Grand Pacific Hotel

The stately colonial facade of the Grand Pacific Hotel is a sight to behold. With towering white archways and two-story ionic columns, the entryway harkens back to a bygone era. Standing beneath the grand portico, it’s easy to imagine Model Ts lining the driveway, or butlers carrying steamer trunks through the magnificent lobby. Though times have changed, the sheer splendor of the Grand Pacific has not. The two-story lobby is still as grand as it was in its heyday. Intricately carved vaulted ceilings immediately draw the eye upward, where electric brass fans hang from the mezzanine. Black and white photographs provide guests with a visual history, while a glass cabinet in the entryway holds historic memorabilia. Several seating areas are arranged in neat rows across the long rectangular room, making the lobby the perfect place for meeting friends or colleagues.  

The majority of guests at GPH (the hotel’s affectionate nickname) are business travelers. Suva, Fiji’s capital, isn’t exactly the stuff Fiji vacation dreams are made of —unless small Pacific cities are your thing. During our visit, we saw plenty of men and women in suits, though there were a few scattered families.  

Situated between Suva Harbor and historic Albert Park, the Grand Pacific Hotel couldn’t have a better location. It’s within walking distance of downtown, but the property is large enough that it still feels peaceful. As far as small Pacific cities are concerned, Suva is actually pretty nice — with a modern shopping complex and a nice assortment of shops, bars, and restaurants. The closest airport to GPH is Nausori Airport, Fiji’s second largest after Nadi. A few international flights from Australia and New Zealand land in Nausori, but travelers coming from anywhere else will have to connect in Nadi first. The drive from Nausori is about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the traffic. Alternatively, the drive from Nadi takes around four hours. 

After a massive renovation in 2014, which included adding an entirely new wing to the hotel, the Grand Pacific now has 113 rooms. Decor throughout is fresh and modern, if a bit generic. Walls are painted in a pale sea-foam hue, which is complemented by dark furniture and gray accents. Rooms have either two queen-size or one king-size bed, and a long dresser/desk combo that holds a flat-screen TV, tons of snacks and drinks, and a minibar stocked with beer, wine, and soda. There’s an electric kettle and a Sri Lankan tea set, but the in-room coffee is instant — a disappointing feature at a five-pearl property. 

Bathrooms are ultra-modern and fairly spacious. Opaque glass walls give bathrooms a futuristic feel, and elements like white subway tile and quartz countertops uphold the contemporary design. Showers aren’t completely enclosed, which can make quite a mess on the bathroom floor if you’re not careful. All rooms have outdoor balconies or terraces, which have different views depending on the room type. Some overlook Albert Park, while others have pool and harbor views. 

There are five different room types at GPH — most of which are based on views. For example, Park View Rooms, Premier Rooms, and Superior Rooms are nearly identical but are located in different parts of the building and respectively offer park, partial ocean, or full ocean views. In our opinion, upgrading to the latter two options isn’t particularly worth it. The view of Albert Park is quite pleasant, and provides some excellent people watching opportunities. 

Pacific Club Rooms are a bit larger, and offer guests access to the Victoria Lounge — a club-level lounge that serves free breakfast and light snacks and drinks throughout the day. Heritage rooms and suites are located in the hotel’s original building above the lobby. Though they’ve been renovated, these rooms offer a small glimpse into the hotel’s past. We were lucky enough to visit the Queen Elizabeth Suite, which is where Queen Elizabeth II stayed during her visits to Fiji in 1953 and 1973.   

Suva is typically cloudier and rainier than the rest of Fiji, but on a sunny day, the pool at the Grand Pacific Hotel looks utterly glorious. Okay, maybe we’re exaggerating a little, but there’s something about the sleek, rectangularly shaped pool — so perfectly placed in the center of a large green lawn — that makes us say “wow.” Sit at one of the wrought-iron tea tables, order a cocktail, take in the view, and you might just start feeling like Scarlett O’Hara. Even though the pool deck was built in 2014, it still feels perfectly aligned with the rest of the historic property. It isn’t typically crowded during the day, but it’s definitely a hit with families. The pool is surrounded by a few cushioned lounge chairs and white umbrellas. It’s also the place where the hotel’s nightly torch lighting ceremony takes place at sunset. If it isn’t cloudy, GPH has a prime spot for incredible sunsets. 

GPH has a small spa and a modern fitness center, both of which are located in the hotel’s newest wing. The spa features a relaxation area and a few massage rooms. It’s not the most luxurious spa we’ve ever seen, but it’s adequate for guests looking to unwind after a long journey. The fitness center is equipped with multiple treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, free weights, and a weight machine. Our one complaint about the fitness center is that it feels a little dark and basement-like. 

With over 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space, GPH is a popular spot for business functions and other large events. In fact, the hotel owns bragging rights for the largest conference facilities in Suva. GPH can host meetings for up to 600 people, dinner for 400, and cocktail functions for 550. 

The Grand Pacific has two restaurants, two bars, and its own bakery. Prince Albert Restaurant is the hotel’s signature spot. Adjacent to the lobby, Prince Albert is open daily for dinner, and is popular with guests and non-guests alike. Prince Albert’s menu features elevated Fijian recipes and a wide selection of upscale international options like venison, lobster, and beef. Levuka Restaurant is located outdoors, beneath the hotel’s covered terrace. Levuka overlooks the pool, and the harbor in the distance. Levuka is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is served buffet style, but lunch and dinner are a la carte. It should be noted that breakfast is not included in all room rates. 

GPH has two bars, the upscale Steamship Bar next to the lobby and the poolside Na Toba Bar. The Steamship Bar is housed in a cozy red room with lots of seating. It’s an ideal spot to grab a pre-dinner cocktail, or watch international sporting events on the flat screen TVs. Na Toba Bar is a casual poolside spot with fantastic views of the harbor. Guests like to hang out at Na Toba before sunset to watch the daily torch lighting ceremony. Guests can also request a lunch menu during the day, and enjoy lunch under the covered terrace. Guests craving something sweet can head to the GPH Bakery, which is adjacent to the hotel’s entrance.