One of the most renowned vacation destinations in the South Pacific, the award-winning, five-star Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort is located on 17 acres of a coconut plantation on the island of Vanua Levu, overlooking the turquoise blue waters of Savusavu Bay.

The celebrated resort is a favorite spot for romance, honeymoons and weddings. It’s a great choice for families who want to combine breathtaking surroundings and superb dining with a wide range of eco-friendly activities such as snorkeling, a day of ecological awareness or a trip to the rain forest capped off by a dip in a gorgeous freshwater jungle pool.

Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort was the brainchild of Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of the world-famous oceanographer, Jacques Cousteau. Managed by Passport Resorts LLC, the philosophy of the Fiji Islands Resort is to “minimize its footprint on the environment, look for ways to give back to the environment and the local communities and to show respect to everyone they share the planet with”—a philosophy that is evident in all of the resort’s operations and business practices, according to co-owners Mike Freed and Peter Heinemann.

Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort offers a number of accommodations ranging in price from $669 to $1,103. Included in the room rates are all meals, non-alcoholic bottled beverages, and ground transfers to and from Savusavu Airport. Daily meals feature a full cooked or continental breakfast with fresh-baked pastries, tropical fruits, fresh seafood or eggs any style. For lunch and dinner, a daily table d’hôte menu offers international cuisine selections and a healthy, vegetarian option. The resort also offers comprehensive massage and spa services ranging in price from $65 to $125.

The resort boasts 24 Fijian-style, thatched-roof oceanfront and garden view bures, scattered among elegant palm trees. You’ll also find Fiji’s most luxurious accommodation: a 2,000-square-foot Villa.

Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort is the only resort that employs a full-time marine biologist to help visitors appreciate the underwater world of Fiji. The resort offers a wide variety of eco-activities, led either by the resident marine biologist or the award-winning cultural host. It also offers one of the top reef-preservation dive operations on Fiji.

Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort integrates conservation and preservation of the natural surroundings into every aspect of its operations. Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort uses organic, earth-friendly, sustainable, recyclable products or resources.

From the use of solar energy, Fiji’s first water reclamation plant—something co-owner Mike Freed is especially proud of—its eco-sensitive design and landscaping to composting, organic gardens and community programs, the resort offers its guests an experience that is not only luxurious but environmentally responsible as well

“Whether it’s in our food and beverage operations or whether it’s in our housekeeping practices or whether it’s in our energy consumption, our philosophy is to develop the best operating practices,” Heinemann says.

Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort’s sister luxury resorts also maintain the same high level of environmentally conscious standards.

Post Ranch Inn, situated on the cliffs of Big Sur, Calif., offers guests accommodations for a romantic getaway or a relaxing vacation. The resort’s organic architecture embraces the dramatic beauty of the Big Sur coastline.

Cavallo Point, the Lodge at the Golden Gate in Sausalito, Calif., has been created by the Fort Baker Retreat Group, a project of Passport Resorts, Equity Community Builders and the Ajax Capital Group. Cavallo Point is committed to the highest standards of historic preservation and sustainability—in keeping with the mission of the national park site.

Sea Ranch Lodge, located on the bluffs of California’s Sonoma-Mendocino coast is one of the first eco-communities, started in the late 60s and early 70s. Like its sister resorts, Sea Ranch Lodge offers guests an environmentally friendly experience that includes a commitment to energy efficiency, water conservation, recycling, environmentally safe cleaning, reduction of waste, ongoing maintenance, and eco-friendly purchasing habits.

At the end of the day, what truly sets Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort, as well as all of its sister properties, apart from other resorts is its commitment to safeguarding the environment for future generations while lavishing their guests with incredible luxury and pampering.


By Linda Rosencrance