Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort

We just returned from glorious 7 nights in Fiji to rainy Auckland and feel like we’ve just crashed back to earth😭. We spent 2 nights in Nadi (Wailoaloa Beach) and 5 nights in Jean-Michel Cousteau resort in Savusavu. Cons (cos it’s a lot faster to write than pros) - Have to fly to Savusavu in a small propeller plane. - One bedroom bures have weird layout - toilet and shower are in the same closed space without any partition. So if one person is showering the other person can’t use the toilet (or maybe you can 😝) - Room service is really slow unless you are ordering chips. - We got quite a few bites but haven’t come down with Dengue fever yet and TBH we weren’t too vigilant with mosquito prevention. Pros: Too long to mention - Your room rate includes pretty much everything other than alcohol/mocktail and some paid activities such as diving and boat fishing. There are quite a few included offsite excursions such as village visit and rainforest walks. - Daily nanny/buddy service from 0830-2130. Every under 6 get their own nanny, over 6 get buddy with increased ratio but my daughter (6) seemed to have a buddy of her own anyway. The buddy took her on snorkelling, kayaking, boating adventures every day. Daily swim with nanny/buddy (kids pools are inside the Kids Club, parents welcome to join). Our kids had the same main nanny/buddy for the whole 5 nights/6 days. Kids get whisked away at breakfast until you pick them up at night after dinner, but many families chose to have dinner together at the family section of the restaurant. - Fabulous snorkelling right from the beach, pier, and twice daily snorkelling excursion for adults and two family snorkeling trip and daily family boat ride. - No credit card surcharge - BYO is allowed and you can bring your own alcohol to restaurant - Food - daily cooked breakfast, 3 course lunch and dinner, all day menu all included in your room rate. Can have meals in your rooms. The food is solid 4/5 - not quite fine dining level, but probably solid 4/5 good hotel restaurant meals. Fijian BBQ lunch on Sunday and lovo buffet on Tuesday. All rooms now have airconditioning but we didn’t need it most of the time we were there. You will have fabulous time once you let go of the guilt that you are abandoning your child for the holidays. I decided to think of it as summer holiday camp for the kids that parents happened to come along to 🤣. Conclusion: We will go again before our youngest turns 6, but would go every year if we can afford it! Special thanks to Mary S and Etta, who were best nanny/buddy for our B1 and G6.

With so many fabulous reviews I had high expectations for our family (grandparents, kids and grandchildren) of 10’s stay at JMC - and I was not disappointed! This resort is exceptional. The staff are the friendliest, most welcoming people I have ever encountered at a resort - you feel like “guests” in the true sense of the word. Every member of staff who looked after us, from management to the restaurant, the activity centre, the kids’ club, the house staff and gardeners. was warm and welcoming and contributed to making our stay memorable. The food in the restaurant is varied, fresh, tasty and beautifully presented. The free activities kept us all busy - we sailed and snorkelled, kayaked, paddle boarded, went on the village tour, the waterfall walk, enjoyed the lovo dinner, the cava ceremony, the church choir and the village dance performance and still found time to enjoy the serenity pool. The kids had a ball. Their nannies and buddies were exceptional, fun and caring. They joined us snorkelling and kayaking, they took the kids fishing, played with them in the family pool and waterslides and made sure they were happy and active. They also magically maintained a balance so we shared family time and adults time effortlessly. The grounds of the resort are beautiful and well maintained as are the bures. Everyone in our party loved the resort. We came home relaxed with an appreciation of the Fijian culture and legendary friendliness - having experienced a very special family holiday.

We just returned from an unforgettable 7-night stay at the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort in Fiji, traveling with our young children and a couple of other families. Simply put, it exceeded every expectation. * Getting There: The journey was smoother than expected. After landing in Nadi, we hopped on a quick Fiji Link flight to Savusavu—make sure you book to Savusavu, not a similarly named destination like I mistakenly did at first! From there, the resort handled everything seamlessly. * Warmest Welcome: Upon arrival, we were greeted with a joyful, music-filled welcome by the staff that immediately made us feel like family. Check-in was fast and easy, setting the tone for the rest of the week. * The Kids’ Bula Club – Truly Exceptional: This was a major highlight. The "buddies" assigned to our children—Leo, Savi, Liam, Julia, and Vito—were all phenomenal. They not only entertained our kids with endless activities, but also helped with meals and even took them on excursions like shoreline fishing and snorkeling. The club itself is thoughtfully designed with multiple pools (including a slide the kids loved), a dining area, sports courts, and shaded spaces for parents to relax. They even applied sunscreen and insect repellent regularly and taught the kids to count in Fijian. It was safe, enriching, and a ton of fun. * Daily Activities for All Ages: The resort offers a packed schedule of adventures—snorkeling, waterfall hikes, crafts, village visits, and more. You can do as much or as little as you want, but there’s always something worth doing. The Food – A Culinary Surprise: Every meal is served in the same open-air restaurant, and somehow, we never got bored. The menu variety and quality were incredible. Each meal felt like a treat and was a definite highlight of the trip. Diving & Water Activities: The on-site dive shop made it easy to get certified or do a refresher (which I did), and getting out on the water was effortless. Mika and Sefa from the activities team were outstanding—always cheerful, helpful, and ready to take us sailing, snorkeling, or kayaking. A special shoutout to Johnny, who led our snorkeling excursion and used an Etch-a-Sketch underwater to teach us about the marine life. His knowledge and passion were amazing. * Accommodations: The bures are spacious and well-maintained, with plenty of green space around for kids to run and play. Hammocks and shaded lounging spots are scattered throughout, making it easy to unwind. * Thoughtful Service: Communication with the front desk via WhatsApp made everything easy—whether we needed housekeeping, early turndown, or just a quick question answered. The GM, Euan, was friendly and accessible, bringing a calm and welcoming presence throughout our stay. * Final Thoughts: Honestly, I could go on and on. If you're a family looking to unplug, reconnect, and enjoy nature—both on land and in the water—this is the place. The genuine warmth of the staff, the wealth of activities, and the focus on family made this one of our best trips ever.

Our recent stay at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort was truly exceptional. With only 25 bures, the resort maintains an outstanding staff to guest ratio, ensuring personal, attentive service from start to finish. We were even serenaded upon arrival and departure. As an eco-friendly resort, they actively protect the surrounding marine environment and have two full-time marine biologists on site who lead snorkeling excursions and mangrove planting, a unique and inspiring feature we really appreciated. The resort itself is beautifully maintained and clean, thoughtfully designed facilities. Daily housekeeping, turn-down service, and daily laundry service are included, adding to the sense of comfort and care. The dining experience here is another highlight. The food is consistently excellent, fresh, beautifully presented, and often comparable to Michelin style cuisine, with a new menu offered each day that highlights local ingredients and international flavors. And for coffee lovers, you won’t be disappointed, the espresso drinks here are top-notch and consistently well made. Activities are abundant and thoughtfully planned, with many complimentary options like snorkeling, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, catamaran sailing, and guided nature walks. The resort also offers on-site PADI certification and dive excursions to some of Fiji’s best reefs. For families, the bula kids’ program and wonderful nannies and buddies create an environment where children are engaged and cared for, while adults can relax. Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort masterfully combines luxury and authentic Fijian hospitality in a warm, family friendly atmosphere. It’s a place where you feel truly looked after, and we left already dreaming of our return. Highly recommended…a very special experience in every way.

We are just back from a family holiday and just WOW! I have never felt more relaxed as everything is taken care of so you can sit back and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. My two children were so loved and cared for, not just by the Bula Club staff but throughout the resort. All the staff were so friendly and willing to help with anything. One restaurant work Elisha sorted bed rails for my son after enquiring how our night was at breakfast. Great attention to detail ie sunblock for kids and bug spray stationed throughout the resort. There were so many activities everyday with cute itineraries - one for adults and one for kids. The snorkelling off the pier is fantastic and you can visit the private island! It truly felt like we were leaving family behind when we left. Such a warm, inviting, magical place. I want to be back on my sun lounger enjoying my flat white! Thank you so much for such a wonderful week! Bula! See you again.