Everything you could want in a Fijian island. Great food, great beach, great people and loads of different things to do. If you’re going for WiFi and waited on hand and foot luxury then it’s not for you, otherwise, it’s the perfect place
Stayed here as part of a trip around the Yasawas. This accommodation exceeded our expectations, friendly and welcoming staff. Rooms and bathrooms were clean enough and facilities good. Included meals are great value for money considering the price in other island resorts.
Location is great with beach right outside. Would highly recommend the summit climb at sunset for fantastic views.
Also did the reef shark snorkelling trip, be aware the sharks are baited and the reef was very busy, we saw some sharks kicked by people's flippers and one of the staff members actually grabbed a shark by its tail and held it. We regretted doing this trip and was surprised somewhere called an 'eco haven resort' would partake.
However overall, very much enjoyed our stay here and would recommend.
Bula Jack..Thank you for the positive notes and also for raising points about the shark snorkelling. We apologise for what you saw on your trip...our staff have clear instructions about not manhandling the sharks. The number of swimmers at the reef is also becoming a concern. When we started this activity around twenty years ago, it was just Waya Lailai. Now other parties are also going to the reef. We do not want to create a situation which will take away that special something that snorkelers go through when sharks swim close to them with apparent acceptance of human presence. And we want Mouya Reef to stay a 'haven' for the reef sharks.
All the best Jack. Sorry I missed your visit.
Tai Lo
We stayed in March 2019 with a group of friends (10 in total) and loved every second.
I note some comments here on the negative side being some cold water showers and lack of fresh foods however we did not experience any of this and in fact rather the opposite.
From the moment we stepped off the flyer on to the small boats to the island and even more so onto the sand we felt like we were home.
The island has such a welcoming atmosphere and the staff are nothing short of amazing. Tai Lo and her team go above and beyond for guests staying here.
There is a large selection of activities daily ( some for small fee) and selection caters to all tastes e.g hike of waya Lailai, snorkelling and shark snorkelling, fishing, weaving, crafts, cooking. And whilst not doing any of those you can simply relax on the stunning white sand and swim to the house reef which is still home to live and beautiful coral and fish. Although we would recommend the snorkelling trip and sunrise hike!
The accommodation is everything you need, either bures or rooms ( we did not stay in the dorm) and VERY reasonably priced. We did not struggle with the electricity timings and it’s not a hidden when this is. The bures have a sea breeze so we did not even need to use our fan most of the time.
The food is prepared buffet style and there is no shortage, and it is all delicious even catering to dietary requirements e.g gluten free, vegetarian etc.
The most special thing about wayalailai taking into account the stunning scenery is the Fijian vibe you get here and it is unrivalled at other resorts. You cannot replace the family atmosphere, laughter and smiles you will share on this island.
Having been to 6/7 other islands and formerly living in the country for a year, In my opinion this is the most authentic to Fiji and an absolute must if visiting the yasawas.
Take time to enjoy the relaxed vibe, beautiful beach and people, not forgetting the stars at night.
Thank you Tai Lo and Wayalailai for a truly magical holiday.
Bula mai Igiladi!! (Hi UK)..thank you for sharing your perceptions of our little slice of the world...and I'm reading your review this Sunday evening (in town) and you posted a photo of our Sunday evening culture demo, now i'm missing the island and our Sunday evening programme.
'Loloma' (warm regards)
Tai Lo
Very Friendly staff and picturesque island (beaches and mountains). Daily activities kept us busy and entertained. I’d highly recommend sunrise walk and shark diving; the experience and guides were amazing!
For an island so rich in fruits, fish and vegetables it was a huge disappointment to be served frozen foods (chicken - sausages - vegetables) shipped in from the main island with each buffet style meal service. The food flavours were delicious.
The shower was freezing, which is confusing as the sun is so hot -water could be stored and heated naturally by the sun as in my country of residence.
The electricity was only on at certain times during the day, which is manageable and to be expected on the smaller Fijian islands; just be prepared with a battery pack and have wet towels to cool you down at night as no electricity = no fan.
I heard from more than one guest that the massage was done on a mattress in the dorms and not very relaxing or effective.
All in all a stunning island. You can wander/walk to the nearest ‘village’ (a collection of houses) and snorkel in the sea -full of sea life.
If you’ve only got 2/3 days I’d avoid Sunday as it’s a day of rest and there’s minimal interaction (no water sport equipment can be rented).
Bula! Thank you TravelistaBelle. May I?First of all, our island is not rich in agriculture crops as stated due to the rugged and rocky nature of the Waya Islands.We only have a lot of bananas, pawpaws and coconuts, crops which grow along the coast and crevices. Thus the need to buy other fruits and veg from local vendors in the nearby market. Fish - we put on the table when our boys can go out to sea-you must have been with us during bad weather. Our meals are buffet style, with attempts to put in a variety of foods so our guests can have some meat options. Secondly, Waya Lailai has electricity from evening till morning so the wet towels note does not make sense. Thirdly, you must have bought dorm accommodation. No hot water in those rooms. We have hot water in the bures. We do store water in tanks and if you shower during the day and early evening the water is not cold. The massage comment is heresay but in general we do not offer massage services unless guests specially request. Sunday is one of the best days to be at Waya Lailai where the resort winds down outdoor actitivities and goes on 'stop and absorb god's grace' mode- church service, family lunch for the staff who are missing out on their own family's most important meal of the week, and our evening culture programme. Snorkel gear and kayaks can be rented after lunch on Sundays. This is us at Waya Lailai dear travellers. Vinaka. (Tai Lo)
There were pros and cons for this accommodation. You get your own private lodge is a plus. The location looks lovely, the way the accommodation goes up into the summit. Rooms are basic but have mosquito nets and a fan. But the fan turns off in the night so can get quite unbearable as it’s still so hot at night. Food is good and has variety. Buffet style. Staff are friendly and have some sort of entertainment each evening. Beach is okay. Water isn’t completely clear like at other resorts but hammocks are a plus. We did the bull shark dive which is well worth it! One of the best experiences of my life. If you’re not brace enough for that, definitely try snorkelling with reef sharks or any of the activities available. We did the village trip which we felt wasn’t really worth it but we did go on a Saturday so barely anyone about. Try the summit walk if you can take the heat when you’re waking. Something a bit different that you can’t do on other islands.
Overall the main thing that was a con was the fans off at night and intermittently in the day but would stay again
Bula..good to hear that you would visit us again despite the fan issue. Just to clarify that it is not normal resort operation to have the electricity go off in the middle of the night. We understand how important it is to have some kind of 'cooling effect' in the hot and humid Fiji nights. What happened during your stay was a technical glitch, unfortunate and we apologise. During the day however, guests are informed on check in that electricity is not 24hrs, generator comes on for a few hours during the day only and from evening to morning.
Loloma
Tai Lo
