Vacation Rentals by Owner

Deluxe Absolute Beachfront Cottage with Large Private Pool [#198643] | View Property

Savusavu
Cottage, 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath (Sleeps 2)
From FJ$300/nt - FJ$2,100/wk
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Traveler Reviews (24)

• Absolutely Fabulous!

  Absolutely Fabulous!

  • Guest Marian S.
  • Date of stay 12/20/11
  • Review Submitted 04/04/12
  This Resort eclipses ANY tropical vacation spot we’ve ever visited! There is so much to tell you about our experience it is hard to know where to start, except perhaps the day of our arrival at Jeff and Susan's stunningly beautiful and peaceful Tropic Splendor Resort in December 2011. Stepping out of the car, we entered another world where flower-adorned salusalus were placed on our shoulders as we took in the gorgeous scenery and the sweet and very private guest cottage. Hearing gentle Fijian music wafting out of the cottage, we were drawn inside. It was gorgeous and immaculately maintained as their website pictures depict. Everywhere inside were tucked exquisite ginger and orchid flowers to delight us. The fruit bowl was overflowing with fresh papaya, pineapple, and passion fruit. The full kitchen was equipped with all applicances one could need. The king sized bed was super comfortable. The refrigerator was thoughtfully stocked with yummy goodies from the local Savusavu bakery along juice and milk for our breakfast the following day. That night, Jeff and Susan invited us up to their home for a welcome dinner. Their beautiful home sits well inland from our beachfront cottage and is accessible from a lovely, winding stone path though exquisite tropic grounds and ponds. We had a wonderful lamb shank stew, fresh bread, and fruit and great conversation about Fiji and the exciting adventures awaiting us. Jeff and Susan are the kind of people you meet that immediately put you at ease - you feel by night’s end that you’ve known them a long time. During our stay, Jeff took us snorkeling, fishing, river cruising, and we joined them on Friday nights at the Yacht Club. Susan took us to the market when we needed, introducing us to their many friends along the way. They were super hosts, always available for guidance or help, but never hovering! From beginning of our trip, we were infused with a pervasive feeling that stays with us still…that of sheer relaxation - stepping into “Fiji time,” where stress falls away from your shoulders. During our entire trip, we didn’t even look at a clock or watch…. We highly recommend Troipic Splendor to our friends, family, and to anyone looking for a wonderful, memorable Fiji time!

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• Heaven on Earth

  Heaven on Earth

  • Guest Jenifer C.
  • Date of stay 07/30/11
  • Review Submitted 12/05/11
  Wow!! There is so much to say, but first of all we want to say Thank You. This experience was amazing. Susan and Jeff really out did themselves on Monday August 1st 2011, the day we got married right here at Tropic Splendor. We couldn’t have asked for anything more. The flowers, including the arch, were out of this world, the cake was delicious, the dinner was fantastic, and weather was perfect. We had the most beautiful sun set for our pictures, which you will see in the photos. The massage’s Lora gave us were amazing, very relaxing. Thank you Susan for getting everything arranged in advance so all we had to do was get the marriage license when we got there. Everything fell into place and there wasn’t a worry in the world. Penea and Saras were a delight, we enjoyed getting to know them. We had a great time on the boat and the snorkeling was awesome. We will never forget any of you and will always remember this special trip. We will most definitely be back, so see you soon. Mr. and Mrs. Clark Wyoming, USA

  Owner response: Vinaka vaka levu Jen & Jason! It was such a pleasure for all of us here at Tropic Splendor to share in your joyous occasion. The day could not have been more perfect and framed with that gorgeous sunset moments after your ceremony on the beach, was truly a sign that your marriage is blessed! We look forward to your returning to celebrate many anniversaries with us in the future! Lalomas, Susan, Jeff, Saras, Penaia & Marau

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• Perfectly Splendid Splendor

  Perfectly Splendid Splendor

  • Guest Tiffany S.
  • Date of stay 06/02/11
  • Review Submitted 06/29/11
  Our weeklong stay at Tropic Splendor turned out to be the perfect escape from our busy city lives in the US. The tranquility of Tropic Splendor is simply amazing, so much so that I almost hesitate to describe it for fear it becomes so popular that we can't book our next trip there! We awoke each morning to the chorus of exotic birds and the colors of brilliant sunrise, and fell asleep each night to the gentle lapping of waves on the shore and the chirping of tropic critters. We spent several days just soaking up the sun, the only sounds the rustling of the palms in the breeze, and the occasional thud of a falling coconut. The beach lies just beyond the beautifully manicured gardens, soft dark sand that changes lighter or darker depending on which direction you walk. On our first day we walked for hours and never saw another person, just the bamboo bilibili rafts of the local villagers stowed upon the sand. There are two or three other houses along the beach and maybe half a dozen total in the area, some with their own rental cottages, but Tropic Splendor has the best location by far and we always felt like the only people around. Every evening, we took our chairs to enjoy the sunset with a glass of wine in perfect serenity. As the other reviewers have stated, the cottage is immaculately maintained and contains everything you could possibly think of, especially the kitchen which had more appliances and types of pots and pans than we have at home! We found it all the more impressive given the amount of effort it must take to procure and keep things in good working order in such a remote place. Regrettably, the owners Jeff and Susan were away on a vacation of their own during our stay so we did not get to meet them, but their housekeeper Saras and their groundskeeper Penaia were most gracious hosts. Saras picked us up at the airport, took us shopping in Savusavu, showed us how to make various types of delicious Indian food, brought us fresh fruit grown on the property, and was so helpful when our flight back to Nadi was canceled and we had to reschedule our plans. Penaia taught us more than we ever knew there was to know about coconuts, took us on a tour of his village of Vunivesi, arranged a meke performance for us, brought us to his church on Sunday, guided us through the Waisali rainforest, and gave us a memorable and beautiful farewell kava ceremony. We were sad to leave, but can't wait to return as soon as we can!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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• "Life is Good" at Tropic Splendor"! An Amazing Place to Stay........

