Vacala Bay Resort
1 Vacala Bay Road, Matei, Taveuni Island Fiji
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Dining (3)
About
#2 of 3 Specialty lodging in Matei
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Vacala Bay Resort is Fiji's first solar powered 5 Star Luxury Eco Resort. Your Villa comes with personal chef, housekeeper and groundsman for your very private Holiday. Your property is fully self contained with overwater entrance and spacious living area with multiple decks and outdoor dining areas and 2 generous bedrooms with outstanding ocean views. 3 bathrooms, with double outdoor showers, and an outdoor tub with ocean views in the master suite and a fabulous infinity edged pool running between the buildings. Views from all 3 buildings that make up your private Villa have incredible 200 degree views of the sea and the resorts white sand beach on spectacular Vacala Bay. For a holiday like no other the only answer is Vacala Bay!
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Free breakfast
Beach
Babysitting
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Wifi
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Free airport transportation
Airport transportation
Shuttle bus service
Business Centre with Internet Access
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Spa
Concierge
Non-smoking hotel
Laundry service
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Room features
Air conditioning
Room service
Kitchenette
Minibar
Refrigerator
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Location
Full view
21Reviews2Q+A1Room tip
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Wow! Paul and Helena are truly an amazing duo. The villa and location are top notch but these two really brought our entire experience to life. When planning our trip to Fiji, we originally considered the traditional resort holiday but we are SO glad we kept searching for that "special something." Paul picked us up from the airport (barefoot, as promised!) and took us on a short ride to the villa where we met the lovely Helena and their sweet dog Taka. They instantly made us feel at home, like we were staying with old friends. They each have enormous talents which they've married to deliver the most unforgettable vacation .- from the impressively designed eco villa to the impeccable five-star meals. We enjoyed being able to take each day as it came and not having to plan or coordinate activities too far in advance (though I know they both worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make things happen seamlessly for us!) We especially enjoyed getting to tag along on trips into town where we got a better sense of local life. And as if that wasn't enough, they even planned a few thoughtful surprises for us. The entire experience just felt so personal and unlike anything we could ever find elsewhere. It was truly magical! Vinaka! Thank you! Until next time...…
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Date of stay: January 2020
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Helpful
Response from Paul N, Owner at Vacala Bay Resort
Responded 28 Jan 2020
It was so very much our pleasure guys! You are such a worldly knowledgable well travelled couple, we hope to see you again either here at our little slice of Paradise or somewhere else on this tiny blue marble we call home... Thank you again for being such lovely guests!
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A group of 7 of us went on a day excursion to a private island - Raranitinka. We snorkeled and swam over to the island. It was breathtaking! Helena cooked lunch - complete with appetizers. It was so delicious! She is so delightful and amazing in the kitchen. It was a wonderful, relaxing day with Paul and Helena.
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Date of stay: November 2019Trip type: Travelled with family
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Response from Paul N, Owner at Vacala Bay Resort
Responded 2 Dec 2019
It was our pleasure guys!
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I have limited vocabulary to describe the extraordinary depth, colour and quality of this greatest ever holiday in 30 years of marriage, that my wife and I have experienced. The Villa and Catamaran sheer luxury experience, the wonderful food from their own garden, the very very special hosts Paul and Helena, its truly an extraordinary special experience. Just to make this an even more special life event the hosts helped me arrange a surprise 30 year (Pearl aaniversary) renewal of our marriage vows in their garden overlooking the blue ocean...they made it so far beyond my expectations and most importantly my wife said "I do" again ! What a day. What a memory. I cant express my gratitude enough to Paul and Helena, my wife and I will remember this life event "always and forever". …
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: June 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Helpful
Response from Paul N, Owner at Vacala Bay Resort
Responded 8 Nov 2019
It was our pleasure to share your perfect day with you and we very much look forward to seeing you again soon!
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+1
If you are reading this review, heed the advice of every other review on this page and book now. My partner and I searched for weeks on the perfect accommodations to truly experience all that Fiji has to offer. Paul (Pablo) was the most amazing host, who was attentive to our every need before and during our stay. The food is OUTSTANDING. My partner and I are both foodies, and we were blown away with every meal that they prepared for us. The view from the property is jaw dropping, and you will never tire of staring out into the gorgeous waters and islands surrounding Taveuni. From the time our feet stepped off the plane, Paul had everything planned and available for us. He arranged for personal waterfall tours, jaw dropping snorkeling trips, and even a trip down the natural water slides. I wish we would have had more time to spend with him. I hope to return to this heavenly villa again someday soon. I promise, you will not regret your decision to stay.…
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Date of stay: February 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Helpful
Response from Paul N, Owner at Vacala Bay Resort
Responded 25 Feb 2019
It was my pleasure to entertain you both at VBR, if there is such a thing as Perfect guests you guys are it! I very much look forward to welcoming you back again soon... With warm regards, Paul
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We just returned from a Stay & Sail package with Vacala Bay Resort in September/October, and can honestly say it is the only true way to experience the full range of beauty throughout Fiji. From the luxurious resort and local island excursions, to the beauty underwater in the soft coral capital of the world, capped by a night above deck under more stars than you’ll ever see anywhere else on earth, this is an experience of a lifetime, and one you can only get with Vacala Bay Resort. Taking our experience to another level were our hosts, Paul and Helena. Paul’s knowledge of the island and surrounding waters, and therefore his ability to guide us on any and every adventure, is unmatched. Helena is the perfect compliment, as we have yet to meet, and would bet we won’t ever meet, a soul as kind and hospitable as hers. Nor a chef as miraculous! The food that comes out of her kitchen, either in the resort or on the catamaran, is worth the cost of admission alone. We are already counting down the days until we can come back and relax in Vacala Bay, and explore more of the islands onboard the amazing catamaran! Thank you Paul and Heli!…
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Date of stay: October 2018Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Cleanliness
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Helpful
Response from Paul N, Owner at Vacala Bay Resort
Responded 26 Nov 2018
Thanks again!!
