"Boutique resort located on an absolutely stunning one of a kind island surrounded by a coral reef in crystal clear azure blue water that is teeming with marine life. Matamanoa island resort is a great place to do nothing between snorkelling the island reef.
In all honesty the potential of this resort is sky-high with its paradise island setting and warm welcoming hospitality of the locals who staff it.
The overall experience however, is let down by the almost captive feeling you have on arrival when you are told there is only “one place to eat on the island” and are sprung with a $1-2K FJD hold on your card for incidentals (more than some of other, more luxurious FIJI resort or hotel we stayed in). Also purple turtle, who have a monopoly on activities from the island, we’re not particularly helpful (as if they didn’t want to take our money) when we tried to book a fishing charter. Finally, the we also found lobby manager quite abrasive - he frequently talked over us and made up excuses when requesting basic things like replacement beach towels or bath robes after ours had been taken on room turn down.
Looking beyond the resorts unmet potential, overall experience was still more than pleasant. The island and reef is beautiful, restaurant does excellent Fijian/seafood dishes during dinner service (didn’t try any western dishes), breakfast was okay and didn’t try lunch. Also witnessed some incredible voices in village church service (though long service and can get hot)"
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