Friends, I’ve been at it again. The world beckoned, and I answered the call. I have a new resort I want to tell you all about.
I just returned from the adults-only Royal Davui Island resort in Fiji. It was an unforgettably dreamy experience and I think you’re going to love it as much as I did.
This was a bit of an unexpected trip with my boyfriend, Scott. Earlier this year some of my colleagues visited Fiji and they all came back raving about the destination. About a week later flights to Fiji went on sale and I impulsively bought them. After speaking with my colleagues about their experience, I knew I had to book Royal Davui for our relaxing getaway. This super-luxe boutique resort with just 16 rooms on a private island looked too gorgeous to pass up!
BONUS CONTENT: Check out my Instagram Highlights of this Fiji trip.
Getting There
I’ll admit…the trek from Kansas City to Royal Davui in Fiji isn’t an easy one! First we flew to LAX then we flew to Nadi, Fiji. You’ve got 3 options for getting from Nadi to Royal Davui Island.
- 3 hour car ride and 30 minute boat ride
- 30 minute plane and 30 minute boat
- Private helicopter
We’d opted for the plane and boat. Unfortunately, visibility was bad that day, so our plane was cancelled. They quickly sent a private car to pick us up instead, so we got an unexpected land tour. Then on the boat to the island we saw a pod of dolphins. After 29 hours of travel, that’s exactly what we needed to realize it would all be worth it!
On the way back we did get to take the plane. Here’s the check-in counter at the airport and our plane. I know this would freak some people out, but it wasn’t scary at all. And much better than another 3-hour car ride!
Of course, if you want to arrive/depart in style then helicopter is the only way to go! It lands right on the island.
“OMG, it’s like a house!”
This was Scott’s reaction to seeing our vale (Fijian for house) for the first time. And yes, it is almost like a house. Except my house in Kansas City certainly doesn’t have views like this! Each of the 16 vales includes a separate living area, private plunge pool and amazing views. Some face the sunset (which is spectacular). Ours faced the neighboring Beqa Island.
We used our private plunge pool every day. You can ask them to turn on the heater, which made it heavenly during our stay.
There is no TV in the vale, and you certainly don’t miss it! We’d connect to the Bluetooth speaker, listen to some island tunes and play cards. They also have a lot of board games you can borrow.
Upon arrival there was a fresh loaf of banana bread and a jar of cookies in our room. They also kept it stocked with filtered water. Housekeeping came twice a day and was never intrusive.
They’ll deliver meals to your vale, which we took advantage of upon our arrival. It was much appreciated after 30 hours of travel!
It’s a Small Island. Hope We Don’t Get Bored.
This was one of my concerns going in. Scott isn’t much of a sun and sand person. So what was I thinking booking us 8 nights on a tiny island in the middle of the South Pacific? Turns out there was plenty to keep us busy.
First of all, the protected reef surrounding the island is AMAZING. Years ago I snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and I’ve been disappointed with every snorkeling experience since then. Until now. The reef around Royal Davui is incredible. The coral is teeming with colorful life. You borrow snorkeling gear from the marine center and keep it for the week. Then you can either snorkel right off the shore or off their jetty. We snorkeled every day and each day brought new sites. We even did a guided night snorkel where we had torches (flashlights). We saw sharks, lobsters, lionfish and my favorite…sea turtles.
Fiji is also a SCUBA diver’s paradise, though neither of us is certified. However, we talked with other guests and they all raved about the diving. Nearby Beqa is known for its shark diving. Check out this video that Su, one of the dive guides at Royal Davui, shared with us!
They also have paddleboards, kayaks and a hobie cat. Ben, one of the marine center guys, took us out on the hobie cat and gave us sailing lessons. It was super fun and really relaxing.
During low tide you can walk around the island and discover all sorts of cool stuff.
The spa was heavenly and we visited a couple times for massages and facials.
Only 16 Rooms? Hope We Like the Other Guests!
I mean, it’s a legitimate concern. You’re stranded on an island with a maximum of 30 other guests. That makes it a pretty small world. Surprisingly, it’s easy to keep to yourself during the day. The main pool and beach were often deserted.
Each evening before dinner most guests convene at the bar for some pre-dinner cocktails. This is where most of the socializing takes place and it’s great getting to know the other guests and reminiscing about your day.
During our stay the guests were about 50% Australians and 50% Americans (with a couple Brits also in the mix). Ages ranged from probably late 20s to 70s. There were honeymooners, a couple that got married on the island, sisters, anniversary couples and a couple that was back for their 10th visit.
