Mana Island Resort

Whether you come by boat, seaplane, or helicopter, arriving at Mana Island Resort is an unforgettable experience. For every arrival, dozens of staff members congregate in a long line to welcome guests with traditional Fijian songs. This upbeat first impression sets the tone for what’s to come. Mana Island Resort is a lively, family-friendly place where there’s always something fun to do, and always something interesting going on. But the hotel’s buzzing atmosphere and gorgeous natural setting doesn’t detract from the fact that much of the property looks unkempt, and interior spaces are underwhelming for the price. The sandy pathways that crisscross the hotel’s grounds don’t feel beachy and relaxed; instead they make the property look barren, and cause a constant mess from guests continually wiping off their shoes. There aren’t any plants or flowers around, and large swaths of grass are brown and patchy. Throughout the hotel, even in top-tier guest rooms, decor is unimpressive. The lobby is a big open space with minimal furniture, white walls, and white tile floors that looks bland and hodgepodge rather than minimalist and cool.

Most of Mana Island Resort’s guests hail from Australia, New Zealand, and China. The resort employs an entire Chinese team to welcome and look after Chinese guests, so the language barrier isn’t an issue here. Almost all guests here are families, but it’s also a popular spot for teenage friend groups on party-oriented trips. Though the hotel has private Honeymoon Bures, the property feels way too family-oriented for couples.

Mana Island Resort is located on Mana Island, a stunning 300-acre island in Fiji’s Mamanuca chain (pronounced Mama-noo-tha). The most popular and most cost effective way to reach Mana Island is by ferry. South Sea Cruises operates three daily ferries from Denarau Island around the Mamanucas. From Denarau, the ride to Mana Island takes 90 minutes, with multiple stops along the way. Guests who’d prefer something faster can charter sea planes or helicopters, since Mana has its own helipad.

The Mamanucas are known for their pristine beaches, crystal-clear water, and excellent snorkeling and diving. The Mamanucas and neighboring Yasawas are ideal for travelers seeking paradisiacal landscapes and an “island life” atmosphere. We’d strongly recommend the Mamanucas over Nadi and Denarau Island, which are commercialized hubs that may not “look like Fiji” to many first-time visitors.

Mana Island Resort has multiple room types, many of which were designed with families in mind. However, if you’re looking for incredible decor and standout amenities, you won’t find them here. The entry-level Island Bures are tight on space, but can technically fit four people. Furniture is scattered around the rooms in a haphazard manner, and much of the wood pieces are nicked and scratched. Cream-colored walls are a blank canvas, and the simple white bedding doesn’t do much to liven things up. Wood beams on the ceilings are perhaps the only aspect of visual interest. In-room amenities include air-conditioning and mini-fridges, but there aren’t any TVs — the provided White Pagesis perhaps the only form of in-room entertainment. Bathrooms are tiny, but nicely finished with pebbled tile work and traditional Fijian kava bowls to hold toiletries. They even have large outdoor showers.

Beachfront Bures are located on the property’s north beach, and have a bit more stylistic flair than entry-level rooms. These massive rooms are suited for couples, since they’re equipped with one king-size pillow-topped bed and their bathrooms do not have doors. Beachfront Bures are oval in shape, and have a seating area facing the outdoor deck and beach. Shiny wood floors, canvas art work, and decorative pillows give Beachfront Bures a bit more character than Island Bures, but they still lack wow factor. Upgraded amenities include wine coolers, minibars, and massive walk-in closets, along with large bathrooms that have outdoor showers and two-person soaking tubs. Perhaps the best aspect of the Beachfront Bures is their proximity to the north beach. Guests can walk off their private decks right onto the sand.

Two-story Beachfront Suites are ideal for families, or larger groups traveling together. Situated like a row of townhouses on the property’s south beach, Beachfront Suites offer a prime location and lots of space. Downstairs, the living room is equipped with a sofa, two chairs, and a desk, along with two daybeds that function as extra seating during the day, and sleeping spaces at night. There’s also a full bathroom with a shower and tub on the first floor. Upstairs, the open-loft bedroom has two queen-size beds and a master bathroom. Decor throughout is nothing to write home about, unless tattered bedspreads and nicked furniture are your cup of tea. On the bright side, each Beachfront Suite has an outdoor terrace on the ground floor, and a large balcony upstairs.

