When the days are shorter and colder and darkness seems to set in by mid afternoon in the Northern Hemisphere, I always enjoy reminiscing about trips made to the Southern Hemisphere.
The Octopus resort in Fiji is a beautiful boutique hotel, with plenty of activities to offer, excellent service and a friendly family atmosphere. Fiji is beautiful; breathtaking beaches, wonderful weather and friendly locals. All these factors mean inevitably hotels in Fiji are popular, however often they fall short of the quality and service you might receive in other exotic locations. However, this is not so at the Octopus Resort, clean, tidy but friendly and inviting in its surroundings.
There are a variety of rooms on offer, from shared dormitories (for the budget backpackers- who aren't on quite such a budget as they've stumbled onto the Yasawa islands) to twin rooms and finally luxury beach front cottages.
On arrival there is a typical Fijian welcome, with the hotel workers serenading you. Their happiness and upbeat vibes were infectious and I instantly felt excited to look around the resort. From this point the hotel staff are a huge draw for the hotel, always willing to assist you and accommodate your every need.
By day you can relax by the pool, make your own jewellery or go diving. You can do as much or as little as you want. In my case, it was very little.
There's no shortage of activities at Octopus resort, yet it still manages to maintain a relaxed atmosphere, you can't escape the oasis-like calm.
As evening comes the resort goes from a tranquil haven to a lively bar and restaurant. Everybody congregates in the dining area for dinner, lots of dishes are brought to the table for a family-style shared meal between everyone. Typical of Fiji, the food at the Octopus resort is some of the best on the Yasawas and portion sizes are large too. Meal time and music is followed by team games. It might sound a bit like Brownie Guide camp, but participation is not compulsory and on an island where most rooms don't have TVs and days are often spent reading, having fun (or spectating on it from the side, like me) with fellow holiday guests can actually be surprisingly enjoyable.
Winner of a number of prestigious awards, this hotel is highly recommended. If you don't believe me, why don't you take a trip and check Fiji out for yourself? It's a long way to travel but, it is most definitely worth it.
Rates for budget options start at approximately £15/ $21, all details here.