  "Life is Good" at Tropic Splendor"! An Amazing Place to Stay........

  • Guest R&A
  • Date of stay 02/17/11
  • Review Submitted 04/29/11
  We expected Tropic Splendor to be nice based on the pictures & reviews online but once we arrived we were stunned at the beauty of the grounds, the views & accomodations. All first class. The unit was efficiently stocked with everything we needed & was extremely clean, well maintained and very warm & cozy. Jeff & Susan were the perfect "host & hostess" & went out of their way to insure we had a vacation to remember. They were very helpful, always willing to offer advice & made our trip one we will ALWAYS remember.The staff, "Penaia & Saras" were incredible & we felt like we were saying goodbye to old friends by the time we left. We enjoyed the snorkeling, boat trips, our private "lovo", drinking of kava, coconut demonstration, canoeing down the river, the Meke with the local village children & the fishing was darn good!! It exceeded our expectations in everyway & we would strongly recommend it to anyone who wants an amazing vacation, one you will always remember. Thank you Jeff & Susan for sharing your beautiful paradise with us & your love of Fiji....... "Vinaka Levu" R&A

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway.

  Owner response: Our goal at Tropic Splendor Fiji is to showcase the best that our lovely, friendly islands of Fiji have to offer! You will really experience the true Fijian culture here in the Savusavu area - more commonly known as Fiji's Hidden Paradise as we are far away from the main tourist spots. Our fully self-contained beachfront cottage with large private saltwater pool is the perfect place to relax, reflect & rejuvenate!

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• A place to be pampered with Hosts that are Ensuring you have a fabulous time.

  A place to be pampered with Hosts that are Ensuring you have a fabulous time.

  • Guest Jack
  • Date of stay 02/02/11
  • Review Submitted 02/27/11
  We spent a week at Tropic Splendor in February and were so pleasantly surprised at how spectacular this place was and how amazing the Hosts Susan and Jeff were at providing so many little extras for our weekly stay. We were met at the airport by Susan and a local employee Saras, who is the most pleasant young women, and were given lovely flowered welcoming Lays. Susan and Saras helped us do shopping in town and we went out to a very pleasant local lunch spot and then back to our special cottage. Tropic Splendor is perfectly laid with every detail well thought out. The fact that Jeff keeps everything so well maintained and working like clockwork is a testimony to how he can fix and build most anything. The cottage is done up in beautiful local woods and traditional artwork and so well appointed with all the little extras and more than everything one could need. It even had an Ipod player and more movies then we could watch in a lifetime. There was all kinds of assorted spices and food supplies already present including a lovely basket of fruits and vegetables that was constantly being restocked. The Kitchen was well designed and clean as a whistle. Our porch was decorated with lovely flowers arrangement by Penaia the local grounds keeper extrodanaire and local tour guide. Jeff and Susan made us dinner our first night and took us out to a fantastic snorkelling reef in their boat one beautiful day --this was all included in our weekly rate. They took us into town a few times during our stay and we got to see how active they are in supporting their local community and assisting those in need all around them. Penaia and Saras took care of us very well and we loved the in depth coconut demonstration --we have lived in the topics for years in the past and still learned from this demo. We had a wonderful time in our kayak trip to the nearby local village where we were introduced to the Chief and then hiked up to a pretty waterfalls with a swimming pool that was cool and inviting. We had use of their kayaks and I even had a chance to paddle into Savusavu. I don't know where the time went as the week passed so quickly! A wonderful experience that I would recommend to anyone. This is a little piece of paradise with the pool, beach, waterfront and local flavour being perfect. Everyone is so friendly --this was definitely one of our highlights in Fiji. Don't miss Tropic Splendor!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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• Tropic Splendor is tropic splendor!

  Tropic Splendor is tropic splendor!