Though Mana Island has exclusive Honeymoon Bures, we really wouldn’t recommend this resort for couples. The entire property is way too family-friendly for romance, but couples traveling as part of larger groups may want to take advantage of the Honeymoon Bures’ privacy. Located in a quiet secluded area of the island, the Honeymoon Bures feel worlds away from the rest of the property. In fact, they’re so far removed from the resort’s facilities that the hotel equips each bure with its own golf cart. The Honeymoon Bures are large beachfront rooms with king-size beds and sunken living areas, but like other rooms, decor is drab and dated. Besides their secluded location, nothing about the Honeymoon Bures really screams romance. Bathrooms have two-person jetted tubs, but they don’t feel overly romantic when the surrounding aesthetic resembles an airport restroom.

Mana Island Resort’s rooms aren’t the nicest, nor are its grounds pristine. It doesn’t have incredible decor or luxurious services, but its family-friendly amenities are top-notch. The resort’s main pool is a perfect example of its kid-friendly atmosphere. The massive aquatic area is always filled with families, since it has its own kiddy pool and is covered by large sun-blocking shades. It also has amenities adults will appreciate, such as a swim-up bar and luxe cushioned lounge chairs. Adults who’d prefer a quieter atmosphere can hang at the adjacent adult-only pool.

There are two beaches at Mana Island Resort, and both are magnificent. The north beach is a few steps away from both of the property’s pools. The sprawling stretch of sand opens up to a calm bay and overlooks neighboring islands in the distance. The north beach is great for swimming and snorkeling, with an excellent reef just a few feet from the shore. The property’s south beach is equally stunning, and is where guests can rent kayaks, paddleboards, and water tricycles. Because it’s home to the hotel’s water sports hub and dive center, the south beach tends to be a bit more crowded than the north beach.

If hanging by the pool or beach doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, Mana Island Resort has an excellent schedule of daily activities. Staff members lead guests on bush walks, conduct bike tours around the island, and teach instructional classes like grass skirt making and weaving. For little ones, there’s an on-site kids' club with its own playground and activities — though guests have to pay to use it. At night, staff members host traditional Fijian mekes, perform Polynesian dance and fire shows, or hold hermit crab races.

The Mana Spa is actually one of the property’s nicest features. The spa is tucked away in a quiet corner of the property, and feels like an oasis in the midst of a sometimes chaotic hotel. Several tiny bures are linked by a wooden walkway that surrounds a central lily-pad covered pond. Inside, each bure provides a dedicated service — one is a hair and nail salon, one is a steam room, and several are reserved for massages. The spa has a wide variety of treatment options including traditional Fijian “four hand” massages, hot stone therapy, tropical wraps and scrubs, facials, and bath treatments. It also has several couples packages. Mana Island also has a small fitness center, with modern, if sparse equipment.

For such a large hotel, it’s shocking that Mana Island Resort only has three restaurants. Sure, there are several snack bars and coffee shops across the property, but there are only three sit-down options. The Mamanuca Buffet is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and serves mass quantities of mediocre food. The Mamanuca Buffet is especially popular with families, since its has its own kids' buffet and a kids' playroom, where little ones can hang out while their parents eat. South Beach is one of the hotel’s a la carte options. Located on the south beach, as its name implies, this eatery serves lunch and dinner. During the day South Beach is a casual spot that serves burgers, sandwiches, and pizzas, but it’s a bit more formal in the evenings. At night, the restaurant serves Asian fusion cuisine, with lots of Pacific influences — but again food is mediocre at best. Kura is another a la carte dinner option that emphasizes lighter, healthier fare. We weren’t able to visit Kura during our stay, as it was undergoing renovations.

Mana has a gorgeous wedding chapel located in a private section of the property that overlooks the ocean. While we find Mana Island Resort a bit too kid-friendly for weddings and honeymoons, it’s a great place to celebrate if there are lots of kids in the wedding party.