Each night before dinner there is an activity. My personal favorite was the hermit crab races, which always made me laugh. They also had kava ceremony nights with live music, a choir performance on Sunday and a special meke performance by children from a local village.
Food and Drink
Meals are included with your stay and all 3 meals are served in the same place. Which was fine with me because you couldn’t beat those views! The 3-course lunch and dinner menus change daily and include several choices for starters and mains. You actually place your order for both lunch and dinner during breakfast. That way the chef can procure all the fresh ingredients for the day. It was kind of nice to only make meal decisions once a day. That was probably the toughest decision each day for us…vacation life is rough like that. 😉
I was pretty impressed with the food. As with any place, there are hits and misses. You certainly don’t go hungry. Meals are served on ‘island time,’ so be prepared for a nice, leisurely meal. They’re also great about accommodating dietary restrictions. When you check in they ask about allergies and dislikes. I don’t like cucumber so they would make special dishes without cucumber just for me. Very thoughtful and appreciated!
Once during your stay they will try to book your dinner in their private beach hut (no additional cost). We had dinner here our final night and it was a great experience.
The bartenders do a great job and all cocktails are made with fresh juices. I thought for such a small island that the wine and cocktail list was pretty extensive. One of my favorite cocktails was the coconut thunder. It had Fijian coconut vodka and pineapple juice with muddled ginger, basil and lemongrass. So refreshing and delicious!
Did You Ever Leave the Island?
We sure did! Royal Davui has a variety of off-site excursions available for purchase. One day we took a boat to Beqa to visit a village and go hiking. We visited the school in the village and the children performed several songs for us, which was really heartwarming. Then we went on a guided hike to a lookout point and ended with some souvenir shopping.
My favorite excursion was definitely the sand cay picnic. Each day during low tide this sand cay appears in the middle of the ocean. Royal Davui will pack you a picnic (breakfast or lunch) and drop you off for 2 hours of secluded relaxation. We enjoyed our breakfast (bacon and egg sandwiches, fresh fruit, cheese and crackers), chilled out on the sand cay and then did some snorkeling. It’s an experience not to be missed!
Fijian Hospitality is Unrivaled
Prior to this vacation I’d heard all about how amazing the Fijian people are and the rumors were true. I really can’t put into words how happy, nice and welcoming Fijians are.
Upon arrival you’re greeted with a song, and then they gather to sing another farewell song. And yeah….I cried at the farewell song. After spending 9 days with the wonderful staff at Royal Davui I felt like family and was going to miss them. I could understand how the one couple we met was back for their 10th stay.
Remember how I said Scott isn’t a sun and sand kind of guy? He LOVED Fiji and Royal Davui. That’s a testament to the amazing staff and this beautiful resort. We both agreed that it was worth every minute of our 30-hour journey to get there and would go again in a heartbeat.
Is Royal Davui Right for You?
Royal Davui is definitely a departure from the Mexico and Caribbean all-inclusive vacations I specialize in. This isn’t a party place and booze isn’t included. You don’t have 10 restaurants to choose from. There’s no foam party or disco. There’s always a place and time for those vacations. And there’s definitely a time when Royal Davui and Fiji is the perfect getaway you probably didn’t even know you needed.
First of all, this is a honeymooner’s paradise. Quiet, seclusion and romance. I can’t think of a better way to start your married life together. It’s also a great place to celebrate an anniversary.
Getting married? Elope (or bring your friends and family) in paradise! They have about 20 weddings each year. Bonus: our favorite employee, Sparky, is the officiant!
SCUBA and Snorkel lovers – Royal Davui is a no brainer. Forget the Great Barrier Reef. Come here. You won’t be sorry.
Couples just needing to relax and get away. This was Scott and me. We are both business owners and sometimes we forget to slow down. Fiji forced us to do that and we’re both better off after the experience. I’m actually getting teary-eyed writing this now as I reminisce about our vacation.
It’s important to me as a top-tier travel agent to be able to recommend places that I have personally stayed at. I am able to create extraordinary experiences for you because I know the unique features of each place and can anticipate how a resort will align with just what you’re looking for.
Royal Davui offers incredible views, understated luxury, Fijian hospitality and the opportunity to slow down and reconnect. I know you’re going to want to try it out for yourself and I’d love to help make that dream a reality!
See you on the next adventure!
— Kathryn
P.S. – You can see more gorgeous travel pics and follow my journeys on Instagram @kptravelgroup
P.P.S. – If Royal Davui looks like your dream and you want to talk more about making this trip a reality, you can set up a complimentary Discovery Call by clicking here.
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