff.