Hotel Review: InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa

InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa is nacho average resort.

I saw this realization on my youngest brother’s face as he took in a heaping, gooey bowl of nachos — complete with chips, ground beef, beans, salsa, sour cream, melted cheese and guacamole — delivered to his poolside lounger.

It was 10:30 a.m., and this was 16-year-old Isaac’s breakfast of choice. And, despite my earlier jaunt to the hotel’s buffet at Sanasana restaurant, I couldn’t resist stealing a chip — or five — from his bowl.

From traditional buffets to morning nachos by the pool, anything goes at the five-star InterContinental Fiji, where guests are encouraged to relax and operate on “island time,” a mindset that my chilled-out teen brother was eager to adopt.

In fact, the South Pacific resort’s carefree ambiance is perfectly matched to the personality of Fiji as a whole. A member of InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG), InterContinental Fiji is affectionately referred to as “the people’s resort” thanks to its ownership by the Fijian National Provident Fund, which collects compulsory contributions toward the retirement savings of all workers in the country. Because of this, clients will discover that the resort feels authentically Fijian.

“As a country, we have a point of difference that is not just isolated to this one resort,” said Hudson Mitchell, director of leisure sales and marketing for the hotel. “I believe wherever you go in the country, you will find an amazing friendliness and empathy that appeals to both guests and locals.”

IHG operates 5,000 properties across nearly 110 countries, and repeat IHG clients will notice familiar touches on property, Mitchell says.

“What IHG members can expect from any IHG hotel is a consistency in service and experience globally, so there is no difference between the facilities in Fiji and an IHG property in Wellington, New Zealand; London; or Rome, for example,” he said.

Only a handful of properties within IHG’s massive portfolio are considered “resorts,” and Mitchell believes a true selling point for InterContinental Fiji is its 18-hole, PGA-endorsed golf course — the only of its kind in Fiji — and its award-winning spa. (Pro tip: Opt for a traditional Fijian deep-tissue treatment.)

I had my own list of standouts during my three-day stay, which included my guestroom’s outdoor Cleopatra-style soaking tub (a fixture for all 266 rooms on property); the on-site Natadola Beach, which serves as a base for shore snorkeling, stand-up paddleboarding, surfing and kayaking (guests receive one hour per day of complimentary use of non-motorized watersports equipment); and the exclusive Club InterContinental, which is well-suited for upscale clientele.

An impressive resort-within-a-resort concept, Club InterContinental is “where the finer elements of experience take place, and where we compete with many boutique properties as far as accommodations are concerned,” according to Mitchell.

The club includes 50 one- and two-bedroom suites, and travelers booked here have private access to the Club Lounge, a private pool and an exclusive team of IHG staff, among other perks.

One final resort highlight worth mentioning has to do with — yet again — breakfast. Specialty, adults-only breakfast at Navo Restaurant, the resort’s fine-dining option, was nothing short of outstanding. My “Island Breakfast” — grilled white fish and poached eggs on a bed of greens — further showcased the property’s ability to incorporate both its Fijian roots and IHG’s five-star quality into every part of its operation.

It may not have been poolside nachos, but it was equally as satisfying.

The Details
Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa
fiji.intercontinental.com