Matamanoa Island
Aug 12th, 2000, 08:22 PM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
First off - DON'T CANCEL. This is the most inopportune time for the businesses, but THE most opportune time for visitors to the West. Things are very quiet out there and the only sign of the coup is the military patrol at the airport. Other than that, the only other indication is the lack of tourists. Things do seem to be picking up though. By the time we left both resorts (Malolo and Matamanoa) the occupancy had risen considerably. The resorts are still not at 100% occupancy, but it makes for a very pleasant, intimate stay. <BR> <BR>Matamanoa was absolutely fabulous. The staff is VERY friendly and a lot of fun. I could dedicate one post on this board to go on about the staff there, but I'll just say that they are a wonderful group of people and go out of their way to make your stay in paradise perfect. <BR> <BR>The beach is beautiful with fine white sand and turquoise blue water. There are a couple reefs just off the beach that have incredible marine life. The best snorkeling of our trip was just off the reef at Matamanoa. Every morning around 11, they'll take you out in a boat for a snorkeling trip along the reef. Don't miss volleyball with the staff each evening or any of the other activities available! <BR> <BR>We stayed in on of the bures on the beach. They're actually very spacious and we had a great view of the beach. The grounds are very well kept and there are hibiscus everywhere. <BR> <BR>You can get to Matamanoa by sea plane or by boat. The large Tiger IV Catamaran will take you to Mana Island, where you then board a small speed boat for the ride to Matamanoa. Some parts of the speed boat ride can get a little choppy, so be warned (it's completely safe ... the Fijians were born to navigate the sea - just thought people prone to sea sickness might want to be prepared). <BR> <BR>We talked to lots of people from all over the world (NZ, Australia, Italy, US, etc.)and they all admitted that cancelling the trip may have crossed their mind because of the unrest in Fiji. But every single one of them agreed that they had made the right decision to come, and that cancelling would've have been a big mistake. If you're unsure, contact the embassy over in Fiji. You can also email matamanoa if you have questions. They are so wonderful and would be more than happy to help. Fiji is paradise, I would go back today if I could. It's the type of place you could go back to year after year. It truely is magical. Let me know if you have any other questions about Fiji.
