My wife, two children (five and three) and I visited Castaway for a week in January 2012. As soon as we stepped off the transfer boat onto the beach we were warmly greeted by staff and started to relax.

The island has a happy and laid-back vibe. The Kids' Club is fantastic with different activites each day and there are also lots of opportunities for families to spend time together doing simple things like beach-combing, walking, kayaking and swimming.

The accommodation is plain but clean and comfortable. For those with noisy/older children it might be an issue - there are no floor to ceiling room dividers - but we were all so worn out by the end of the day that we all slept for ten+ hours each night. The lack of traffic and blackout blinds also helped and the daily fresh flowers were a lovely touch.

We'd booked the all-inclusive package for dining and weren't disappointed. The a la carte offered a wide range of options each night and there was plenty of choice for the kids . Service was generally efficient and the executive chef offered a changing menu, using fresh ingredients with influences from the Pacific, India and western cuisines.

We did have some issues with the organisation of activities. A couple of times these were advertised but then didn't run however this didn't spoil our overall experience.

At the end of the trip, as we climbed aboard the boat to Port Denarau and headed for home, my eldest daughter turned to me and said she didn't want to leave because her favourite country in the world was Fiji and she wanted to have her birthday at Castaway.

Hi,

My family and I have just visited Castaway Island for four magical days on our return trip from skiing in Canada.It exceeded all our expectations.We were one of the lucky ones to spend the last night on Castaway before they closed for renovations
.What makes Castaway so special- I think it's simplicity and and amazing exceptional staff. Even my 11 and 13 year olds were blown away by the friendly staff.Castaway was exactly what we needed - totally relaxing. We all loved the simple bures so much. We stayed in a beach front bure. Next time we would pick either beach front or island bure . The only time we spent in the bure was to sleep and shower.We loved all the activities from kayaking around the island to snorkelling off the beach and at an outer reef. The kids loved the paddle boards plus going out on the hobie cats.We all only used the deep bigger pool as the new children's pool is really only for young children as it is so shallow. We also liked the bigger pool as it had a more open feel to it.
Now for the food. I just don't understand how anyone could write a bad review about it. I'm a real foodie and this was one of the reasons I chose this island. The food was superb! I must say though the only buffet food we ate was breakfast. Every single meal we ordered was delicous. The desserts were yummy and the final dinner meal before the resort closed for renovations was superb! A real treat.Can't wait for Chef Lance's book to be released later this year.A signed copy would be a great souvenir.
We now know why soooooooooo many people return to Castaway Island each year.

A review of our 2nd trip to Castaway. We first went there 10 years ago as a couple, this time as a family.

This is a sensational little resort in the Fiji islands, Mananuca island group. Approx 45 mins from Denauru Marina.

*Accommodation*
We saved money and stayed in an Island Bure, and we're so glad we did. Just a few more steps to the beach than the Beachfront ones and, as stated, it was cheaper. Spoke to people who had little kids in Beachfront bures and they regretted it because:
1. Sand gets walked into your bure continually because of the proximity to the beach.
2. It can be noisy during the day should you wish to have a rest in your room.

So, I recommend the Island bures.

In terms of layout, the bures are well fitted out whilst retaining it's island charm. Modern, clean and comfortable. I found the airconditioning to be awesome and I particularly liked how you can pull a screened door across between the adults bed and the kid's bed/s.

*Food*
Overall, the dining is very good.... however, I have to be honest and say the food wasnt as up to the same standard as it was on our previous visit. Other travellers told us they were a little disappointed with the food too, which, according to them, was better back 12 months ago on their last trip. Having said all that, we were there just before their 3 month closure for reno's so perhaps that could be the reason ??

Oh, and one other thing, if you like salt or pepper on your food PACK SOME of those little paper stachets of salt (or pepper) before you arrive. Why ? the salt and pepper shakers on the table get all clogged up due to the humidity. This is despite the rice grains in there. Now, that may seem like a strange gripe but when you think about having to eat >totally bland< food for a whole week owing to this problem, you'll see what I mean.

Despite the above, the dining was, overall, a pleasant affair. We love the island band playing while you dine, they create a great atmosphere. If you're planning on staying at Castaway, make sure you get the Food Package included, its a good deal.

*Activities*
The water activities are of course the main attraction here. Snorkelling is good, however, I found the reef area off Treasure Island to be of better quality. My other half went for a dive through the Castaway team at a spot called Magic Island and he rated it highly. Said it was like diving in a tropical aquariam.

The new pool, Nuku Marau, is great.. as is the adjoining bar. It is from this bar that kids can get free all day ice-cream (if mum and dad are on the meal plan that is).

*Summary*
Castaway Island is a wonderful holiday destination... it has numerous return visitors year after year from all over the world... and its not surprising.

Hope this review helps.

Yes, Castaway Island is a fabulous place to go, especially with kids.

We spent a week there in November with our 2yr old and 8mth old. The island is perfectly set up for families - the rooms were quite spacious and accommodated the four of us with no troubles. We needed 2 cots and this wasn't a problem. There is a separate kids buffet in the early evening so we could have a drink while our little ones ate, then have our dinner later. The beach was great for little ones, the new pool was lovely (and I believe the other pool is also being upgraded) and there were lots of activities for us to do as a family. We hired babysitters most days as we did quite a lot of scuba diving, and they were fantastic. Lovely ladies who bonded very well with our kids and kept them entertained with lots of fun things to do. They would babysit whatever hours we chose, and were very inexpensive (8 fiji dollars an hour).

The scuba diving was excellent - both the dive sites and the staff. Very well organised, good hire equipment and knowledgeable, friendly instructors and dive masters.

A couple of tips - we arrived at Castaway after staying at the Outrigger. Castaway is very different! It is a much simpler, less 'resort-y' setup. There is only one small gift shop, one desk that serves as the reception area, and no ATMs. This makes it a lovely, relaxed holiday, so is certainly not a negative! But don't expect to go shopping, and make sure you bring supplies because pharmacy/supermarket items are very limited. For example, the shop sold nappies but only a couple of sizes, and I had to lend our neighbours some baby wipes as they couldn't buy them.

Everything can be charged to your room, with one exception. The babysitters have to be paid in cash (Fiji dollars only). The only way to get cash on the island was from reception, and they would charge the amount to your credit card. But it was expensive - they charged hefty fees so if you're planning to use the babysitting services, take lots of cash!

Would definitely recommend Castaway... we will be going back!