We had an amazing 6 nights in one of the pool villas at the Wellesley!
Such a small and secluded resort with only 16 rooms however it was quiet when we were there with only 4-8 rooms filled the entire time we were there. So peaceful.
The whole pool, beach and 'jungle' surroundings were picturesque and I loved the bright yellow everywhere.
The staff were super friendly and helpful and the food was great, at pretty reasonable prices. Definitely try the fish in the coconut sauce and the lamb curry. The included tropical breakfast was also fantastic and quite filling for the day. We would usually have that then share a lunch meal and have a dinner meal each.
Our room was also great with solid aircon, comfy bed and big tv that we hooked my partner's laptop up to to watch our own movies. Having the pool villa was also ideal for privacy and just going for a dip whenever you like. We did go out to the main pool a few times just for a change of scenery and some wifi signal - which is quite strong around the restaurant area but not in the rooms. We liked this though as it forced us to get off our phones and relax.
A few parts of the resort could probably do with some TLC, especially the bathrooms, as our toilet stopped flushing a few times and there were a few chips and marks on all of the walls. But apart from that, we were very happy with the facilities!
There are quite a few things to do around the resort and the staff are happy to help your organise activities. We went on Discover Fiji's Jewel of Fiji tour which we highly recommend to get you out and exploring for the day.
A few other things you can do is go for a walk down the beach to the next resort, where you will pass a local village on the way. There is also some snorkel sets you can borrow to check out the bit of reef - we saw a couple of Nemos and Dorys.
In terms of airport transfers, we used our one-way free drive to get picked up. Our driver was lovely and the car was well air conditioned. Unfortunately, we had to wait in the car for over an hour for another couple to arrive as their flight was delayed and then had to be squished up in the car for the 2 hour drive. The driver stopped at a supermarket for us on the way though which was great as we picked up some snacks, mixers for our duty free spirits and a few Fiji Gold beers for the week. (They are fine with you having your own drinks in the room.) Once you get to the turn off from the main road it's a bumpy 10 minute drive to the resort. We were considering getting the Nadi bus home however you still need to pay the resort $10 to get to the main road so we decided to avoid any potential bus struggles and may $75FJD each to get a transfer back to the airport (luckily by ourselves this time).
At the end of the week, I paid our bill in cash to avoid the credit card surcharge. To estimate what you might spend, get them to email you a copy of the menu beforehand so you know approx how much cash to bring - and don't forget the 9% tax you need to add onto food!
Overall, our stay at the Wellesley was very enjoyable and relaxing however I would recommend you bring lots of things to do/read/watch if you are staying for a decent amount of time, especially because if it rains you will be stuck inside for a bit. Definitely spring for a pool villa if you can. A great 6 nights away - we will definitely be recommending to family and friends.
