Management of Maravagi are rude and do not hesitate to shout at guests. I politely requested a short detour on the way back to Honiara (we were the only guests returning at the time so it would not have inconvenienced anyone) and offered to pay extra for it. I was then charged for it. Just before the trip I approached the owner/manager to make sure that it was still OK and he became furious and yelled at me. He refused to let me speak and shouted that I should 'remember who the boss is' and that I was a 'rubbish guest' - this is high criticism here in Solomons. He said that he would not consider the detour and that I should learn my place. I am sure that had I been asking for this detour for a white person, my request and my money would have been happily accepted. I have NEVER been yelled at by anyone in a resort or hotel that I have been staying at and will not be returning to Maravagi.

The other reviewers here are basically accurate on the description. The resort is about 90 mins by small speedboat from honiara. Travel ONLY during good weather, because waters might become too choppy/risky for that small speedboat. Resort is a collection of wooden huts on stilts with very basic amenities. Coastal/ rural experience. So...it is unspoilt in that sense. There is small modern but not very clean bathroom with every hut. Bring mosquito coils, bug lotion, sunscreen, plenty of water and drinks. Food is not good but just ok. Management is on the whole friendly but can be accused of not being fully transparent. THE BIG PROBLEM is that they tell you something and charge you for something else. For example, on the phone while taking reservation, they quoted us one price for room, inclusive of food. But when checking out, they said the price quoted was for room only and food was extra; which came out to be more than double the budget we had in mind. Then they said boat transport from honiara would be complimentary. But we were charged extra for that. So, insist on written confirmation of reservation with detailed breakup of charges before confirming!!

I just got back from 3 weeks of island hopping in the Solomons.

After reading the reviews of this place I thought it would be quite good however boy was I in for a surprise.

We originally booked for a 8 night stay. We stayed 2 and only stayed 2 as of the wind was blowing so hard the long journey over Iron Bottom Sound was not possible.

They picked us up on time (rarity in the solomons).

We arrived at the resort and were given a lay? and a glass of cordial and thenshown to our room. We were taken to a room with 3 single beds. I asked if there was a room with a big bed. The host guy said no just push the beds together. I can deal with that but the mosquito nets were only singles and couldnt be moved so I went without mosqito netting and was chewed to pieces.

The room was unlike the nice leaf haus accom we had stayed in the other resorts and villages. They had this horrible plastic stuck on all the walls and floors. I cant really describe it other than disgusting. While the room had its own bathroom and shower (the only place in the solomons that we stayed that had) it was filthy.

In the solomons things just grow out of the ground you do not need soil you just need space. Gardens are easy to make however at maravagi they have a different view. Cut it down , rip it out and burn it. All around our hut was sand blowing around and smoke for the huge (think massive rainforest tree) stumps that they were burning. There were no hammoks, little shade other than the 5 or so benches that over look the sea. I asked how long the resort had been in operation, they said since 96. In 12 years they cant even get a garden going.

The food was the biggest disapointment. The food cost is 47 AUD per person. Most other resorts seafood was the order of the day however not so here. In the 2 days I was there I ate 3 meals, My girlfriend ate 2. The rest went out the window to feed the fishes. The stir fries were ok but the breakfast and dinners were discusting and they drowned the dinners in inedible sauces. When they talk about a sausage they mean a hot dog that even a dog would refuse. The steak was worse than anything I ever ate on school camp and the fish was either baracouda or trevally (tough and fishy) and couvered with crap sauce. The vegies were obviously from a can which amazes me with the variety and price of vegetables and fruit in the Solomons. I asked about chilli mud crab and grilled lobster (perfectly normal food every where in the solomons). I didn't get a response.

I am a keen fisherman and had been in negotiation with the resort to go trolling every afternoon. The boats did't have any rod holders and they said o dont use your rods we have hand lines. I was not going to pay 200 aud per day for 4 hours fishing using a hand line.

The only nice thing about the resort was the little snokling reef out the front it was 5 star but the rest of the place was crapola and highly over priced. The surf photos looked ok but I saw really good surf all over the country with out the high prices.

Give it a miss and go somewhere else.

I don't want to add to the excellent information already provided. However, I would warn travellers that they are likely to get wet on the trip from Honiara, so dress accordingly. I travel by boat around Solomon Islands frequently. The Maravagi boat is more comfortable than most, as it has seats.
Fellow visitors snorkelled for hours around the resort - the water is crystal-clear. However, be aware that the price you are quoted doesn't include meals or drinks, and there is nowhere else you can get them. They are excellent, but not cheap.