Now I know what bula means . . . - It has been 8 days since I returned from Beqa Lagoon Resort to home in central Missouri (USA, of course) and I am still trying to get over jet lag,... read more but I will never get over the thing that impressed me most about my first trip to Fiji - the people, beginning with our Fiji Airways flight from LAX. It was the best airline experience I have ever had. The all-Fijian crew was extremely friendly, helpful, and considerate. The plane was the cleanest I have ever been in and even though I brought my own blanket for the flight I used the blanket and pillow that was thoughtfully waiting for each of us on our seats.
The scene at the Nadi airport was a little chaotic, but once we escaped the terminal a smiling Meri greeted us and got all of our group on the bus and headed to the resort. From the time we cleared customs at the airport until we checked in for our return flights our luggage was handled by the resort staff. The suitcase with my scuba gear weighed right at 50 pounds so I was grateful for their unfailing help.
As our boat from the mainland to Beqa approached the resort we were greeted by 15? staff members (including Brandon the dive captain and both general managers (sorry everyone else, but Nina gets the prize for the biggest smile)) singing a welcoming song and draping a shell necklace around our necks. The genuine friendliness and hospitality continued unabated the entire week of our stay. (One incredulous person in our group even went so far as to ask one of the staff members if they were just putting on a false front for us.) I had wait staff and grounds crew folks greet me and call me by name (I began to wonder if it was printed on my forehead!). How do they do that if they aren't making a sincere effort to connect with you? The cynics among you may think they are acting this way in hopes of financial gain, but literally 99% of Fijians I met on my visit had the same friendly attitude whether tip money might be involved or not. I even have a new Fiji granddaughter now (bula Mela!).
I almost forgot, this was a dive trip. That didn't disappoint either. I was on the Leopard Shark and was usually with Captain Tom or Seta and dive masters Junior, Frazer, and Gun and all did an excellent job sharing their knowledge of the beautiful and abundant underwater flora and fauna in the area. I would dive with them any day. Vinaka vaka levu.
I could say more, but I've already blah-blah-blahed enough. Go to Beqa and see for yourself. If I'm lying leave me a bad review.
Top notch vacation destination - This place is top notch! I am already trying to get reservations for next year. The dive crew is amazing. Gun was our dive leader and he did a... read more fantastic job showing us all the cool stuff. Suli was another dive guide on our boat (Thresher) he was ready at all times to lend a hand if needed. The resort staff is unmatched, they treated us like family the whole time we were there. I can't wait to go back.
Beqa Lagoon is Five Stars - This is my 2nd time at Beqa Lagoon. I joined a group of friends both times, but this time, my adult kids came. And Beqa is just the... read more best. The diving was nice. The boats were great and the divemasters care about each of us. The shark dive was very professional, very educational, and will be a lasting memory. I still go nuts every time I see an electric clam. The rooms and beds fantastic with zero problems at all and so so so comfortable. The food stellar. But really, the people are what make Beqa a no brainer choice. The island has no roads, there are a few villages, and all the people whether at the resort or a short walk away .just nice and kind. Take time and talk. Oh .the sunset photos alone are worth the trip. Yes, I will be visiting Beqa again, and hopefully again.
Shark dive amazing; wreck dive fantastic and the reefs are so healthy and beautiful. Absolutely the perfect - Every single person was there to serve and did so with a giving spirit. Phenomenal experience. Each dive was an unforgettable experience. The shark dive was incredible. The wreck... read more dive wonderful. Each reef was healthy and beautiful. An A+ destination
Lost My Shoes in Fiji!!! - From the minute we arrived at the resort, we were treated to an amazing experience.
It was a long flight from St Louis through Chicago to LAX, then... read more another 10.5 hours through the air to Fiji. We landed at Nadi and were greeted by the representative from the resort(and bus driver!). Granted we still had about three more hours of travel, but they tried to make it as comfortable as possible. The boat ride was about 35 minutes long and took us to Beqa Island. As we arrived at the island, the staff met us at the shore,singing a Fijian song of welcome. This was just amazing. They welcomed us with a fruit drink and made sure we got to our rooms. We were in Bure 1 which is pretty much centered in the resort, steps away from everything.
We had our initial meeting with the dive operations team and Brandon made sure we all understood what was going to happen during our stay. They took our gear and placed it in gear bags and added them to the boat. I use 100cf tanks and they made sure that it was listed next to my name. Each day, before we even set foot on the dive boats, roll call was conducted and the divers received instructions for that day. The dive guides would brief us on the sites once we arrived. Our dive guide was Suli. He was amazing! Each dive, we got to see something we have never seen before. Made each dive so much more interesting. We never wanted the dives to stop!!! We also did a pair of shark dives that have ruined us for all other encounters with sharks. The Tiger sharks were HUGE!! We also did a night dive. In all of our dives, the guides made sure we were safe at all times. We never had to worry. We even found a wreck! My wife and I are usually reef divers but an occasional wreck never hurt. We know that a past customer hated the wreck and the diver operations manager was going to stop using that wreck as a dive site. We encouraged him to keep it. It’s a great wreck with tons of wildlife on it.
The dive boats were well maintained and were actually dual-hulled power boats. They were very stable in the waters around the island. There were times when the seas had a little heavier swells than when we eft the resort. The boats helped decreased them. I have been in single-hulled boats in other areas and they were not as stable. They would rock int e swells more readily than the Beqa Resort boats.
Everyday, the staff had something to do in the afternoon. You weren’t required to be involved, but we were encouraged. They would announce the days activities in the morning telling us what was going to happen during the day. Many of the activities were put on by the Activities Group. Jay was the most noticeable of the group, but was also very humble and polite. They had school tours, waterfall hikes and shopping tours on the main island, Fiji.
