Laucala, a Fijian island paradise, with free Red Bull
Forget extreme sports, this resort, owned by a co-founder of the energy drink giant, is all about extreme opulence
What is it? Laucala is an island in Fiji owned by Dietrich Mateschitz, co-founder of Red Bull. It comprises 3,500 verdant acres, including beaches, mountains and 25 Fijian-style villas. The thatched-roofed, tropical-garden-ensconced dwellings range in size and vary in location. You can stay over the water, cresting a hilltop or – literally – on the beach. As ideal for romantic getaways as it is for family holidays, Laucala can be a hideaway or a social event.
Red Bull? Is it about extreme sports? While you’ll find bottles of the energy drink in your complimentary mini bar (next to the champagne, spirits and local beer), the X Game-style references end there. Nevertheless, in one way, the resort is extreme – extremely opulent. People come to Laucala for maximum repose, and the resort brims with “your-wish-is-my-command” possibilities, from diving to yoga, horse riding and surfing. A par 72 golf course meanders across the island. There’s even a two-man submarine, for those who dare. And because Laucala guests are charged an all-inclusive price, you can do it all over and over again. Or you could just lounge in a hammock, cocktail in hand.
Wait, wait! What’s that about a submarine? The first resort in the world to offer this mind-boggling toy, Laucala’s futuristic DeepFlight Super Falcon immerses guests, Jacques Cousteau-style, into the depths. The US$1.7 million sub dives to 60 feet and attracts colourful schools of fish, sea turtles, sharks and more during its hour-long excursions.