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Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji – ‘Best Overseas Family Resort’ 2018

We are very excited to share the news that Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji has been awarded the overall category winner for ‘Best Overseas Family Resort’  in  Luxury Travel Magazine Gold List 2018 Readers choice awards – well done Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort!

Fiji for Families has recently had some of our families return and it seems that they would agree.

“Jean Michel Cousteau resort was AMAZING! We absolutely loved it. Thank you so much for recommending it. The staff were incredible, the nannies amazing, the resort facilities great and the food was absolutely delicious. And the massages were so relaxing. It was the best family holiday we have been on.” – stayed MAY 2018 

OMG JMC is amazing !!!! We are totally ruined now,  pretty safe to say there is only one option when it comes to holidaying in Fiji. I can’t remember ever feeling so cared for, the team there are just genuinely interested in you and your family.  It was indeed fabulous.” – stayed MAY 2018

“We had a fantastic time in Fiji. JMC exceeded all of our expectations. We really couldn’t fault it. The staff, food, accommodation, activities and childcare – all amazing. We left wanting to come back and do it all again! The big surprise was how much kid-free time we had. I knew the nannies would be there to help out but I did t realise going into it just how involved they would be. For us it was perfect, we haven’t had a break like that for years! “ stayed May 2018

 “Just wanted to say thank you for organising one of the best holidays we’ve ever had! JMC was amazing – the male nanny option was perfect for my son he came leaps and bounds in the water and he didn’t want to hang out with us cause Bula Club was so much fun. Absolutely magical and a much needed break for all of us!”

 

 

To celebrate this announcement of Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji being named the winner of  the ‘Best Overseas Family Resort’ Luxury Travel Magazine, Gold List 2018 Readers choice awards there is a new stay/pay deal which includes 2 free nights.

Stay 6 nights/pay for 4 nights + Wellness week 27-31 Aug 18

 Stay 6 nights/pay for 4 nights

For stays between 1 Sep -21 September 18 inclusive,  guests will also receive 3 complimentary spa treatments per bure  (choice of a ‘Bobo massage’,Cacao wrap or Sikeci facial.)

Alley Ramon, renowned meditation and yoga instructor will be offering guests twice daily free yoga classes accompanied by wellness lectures from August 27-31, 2018.

Get in touch for a quote for the above dates or any other specials and we will put together a quote for your perfect family holiday.

 Contact us on 1300 564 466 or email bula@fijiforfamilies.com.au

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji – Revamped

Located on a secluded peninsula near the beautiful unspoiled harbor town Savusavu on Vanua Levu (Fiji’s second largest island) sits a beautiful, luxurious, socially responsible and eco-friendly resort by the name if Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort (JMCR).  JMCR built in the style of a typical Fijian village is fringed with tropical palm trees and pristine blue waters. I’ve previously written about my incredible family experience here  (click here to read), but this post is a little different.

On the 20th of February 2016, Tropical Cyclone Winston devastated the Fijian Islands. It was the most severe tropical cyclone to make landfall in the southern hemisphere. Cyclone Winston ripped apart the country and its people.

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Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort – Paradise

But if I have learnt anything from my extensive time in Fiji, it’s that the country and its people are incredibly optimistic and resilient. JMCR was one of the resorts damaged by Cyclone Winston, and recently reopened their doors after extensive restorations. What makes JMCR even more special is that it stayed closed for over 6 months in order to help its 180 staff members and wider community pick themselves up before beginning their own restorations.

 

My family and I were lucky enough to visit the revamped Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort on our recent trip to Fiji and it looks like a brand new resort, possibly even better than before (and it was previously voted the best 5-star all-inclusive luxury resort in Fiji and the South Pacific!) It was our fourth time staying at the resort (can you tell how much we love it?) and over the years we have become very close to many of the staff members there. Around 2 weeks after Cyclone Winston hit, my husband and four other men who we had previously met at while staying there started a fundraising campaign and then flew to the local village of Nukubalavu where many of the staff from the resort live. Over the course of a week, my husband and the other men fixed roofs, rebuilt homes and helped the locals get back on their feet. The guys said it was one of the hardest yet most rewarding weeks of their lives.