  • Guest Pam
  • Date of stay 11/18/10
  • Review Submitted 12/26/10
  This was our second stay at Tropic Splendor. We enjoyed it so much two years ago that we returned to Fiji for another visit. The cottage is a lovely place to stay. It is bright, clean and comfortable and right on the beach. The cottage is adorned with beautiful, exotic fresh flowers from the property. A bowl of freshly-picked fruit is on the table upon your arrival. My favorite part of the cottage is the large deck that faces the beach. You always have a view of the ocean, and sounds of the waves are your constant companion. The gardens around the cottage are lush and lovingly maintained, with many flowers and plants I've never seen before. My favorite time of day was in the morning as the sun rose above the palm trees and created a beautiful golden glow on the gardens. Jeff and Susan (and their wonderful dog, Marau) are welcoming and gracious hosts. They can help you plan activities that interest you. Some of our favorites include their dinner on the evening of our arrival, trips to the market in town, the children's meke (dance performance) in Vunivesi village, boat outings (snorkeling and fishing), Penaia's coconut demonstration (wait until you drink the juice of a fresh coconut!), kayaking to the reef down the beach (watch for jumping garfish), Saras' homemade curry and roti, a bonfire by the beach, and especially the trip with Penaia to a village down the coast to hike to the waterfall and swim in the cool fresh water. Plus, we saw the rare orange dove (which we didn't see on our first visit)! This is a truly unique and unforgettable destination!

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• Definitely Paradise !!!

  Definitely Paradise !!!

  • Guest bulayvy
  • Date of stay 06/12/10
  • Review Submitted 05/19/11
  It has been almost a year since our stay at Tropic Splendor....and I think a week has not gone by without fond memories of our time there. Susan and Jeff are the BEST hosts !!! This was my second trip to fiji, and my husbands first. Last summer we stayed in 5 different places on our trip to fiji...and Susan and Jeff's "cottage" was by far the most luxurious, comfortable, and beautiful accommodation. They have every comfort of home and have thought of everything that their guests could need. It's like staying at a 5 star resort, but you have it all to yourself. You even get your own shows/entertainment....with a coconut demonstration and basket weaving demonstration. Saras and Penaia added such a wonderful touch to the experience; sharing their knowledge of island life, and giving the flavor of the two main cultures of fiji. What we loved the most: Screens that are totally solid (doesn't sound like much, but after wasps were a "normal way of life" for our other accommodations in fiji...no holes or openings in any screens is a big deal). The sound of the ocean lapping just out front during the night made for very romantic evenings and sleep was soothing and solid. The fans and many doors and windows allowed for a cool breeze to flow during the day. Kayaks right at our disposal whenever we wanted, allowing us to kayak into different villages and experience the local hospitality, and to kayak right up to some great snorkeling spots. A kitchen as thoroughly stocked as our own at home. Grounds that are so beautiful that you can spend time just walking the yard, and the beach. Guided trips into town for the best shopping and dining. We will definitely be returning to this, the finest private accommodations I've ever experienced in Fiji. Thanks Susan and Jeff for providing such a luxurious cottage in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Also, thanks for all of your communications and advice before the trip, which helped me to plan the other parts of our travel. You two are the best :o)

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

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• Smartest thing we have ever done!

  Smartest thing we have ever done!

  • Guest Kerry
  • Date of stay 05/22/10
  • Review Submitted 10/04/10
  On a return to the USA from a year working in New Zealand, I had this idea to meet my husband on a South Sea Island... Tropic Splendor with hosts Jeff and Susan was the perfect ending (or beginning!) of the best vacation of our lives. We have six children between the ages of 26 and 7 years old, so a romantic vacation is a rare-to-never opportunity. We had high expectations because who knows when we would have the chance again???? With no agenda but to relax and spend time together...our time in Fiji was ideal. The cottage and hosts provide the right amount of privacy and assistance for activities. Favorites included choosing between the beach or private pool. Kayaking, snorkeling and going into Savusavu for a meal and to mix with the locals was also great fun. Jeff and Susan are the rare combination of smart, funny, interesting and inspiring people you will ever have the chance to meet. Their staff, contacts and friends will enhance your stay if you so choose. We also appreciated the range of movies and books available from the cottage and their personal library. Wishing Susan and Jeff continued success and encouraging those of you who are considering a Fiji visit away from the "packaged vacation," to choose Tropic Splendor.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

  Owner response: Vinaka vaka levu Kerry & Tim! All of us at Tropic Splendor Fiji enjoyed having you as our guests and look forward to your next visit!

