A night among the trees
Zoe Walker Ahwa finds a more personal and boutique experience from your usual island resort at The Fiji Orchid.
Positioned as a ‘stopover hotel’, The Fiji Orchid is a unique boutique stay featuring bure ‘rooms’ among a lush tropical orchid garden. The property was once owned by Raymond Burr, Hollywood star of 1960s TV shows Perry Mason and Ironside. A big fan of orchids, Burr’s colonial-style home is now the hotel’s lounge, bar and restaurant.
The place
Located in Lautoka and near Saweni Beach, The Fiji Orchid is remote and extremely private – you drive down a sparse gravel road for a while, before turning into a driveway with big white gates and a dramatic rainforest setting.
It’s a 20-minute drive from Nadi airport, so a great stay for pre- or post-resort without the rush – whether you’re heading to the outer islands or coming back to the mainland before heading home.
The space
It’s surrounded by lush gardens and trees that feel like they’ve been there for centuries, and you’ll notice the birdsong as soon as you arrive.
The sprawling grounds are across two hectares, with six freestanding ‘tented’ bures, a large pool surrounded by palm trees and a charming public dining area up some narrow concrete stairs.
The room
We were in one of the middle bures, with each set apart from the others so you have complete privacy. The hotel says they are each 80 square metres, and each features a king-size bed with a bathroom (with shower) and wardrobe area set behind it. Big sliding glass doors open up to a small terrace at the front of the bure, but you won’t sit out there – too many mosquitoes.
The amenities
Our bure had basic amenities (shampoo and conditioner, bathrobes), and free wi-fi which was pretty reliable. There’s a small bar fridge, with tea and coffee available – plus, most importantly, an old-school mosquito net and free insect repellent. If you’re after some more rest and relaxation, you can pre-book a massage in a special massage bure.
The food
The best part of the stay. Each day the staff will bring you that day’s dinner menu to order from, before you head up the stairs to Raymond’s Restaurant.
Losavati Sewale is the chef, with the restaurant specialising in seafood, local produce and tropical fruit and vegetables grown in the hotel’s garden.
There are no phones in the rooms to call for room service, but you can order basic food for lunch via the staff you’ll spot around the grounds.
Worth stepping out for
The team at the front desk are superfriendly and helpful, and can book you a trip with the hotel’s driver to nearby mud pools, markets or Garden of the Sleeping Giant (at the base of the ‘Sleeping Giant’ mountains, with a focus on orchids).
The highlight
Hearty home-cooked dinners and breakfasts.
The lowlight
We had an early morning flight, so booked a pick-up from a local taxi business – but the car was late, and it was so early that we couldn’t get hold of the company (and the hotel reception was closed). The staff who were on site that early were as helpful as they could be, before the taxi turned up. The hotel would usually book an airport transfer with its own friendly driver, which I’d absolutely recommend.
The verdict
A different, more personal and boutique experience to the usual Fijian resort, but a great way to take a break between a visit to Fiji’s outer islands.