Qamea Resort And Spa Fiji

When guests arrive at Qamea, they’re warmly welcomed by staff members and escorted to a tiny reception room, where they’re presented with handmade leis and tropical welcome drinks. Guests are then led down sandy pathways across the property to their room. Arriving at Qamea feels like stumbling upon a private island retreat, and the resort’s laid-back atmosphere appeals to travelers who are looking for a quiet escape. Since Qamea doesn’t allow children under the age of 16, the hotel remains quiet and completely peaceful throughout the day. If you’re wondering how to pronounce Qamea, a little lesson in Fijian phonetics will help. In the Fijian language, the letter Q is actually pronounced like the letter G, making the correct pronunciation of Qamea, “GAH-may-ahh.” Similar Fijian phonetics turn words like Nadi into “NAN-dee,” Beqa into “BENG-a,” and Mamanuca into “Mama-noo-THA.” 

Qamea is a small island located across a channel from Taveuni, Fiji’s third largest island. In order to reach Qamea, international travelers must fly to Nadi International Airport, then take a 55-minute domestic flight to Taveuni. Qamea staff members will greet guests at the airport in Taveuni, then drive them about 15 minutes to a tiny marina. From the marina, it’s about a 20-minute boat ride across the channel to Qamea. For international travelers, we’d recommend staying a night or two around Nadi before traveling to Qamea. This helps ease jet lag and frustration, since domestic flights are often severely delayed. The island of Qamea is stunning, with a secluded, somewhat untouched feel. The hotel is also built around much of the island’s existing foliage, which along with the resort’s sandy pathways, gives the property a rustic-chic feel. Taveuni, the island across from Qamea, tends to be cloudier and rainier than other parts of Fiji, so Qamea guests should expect some showers. 

Rooms at Qamea feature a nice blend of modern and traditional Fijian decor. Freestanding bures (the Fijian word for “houses”) are scattered across the property, and feature traditional Fijian elements like gorgeous thatched roofs, dark hardwood floors, and textured bamboo wall coverings. But rooms also feel delightfully modern, with sleek wood furnishings, four-poster beds, and bold floral pillows. Rooms are equipped with excellent free Wi-Fi, but do not have TVs. Instead, rest and relaxation are encouraged with outdoor hammocks, large front porches, and cushioned lounge chairs. Many rooms, like the Beachfront and Honeymoon Bures we visited, are literally steps from the beach. Bathrooms are a real treat, with indoor and outdoor components. Inside, bathrooms have a spa-like feel, with textured stone walls and carved granite sinks. Outside, covered stone showers feel ultra-romantic, but also feel really dark thanks to thick thatched roofing. Additionally, Honeymoon Bures have outdoor whirlpool tubs, surrounded by lush tropical foliage.  

Many of Fiji’s top luxury resorts do not have pools, but Qamea’s tiny freshwater pool feels like a secluded tropical oasis. Surrounded by lush foliage and a textured stone patio, the pool looks like a natural watering hole. The pool is quite small, and we hardly ever saw it being used during our visit. The beach is another hotel highlight. The island’s long stretch of sand is astoundingly beautiful and has a rustic, untouched feel with lots of twigs and dried up coral strewn along the shoreline. The beach culminates in a half-moon shape along a rocky cove, giving it an isolated, romantic vibe. Like many island resorts in Fiji, Qamea’s beach is drastically altered by the tide. During high tide, the beach is practically nonexistent, but gets larger and larger as the tide moves out.Qamea’s Jungle Spa is tucked away in a quiet part of the property. The spa’s treatment rooms are built into the hillside, which imbues them with a sense of privacy and serenity. The Jungle Spa has an array of treatment options including facials, body wraps, pedicures, jet-lag treatments, and couples massages. Qamea has tons of island activities available for guests to take part in, including local village visits, Taveuni day trips, private beach picnics, diving charters, and surfing lessons. However many guests complain that the hotel offers a limited number of free activities. Many comparable resorts offer things like yoga classes and village visits for free, but Qamea does not. However the hotel does offer free kayaks, paddleboards, and snorkeling equipment that guests can use in the waters offshore. There’s also a sandy volleyball court (where many guests versus staff games break out), a giant chess board, and croquet lawn for guests to use. The dining at Qamea is good, but when compared with the exquisite cuisine found at the resort's competitors, the food at Qamea seems sort of lackluster. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all served a la carte, but menu options can be repetitive, especially for guests staying longer than a week. Sometimes the kitchen forgoes menus at all, and announces themes like “pizza day” or “barbecue” without much warning. During our stay, we encountered a few guests who were clearly disappointed to learn that the only thing they could order for lunch was pizza. Qamea does cater to individuals with dietary needs, so be sure to inform the hotel if you are a vegetarian or vegan, or are gluten or dairy-free. A full-board package that includes full breakfast, a two-course lunch, and a three-course dinner is available. Those who don't book this plan will still get a free continental breakfast as part of the standard rate.