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• Tropic Splendor is Outstanding

  Tropic Splendor is Outstanding

  • Guest dlw42
  • Date of stay 05/16/10
  • Review Submitted 06/08/10
  We just returned from our second stay at Tropic Splendor and will return again (the record is held by another guest who has now logged 12 stays into the guestbook!). Tropic Splendor is a well equipped oceanfront, 1 bedroom studio cottage with a pool on a private extensively landscaped 3 acre property. It is about 15-20 minutes from Savu Savu on the north shore of Savu Savu Bay and has everything you need to stay a few days or a few months. The really unique and wonderful feature about Tropic Splendor are the owners, Susan and Jeff Mather. They offer their guests a host of activities, from snorkeling the coral reefs in and around Savu Savu Bay, to deep sea fishing, visits to the local village, Vuni Vesi, or just chilling at the beach. You can have as much or as little interaction as you wish. Savu Savu Bay and surrounding reefs offer some great diving too and there are dive outfitters in town they can hook you up with. The result being Tropic Splendor is like a private resort accommodating only one couple at a time. Our first time to Tropic Splendor, we spent two weeks there and rented a jeep to be able to explore the island on our own. This time we decided against the rental and Susan picked us up at the airport and we accompanied our hosts into town a couple of times when they were going anyway (by car and/or boat). The housekeeper, Saras, upon request, will cook wonderful Indo-Fijian meals, and Penaia their part time grounds-keeper and full-time boat hand will prepare a fresh coconut for your eating and drinking pleasure or will pilot the boat while you search for 90 lb tuna or 5 foot-long mahi-mahi. We have explored a fair bit of the Pacific, Maui and Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands, Society Islands, Cook Islands, the Yasawa Islands (Fiji) and the 2008 and 2010 trips to Venua Levu Island. It’s hard to beat Tropic Splendor.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

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• Tropic Splendor is Outstanding

  Tropic Splendor is Outstanding

  • Guest Margaret
  • Date of stay 05/08/10
  • Review Submitted 07/06/10
  We recently returned from our second stay at Tropic Splendor and will return again in the future (I think the record is held by another guest who has now logged 12 visits in their guestbook!). TS is a very well equipped oceanfront, 1 bedroom cottage with a large deck and pool on a private extensively landscaped 3 acre property. It's about 15 min. from Savu Savu on the north shore of Savu Savu Bay and has everything you need to stay on for a few days or a few months. The really unique and wonderful feature about Tropic Splendor are the owners, Susan and Jeff Mather. They offer their guests a host of activities, from snorkeling the coral reefs in and around Savu Savu Bay, to deep sea fishing, visits to the local village, Vuni Vesi, or just chilling at the beach or on the double wide comfy hammock on the deck or the one on the beach. You can have as much interaction as you wish. Savu Savu Bay and surrounding reefs offer some great diving too and there are dive outfitters in town they can hook you up with. The result being Tropic Splendor is like a private resort accommodating one couple at a time. During our first visit to TS, we spent two weeks there and rented a jeep to explore the island on our own. On this past one week stay we decided against a rental car. Susan picked us up at the airport carrying beautiful leis made by the local village and we stopped in town for some grocery/produce shopping before heading to Tropic Splendor. We also accompanied our hosts into town a couple of times either by boat or car when they were heading in, plus our Friday Happy Hour at the Yacht Club and a fantastic and very reasonable dinner afterwards at the Surf 'n Turf. Their housekeeper Saras, upon request, will be happy to cook wonderful Indo-Fijian meals. Penaia, their grounds-keeper and full-time boat hand prepares a thirst quenching coconut drink, no tumblers needed!......and pilots the boat along with Jeff while you search for large tuna or 5-foot long mahi-mahi. We have explored a fair bit of the Pacific: Maui and Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands, Society Islands, Cook Islands, the Yasawa Islands by boat (Western Fiji islands) as well as the '08 and 2010 trips to Venua Levu Island. It's hard to beat Tropic Splendor................we'll definitely be back!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

  Owner response: Vinaka vaka levu Margaret & Dave! We look forward to your next visit and many more fun times snorkeling, fishing and enjoying happy hours & dinners together!

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• • Guest Charlton Marshall Parish Council
  • Date of stay 01/21/10
  • Review Submitted 01/21/10
  We arrived at the beginning of December '09 after travelling for 3 months round Australia/NZ ready for a rest. We certainly weren't disappointed. We couldn't have chosen a more beautiful cottage and setting. The surroundings are amazing, the flowers that Frances and Saras decorate the inside and outside of the cottage were the most exotic specimens we’ve ever seen. Then the fresh fruit that was picked daily from the gardens for us was absolutely “yummy”. Although we are not “water babies” to have the sea a few minutes away was great – paradise. Frances’s and Penaia’s demonstration with coconuts was so enlightening we shall look at this fruit in totally different way from now on. Saras cooking wonderful curries and showing you how to make it was another bonus. To shop in the town of Savusavu is an experience itself, the locals are so friendly and genuine. We bought fruit and vegetables from the local market that was so fresh and tasty. We told Susan and Jeff we’d never tried lobster before, so Jeff told us to buy it at the market and then showed us how to prepare and cook it (and a very enjoyable evening was spent with them too). They invited us to accompany them to the Rotary club to meet their friends and hear about the many projects they are undertaking to enhance the local people’s lives – a very worthy cause. We were invited to the local school's end of year prize giving. Afterwards the children entertained us, their families and friends, with a concert – very amusing at times. Another day we were invited to see the local children perform the “Meke” and take part in the local custom of drinking karva, unusual taste but not unpleasant! A sunset cruise up the river on Steve’s boat was so relaxing, then dinner at the yacht club afterwards – another world. It was lovely to see the real Fiji and not be stuck in a resort where everything laid on can be a bit too perfect. Jeff and Susan are the most generous of hosts and made our stay the perfect ending to our "adventure" to the other side of the world. Can’t wait to go back. Pam & Roger Higgins, Dorset, UK

