Hiapo Cockett's 2009 Fiji Trip
InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa

Let’s pretend that you don’t like the little intimate feel, you want to do the “big resort” thing in Fiji: golf, spa, multiple restaurants, multiple swimming pools, in-town shopping, people watching, multiple bars, see a luau, you need a kids club because the little ones are coming along, you want a TV, a phone, and a radio (uncommon in Fiji resorts). Previously you had a number of choices, popular with the New Zealand and Australia crowd, BUT, now you want a great beach also, and you were thinking about getting married in Fiji so it needs a chapel (ideally one that will web cast your ceremony so those who cannot attend may see it live), AND you want something with terrific service (4+ stars). Until a few months ago, I would be trying to send you to Hawaii. Now there is a resort that has all of this and more: The Intercontinental Golf Resort and Spa.


Sitting by itself on a mile and a quarter long, white sandy beach, the Intercontinental is spread over 30 acres, has less than 300 rooms, a kids club for 3 age groups, a family pool with water jets, fountains, and beautiful night lighting, a dive pool, and a third horizon edge, ocean view adults only pool with clamshell cloth covered couples “love pods”, a vodka specialty/tapas bar with adults only lounge, a bar and grill with pizza oven, a casual dining restaurant, a fine dining restaurant with show kitchen, and room service (of course).

The rooms are light and very contemporary with flat screen TV’s, Bose sound system with extra speakers in the bathroom, showers with handheld and rain-shower heads, twin vanities, ample closet space, and unique patios: a heavy privacy curtain can be used to seal off a daybed, a chair and a 2 person “Cleopatra” soaking tub with romantic seashell votives to light your mood.


The whole resort consists of 8 rooms clustered into “bures”, all two stories, spread out over the grounds. As there are no other resorts on this beach, so even a place this large is dwarfed by its surroundings.

Service is unusually good for a large resort, especially considering they have been open for less than a year. Smiling wait-staff, the groundskeepers share a friendly “BULA!” greeting; even the porters announce the arrival of new guests with the beating of the lali (Fijian log drum).

Beware large Fiji resorts, you have a new standard bearer and they mean business.

Hiapo Cockett

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