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PADI Bubble-maker program for kids from 8 years old

So, we were all so excited to visit the ‘new’ Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort after it reopened in early September. As we arrived, we were greeted with beautiful smiles from the familiar staff as they said, “welcome home.” While to us it seems like only yesterday we were here, for the staff, it’s a much different story. However, you’d never know how badly they or the resort was affected by Cyclone Winston. Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort is back and better than ever! On our first night, we and a few other guest gathered at the bar for pre-dinner drinks, listening to the spine-tingling stories of what happened on the fateful 20th of February. After hearing about the extensive damage, it’s hard to believe that this resort made a full recovery. As we chatted with the other guests, it was clear there was a really warm and friendly feel surrounding the whole place.  Many of the guests were wondering how they could change their flights to stay a few more days and saying how great it would be to take their Fijian nannies home (each family is provided with a dedicated nanny for each child under the age of 6 years).   After drinks, we spent some time wandering around the new resort, marvelling at how beautiful all the upgrades and restorations looked. Here is a list of just a few of the new features:

  • Brand new spa building on the beach and a new spa menu
  • New boutique soft furnishing fit-outs
  • All bures have new thatching
  • An upgraded main pool area now featuring mosaic tiles and quartzon
  • New furniture throughout the entire resort
  • All new kayaks and paddle boards
  • A new pier that’s 500mm higher than the last
  • Upgraded WiFi
  • New landscaping and gardens
  • All bures, office and library hardwood floors refurbished
  • Brand new linen and mattresses throughout the resort
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Yellow-Fin Tuna caught by a guest

One of the best things about Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort is that it’s a 5-star luxury (and eco friendly) resort, but completely family-friendly. There are not many other places in the world where you can have romantic candlelight dinners while on holiday with your children (and know they are going to be very happy).   Our kids (all four of them) absolutely love the Bula Club, so much so that I actually started to miss them because we hardly got to see them. I always insisted that the kids had lunch with my husband and I, but before desert was even served, they were just itching to get back to the Bula Club! And in all honesty – why wouldn’t they be? With their huge list of activities and children’s programmes they’d be silly not to. The complimentary Bula Club for Kids runs pool games, crab racing, sand-castle making competition, table tennis, snorkelling, kite flying, Fijian lessons, basketball and soccer games, rainforest hikes, bamboo rafting, village trips and so much more. If I were a kid, I wouldn’t want to hang out with me either if I had all of the above on offer. There is even a tree house in the gardens.

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Bula Club from above

With the kids off at the Bula Club, we had plenty of time to relax and sip cocktails by the adult’s pool. And, when we missed the kids, we would head over to the family pool to hang out there (not that they even noticed us – they were having too much fun on the water slide). A few other highlights of our recent trip included a newly run kayak adventure along the Qaloqalo River through lush mangrove and past red coral to the stunning Salt Lake. We even stopped in the middle of the lake where there was a pontoon for the kids to jump off  and play around in the water. Our family also spent a day in the nearby rainforest, which was a great afternoon out for everyone. After about a 20-minute hike we were treated to a very rewarding swim and water-fall on the other side. Another thing we love doing when we are at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort is going to the Saturday morning markets, which is  close by to the resort in the town of Savusavu and definitely worth the trip. We even picked up some lobsters, which the kitchen at the resort was more than happy to cook up for us! Now that’s what I call service.

Savusavu local markets

Savusavu local markets

All in all, if you’re after a luxury getaway, mixed with a homely and friendly feel that’s perfect for families (and even couples), I cannot recommend the all new Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji highly enough.