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• • Guest yoshibear
  • Date of stay 01/10/10
  • Review Submitted 01/10/10
  My husband and I were lucky enough to find thits wonderful hidden paradise in Fiji. If you are a couple who loves quiet walks on a beach, beautiful clear water, outdoor activies, natural beauty around you and people who are just wonderful to be around, then this is the place for you! My husband and I cannot express in words the wonderful setting that our hosts Jeff and Susan have provided. Tropic Splendor is truly the most wonderful vacation destination we have ever been lucky enough to experience! We will return with much anticipation and pleasure!

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• • Guest Jimmy & Amy MacDonald
  • Date of stay 01/03/10
  • Review Submitted 01/03/10
  Our stay at Tropic Splendor (Nov 2009) was exceptional! The accommodations & amenities are amazing, but Jeff & Susan are what make this place so special. The guest house is beautiful & comfortable, and has everything you need to feel like you're a local living in Fiji. Susan was so wonderful about showing us around town, taking us shopping, & teaching us about Savusavu. And Jeff is so much fun to hang out with on the boat. We found the BEST snorkeling with Jeff by Split Rock and the lighthouse! We also had an amazing couple of dinners with Jeff & Susan (at their home & at the Yacht Club). They are fun to talk with & knowledgeable about many things. It's incredible to see how much they are involved in their community & truly make a difference in the lives of the villagers in their area. MUST DO: snorkel with Jeff, participate in the coconut demo with Panaia, learn to make coconut milk with Francis, take the Waisali Rainforest Reserve hike, visit the market in town and Vunivesi village. Our only regret is that we couldn't stay longer.

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• • Guest Natalie and Bryan
  • Date of stay 06/22/09
  • Review Submitted 06/21/09
  My husband and I just returned from our two weeks in Savusavu, Fiji. We went to Savusavu as our two weeks leave from Iraq and could not have picked a better place. We stayed the entire two weeks at Tropic Splendor and had the times of our lives. Jeff and Susan are exceptional hosts and gave us the complete tour. We visited the local villages, did some shopping for pearls, spent many of nights at the Yacht Club, took a ride on Jeff and Susan's boat into town and enjoyed fishing on the way back. Also, the staff is very friendly and more than willing to make sure your stay is a wonderful one. We would walk down the beach to comb for shells and would return to fresh flowers everywhere throughout the cottage and porch. All the flowers grow throughout the property and I would quiz Frances and Saras on the names of them.....my favorite is the Torch Flower. We also managed to completed 14 dives with Dive N Downunder. Late night walks on the beach, and sleeping to the sounds of the waves crashing against the shore just topped everything off. We are already planning another trip to Savusavu with our children after our tour in Iraq is complete. I have traveled all over the world with the military and I can honestly say that our two weeks at Tropic Slendor was the best yet. I would recommend anyone looking to get away for a relaxed and romantic vacation to check them out.

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• Tropic Splendor - A Piece of Paradise

  Tropic Splendor - A Piece of Paradise

  • Guest Natalie and Bryan
  • Date of stay 04/30/09
  • Review Submitted 06/21/09
  My husband and I just returned from our two weeks in Savusavu, Fiji. We went to Savusavu as our two weeks leave from Iraq and could not have picked a better place. We stayed the entire two weeks at Tropic Splendor and had the times of our lives. Jeff and Susan are exceptional hosts and gave us the complete tour. We visited the local villages, did some shopping for pearls, spent many of nights at the Yacht Club, took a ride on Jeff and Susan's boat into town and enjoyed fishing on the way back. Also, the staff is very friendly and more than willing to make sure your stay is a wonderful one. We would walk down the beach to comb for shells and would return to fresh flowers everywhere throughout the cottage and porch. All the flowers grow throughout the property and I would quiz Frances and Saras on the names of them.....my favorite is the Torch Flower. We also managed to completed 14 dives with Dive N Downunder. Late night walks on the beach, and sleeping to the sounds of the waves crashing against the shore just topped everything off. We are already planning another trip to Savusavu with our children after our tour in Iraq is complete. I have traveled all over the world with the military and I can honestly say that our two weeks at Tropic Slendor was the best yet. I would recommend anyone looking to get away for a relaxed and romantic vacation to check them out.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 7/8

