Where's Johnny Jet: Checking into the Very Tony Namale Resort

G'day mate! From that greeting you know my dad and I didn't go home as planned. Instead we traveled to Australia, after I surprised him with last minute (I'm talking real last minute) tickets to the country he has always wanted to visit. But before we fly to Oz we close out our incredible trip to Fiji in style, as we check into the Namale Fiji Islands Resort & Spa (Anthony Robbins owns it). Make sure to scroll all the way to the bottom, where you'll find a 2-minute video of our Fijian trip from beginning to end.

Namale

I have wanted to stay at Namale ever since my brother dragged me to a Tony Robbins Seminar (that's a whole other story). For those who aren't familiar with the name: Tony is a famous self help guru/motivational speaker. Toward the end of the seminar Tony talked about the advanced classes that take place at his incredible Fijian resort. After realizing we shared passionate feelings about the island, I wanted to see what he has done as a hotelier to make his property unique. Now I had my chance.

Arrival

Security was much tighter than at other resorts. The guard double-checked to see if our name was on the list before he opened the gates. Like many Fijian resorts Namale doesn't allow outsiders to come stroll around and check it out -- you have to be a guest. That makes it that much more intriguing. Once inside and driving on the short dirt road, I felt like I was on an African safari -- minus the animals. The road led us to the best Fijian welcome reception I have ever encountered. Twenty workers wearing big, bright smiles either clapped or played guitars. With beautiful voices, they greeted us singing a traditional Fijian welcome song.

About the Resort

The resort encompasses 325 acres, yet there are only 16 bures. Their slogan "Separate yourself from the rest of the world . . . " is very accurate. I have never been to a place that is so large with so few guests, yet is perfectly manicured. My first impression of Namale felt like a mix between Jurassic Park and the Flintstones movie. It was surreal.

Tony and His Resort

Tony Robbins has a gated house on the property, and he visits at least couple of times a year. Guests wouldn't know Tony owned the place unless they heard it beforehand. The staff doesn't talk about him much, and you have to look real hard to find his name on the hotel's website and brochures. However, if you do ask the staff (like I did) what kind of person he is, they will tell you he is a great man. They were very appreciative that he pays for the education of every staff member's child (about $7,000 FJD per child per year). The only visible evidence of Tony's influence was the rock next to our front door that read "Step Up!" (one of Tony's famous lines), and a sign near a water cooler by the conference center that read "Remember to drink at least half your weight in ounces" (that's something Tony would say). I know, a conference center doesn't seem to fit the profile of a Fijian resort. And while we're on the subject of buildings, there were a couple of other that don't seem appropriate for a Fijian getaway. But as you will see, they make nice additions for travelers who want an Americanized exotic vacation.

Kava Bowl

One of the buildings is the workout center. Few resorts in Fiji have a workout facility, and I'm guessing Namale has the best one in the country. They not only offer all the equipment anyone needs, but there is also a huge (I'm talking humongous) screen with cable TV. When I walked in, CNN was on. TVs are rare in Fiji resorts, and CNN is even rarer. Another building -- my favorite, and what made me feel like I was in a real-life Flintstones movie -- was the 2,000-square foot Kava Bowl. Inside is every kid-at-heart's fantasy (it had to be, because children under 13 are not allowed at the resort). There's foosball, darts, air hockey, billiards, full-swing golf (a video game so real that you hit the ball at a screen using real clubs and balls), free high-speed internet, a fully stocked bar, leopard-themed wall-to-wall carpeting, and a two-lane regulation bowling alley. Bowling in Fiji! Where else can you bowl with bare feet? Gotta love it! To top it all off, a pull- down screen comes over the alleys to make your own private movie theatre, with hundreds of DVDs to choose from.

Activities

If that's not enough to keep you busy for a month, the resort has two freshwater pools, Jacuzzis, volleyball, lawn croquet, tennis, and indoor/outdoor basketball courts. That's not a typo. The indoor basketball can be found in the conference center -- that's where Tony leads his exclusive Fijians seminars a couple of times a year. The conference center is also where my dad and I took an 8 a.m. yoga class, led by a beautiful instructor named Willow. The fun doesn't stop -- the property also contains both a putt-putt golf course and a Frisbee golf course. Is that insane? There is also hiking and mountain biking, plus visits to a Fijian village. If you just want to relax, visit the 10,000-square foot spa. Unfortunately, the $120 price for the Swedish hour massage was NOT in Fijian dollars (converts to $70 USD); otherwise it would have been more reasonable.

Beach

Don't forget: This place is on the water. That means guests can snorkel, dive, water-ski, kayak or jump on a water trampoline. The trampoline can be found at my favorite natural spot at the resort: the beach. The Namale beach has to be the nicest in Savusavu. Before I came here I didn't think the area had sandy beaches, but sure enough Namale has one -- with lounge chairs, umbrellas and towels all set up. There was no one around when we were there, so it felt like our own private resort. At times like these I wish I could swap my dad for you-know-who.

Bula Carts

After checking in (which entails sitting down with a tropical non-alcoholic drink and signing your name), we were asked if we preferred to have lunch or see our bure. We chose the latter -- I couldn't wait to see what it looked like. I was handed the key with an engraved shell that read "Dream." Intriguing, eh? Because the resort is so massive, they offer Bula carts. Workers continually cruise around in these quiet electric golf carts, running errands or just waiting to be hailed by lazy guests like us.

