The Luxurious All-Inclusive Resort In Fiji That Celebrities Love
There's luxury, and then there's Laucala. One look at the photos of COMO Laucala Island in Fiji and you'll instantly understand why it's a well-known retreat for celebrities like George Clooney, Ludacris, Cindy Crawford, Miranda Kerr, Tony Hawk, Elle McPherson, Gayle King, and Oprah Winfrey, who once booked out the entire island. From the moment your private plane touches down on the tarmac to the last sunset dinner on an empty white-sand beach, Laucala offers tranquility and privacy for couples, families, and A-listers alike.
The 3,500-acre island retreat was the passion project of the late Austrian billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, one of the founders of Red Bull, before operations moved under COMO Hotels & Resorts, an award-winning group of global properties known for their opulence and charm. It's the kind of place where you can park your complimentary jet ski and golf cart right in front of your private villa, hog an 18-hole championship golf course all to yourself, and explore the azure Melanesian waters in a private submarine tour — the first resort in the world to offer this perk. Or you can do absolutely nothing at all. That's fine, too. Anything goes at Laucala.
All about the luxury villas
Each of Laucala's 25 villas are crafted in traditional Fijian style with thatched roofs, South Pacific decor, and touches of natural materials woven throughout, like coconut husks and palm leaves. Guests will arrive to find their own spacious lounge, a private pool, and a personal butler known as a "Tau" (the word for "friend" in Fijian), says Tourism Fiji. The bathroom features an oversized tub carved from wood or stone, with another one on the sun deck to match. Should you get thirsty, a complimentary bar is well-stocked with whatever drinks you fancy, be it liquor, wine, or Red Bull, a nod to the founder.
The villas on Laucala (pronounced la-thah-la) are arranged with privacy in mind, tucked away in nature, offering sweeping views of the sea or rainforest. There are one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom dwellings available, ranging from $6,500 to $12,900 per night. There is a minimum three-night stay policy, so expect to shell out at least $20,000 for your trip, not including sales tax or extra goodies, like refreshing spa treatments and chartered sea excursions. For the price tag, this resort is as luxurious as it gets. But hey, you only live once, right?
Things to do on Laucala Island
As one of the world's largest private island resorts, there's no shortage of things to do or hidden gems to explore. Outside your villa, the rest of the island boasts several activities, from hiking and horseback riding to yoga and tennis. If you're in the mood to work out, you can hit the gym with a complimentary personal trainer. Once you've worked up an appetite, grab a bite from one of five restaurants with ingredients plucked straight from the island's 50-acre farm.
Offshore, it's just as inviting. Your concierge can arrange for day diving trips for $450 to $600, night dives for $100, and deep-sea fishing excursions to try your hand at catching yellowfin tuna, blue marlin, and wahoo for $2,000 to $3,500. There's also a plethora of aquatic toys included in your fare, like kayaks, wind surfboards, water skis, and wakeboards. As if that isn't enough, you have a fleet of boats at your disposal.
Then, of course, there's one of the crown jewels of the island: the COMO Shambhala Retreat, a wellness center with a wealth of treatments like deep-tissue massages, body scrubs, volcanic mud wraps, and a "Senikau" bath filled with flower petals. Packages range from $260 to $410, with options for couples in need of a little TLC. To top it all off, there's a glass-edge infinity pool that looks like it was made just for Instagram. Whoever says heaven on Earth doesn't exist hasn't been to COMO Laucala Island.