• Heavenly

  Heavenly

  • Guest Jan and Darrell
  • Date of stay 04/13/09
  • Review Submitted 06/05/09
  My husband and I have just returned from a 3 week holiday in Fiji and the first week we had the privelege of staying at Tropic Splendor just outside of Savusavu. The owners, Jeff and Susan, live at the back of the property but the cottage is beachfront. They are both wonderful hosts, very aware of your privacy but also very helpful and kind, making a perfect combination for our first time in Fiji. The cottage is wonderful, very well equipped and has a beautiful private pool. The Fijian caretaker and the 2 housekeepers are delightful people and very informative about the Fijian way of life, showing us how they weave baskets and "live off the land". Jeff and Susan even hosted a dinner for us the first night, a real treat after almost 24 hours of being in transit, and took us out twice in their boat for snorkelling and for a trip up a nearby river. They even took us to a nearby village to watch darling Fijian children dancing...and it was all included. If anyone would like to e-mail me , I would be happy to answer any questions Vinaka to all at Tropic Splendor for a truly wonderful time !

  Recommended for: Age 55+, romantic getaway.

  Owner response: Our goal at Tropic Splendor is to show our visitors the best Fiji and Savusavu (Fiji's "hidden paradise") have to offer including friendly people, interesting culture, jungle & waterfall hikes, beachfront massage, wonderful snorkeling, diving, deep sea fishing and delicious Fijian & Indian foods. We're not just a rental cottage but more like a mini-resort with all the personal extras we provide to our guests. We want our guests to feel like they are visiting friends starting from our meet & greet with flower salusalus at the Savusavu airport, taking them shopping in town, a "weary traveler's" welcome dinner with us on our deck to snorkeling & boating trips, village visits, the coconut & basket weaving demonstration and a traditional Fijian kava ceremony. We invite our guests to join us on Friday nights at the Savusavu Yacht Club to have drinks & dinner with us and our many expat friends. It's just as much fun for our good friends to meet our guests as it is for our guests to meet them. We've even had a few very interesting coincidences! Not surprisingly, we've had a handful of our guests fall in love with the area and have ended up buying property and have moved over to become a part of our little community as well. We are pleased that we also have many repeat guests who have come to feel that Tropic Splendor and quaint Savusavu are their second home. We are active in our local Rotary Club, Jeff having been named Rotarian of the Year in 2008, and we always invite guests to accompany us on school visits and trips out into the rural (bush) areas of our island with our club members. It can be quite an adventure and our guests enjoy it as much as the cute Fijian children enjoy meeting them! Fiji is an amazing place and the people are its finest resource. There isn't a more friendly, gentle and safe place to enjoy a tropical holiday and feel rejuvenated!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 25/25

• • Guest sddlw
  • Date of stay 08/09/08
  • Review Submitted 08/09/08
  Our stay at Tropic Splendor was truly a unique and fulfilling experience; one of those “special” vacations that we will be talking about and telling our friends about for some time. If you are looking for a private, intimate experience in Fiji, far from the mega-resort “Hawaiian-Waikiki” experience, this is definitely worth considering. We have never met such gracious friendly people in all our travels. Tropic Splendor is a well equipped oceanfront, 1 bedroom studio cottage with a pool on a private 3 acre property that has been extensively landscaped with palms, ginger, heliconia, and many other tropicals. The pictures (as pictures often do) just don’t do it justice. The unique and wonderful feature about Tropic Splendor is the owners Jeff and Susan! You can have as much or as little interaction with them as you wish. The result being Tropic Splendor is more like a private resort instead of just a house for rent. But unlike a resort, aside from buying some extra gas for the boat, you don’t have to constantly have your wallet out to pay for the extra services. If you like, Jeff and Susan have their new guests over for a special welcome dinner on their first night so you can get to know one another and they can give you all the low-down of what is available to do and see. And, on Friday nights it’s become an unofficial tradition that everyone goes into town and meets up with other ex-pats for Happy Hour and dinner. We came to Fiji to snorkel the reefs and we were not disappointed. The underwater scenery, even without diving, was fabulous and in my opinion, was superior to anywhere else we have been. There are several reefs that are easily accessible by kayak from Tropic Splendor and many more that are accessible from Jeff’s motorboat. On the reefs away from shore, the visibility was 80 feet or more and many of the reefs came right to the surface for an extremely close-up experience. Although the fishing was a little slow, there are plenty of pictures of guests with 90 lb tuna and 4 foot long dorado. Jeff and Susan can arrange for locals to provide “special” services including home-cooked Indo-Fijian dinner or a hour-long relaxing massages. And special invitations can be arranged to visit Vunivesi Village, meet some of the villagers and be treated to a very special occasion, a “Meke”, traditional dances and songs performed by the village children. It touched our hearts seeing the innocent, joyful and proud children who shared their traditions and cust

