Best Drawaqa Island Hotels

"Barefoot Manta was amazing! We spent 5 nights and had the best time. The staff were incredible, especially the resident marine biologist Rob who was a mine of information and enthusiasm. There are 3 different beaches to snorkel from and the snorkelling was the best we have ever seen, it is a protected marine reserve and we participated in coral planting which was great. The Manta Ray trips happened on 3 of our 5 days, it is a bit of an uncontrolled bun fight with various resorts sending their boats to see the mantas but the Barefoot Manta crew were educated and respectful. The resort is beautiful and has a lovely vibe, the staff were so friendly and helpful. We stayed in a double Bure on the sunset side, it was a permanent tent and it was all that we could have wished for, right on the beach. The meal plan is really expensive by our standards, I would have preferred an al a carte option as I have food restrictions and I found that eating salad and rice for almost every meal was boring and repetitive. The staff did try though, however $40 Fijian for salad and rice was a bit on the nose. Bring snacks! It would have been good if they could have made the tea/coffee available all day and maybe had something available for afternoon tea as it is 6 hrs between lunch and dinner. We do recommend this place. "

"The resort was in a lovely location but is a little tired, understandable after covid. Even after a few emails requesting a double bed close to the beach they did not have one arraigned for us, they had put us in a Bure up the hill. I have tendinitis in my knees so that was never going to work. In the end they put my husband and I in a Bure with twin beds closer to the beach - not at all romantic! The meal plan was really expensive but the food was plentiful, unfortunately the restaurant was up the hill so it was a painful effort on my behalf for each meal. Unlike other resorts that we stayed in this resort required a daily fuel surcharge and we also had to pay a hire fee for fins. They did not put on Manta ray trips on either of the 2 days that we stayed there although there were Manta rays in the channel both of those days. Unimpressed. Luckily we had also booked nights at Barefoot Manta Ray Resort so ended up swimming with the mantas which was our sole reason for going. To be fair other people staying at MRIR said that they had been taken on Manta trips earlier in the week so I have no idea why they told us that there were no mantas on the 2 days that we were there - Barefoot Manta Resort said that on one of the days there had in fact been 7. This resort is much more of a backpacker resort although the high cost of the meal plan would give most backpackers a second thought. "

"The outer islands have the best culture👍🏻There are few people, good service, human touch, and a very good beach. It feels like all the staff are around. There are good near-island coral reefs🪸Excellent diving spots, but the boat is far away from the main island. You can go to Denarau Pier and take the South Pacific. You don’t have to tie up the helicopter and get close to the small boat. Connected ~ There is a Japanese omakasa restaurant. The chef Mark is very rigorous. We followed Sam to Soso Village and learned about the local history, churches and schools. It was a great experience."

"Xanadu, the sea view is superb. The food is good, suitable for relaxing yourself. The beach is great, the sand is round and doesn't cut your feet. The menu changes every day. It is rare for Chinese people to communicate in English. UnionPay does not support it. The Internet is only available in the restaurant and it is not reliable, but the wifi in their office is good and can be used in emergencies. On the island, you can email them to pick them up, or take the South China Sea cruise ship"

"Best food I had in Fiji! Kind and genuine staff. Only point of feedback is regular plastic cleanup of the beach and surrounding area is required. Protect that fantastic reef out front!"