Take advantage of our Dive & Rejuvenation package at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji special which includes all meals, soft drinks, bottled water, tea and coffee, plus up to 2 free nights and bonus diving and massages (when you stat a minimum of 6 nights).  Also included are most resort activities, snorkelling trips, guided excursions, and morning yoga.  If that is not enough what about ALL kids aged 5 years and under have the luxury of their own dedicated nanny from 8am – 9pm daily, plus the older kids get a buddy to hang out in the Bula Club with (they are in groups of approximately 5 kids per buddy). Massages and scuba dives – there is not much that is not included! (of course conditions and black out dates apply!)

Click here for further details on this special or contact Kate on 0418 211 009 or email kate@fijiforfamilies.com.au

Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji – Up To 40% Off

Jean-Michel Cousteau, Fiji is celebrating their re-opening with an incredible “Flash Sale”.

 After reopening on 1st  September 2016, Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort is now back better than ever. Following Tropical Cyclone Winston in February this year this eco-friendly and luxury resort has undergone extensive renovations to just about every corner of the resort.

JMCR is located in Savusavu, an hour’s flight on a small plane from Nadi. It has been built on a former coconut plantation and ticks all the boxes of being eco-friendly, child-friendly and most of all parent-friendly.

Enjoy added benefits and more relaxed booking conditions when booked through Fiji For Families.

UP TO 40% OFF – Only $2,750 per person ( save $3,600 per couple)

2 NIGHTS FREE, ALL MEALS, MASSAGES & MORE…..

 

sunset

6 Night ‘All Inclusive’ Re-opening Celebrations at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort. Normal “Flash Sale” period just 72 hours. We have secured this same deal for 14 days. Up to 40% OFF, ALL MEALS, massages & resort experiences. More time to create the perfect luxury escape to this fabulous Fiji Island Resort.

·    Return transfers from Savusavu Airport

·    Bottle of Sparkling wine on arrival

·    6 nights at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort in a Garden Bure (TWO FREE NIGHTS!)

·    All meals & soft drinks, bottled Fiji water, specialty loose- leaf teas and coffees.

·    Most resort activities

·    Guided snorkelling trips with resident marine biologist

·    Guided excursions & nature walks

·    Daily early morning yoga class.

·    3 x 1-hour spa treatments per bure

·    1 x 90-minute organic koko rapture, cacao wrap, reflexology massage and rhythmic massage per adult

·    60 minute Bula Mai deep tissue massage per adult

·    1 x Sikeci facial massage per adult

 

dinner1

 

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji has one of the best kids club’s in the world (now that’s a big call).  The  Bula Club operates daily from 8.30am-9pm for children 12 and under, and includes all activities,  meals and soft drinks for children. Facilities include a family pool with water slide, Bula Club pool with water slide, activities bure, toddler’s nap bure, trampoline, swings, flying fox, cascading water Mushroom Toddler’s shallow Pool and playground and more.
Nannies and buddies provide company, childcare and activity events throughout the day.  Children aged 5 and under have a dedicated nanny (wherever the child is) from 8.30am – 6.30pm daily + another nanny 6.30pm – 9pm daily. Children from 6 – 12 years have a Fijian buddy on a maximum of 1 – 5 ratio from 8.30am – 9pm daily.
Teenagers have a dedicated activities staff member from 8.30am – 9pm.

What else could they want?

Airfares ex Australia & domestic flights in Fiji are not included. Terms and Conditions apply*
Contact us for more information

Books with an expert – we have been to this resort many times; it is one of our favourites. Read more about one of our stays here .

It’s just a 72 hour sale for this weekend only, but we have it for 14 days. Giving you plenty of time to align flight deals, sort departure dates and lock in holiday times. Whoo!  Get in touch about the flights that are currently on sale with Fiji Airways and we will get you the best connections straight through to Savusavu.