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• • Guest Patty Perrings
  • Date of stay 08/07/08
  • Review Submitted 08/07/08
  12:11pm Aug 3, 2008 EST Susan and Jeff make Tropic Splendor just what the name implies. They work hard to make sure that visitors experience the many facets of Savusavu. Upon our arrival, Sue picked us up at the airport and took us into town, where we were able to obtain groceries. On the way to Tropic Splendor she made stops so that we could photograph some of the outstanding vistas. The first thing we did upon arrival at Tropic Splendor was go for a dip in the bay. It was wonderful after a 10 hour flight! Next on the agenda was a boat ride up the Nasakewa river. It was raining lightly at the time and was just beautiful. The following day Susan took us to Savusavu so that we could be measured for sundresses at one of the local fabric stores. Nothing like having a dress tailor made in a couple of days. We shopped in the market for fresh produce, went to lunch at the Yacht Club, and tried our skills at dickering at the crafts shops. Meanwhile Jeff took our companions snorkeling at some of the fine reef around Savusavu. We toured the Hibiscus highway the following day, where we were able to visit some of Sue and Jeff's friends. Again more breathtaking scenery. The highlight of the trip for me was snorkeling at split rocks. The number of fish and corals was astonishing in a place that was so close to a populated area. The reefs around Fiji are so healthy. The children's meke was another tremendous experience. They were so talented and beautiful. It was fun to see the spear dance, and fan dance put on by the kids. Visiting their village was a treat. The coconut demonstration that Frances and Penaia did was also memorable. They showed us how every bit of the coconut is used in daily life. It is clever the way the baskets are created. So simple and elegant at the same time. While on vacation we stayed at another resort as well, but it paled in comparison to Tropic Splendor. Jeff and Sue pay so much attention to detail that a vacation there is guarenteed to be a pleasure. They make sure that you enjoy the cultural and physical treasures of Fiji. Vinaka! Patricia Perrings USA

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Tropic Splendor lives up to its name

  Tropic Splendor lives up to its name

  • Guest sddlw
  • Date of stay 07/19/08
  • Review Submitted 08/13/08
  Our stay at Tropic Splendor was truly a unique and fulfilling experience; one of those special vacations that we will be talking about and telling our friends about for some time. If you are looking for a private, intimate experience in Fiji, far from the mega-resort “Hawaiian-Waikiki” experience, this is definitely worth considering. We have never met such gracious friendly people in all our travels. Tropic Splendor is a well equipped oceanfront, 1 bedroom studio cottage with a pool on a private 3 acre property that has been extensively landscaped with palms, ginger, heliconia, and many other tropicals. The pictures (as pictures often do) just don’t do it justice. The unique and wonderful feature about Tropic Splendor is the owners Jeff and Susan! You can have as much or as little interaction with them as you wish. The result being Tropic Splendor is more like a private resort instead of just a house for rent. But unlike a resort, aside from buying some extra gas for the boat, you don’t have to constantly have your wallet out to pay for the extra services. If you like, Jeff and Susan have their new guests over for a special welcome dinner on their first night so you can get to know one another and they can give you all the low-down of what is available to do and see. And, on Friday nights it’s become an unofficial tradition that everyone goes into town and meets up with other ex-pats for Happy Hour and dinner. We came to Fiji to snorkel the reefs and we were not disappointed. The underwater scenery, even without diving, was fabulous and in my opinion, was superior to anywhere else we have been. There are several reefs that are easily accessible by kayak from Tropic Splendor and many more that are accessible from Jeff’s motorboat. On the reefs away from shore, the visibility was 80 feet or more and many of the reefs came right to the surface for an extremely close-up experience. Although the fishing was a little slow, there are plenty of pictures of guests with 90 lb tuna and 4 foot long dorado. Jeff and Susan can arrange for locals to provide “special” services including home-cooked Indo-Fijian dinner or a hour-long relaxing massages. And special invitations can be arranged to visit Vunivesi Village, meet some of the villagers and be treated to a very special occasion, a “Meke”, traditional dances and songs performed by the village children. Without doubt Tropic Splendor lives up to its name.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 7/7

• Best vacation we've ever had

  Best vacation we've ever had

  • Guest Mike and Sharon
  • Date of stay 05/19/08
  • Review Submitted 06/16/08
  “Vinaka vaka niu” or “It is all good” describes our time at Tropic Splendor. A luxurious private retreat, secluded for a natural unique experience. We had an absolutely wonderful time - enjoying the water, the land, and the people. The cottage at Tropic Splendor is very romantic, tastefully decorated with Fijian handicrafts and artwork, and equipped with all the modern appliances (including an iPod docking station). The cottage, just steps from the beach, is surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens and a private swimming pool, perfect for romantic moonlight swims. The cottage is beautifully decorated with tropical flowers, all grown in the gardens at Tropic Splendor. Tropic Splendor is more than a rental cottage. The hosts, Jeff and Susan, were our personal tour guides during our visit, and are the nicest, most accommodating people we’ve ever met. We are novice travelers, but we wanted to experience Fiji away from the large tourist hotels. Jeff and Susan were our personal guides; they showed us the real Fiji; the culture, the people, and the environment. Upon arrival in Savusavu, Fiji, Susan, greeted us with beautiful handmade floral salusalu leis. Before taking us to Tropic Splendor, Susan showed us around the town of Savusavu, took us shopping where were able to get fresh baked goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, local beef, poultry, and Fijian lobster (Yumm) and (of course) “Fiji Bitter” beer for our stay. Tropic Splendor is a short drive from Savusavu. During our first night’s stay, Jeff and Susan treated us to a wonderful welcome dinner at their home. During our stay, we went snorkeling, deep-sea fishing (ask Jeff about the fish that got away), scuba diving, hiking up the beach, and for a wonderful boat ride up the Nasekawa River, which showed the beautiful, green, tropical, peaceful, and natural Fiji. If you are looking for a romantic getaway for two, away from the tourist traps, we highly recommend Tropic Splendor. We can’t wait until we can return!