Meals were amazing. Every morning, you had your breakfast cooked to order. They would have the menu for the lunch and dinner meals. All you had to do was mark what you wanted and how much. They would take it and when you came in for lunch or dinner, tell them which room you were in and they would bring you your meal. The food was well presented and delicious. The bar was well stocked, but you would have to sign your tab when you were done. Everything was placed on a tab that you paid for at the end of your stay. They were upfront about the pricing. It was all in Fijian dollars and would be happy to tell you the cost in US dollars.
Our room was amazing! It had two beds but we only needed the one.It had a king sized (which we slept in) and a full sized. The bathroom was well appointed. The sink was outside the bathroom but we were fine with that. It just meant that my wife could blow dry her hair and put on make up (if she wanted to) while I was in the shower. There was no blow dryer in the room. The resort is pretty much off the grid. They use a generator set up, switching daily between the generators. It’s a minor inconvenience. They have blower dryers in the office if you really need one. They do that because they draw so heavily on the generators. They want to avoid over taxing the generators any more than they already do. So, my wife became ingenious and used her hand-held fan. It worked like a charm!!
As I said in the beginning, this was amazing experience. We have already scheduled our return to this resort next year. Yup! We’re those people that plan our next vacation while still on vacation!! BULA!!!!
Disabled Diver Beqa Lagoon Resort - As a disabled diver (T6 para, cannot walk), going to a new destination to dive is stressful. Plan as you might, you never know what could go wrong. ... read more I'm happy to say the folks at Beqa Lagoon Resort went to great lengths to make my stay a great success. Months before I arrived, we discussed the accessibility of the resort, the room and the dive boats. They made some modifications that made my stay possible.
In particular, the assistance I received for diving was fantastic. I need help on/off the boat and in/out of the water. All those on the boat handled this very well. Thank you to Gun, Josh, Adriu, Tusi, Nix and Papa. It was a pleasure diving with Gun. We went to some great sites. The shark dive was awesome.
Everyone at the resort was friendly and always willing to help, if I needed anything. I couldn't get into the spa for a massage, so they came to my room. Thank you Joanne.
I didn't go off the resort for any excursions, so I can't comment on any of those. All I want to do is dive and I was easily able to do that.
If you are a disabled diver, I encourage you to consider Beqa Lagoon Resort. Communicate your needs and I'm confident they will do all they can to accommodate you.
Vinaka
Fantastic trip and best Shark Dive! - I had a truly fantastic trip here! The resort is well maintained and the staff are very attentive. I went with a group of friends, some had diet... read more restrictions and they worked very hard to accommodate them and not just serve them salads. The diving was some of the best I've been on (I've logged 60 dives). The shark dive was great and well guided. Dive Masters Frazer and KB are top notch! Great place to go to unplug (No TVs, but do have WiFi) and dive! Pool was great too.
Inolvidable - The resort experience is exceptional. From the warm welcome to the beautiful farewell, you will have all the staff watching that you are at ease and have everything you need.... read more
Our main reason for going was diving and I am sure there will be few dives in the world as exciting as the cathedral. I reaffirm what was said for the resort staff in the dive center: fabulous!!!!
Thank you very much for these past days.
Make sure you get the pro video of the tiger shark dive. Totally worth it! - Excellent resort with great amenities. Best among those are the people of Beqa who work and take care of you. The tiger shark dive is a must do, and I... read more highly recommend the professional video, which is very high-quality and provides views that you just won’t see behind the wall. The price is very reasonable for such quality, and I wonder what Nix could accomplish with different equipment. Vinaka, Nix, we love it!
Wonderful resort, great staff - I went to this resort as part of a diving group, but I am not a diver. I just relaxed and enjoyed the activities & the food at the resort.
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The accommodation was great, and the cleaning crew did an excellent job daily.
The food was very good, and the selection of dishes was pretty interesting. In the morning you pick your lunch and the entree for dinner from 1 fish, 1 vegetarian, and 1 meat (chicken, beef, or lamb).
The best part of the resort is the staff. They are friendly, funny, and super helpful. I enjoyed all the time I spent with them. They did a wonderful job of showing us around and giving us opportunities to learn about Fiji and the Fijians.
The included activities were very good, I would highly recommend them. I also participated in a Day Trip to Suva and it was very informative.
Top three vacation of all time! - Just returned from an unforgettable week of scuba diving at Beqa Lagoon. The trip was relaxing, delicious, fun, enriching—and easily one of my top three vacations of all time. Even... read more the dogs that call Beqa home are some of the most relaxed I’ve ever encountered.
It’s rare to experience such genuine, elevated care from every member of a staff—and even rarer to leave a vacation feeling truly melancholy. The dive crew was fantastic throughout the week, and most of the staff greeted me by name each time we crossed paths.
We were welcomed with complimentary foot massages from the kind and capable spa team. During the week, I indulged in both hot stone and deep tissue massages. I’ve had many massages over the years, but the deep tissue massage I received from Litia set a whole new standard—hands down, the best I’ve ever had.
Meals were served three times daily, with the option of ordering smaller plates from the bar in between. The food was consistently good, and the ultra-fresh ceviche—enjoyed after a “cooking” demonstration led by a few staff members—was a standout. The kava ceremony was a unique and memorable experience as well.
I’m already looking forward to the next time I can return and reconnect with my new friends at Beqa Lagoon!
I❤️ Beqa! - Loved Beqa Resort. The diving and snorkeling is the best. The staff is the most accommodating and the lodging is out of an island travel magazine. We... read more have never been to a resort with more pleasant people, from the front desk to the garden staff. The food was very good. The bar was well stocked.