Contact Kate on 0418 211 009 or email kate@fijiforfamilies.com.au https://fijiforfamilies.com.au/contact-us/

  

Kids will love the Bula Club

Kids will love the Bula Club

 

 

Reserved for Mum and Dad xx

Reserved for Mum and Dad xx

*TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY: Sale to 31 Oct 2016. Valid for stays 21 Oct – 18 Dec 2016, 07 Jan – 31 Mar, 1-31 May & 08 Oct – 20 Dec 2017 all at 2016 rates. Special only valid in the Garden and Oceanfront Bures. Prices shown are a guide only, based on low season availability & subject to change. Seasonal Surcharges apply. Price per adult, twin share based on land only – airfares to Nadi and Savusavu are additional.   Valid for new bookings only. Pre or post accommodation may be necessary in Nadi depending on flight schedules.
Must be paid in full by 09 December 2016.

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Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort – Connect with Kids

Making Fijian Friends

It is no secret that Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji is one of my favourite family holidays ( click here for my previous blog ). Our family recently returned from our third visit there. The staff were so welcoming, they all remembered our children, and we even had the same nanny as last time – Dimere, who has had a baby since our last visit. We were lucky enough to visit her village and meet her family and beautiful new daughter on this trip. Our boys loved their buddy Meli, who was so much fun and never got tired of carving swords, tossing the boys into the pool, or playing UNO, among many other games and activities.

Fun times at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji

Meli and Dimere with the gang

Of the many things we did during our stay, one that stands out is a rainforest hike to a stunning waterfall. We swam in the natural pool at the bottom of the waterfall, with the boys jumping from a great height into the water. We all also enjoyed night snorkelling, scuba diving, village and market trips, hours of beachcombing and looking for hermit crabs, kayaking and paddle boarding. However, there was one activity – albeit one that my boys initially resisted – which turned out to be the most rewarding of all.

Connect with Kids

Since our last visit Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort has introduced a Connect with Kids program, at a local school, every Friday afternoon. The school is one that is attended by many of the resort staff’s children and grandchildren and the program is a unique and fun-filled way of giving visiting children a cultural and educational experience.

Our boys were dreading going – saying things like “why do we have to go to school on holidays?”, but they all got so much out of the afternoon and ended up really enjoying the experience.

Before arriving, we had given the resort some brief details: our kids’ ages, their favourite sports, and what they want to do when they grow up. In the bus on the way to the school, we went over some simple Fijian phrases, such as “hello” and “thank you”. 

As we drew up at the school, we were greeted by the beautiful smiles of the Fijian school kids, who ran up to the bus, waving at us. Our three boys were each introduced to a specially selected buddy, one of similar age and interests. They quickly went off in different directions, the oldest to play rugby – soon there was a full game going on, with kids of all ages, the buddies from Jean-Michel Cousteau, some dads and more – and the others had a tour of the school, and play on their playground equipment.

New Friends

New Friends

Hanging Out

Hanging Out

 

Our boys all had an unforgettable afternoon and became firm friends with their new buddies. They also certainly really appreciate the facilities that they have at their own school a lot more and they each have a new pen pal too.

Jean Michel Cousteau Resort encourages the pen pal concept: they supply envelopes and pay for the postage for the Fijian schoolchildren’s letters to their buddies to Australia – our kids have already written back and we added some photos to the package and a Christmas card – they can’t wait to hear from their buddies again!

 

United with Rugby

United with Rugby

 

 

CLICK HERE to see the latest special for Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji! ,  includes 2 free nights, all meals, a dedicated nanny & so much more!

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort- Paradise for kids (and Mum & Dad)

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji

 

A luxury family holiday deal that ticks all the boxes. You, and your little ones, will be well looked after.

HOT SPECIAL!

This luxury holiday resort in Fiji is located amidst 17 acres of coconut plantation overlooking Savusavu Bay – a stylish resort that fuses contemporary décor with traditionally designed Fijian bures.  The resort has 4 swimming pools including a family pool and a designated “Bula Club” pool with waterslide. The luxury for less package includes five-star accommodation, all gourmet meals and more…even your very own Fijian nanny!

