I have filtered thru the various reviews here both positive and negative. Being from the US, it was a bit more challenging to find resort information on Fiji than say Hawaii. My boyfriend and I travel the world for a living filming for broadcast television and we have both seen and stayed in some amazingly beautiful places. He has also stayed at Aman resorts in the Philippines. I consider Aman resorts the very best boutique hotels in the world-with a price point to match.
When considering where to stay, I was looking for a bit larger property where there would be more people to socialize with. Likulike has two bars and it also has a spa and a fitness center. A fitness center is very hard to find in a small resort and was a priority to me.
We did not have any privacy issues with the bures being close to each other. We used our fabulous salt water plunge pool everyday and the huge outdoor bed. I often was topless on my deck, bed and pool area and had no privacy issues.
We were in bure #16, deluxe beach front, which had a massive, large red poncienna(spell?) tree in front and over our plunge pool which was just lovely. The room is just amazing and very comfortable.
The cuisine was fabulous. A young Australian couple are the chefs and it was creative, tasty, and well presented. I have a culinary degree so I feel like I know what I am talking about in this area. Interesting that there is no formal wine sommelier on the staff.
The portions are not the huge US standard we are used to and quite frankly that is why a 1/3 of all American's are clinically obese. UGGGH! Hence, no one seems to care about a gym either - hmmmmm connect there? as far as the "munchies" go, yes they don't have them. I guess three square meals a day (two courses plus desert) isn't enough? LOL -back to the obesity issue.
The service is friendly and warm. They do forget a few things here and there and not all the t's are crossed. It is not a formally trained Jakarta hotel staff that you would find on a Holland America cruise ship. Frankly though, it should be though at the price point for this resort.
I am not sure why the lagoon is such an issue with people. You can snorkel fine at high tide and the infinity edge pool is lovely. It is not a sandy beach in Hawaii- but that wasn't a priority to me.
Overall, it was a truly amazing place and I look forward to returning.
PS the free wifi in the room is a big plus when having to be in contact: txt, email, skype etc.
Who uses phones these days in international hotels? The rates are insane. Fiji is also not in the international plan for AT&T(US) cell use so don't turn on your data roaming what ever you do - like $10 a megabite.
It is very rare to get free wifi these days, anywhere.