Bula! We are humbled again by yet another inclusion in an exclusive listing of resort properties in HotelsCombined’s inaugural Stellar Stays Awards 2013. 

We received word just this morning and are thrilled to be included. To make the list we had to have a score of 9 or more out of 10 from over 250 reviews. Vinaka to all who have left a high score for our island resort on the HotelsCombined.com website. We are simply thrilled to be named in such a prestigious list of Fiji holiday accommodation providers. For more information a transcript of our notification is below…

 

We’re happy to notify you that the Castaway Island has been named to HotelsCombined’s inaugural Stellar Stays Awards 2013. The awards have singled out 33 outstanding properties across Asia Pacific – and only four Fiji hotels made the cut.

‘Stellar Stays’ is not a ranking list but a group of outstanding hotels judged on a strict set of criteria. All currently rate 9.0 and over with a minimum of 250 customer reviews on the HotelsCombined site, have a significant community or environmental program, and have received at least three major industry awards in the past year.  Hotel reviews on HotelsCombined are aggregated from over 27 million reviews from multiple travel and review sites. Hotels are ranked out of a potential score of 10 – making a score of 9.0 or higher quite a feat.

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Bula!

We’ve received yet another accolade we’re very proud to share with you.  This time the award is 2nd place in the prestigious Luxury Travel Mag’s Gold List awards for Best Overseas Resort.

The Castaway family are very excited and can can’t wait to show you our recently renewed resort after our temporary closure.

Other recent awards for 2013…

• Best Overseas Family Resort
• TripAdvisor Top 10 List for Families
• Prestigious Award for Our Chef – Lance Seeto

Vinaka to all who voted. We are again humbled by this big award for our little private island.

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Bula!

We’re very proud to officially announce our win in Luxury Travel Magazine’s Annual Gold List awards for “Best Overseas Family Resort” category. We’re #1!

The Castaway family are very humbled by this award and are simply thrilled to receive such a prestigious accolade.

We thank all who voted for our little  island resort in the middle of the Mamanucas. It’s been an incredible way to continue the year afresh after our re-opening on 31 March, 2013.

Vinaka to everyone and a BIG Vinaka Vakalevu to the Castaway staff – what a special bunch of people you are!

This news comes straight after another prestigious “Family Resort” award from global travel advice website – Trip Advisor. You can read more about that here >>  TripAdvisor – Top Ten Lists for Familes.

For more information on what Castaway can offer your family for your next special holiday to Fiji contact our reservations team direct on enquiries@castawayfiji.com.fj

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The annual TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards honour the world’s best hotels, earning their distinction from those who know them best – real travellers.

Unlike any other hotel honours, TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice winners are based on millions of valuable reviews and opinions from travellers around the world.

Vinaka to all the generous people who leave lovely comments on TripAdvisor about Castaway Island, Fiji. This honour would not be possible without you.

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Our Executive Chef, Lance Seeto, was awarded a Special Commendation for Marketing at the AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism 2012 Awards.  This is the first time an expatriate worker has been singled out for an award under the marketing category.

We congratulate Chef Lance for this recognition and we are very proud of his achievements.

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As many of you are aware, we were forced to temporarily close Castaway Island, Fiji as a result of damage sustained from Severe Tropical Cyclone Evan on 17 December last.

With commitment and assistance from all staff during this time we have been and continue to work tirelessly, to achieve a result we know you’ll be delighted with when you next return to our barefoot private island.

We announced on 19 December 2012 that we would target to reopen the resort at the end of March 2013.  We reaffirm our commitment to that timing and will re-open on time as promised, 31 March 2013 with a totally refreshed and enhanced product.

Our Castaway family of staff are one of our greatest assets. During the temporary closure period, all our staff have remained employed to assist us to reach our reopening timing goal. Whilst most of the staff have a different ‘job description’ and are enjoying that temporary change, they are constantly saying how much they miss our guests.

Our progress to date means all bures have now been rethatched and many have new tapa lined ceilings and air-conditioning units. During this closure time, all bures have been freshly repainted in conjunction with our normal ongoing preventative maintenance program.

We were indeed fortunate that we were able to save many hundreds of plants from our own Castaway nursery and source many hundreds more.  As a result of our diligence prior to and immediately after the storm event, the palm fronds are swaying and the gardens are flourishing with lush tropical blooms throughout the resort.

Our white sand beaches retain their magnificence, as do our pristine coral gardens and reefs surrounding the island and beyond for swimmers, snorkelers and divers alike.

Guests arriving from 31 March, 2013 will be delighted that Castaway retains her warmth and charm, with a family of staff who cannot wait to welcome you back to their refreshed private island resort.

Our commitment to maintaining the heart and soul of Castaway Island, Fiji remains and your ongoing patronage is so very much appreciated. We look forward to welcoming you again.

Vinaka and warm regards,

 

Geoffrey N Shaw

Chairman & CEO

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Renewal of Vows Package – Renew your vows on Castaway Island, Fiji.

If you’ve stayed together as a married couple longer than the norm of today then that in itself is cause for celebration!

We have many couples running away to Castaway to rediscover the reasons they married in the first place.

