This is the second time my partner and I have stayed at Lomani in the space of 10 months. We have already booked to come back a 3rd time! We stayed in a Deluxe Suite both times - perfectly adequate for our needs. We’ve also stayed at Tropica and Shangri-La (Reef wing - adults only) and can say that Lomani is definitely the best value for money out of all 3 resorts, along with the best atmosphere.
I’ve read some reviews on other sites that complained of work noise (the resort is building a spa - it started after 7.30 am, and normally it cannot be heard from the main resort facilities), and another complaint was about the food. This is our second time at Lomani, a total of 23 nights and I have never had cause to complain about the food. It is amazing. Meals are amazing. Breakfast is complimentary to guests, and features a large choice of healthy options. Fresh fruit through to pancakes, eggs, omelettes etc, with pastries if that’s your choice. Coffees available too (FJ$15 for 2 - Caroline & Tomasi are great!). Lunch menu (12 - 2pm) is extensive too. Plenty of salad choices, buddha bowls with fish/chicken etc, through to burgers & chips etc. Evening meals are very good, plenty of fish, meat and vegetarian options. 2 - 3 guys play the guitar and sing every evening, which certainly adds to the ambience. (I wish they’d sing in a few of the pubs we visit in Auckland that’s for sure!).
Getting to Lomani is relatively pain free. Book the Malolo Cat and request a bus transfer from the airport on the same booking. Arriving from Auckland at approx 10am, by the time we went through passport control (not at the forefront of passport processing in Fiji), we made our way to the office in the arrivals area. Bus was at 12.45, so plenty of time to chill at the airport or the Gateway Hotel over the road. We returned at 12: 30 and luggage was loaded on by the driver. Approx a 45 min drive to Port Denarau and once collecting your luggage, carry it around to the check-in desk for the Malolo Cat (put a Lomai label with surname on it - the next time you see your luggage it will be in your room). The Malolo Cat stops at Plantation Island and the guests for both Plantation and Lomai disembark here. Lomani staff wear a beige shirt so they’ll get you on their golf-cart transport around to the resort. Check-in is painless too, and then shown to your bure for the duration.
One thing I suggest that guests do, if they’re thinking about complaining, is remember that this place is at the back-end of any supply chain and the chefs do an amazing job considering the amount of meals they have to create in a short space of time. The staff are incredible - always friendly and positive. Also, bear in mind that their hourly rate is about half the price of the cost of a barista-made coffee in most major cities. The coffee produced here is often better than some I’ve bought in Auckland too - which is amazing considering that it's made with Long-Life milk!
Water is replenished with 2 large bottles per day (other resorts only do 2 small bottles).
The ambience is great. Both times we’ve stayed, the resort rooms are full yet the place feels very quiet and calm, without the hustle & bustle of the neighbouring family resort. Even the way they have deliberately placed seating above the beach in the shade of trees and then given guests the choice of working there (as there’s main power plugs attached to the trees nearby!). Lights for the path are very low near the pool, presumably to not spoil peoples’ photographs of the pool. Also, when the waiting staff are moving about, unless they're carrying food to tables or replenishing glasses etc, they’re mindful to move around the back of the guests’ area, so as not to intrude. It’s a nice touch and just another thing that Lomani has thought about for the ambience etc.
We didn’t do many of the paid activities, but I recommend visiting Cloud 9 (if the wind isn’t too bad - costs FJ$69pp). Wood-fired Pizza and a multitude of cocktails on a floating pontoon in the middle of the South Pacific. Great fun! (Ask for an AMF - Stands for Adios Mother F****r!).
If you’re an active person, there’s paddle boards / kayaks etc or you can run around the island (approx 7km), over the ridge at Musket Cove and then back along the airstrip before looping across the golf course and coming back around the resort. There’s also a lookout above the resort with wonderful views across the island, but this is a daylight walk, rather than trying to get up to watch the sunrise there. Try and do that walk when the tide is high and weather sunny - better photo aesthetics.
Happy hour is 4.30 - 5.30 every day. Not half-price drinks but a wee bit cheaper than normal. Wednesday is manager’s hospitality for half-hour between 6 - 6.30 (red/white wine and nibbles). Following this is a buffet type meal - information for this is provided the night before on your bed so I’m not sure how other people can complain about not being told. We found the buffet exceptional. On our previous visit, we occasionally ate lunch at Musket Cove, but on this second visit we found ourselves eating all meals at Lomani. The chefs do an amazing job, as mentioned earlier. The food is too good to go elsewhere and is great value for money.
Recommendations (rather than negative points) - take some handles / chain / carabiners if you want to use the gym, if it’s still there as I believe the owners want to change the layout of that area. Also, make the most of duty free because the liquor store in Plantation is a rip-off (long supply chain plus captive audience - FJ$271 for a bottle of Malibu, or FJ$55 for a 6-pack of cans).
Don't buy coke from the bar at Musket Cove ($10 for 330ml!). Buy it at Trader Shop next door (6.70 for 2litre). If you want to get a coffee at Coco Hut, they have a cash card that can be pre-loaded at Plantation reception and then there’s no 3% charge for using eftpos. Coco Hut coffee shops don't take cash.
As for the facilities at Lomani - the staff keep it in good condition all the time. We’ve stayed at, or visited other resorts both on Malolo Lai Lai and the Coral Coast (mixture of adults only complete, and merged areas of adults only), and we can honestly say that the cleanliness and vibe throughout Lomani tops them all. When we stayed this time, the resort was full, with a steady stream of clients checking out and replaced by newbies. Even though it was full, the resort didn't seem busy at any time other than dinner (not a long wait for food either).
Thank you to you all, too many to name!
We'll be back!!