  Recommended for: Age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/6

• The perfect tropical vacation!!

  The perfect tropical vacation!!

  • Guest Elaine D
  • Date of stay 02/12/08
  • Review Submitted 08/04/08
  By far my stay at Tropic Splendor was the best vacation I've ever had. We were treated like Royalty from the moment we set foot on the ground starting with being greeted by Susan with beautiful flower salusalu leis at the airport then a trip through town to pick up a few things for dinner. The very personal treatment we got made our stay exceptional. Susan escorted us on several shopping trips to town where we were able to purchase artifacts made from native woods and sulus made from beautiful fabrics. Her expert knowledge of locally grown black pearls helped us make purchases at the pearl farm as well as from her own collection. We were very fortunate to tour the pearl farm when the pearl seeders were there from Japan, we observed their quick and expert seeding of the oysters. We enjoyed a wonderful 6 course Valentine's day dinner at Surf 'n Turf restaurant at the Copra Shed Marina where we also met several of Susan and Jeff's friends for Friday night happy hour. Our introduction to Fiji Culture included Panaia's and Frances' coconut and basket weaving demonstration and Kava ceremony. We really enjoyed the Meke performed by the children from the nearby village. We indulged in Lora's wonderful massages more than once during our stay and even had a very relaxing facial in town. Our stay included a drive around the island where we experienced breathtaking views and at one spot we got to look into tomorrow as we were at the international date line. We experienced all this including deep sea fishing (we did catch fish, barracuda and Mahi Mahi, we enjoyed eating Mahi mahi and yellow fin tuna fajitas on Susan and Jeff's deck) snorkeling, a boat trip up the Nasekawa River to view the beautiful Rain Forest, walks up the beach and kayaking. I can't say enough about our stay. It was wonderful. I definately plan on visiting again and will stay with Susan and Jeff at Tropic Splendor. Tropic splendor is exactly that... Tropic Splendor. Paradise!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/6

• Paradise Found at a Reasonable Cost

  Paradise Found at a Reasonable Cost

  • Guest Chris & Carolyn
  • Date of stay 12/01/07
  • Review Submitted 02/03/08
  The best recommendation for a vacation hideaway is from guests who have stayed there before. We have been guests at this beautiful property twice. The experience is more enchanting than the description and pictures lead you to believe. The guest burre on the beach is a work of art with every convenience you could want except a/c which the power grid will not support, but who needs a/c with beautiful water on a beautiful fine sand beach at your door step and fans at night! You can walk in the natural jungle surrounding the property without concern and the presence of flora and fauna both on land, in the air and in the bay is remarkable. Friendly local native Fijians greet you on the beach and will bring their children to your property for a Fijian dancing and singing fest if you wish. The propriaters are warm, friendly, interesting, helpful and gracious hosts that want to make your stay a wonderful life memory. We highly recommend a vacation here!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

  Owner response: We recently installed A/C into our beachfront cottage even tho there will be very few times when youâ??ll need to use it as we do have fans in the cottage as well as the gentle tradewinds throughout the year.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/9

• Perfect Fiji!!

  Perfect Fiji!!

  • Guest JasonGuppy
  • Date of stay 04/01/07
  • Review Submitted 02/04/08
  We were so thrilled to stay at Jeff and Susan's dream getaway! The house was stunning, the host's amazing (they went fishing for us!!) and we had a great time meeting the locals. If you are going to Fiji this is the place to stay - inexpensive, great scuba diving, somewhat remote and away from the tourists... it's great... we can't say enough. Bula bula!! Jason and Dina

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/4

• Tropical Immersion

  Tropical Immersion

  • Guest Al and Peggy
  • Date of stay 01/01/07
  • Review Submitted 02/25/08
  We have thoroughly enjoyed the two times that we've stayed in this wonderful beach front cottage. It is fully equipped with everything you might need. Susan and Jeff are very gracious hosts who will go out of their way to ensure guests enjoy their stay. We decided to rent a car while we were there in order to explore Savusavu and the surrounding areas. At the cottage, we enjoyed waking to the sound of waves and during the day we greatly enjoyed watching the groups of Fijian women wade into the ocean to circle the nets while their children splashed in the water driving the fish into their nets. The warm smiles and friendly "Bula" greetings endure in our hearts.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/4