Is COMO Laucala Island the Most Outrageous Private Island in the South Pacific?

COMO Laucala Island occupies a space few resorts even attempt. Set on a private island in Fiji and owned by the billionaire behind Red Bull, it offers 25 villas across 3,500 acres—with amenities that include an equestrian center, a private submarine, and a farm that supplies nearly everything on the plate. It is bold, expensive, and unapologetically over-the-top.

But scale is not always synonymous with luxury.

At a price point that rivals some of the world’s most extravagant buyouts, the question isn’t whether Laucala delivers enough—it’s whether it delivers in a way that feels cohesive, personal, and considered.

In this review, we examine Laucala through its arrivals, villas, service, and experiences—to see whether this maximalist retreat offers more than just spectacle.

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Summary of Guest Ratings

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Arrival and First Impressions

Guests reach Laucala via private jet or resort-arranged transfer to the island’s dedicated airstrip. From there, you’re driven by open buggy through vast, jungle-lined roads to your villa. The island’s sheer scale is felt immediately—it’s less a resort, more a self-contained world.

The welcome is relaxed but not particularly memorable.

There’s no dramatic reveal, no curated moment of arrival. You feel small in the vastness, which some may find thrilling—and others, slightly disorienting.

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The Setting: Immense, Fertile, and Unscripted

Laucala is one of the largest private island resorts on earth. Its beaches, rainforests, plantations, and cliffs exist in a kind of curated wildness. There’s space to roam on horseback, by bike, or in silence. No other guests need cross your path.

But that scale can also dilute intimacy. There are stretches of the island you may never see, and the resort’s ambition can feel stretched thin.

The setting is extraordinary, but occasionally overwhelming in its options.

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Architecture and Design: Vernacular with a Billionaire’s Budget

The villas are sprawling and constructed almost entirely from island-sourced materials—timber, lava rock, palm. Thatched roofs tower overhead, and indoor-outdoor living spaces bleed into the landscape. It’s a dramatic, location-specific style that feels appropriately grand.

Still, there’s a thematic consistency that occasionally veers into sameness.

Despite their individuality, villas share a common aesthetic language that can feel heavy-handed over time. If you favor clean minimalism or architectural subtlety, this isn’t your destination.

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Villas: Private, Theatrical, and Excessively Equipped

Each villa comes with a private pool, kitchen, dining pavilion, and ocean frontage. Many have additional features—like glass-walled pools, private beaches, or hilltop bathtubs with panoramic views.

Space is the defining luxury.

Functionally, they offer everything. But the abundance can verge on impracticality. Not every room will get used, and the scale can feel theatrical rather than intuitive. For travelers who value intimacy of space, Laucala’s villas may feel more like showpieces than sanctuaries.

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Service: Present, Capable, and Sometimes Impersonal

Each guest is assigned a personal Tau, or liaison, who manages daily preferences, schedules, and logistics. Service is friendly and efficient, with a high guest-to-staff ratio and 24-hour availability.

Yet the vastness of the resort can create gaps.

Communication isn’t always seamless, and the service—while capable—can feel transactional rather than anticipatory. It works, but it doesn’t always feel deeply felt.

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Dining: Farm-to-Table with Range, if not Refinement

Laucala prides itself on self-sufficiency—nearly all ingredients are grown, raised, or caught on the island. There are five dining venues ranging from fine dining to beachfront barbecues. Menus change often and accommodate nearly any dietary preference.

The freshness is undeniable.

But finesse is variable. Some dishes are standout, others less so. You’re well-fed, but not always wowed. At this level, some guests may expect more consistency in execution.

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The Cost of Escape: A Buy-In to Boundless

Rates at Laucala typically start around $6,000–$7,000 per night and rise steeply from there. The price includes almost everything—dining, activities, alcohol, airport transfers, and even the island’s submarine.

It’s one of the most all-inclusive packages on the planet.

Still, what you’re paying for isn’t just what’s included. It’s access to a kind of scale that’s almost irrational in the context of hospitality. Whether that feels extravagant or excessive depends on your appetite for indulgence without guardrails.

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Verdict: A Dream for the Maximalist, Not the Minimalist

COMO Laucala Island is built for travelers who want everything—and then more. It’s a showcase of what unlimited resources can create when applied to a tropical setting. For those who value scale, seclusion, and sensory abundance, it can be unforgettable.

But it’s not subtle. If you’re seeking restraint, intimacy, or emotional precision, this island may overwhelm. It’s a fantasy—yes—but one that’s loud, lavish, and entirely unapologetic about it.