Dream House

When we pulled up to our dream house's shell driveway I thought, "Wow -- this is going to be something!" And it was. First of all, the door was immense. Second, both my and my dad's names were carved on a piece of wood, and hung in the doorway. How's that's for a unique touch? Last, the room was amazing. That might even be an understatement. This plush, two- master suite home was killer. My dad's room had a king-size four-poster bed (with Egyptian cotton linens), a gigantic walk-in closet and a bathroom fit for a king. My room, which was on the other side of the house (I almost needed a bula cart to get there), had the same linens on a queen-size bed. A wall of open windows overlooked the water. In the back was a wraparound deck as long as the house, built on top of volcanic rock formations. Out there was a plunge pool, outdoor showers, lounge chairs and a hammock to chill in while staring out over the magnificent Koro Sea. At the far end of the deck, a winding staircase led to the water. (Unfortunately this side of the island was unsuitable for swimming -- just exploring). In between the bedrooms was a well- designed living room, with stocked library and pull-down movie screen complete with video setup and surround sound. Did I mention the full-size kitchen and stocked fridge? BTW: All food and drinks (including alcohol and Champagne) are included in the rates, which begin at $700 a night. This also includes daily laundry, transfers to and from the airport, and most activities.

Food

I know you're wondering, so here's the answer: The food and service were both excellent. Guests will definitely gain weight from the three big meals a day (unless you choose the healthy Spa Cuisine menu). The staff always remembers your name, and are more than happy to arrange in-room dining or create a picnic basket for lunch.

I Can't Quit You, Fiji

Checking out was very sad. Who wants to leave paradise (and pay the steep bill)? But before getting in the van, here's one last unique feature: Departing guests can use a cement stone to carve out a note that will be placed somewhere on the property.

Brokeback Fiji

On the way to the airport my dad got choked up. He said, "I couldn't understand when you told me you cried leaving Fiji for the first time. But after coming to Savusavu I know what you mean. This place and these people are so amazing." I nodded in agreement, and neither of us talked all the way to the airport. We just stared out the window, and replayed the past couple of weeks in our minds.

Why Australia?

One of my biggest regrets in life was not getting on the plane in 1987 to visit my sisters, who at the time were living in Perth, Australia. That was after I talked my mom into taking me on what would have been the most incredible high school spring break ever (JFK-San Francisco-Hawaii- Sydney-Perth-Fiji-Los Angeles-Connecticut). I had an anxiety attack in JFK airport and wimped out at the gate. It occurred because I had recently been diagnosed with asthma, and prior to leaving my doctor put the fear of God in me by saying, "Oh, you might have a difficult time breathing on the flight because the planes are pressurized." Pressurized?! Hard time breathing?! To make a long story short, I didn't get on the plane. The worst part is I prevented my mom from going, so she never had the chance to see one of the world's most beautiful cities: Sydney. After conquering my fear of flying, I've made it to Australia a bunch of times. My brother and sisters had all been to Australia -- but not my dad. I knew he wanted to go, because he always hears us talking about it (it's one of our favorite destinations).

Tickets and Visas

On this trip to Fiji we met a bunch of Australians. Like most Australians they were very nice. When they asked us if we'd been to their country and my dad shook his head no, I could tell he felt bad. I knew this was his best chance to get there. We were so close -- only four hours by plane -- and I knew if we didn't go, we would always regret it. So on the morning we were supposed to fly back to Nadi to catch our 10-hour flight back to Los Angeles, I decided to do something crazy (I mean, "special"). I went online and did the right thing. Within 20 minutes I bought us plane tickets to Australia, and arranged for a hotel and visas. Better yet, online visas cost $15 USD (the airlines charge $100 at the Nadi airport). FYI: Arrange Australian visas before you leave from the States. They're free! (It pays to be organized.)

Surprise

As we checked in for our 1-hour flight to Nadi, my dad heard me tell the agent we were headed to Sydney. My dad said, "Sydney? No, we're going to Los Angeles." I said, "I didn't tell you?" (Of course I knew I hadn't.) "I looked at the weather. It's snowing on the east coast and chilly in L.A. -- so we're going to Australia where it's nice and warm." He asked in amazement, "You're joking, right?" I grabbed his shoulders, looked him in the eye and said, "NOPE! You're finally going to Australia!" He was so happy, I thought he would cry.

Next Week

Yeah baby! Next week we continue our endless summer, hitting the hopping beaches of Australia.

Fiji Video

Here's a 2-minute Johnny Jet Video of our trip to Fiji. With high-speed the video takes about 3 minutes to load; with dial-up, please allow up to three weeks.

Happy Travels,

Johnny Jet

Please tell us what you think of this week's newsletter!

John E. DiScala (aka Johnny Jet), is the founder of www.johnnyjet.com, the ultimate travel website and weekly newsletter. He logs over 150,000 miles a year, has been featured in over 700 articles (including Frommers.com, USA Today, Time, Fortune, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post), and has appeared on ABC, CBS, CNBC, MSNBC, NBC, FOX News Channel, and PBS. Sign up for Johnny Jet's Travel News, Tips and Stories at www.johnnyjet.com.

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