Stay: The Fiji Orchid
Raymond Burr’s Private Paradise
Viti Levu, Fiji
6 rooms (“Bures”), from 275usd
Fiji Airways is now a frequent choice for travelers traversing the Pacific to Australia and New Zealand, with many visitors having a stopover in Fiji along the way. Unfortunately, most of the paradisaical resorts you dream about are more than $1000 usd nightly and require poorly-timed boat transfers that eat up most of your layover. We were looking for a better option on the main island within an hour of the airport, but all we were served were ubiquitous, big chain resorts. Until we accidentally happened upon The Fiji Orchid. And now, I wouldn’t stay anywhere else in the country.
The late actor Raymond Burr (aka “Perry Mason”) was a huge fan of Fiji, and this is his 6-bedroom former home-turned luxury hotel on the island of Viti Levu—once his private orchid paradise, and now a hidden gem. Aptly named ‘The Orchid,’ guests are immersed in a lush tropical garden surrounded by birdsong; divine, house-made cuisine; and lovely, hospitable staff. Rooms are called “Bures,” essentially permanent, luxury tents with wrap-around glass and luxurious bathrooms. There’s a small pool and concierge. Transfers to and from the Nadi Airport (a 20 minute drive) are included in the room rate. It’s not directly on the ocean, but there is a public beach just across the road. Make sure to spend an afternoon in Burr’s other mountainside garden masterpiece: The Garden of the Sleeping Giant, filled with extraordinary, 8-foot-tall orchids on the slopes of a national park.
Photo Source: Syllogi
Every publication will feature one unique restaurant, hotel, activity, or other travel discovery that stood out in our research. Some of these are established institutions that deserve repeat merit, while others are hidden gems that are often off the radar of most.