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji has one of the BEST kids club’s in the world (now that’s a big call).  The Bula Club operates daily from 8.30am-9pm for children 12 and under, and includes all activities,  meals and soft drinks for children. Facilities include a family pool with water slide, Bula Club pool with water slide, activities bure, toddler’s nap bure, trampoline, swings, flying fox, cascading water Mushroom Toddler’s shallow Pool and playground and more. Nannies and buddies provide company, childcare and activity events throughout the day.  Children aged 5 and under have a dedicated nanny (wherever the child is) from 8.30am – 6.30pm daily + another nanny 6.30pm – 9pm daily. Children from 6 – 12 years have a Fijian buddy on a maximum of 1 – 5 ratio from 8.30am – 9pm daily. Teenagers have a dedicated activities staff member from 8.30am – 9pm.

 

 

 

Here is some feedback from some of our past clients who have stayed at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort.

OMG. It was heaven. The kids were obsessed with their nannies, our male nanny was especially a hit – not just with our kids!

We had so much free time we learnt to dive and really reconnected. It was bliss. Thanks for your rave reviews and helping me make the final decision to go there, what a special place. *********************************************************************************************************************

WE had a fantastic time at JMC it is just paradise! I really liked all the improvements, but the thing that really stands out the most about the resort are the amazing staff of locals that they have there.
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Words cannot describe our time there! We are definitely making that our annual trip. From start to finish it was perfect

Arriving and the children being whisked away, to adult conversations each meal, 2 exceptional nannies who loved our kids, extra activities like the picnic (as they call it) lunch on the island, dinner on the pier, deep sea fishing…. Everything was just bliss.

Just perfection.
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Valid for travel 01-31 May 2018, 14 Oct – 20 Dec 2018 & 06 Jan – 31 March 2019.

ex Brisbane from $4050
ex Sydney from $4050
ex Melbourne from $4150

All meals, nanny service, lots of extras

  • International flights ex Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne incl Air taxes
  • Return domestic flights from Nadi to Savusavu Return vehicle transfers from Savusavu Airport
  • 6 nights at Jean Michel Cousteau Resort in an Garden Bure (two free nights!)
  • All meals & soft drinks, bottled Fiji water, speciality loose- leaf teas and coffees.
  • Most resort activities
  • Guided snorkeling trips with resident marine biologist
  • Guided excursions & nature walks
  • Daily early morning yoga class.
  • For the children: Themed Bula Club, daily for children 12 years and under includes all activities, meals and soft drinks for children.
  • Facilities include a family pool with water slide, activities bure, toddlers nap bure, trampoline, swings, flying fox, cascading water Mushroom Toddlers shallow pool and playground.
  • Evening entertainment and supervision for children are provided up to 9 pm.
  • Children aged 5 and under have the luxury of their own dedicated nanny from 8am – 9 pm daily.
  • And your choice of:
    • Non – certified divers: Resort Course & 1 tank dive for 1 adult and 3 x 1 hour Bobo massage treatment for the other adult
      Or Certified divers: 3 x 1 tank dives for 2 adults
      Or 3 x 1 tank dives for 1 adult and 3 x Bobo massage treatments for other adult

HOT SPECIAL!

Contact Kate for a quote – click here

*Terms & conditions apply: Valid for travel 01-31 May 2018, 14 Oct – 20 Dec 2018 & 06 Jan – 31 March 2019. High season surcharges apply. Sale to 31 March 2018. Minimum 6 night stay applies. Prices shown are a guide only, based on low season availability & subject to change. Seasonal Surcharges apply. Price per adult, twin share based on Fiji Airways sale fare, valid for new bookings only. Pre or post accommodation may be necessary in Nadi depending on flight schedules. Max 3 Bobo massages per bure to be taken between 9am and 2pm.