August 1, 2013
On the way back from Restaurant Tramonto were three small resorts I wanted to check out. When we travel to areas like this, I love going to look at the special resorts and consider them one of the attractions of the area. After all, they’re a combined effort of talented architects, interior designers, landscape architects, floral arrangers, and gardeners.
If they do their job well, the final creation blends with the landscape while enhancing and maximizing the impact of the beauty of surrounding area. It also gives a feeling for the local culture, a sense of place. When they really get it right, there’s a serenity around the area, an undefinable sense of grace. It just feels good to be there. A well-designed resort is a work of art as much as any painting in a museum, but this a work of art you can walk through and be a part of.
The first resort we came across was the Taveuni Island Resort, a very nice place. The open-air dining room looks out over an expanse of grass and beautifully landscaped grounds to an infinity pool, which overlooks the beach below.
Next up was the very exclusive Taveuni Palms. There are only 3 villas, each with their own beach, swimming pool, and staff including a personal chef to create your multi-course meals. This is a place to come to be catered to, pampered, and indulged.
We knew when we were getting close because the landscaping along the road went from very pretty to wow! Just walking past the resort grounds along the street was a visual feast for the eyes. We hoped to see more of the incredible grounds and walked down their drive.
We ended up at the simple reception area and met one of the owners, a lovely Kiwi lady and her little daughter. She was very kind and gracious, saying she’d normally show us around but all the units were booked. We chatted with her for awhile, and there was no hint of snobbery or suspicion that certain other resorts adopt when they’re pretending to be classy. This woman was the real deal, able to make her resort feel easy-going, yet able to cater to the needs of those from the highest echelons. She’s like the Mr. Roarke of Taveuni Island. Below is a gallery of the street in front of the Taveuni Palms, and their wonderful white dog.
Finally, we headed back on the road to the Coconut Grove Beachfront Cottages, another beautiful little gem, set on a golden beach. Their open air dining room sits on a hill above the beach, giving a treetop view of the surrounding palms. We loved it and decided to come for breakfast the next day. –Cyndi
