Vilu Reef is small but perennially popular resort notable for its huge palms and great beaches, which run almost all the way around the island and include a beautiful sand spit; they're especially good on the lagoon side.The island is thick with trees and bushes. On the downside, it's rather crowded, and some of its rooms need refreshing.
The accommodation style is traditional on the outside with white walls and thatched roofs, but becomes more modern inside. Rooms range from the rather worn but pleasant enough beach villas to the far more sumptuous water villas, which form a huge oval and mirror the shape of the island. On one side, a wide beach faces a lagoon that’s perfect for sailing and sheltered swimming; on the other side, a good but more narrow beach runs alongside a house reef that offers good snorkelling. Divers are well catered for by the reasonably priced diving school, which runs a full range of courses and dives each day.
The resort has a buffet main restaurant with limited dining options, and a smarter à la carte place. Vilu Reef combines friendly informality with some class and style – and it’s suited to people looking for well-priced diving without having to go to a budget resort.