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When you come to Taveuni, you MUST check out Vacala Bay as it is an incredible spot / resort-home. You must also consider taking a day trip or two with Paul on his catamaran. In addition, Paul plans multi-night sails between islands and combination stay / sail packages with his resort location. You will love Paul and his wife Heli - they are great at guest service, amazing chefs, and Paul has been sailing for many years around the world. He is also a Kite coach and can connect you for diving on the island. Thank you for incredible experience in Taveuni!
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Date of stay: August 2018Trip type: Travelled with family
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Paul N, Owner at Vacala Bay Resort
Responded 11 Sep 2018
Thank you so much Justin is was such a pleasure hosting you and your lovely family...Bulas to everyone from the Vacala team!
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We spent a week at Vacala Bay resort. We were graciously hosted by Paul, Heli and their daughter Taka. We had everything we could have wanted at our disposal. The accommodation was magnificent and wonderfully spacious. The outdoor bathroom was amazing, a real highlight. We had a gorgeous view of the water which enabled us to see dolphins pretty much every day.The beach was at the end of the driveway and provided access to lots of coral to snorkel above and explore. Checking in and out was a breeze and so very flexible which we very much appreciated. The food, what can I say about the food! It was absolutely delicious and there was always more than we could eat. Heli is by far the best cook on the island and is the perfect host. We spent a day out on the boat which was very relaxing and enjoyable. The staff that assist Paul, Heli and Taka at the resort are just wonderful, we really enjoyed meeting them. Special mention and thanks needs to go to Pinni and Jay, we loved spending time with those two and getting to know them. We had lovely conversations with Pinni and Jay was the ultimate gentleman. It was so sweet seeing how Jay would look after Taka, a special bond between those two - perhaps we will come back for the engagement/wedding!! This place is in a perfect location and you have everything you need.…
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Date of stay: July 2018Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Rooms
Location
Service
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Paul N, Owner at Vacala Bay Resort
Responded 11 Sep 2018
You guys were absolutely perfect guests it was our pleasure to host you and we very much look forward to seeing you again soon. Taka and Jay send lots of kisses!
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My family and I take one big $$$$ vacation a year. We're all certified divers. We usually dive in Mexico and the Caribbean. This year we decided to get out of our comfort zone and dive in the South Pacific. We booked the "shark dive" with Beqa Adventures on the main island of Fiji. (This is a must - do this dive!). And, we heard impressive things about the Rainbow Reef in Tavenui, Fiji. All the multi -star resorts in Tavenui (there are only a few) were booked solid. So, we decided to take a gamble on Vacala Bay Resort. Why a gamble? Because we like our privacy and we were a bit worried that it was a B&B. Instead, Vacala Bay Resorts was one of our best family vacations ever. And, although price was not our top consideration, it was about 50% less than the exclusive "booked" resorts. When you arrive in Taveuni, Paul will be there. He knows everything and everyone on the island. If you're a diver, Julie, the owner of the best dive shop on the island, will pick you up in the morning. If you want to explore Bouma National Park or hike the Lavena Coastal Walk, Paul will arrange the guides and transportation. (No need to rent a car.) Whatever you can imagine, Paul puts it together for you. I attempted wind surfing, what the heck, and Paul's a certified wind surfing instructor. If you like sailing, Paul will take you to a deserted island. The snorkeling is epic. As far as diving, you know it's good when at least one dive master from the US or Australia dives with you on the Rainbow Reef. These seasoned divers aren't traveling this far unless it's absolutely the best. My sixteen year old daughter thought it was the best diving of her young life - even better than the world famous shark dive. Incredible live coral, sharks, walls, schools and schools of fish. Final thoughts: Helena, Paul's significant other, partner, wife, confidante, is the best personal chef I have ever experienced. (Granted I haven't experienced a lot of personal chefs, but a few.) Her food is crazy good. This is a foodie's wet dream - and she cooks so much of it. I would recommend that you tell Paul and Helena to leave the leftovers in the fridge and just snack for dinner a couple of times. Give them the night off. (They live in the sailboat in the Bay when they have guests.) If not, you'll gain five pounds like I did. But, the dinners are hard to pass up - elaborate affairs with several courses - and it's all inclusive. Paul and Helena work so damn hard to make your vacation the best. Sit back, enjoy it, do a lot of diving and water sports, take the waterfall hikes, eat too much, drink too much, try wind surfing, paddle boarding, hiking. No gamble here.…
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Date of stay: June 2018Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Paul N, Owner at Vacala Bay Resort
Responded 22 Jul 2018
Wow James I can only say Thank you Thank you Thank you!