Our renewal of vows package is perfect for couples who wish to reaffirm their love for each other.

The ceremony can be as casual or as elaborate as you’d like.

Click here for more details Renewal of Vows.

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Introducing our NEW Fiji Weddings Website

Bula and Lolomas!

We’re excited to announce our latest online addition – The Castaway Fiji Weddings Website. The aim is to help our wedding couples make the right decisions for their special day. It includes everything you need to know about getting married in the Fiji Islands plus other helpful information including a Fiji wedding services listing for hair and makeup, photographers and videographers.

The new website is still attached to our main website as a ‘subdomain’. The URL address is http://www.weddings.castawayfiji.com

It is mobile friendly – check it out on your iphones!

This supersedes our previous weddings guide – the downloadable PDF file.

Click the image below to view it. It’s the first release. We aim to add more information and photos as we go. Let us know what you think and feel free to share the lolomas (love) with anyone who might be thinking about getting married in Fiji.

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Enjoy your poolside cocktails in comfort

We’re loving our new pool lounges at the Malua Pool. There was no skimping on quality or comfort. These commercial strength pool lounges have had quite a bit of traffic already and there’s not a hint of sagging. The best part  for our guests is the sturdiness does not equate to ‘hard’ like other commercial pool lounges.

Vinaka!

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Castaway Island’s Fiji Food Safari - five days of culinary and cultural indulgence

Monday 3rd December to Friday 7th December, 2012 DOWNLOAD PDF VERSION HERE.

Join us on our inaugural Fiji Food Safari, hosted by Castaway Island’s Executive Chef, Lance Seeto.

To grab this Fiji december holiday deal we suggest you book early. There are limited spaces.

This five day itinerary will take you on a journey to discover more about the amazing Fijian produce now available from our oceans and rich fertile land.

DAY ONE – Monday 3rd December

Your Island, Ocean View or Beach Bure awaits as you step onto the white sand beach at Castaway Island, Fiji. Today is free to settle in, get fitted for snorkelling equipment, have a leisurely lunch overlooking the beach and get acquainted with your surroundings. Welcome 8 course degustation dinner under a canopy of stars this evening. Embrace the flavours and techniques of Polynesian, Indian and Chinese cultures that influence today’s Fijian cuisine.

DAY TWO – Tuesday 4th December

Following a hearty breakfast with fresh fruits, eggs made to order, fresh French toast, Fijian breakfast vegetables, island baked pastries and freshly brewed coffee and teas, you’ll depart on our island safari excursion aboard our beautiful fast speedboat. We will visit neighbouring islands as well as our Chiefly village, Solevu and take part in a traditional Fijian welcoming ceremony with the Paramount Chief of Castaway Island. We’ll find a shady spot to enjoy a picnic lunch before returning to Castaway early afternoon. A tropical Asian Masterclass will be hosted this afternoon by Chef Seeto. Fiji has a large Chinese community who have made their own mark on the local cuisine scene. This evening enjoy a Tropical Asian Fusion dinner, starting with herbal ginger broth and then progressing to a selection of shared platters showcasing the techniques learned in this afternoon’s Asian Masterclass.

DAY THREE – Wednesday 5th December

Wednesdays are our Fiji cultural day at Castaway Island. You’ll take a journey with Chef Lance through his discovery of the amazing organic produce now available in Fiji, witness the preparation of the Fijian Lovo earth oven and learn about using the natural environment to create healing concoctions and natural medicines. Today’s cooking class is a “Tree of Life” coconut masterclass where you will learn the art of making coconut milk, virgin coconut oil and traditional foods in coconut. This evening is the resort’s Management cocktail party, followed by a Fiji Meke Warrior cultural performance and a Fijian Cannibal Degustation feast.

DAY FOUR – Thursday 6th December

There are so many amazing ingredients that you can use to bring out the flavours of Fiji in your everyday cooking. Today we take an Island Safari to Plantation Island to visit the organic farm and collect fresh herbs and vegetables for this evening’s dinner. A Curry Masterclass this afternoon will focus on the abundant spices and produce available in the region to create a mouth watering array of Indian dishes. This evening you will be indulged with an Indo Fijian banquet as we take you on a journey of how these two amazing cultures have fused to create Fiji’s own cuisine.

DAY FIVE – Friday 7th December

Start your day with a hearty breakfast, then a traditional Fijian massage throughout the morning. Join the Spa Cuisine Masterclass to learn how certain organic vegetables, fruits and herbs can help reduce and aid in dealing with the many ailments of the modern lifestyle. This evening our Gala Dinner Degustation will be served on the beach under a canopy of stars.

Package cost

Your Fijian Food Safari package is just F$550 ++ including full buffet breakfast, lunches, dinners, excursions as outlined in the itinerary and all cooking classes. Accommodation is additional and can be booked via your preferred travel agent or email resmanager@castawayfiji.com.fj to reserve your bure. You can view our Fiji Accommodation Packages here and book in conjunction with this great deal. Limited space. Book early!

++ excludes Fiji Government taxes currently at 20%. Space is limited. Book NOW!

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