Octopus Resort

Great resort and tucked away from everything. Beach gorgeous and beautiful blue water. Staff were accommodating and friendly. Villa hut we stayed in was cute with a outside shower. Food was delicious.

Unfortunately, our experience at Octopus was quite underwhelming, especially given the $800 per night price tag and how wonderful other Fijian resorts have been in the past. The spa service was particularly disappointing. The treatment room had a main bright light on the entire time, which made it hard to relax. The therapist began by rubbing my face and cheeks, then strangely started braiding my hair halfway through. It felt like she didn’t really know what she was doing. She left the room partway through the treatment, came back briefly, then left again at the end without saying anything. I was left sitting alone in the spa centre, unsure whether the treatment had finished, so I eventually just walked out. Throughout our stay, many staff seemed unsure of what we were saying, which made even simple interactions feel awkward. It often felt like we were being a bother just for asking questions or requesting assistance. The drinks from the bar were sour and poorly made and there were limited options for snacks during the day. That said, there were a few positives. The beach is absolutely beautiful. Just as many other reviews have mentioned. And when we had to check out of our room at 9:30am, the office staff kindly arranged a day room for us until our boat departed at 3:30pm, which we genuinely appreciated. This was my fifth time visiting Fiji, and sadly, Octopus was by far the most disappointing experience compared to the warm hospitality and high standards we’ve come to love elsewhere in Fiji.

Octopus Resort is perfect if you are looking for a secluded, quiet, relaxing place to stay in the Waya Islands. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with a beautiful Fijian welcome song, a cocktail, and smiles. The staff at Octopus are some of the friendliest, most humble people we have met in our travels. We stayed in Premium Garden Bure 6 which was next to the spa and nestled in amongst the beautiful tropical trees and flowers. The room was well appointed with super comfortable beds, each with mosquito netting but we never needed it. The bathroom is open-air with an outdoor rain shower which we love. While we had some centipedes scurrying along the bathroom floor, they didn't mind us and we didn't mind them. The food at Octopus was one of the best parts of our stay. Each morning, there were fresh-baked pastries, fresh fruit, juices, coffee, and a menu of ala carte options ranging from eggs to a delicious Fijian French Toast. At lunch, we could choose from several options on the menu. My favorite was the Chicken Salad, which, admittedly, I ate 3 times during our stay. The dinners were beyond anything we have experienced in all of our travels. Each night, we chose each course of a 5-course meal. The dinners are served in the European style with a starter, appetizer, palate cleanser, main course, and dessert. While it sounds like a lot of food, the portions are small enough that you don't go away hungry, but you also are not leaving food on the plate. One of the highlights of our trip was the hike over the mountain to visit the local village where the majority of the employees live. I will say that if you struggle with elevation gains or are not in the best of shape, this may be a challenge for you. One run of stairs up the mountain is 71 stairs and was challenging for me. The hike is beautiful as we strolled through the jungle, saw wild pigs and piglets, and came over the mountain to the village on the beach. We learned all about the village life, participated in a Kava ceremony with the village elders, and were treated to a performance by the villagers, and then shopped for local handicrafts made by the ladies in the village. Then it was back over the hill. The SCUBA diving shop, Vertical Blue, took us to some amazing dive spots around the islands. The first day of diving, we dropped in on Black Tip Reef Sharks which was absolutly amazing. The diving was spectacular with colorful corals, lots of fish life, and even a shipwreck, complete with a huge Hawksbill turtle. While the meals were included in the meal plan cost, beverages, except for water, were not. That was not an issue as we don't drink alcohol heavily and mostly had water throughout the day to stay hydrated, which they provide free of charge at the bar. Some things to note - The boat ride from the mainland to the resort is a bit long, so be sure and have water with you and take motion sickness pills if you get seasick. Once you get to the islan