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First the view; it is so stunning that I sent a picture home that was so pretty it started a panicked rumor at work that we never coming back. Paul and Helena were excellent hosts with great suggestions if you want to leave the villa ( and you may not) my suggestion consider taking a sail with them on the 45 foot cat. Paul and Helena took us on an overnight sail and dive to the Ringolds that we will be talking about for the rest of our lives. If you haven’t chosen a place yet just go here
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Date of stay: June 2018Trip type: Travelled as a couple
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Paul N, Owner at Vacala Bay Resort
Responded 14 Jun 2018
It was our pleasure having you and Gary here for your 45th wedding anniversary and we wish you many more! We hope to see you again soon in our little slice of Paradise! With warm regards, Paul and Helena Negro
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We stayed with Helena and Paul for 8 nights in Taveuni - 4 nights at their Villa (Vacala Bay Resort) and 4 nights on 'Looping', their yacht. Its hard to know where to start but here goes.... Villa The Villa is modern and luxuriously appointed with the most spectacular view over the beautiful azure water of Fiji. We (2 adults and 2 teenage boys) arrived in the morning after a night in Nadi and we were met by Paul at the airport in Taveuni and after several emails between us I felt i already knew Paul and felt like I was meeting a friend. The drive to the villa was only 5 minutes and we were greeted by Helena and her team singing a Fijian welcome. Once settled, we soon realised that Paul and Helena were really lovely down to earth people who are genuinely happy to welcome you to their home. Their warmth and generosity are evident from the beginning and nothing was too much trouble. We were really trying to avoid the package "Fiji Resort" style holiday and have a more intimate experience and we absolutely found it. On the beautiful Taveuni and spending time with Paul Helena, Ana and Pini we found a great place to relax, enjoy amazing food and wine.....and squeeze in a little exercise - the hill from the beach to the villa certainly got the heart rate up, and we loved the opportunity to do something after such beautiful food prepared by Helena and her team. Helena spent considerable time and effort to source local fresh food and create gourmet meals from anything she touches!!. Helenas breakfasts had the teenagers mesmerised...... Should probably mention the lovely and gentle Taka - Helena and Paul's Rhodesian Ridgeback that is such a sook and loves nothing better than to sit on your feet and revelled in the attention.....Also loved the kayaks and the opportunity to explore the bays - if you are going on the boat don't forget to ask if the kayaks can come too....... Looping - the boat After an extra night in the villa due to the weather we were finally on the boat...cruising here we come...the boat was the perfect size for the 4 of us to live in comfort. The sailing was amazing and the weather divine. Even one slightly seasick teenager raved about it! Highlights of the sailing included FANTASTIC snorkelling, incredible corals and fish that rival if not surpass the GBR and pristine water quality. Paul knew all the great spots and took the time to educate us about Fiji and what the various reefs, atolls and islands held. The isolated beaches and Ana's ability to climb a remote coconut tree for a green drinking coconut were amazing... as was the fresh skipjack tuna sashimi after catching it fresh from trolling on the boat. AND Paul's tempura fish - also caught fresh that day from the boat. What Paul and Ana produced from the tiny galley on the boat was unbelievable and so much better than the other places we have stayed in Fiji (and may other places). So to sum up... Go Go GO and our tips are: Take plenty on sunscreen, your appetite and a mind set to relax and enjoy the beautiful location on offer..... Congratulations Paul and Helena - you have nailed it!! Leone and Paul (and the teenagers).....…
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Date of stay: September 2017Trip type: Travelled with family
Location
Cleanliness
Service
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Paul N, Owner at Vacala Bay Resort
Responded 22 Jul 2018
Aww you guys were so lovely Thank you! we hope to see you again next year!! Thanks again!
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PRICE RANGE
$1,983 - $1,983 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
FijiTaveuni IslandMatei
NUMBER OF ROOMS
3
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Vacala Bay Resort
What are some of the property amenities at Vacala Bay Resort?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and a pool.
Which room amenities are available at Vacala Bay Resort?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, a minibar, and air conditioning.
What food & drink options are available at Vacala Bay Resort?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Vacala Bay Resort?
Conveniently located restaurants include Coconut Grove Oceanfront Restaurant, Restaurant Tramonto, and The Dive Cafe.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Vacala Bay Resort?
Yes, guests have access to a pool and a fitness centre during their stay.
Does Vacala Bay Resort have an airport shuttle?
Yes, Vacala Bay Resort offers an airport shuttle for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Does Vacala Bay Resort have airport transportation?
Yes, Vacala Bay Resort offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are pets allowed at Vacala Bay Resort?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Does Vacala Bay Resort offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers a business centre, a banquet room, and conference facilities.
Is Vacala Bay Resort accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access and reduced mobility rooms. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.