After extensive research, my fiance and I booked our honeymoon at Namale Resort in Fiji. We were excited about the all-inclusive food & alcohol, accommodations, and activities. We're not couch potatoes, but surely appreciate secluded vacations with things to do, should we so choose. I should mention, we're well traveled and have no trouble setting high budgets for trips (vacations, resorts, or restaurants). If you're going to spend the money, spend it where you'll be pampered- that's our motto!
SIX WEEKS before our scheduled trip, our travel agent was informed that Namale was shutting down for two weeks, during the time of our trip. They offered no remorse, flexibility, or explanation. Most resorts know if they're undergoing renovations months in advance, plus, what resort in their right mind would shut down during the peak wedding/honeymoon season!? I suspect (owner & motivational speaker) Tony Robbins is hosting a convention that week and is making far more money selling rooms for his event and cares little about displacing "regular ol' guests". I even called the resort myself. The clerk said a manager would be in touch. After two days, I received a generic email from the Director Sales & Marketing, Hudson Mitchell, asking us to be flexible (how flexible can one be 6 weeks out!?) and reschedule our trip, never once mentioning the cause of the closure. What's most fascinating is that upon reading additional reviews on Trip Advisor, this isn't the first, much less, second time Namale has canceled people's reservations. Unfortunately, this appears the first time they've done it within a two month window of travel. Now we're spent scrambling to find new accommodations in Fiji since flights are already book. Hopefully somewhere will have rooms available, must less ones in our price range. We’re currently looking into Likuliku and Royal Davui. Feedback on either are welcomed! We are APPLAUDED with Namale's professionalism, or lack thereof, remorse, and customer service. Sure, it seems to offer wonderful amenities and ambiance, but who wants to stay at a resort where they place ZERO value on the guests' experience. This will not be the last time I share my disgust of Namale. Our travel agent will be pulling her contract with the resort since she's equally disgusted by their customer service. I hope others follow suit. Apologies for the long post, but this is insane and I’d hate it to happen to others.