MY STAY
The island I knew
Laucala Island belongs to an earlier chapter of my travels, not to a list of hotels available to book now. The small-plane arrival made it feel remote immediately. My beachfront villa had its own pool and enough living space to spend the day there, and with only 25 villas the shore never felt crowded.
Golf & grounds
The golf course was almost comically quiet. A round with a local pro, with snacks and drinks following in a cart, felt different from trying to squeeze golf into a busy resort afternoon. I also remember circling the island by jet ski and an anniversary dinner arranged privately with flowers and live music. Island-grown food kept even those elaborate moments tied to Fiji.
What has changed
Those are memories of the resort before its closure, not a menu of things promised to a new guest. The island is closed for renovation, COMO is no longer its operator, and a reopening is scheduled for October 1, 2027. Rooms, dining and included activities may all change.
Would I return?
The land, privacy and arrival by air are hard to replicate, so I would be interested in returning after the finished hotel is ready. Until its new rooms and terms are published, an old photograph or the villa I remember cannot tell me what a future stay will actually be like.