Discover an island haven where relaxation meets convenience. Raise a cup of coffee on your private yard or plan an adventure at our tour/ticket assistance.
Escape to Mala Island Resort, where the ocean breeze meets modern comfort. Enjoy a daily manager's reception, unwind on the terrace or in the garden, and stay connected with free WiFi in public areas. With amenities like coffee/tea in the lobby, meeting rooms, barbecue grills and multilingual staff your stay is sure to be relaxing retreat.
Located in Mala, Mala Island Resort is by the ocean. Local points of interest include Vava'u Harbor, St. Joseph's Cathedral, and Mt. Talau National Park. Visit our Mala travel guide
At Mala Island Resort, you can look forward to a free food/drink shopping service, a free daily manager's reception and a terrace. In addition to a garden and dry cleaning/laundry services, guests can connect to free WiFi in public areas.
You'll also find perks such as:
Full breakfast (surcharge), a round-trip airport shuttle (surcharge) and express check-out
Express check-in, barbecues and multilingual staff
Tour/ticket information, meeting rooms and coffee/tea in reception
More conveniences in all rooms include:
Bathrooms with showers
Private gardens, wardrobes/cupboards and communal kitchens
Return airport shuttle (surcharge) from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM on request
Food and drink
Daily full breakfast available 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee: TOP 40 for adults and TOP 20 for children
A restaurant
Coffee and tea in common areas
Free daily manager's reception
Family friendly
In-room microwave
In-room refrigerator
Conveniences
Shared microwave
Shared refrigerator
Guest services
Dry cleaning/laundry service
Free grocery shopping service
Housekeeping (daily)
Multilingual staff
Tour and ticket assistance
Business services
Meeting rooms
Outdoors
Barbecue grill
Garden
Picnic area
Terrace
Accessibility
Hardwood flooring in room
More
Designated smoking areas
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
Private bathroom
Shower
Towels provided
Food and drink
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Electric kettle
Hob
Limited room service
Microwave
Oven
Refrigerator
Shared kitchen access
More
Ceiling fan
Individual decor
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: noon; check-in end time: 7 PM
Early check-in subject to availability
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age - 18
Check-out
Check-out before noon
Late check-out subject to availability
Express check-out available
Special check-in instructions
This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 48 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
The property charges 4 per cent for credit card payments
There is no front desk at this property
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
Pets stay for free
Welcoming dogs and cats only
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Payment types at the property
Important information
Optional extras
Fee for full breakfast: from approximately TOP 40 for adults and from TOP 20 for children
Airport shuttle fee: TOP 150.00 per vehicle (one-way, maximum occupancy 4)
Credit card charges are subject to a surcharge of 4 per cent
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards and cash
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Property is also known as
Mala Island Resort Mala
Mala Island Resort Lodge
Mala Island Resort Lodge Mala
Frequently asked questions
Is Mala Island Resort pet-friendly?
Yes, cats and dogs are allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Mala Island Resort?
This lodge doesn't offer parking.
What time is check-in at Mala Island Resort?
Check-in start time: noon; check-in end time: 7 PM. After-hours check-in is not available.
What time is check-out at Mala Island Resort?
Checkout is at noon.
Does Mala Island Resort provide a shuttle to the airport?
Yes, there's an airport shuttle that runs 7:00 AM-10:00 PM on request. A fee of TOP 150.00 per vehicle applies.
Where is Mala Island Resort located?
Situated by the ocean, this lodge is within 9 miles (15 km) of Vava'u Harbor, St. Joseph's Cathedral and Mt. Talau National Park. Ene'io Botanical Garden is 14.7 mi (23.7 km) away.
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Reviews
Mala Island Resort Reviews
9.0
Wonderful
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
Most beautiful place I have ever seen. Cool refreshing water. I was well cared for. I was treated like a family member. The food was fantastic. So peaceful. “Off the grid” experience.
We had an amazing 3 night stay at Mala resort.
This family run accommodation is a great location within the Vava’u island group. The rooms are comfortable with spectacular views. With wifi in the common areas, it’s a great space to digitally detox while still being connected :) The hosts are so friendly and welcoming, happy to help with any request. We would recommend this property to anyone staying in Vava’u.
A great stay on this small private island. It is remote, so make sue that is good for you. Has a small beach with good snorkeling. There is a bit of current. This place is great for whale watching…sometimes you can see the humpbacks from the island! Room was excellent and comfortable, good hot water. Great meals. Owner arranged for whale swim tours to come and pick me up from the island..a bonus! Thanks so much for a wonderful, relaxing stay!
Verified traveller
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
10/10 Excellent
Salvatore Flavio
24 Jun 2024
Liked: Staff & service
A little resort in a wonderful location managed by an amazing family we had the pleasure to spend some time with!
Great experience overall and … thank you to our hosts!!!!
What a sweet stay this was. It’s on its own little island. The family is just delightful, the food was great and I would totally stay there again.
Michael
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
8/10 Good
Nicholas
1 Sept 2024
Liked: Staff & service, amenities
The family running the resort were very friendly and ready and willing to do all they could to fulfill your requests. Transport to and from the airport were arranged with no hassle. When we needed to change dates they were very easy to work with. This was a great experience.
Nicholas
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
8/10 Good
Robert
13 Aug 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
We really enjoyed our time there and it was an opportunity to really get off the grid. Beautiful location. Nisha and his family treated us like royalty. He helped us arrange a great boat tour around the islands along with a scuba dive and swim with the whales at the last minute. They cooked our food to order which was excellent. We have already recommended him to friends
Robert
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024
8/10 Good
Laureline
3 Oct 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Mala island resort is not a flash resort but this is largely compensated by the environment. The cabins have great views on the sea and sunset, the island is quiet,and the marine life next door is incredible. Our hosts organised the transport from and to the airport, plus our whale swim day. The room we were had mosquito nets around each bed, but there was not many mosquitos when we were there in September. Meals are cooked by our hosts at a reasonable cost. However, I recommend to buy some snacks before heading to the island at Neiafu during the transfer, as we were a bit hungry after snorkeling and couldn't wait until diner time. The menu includes several options so my child who doesn't like fish could always have the option of a salad or chicken.
Snorkeling is great from the beach. The so called "Japanese gardens" are next door with plenty of colourful fish. The coral reef suffered from the last cyclone and there is a big part damaged or dead, but there are still some live reefs that will satisfy any snorkeler. We saw some bigger animals too: a couple of reef sharks and turtles. We didn't have snorkel.equipment for everyone as I thought the resort will have some spares. They don't. So bring all snorkel gear. In September, the water temperature was around 25 degrees. I didn't put any wetsuit but I was a bit cold after 2 hours snorkeling. My family wore wet suits.
The reef had enough diversity that we consider coming outside the whale season.
We had an amazing 5 days at Mala Island Resort. Our host family were very hospitable and friendly and went out of their way to make our stay as enjoyable as possible. The snorkelling 100m off the island is incredible
James
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024
8/10 Good
maarten J
1 Nov 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Little peace of paradise! Facilities a bit run down so don't expect anything fancy but compensated by lovely caretaker family and good value for money for Tongan standards. Ideal place for digital detox. Great meals. Would stay here again as an island retreat.
This is truly a mom-and-pop resort. Their teenage children help and are always happy and smiling. This is not a luxury resort but has comfortable nice lodgings with million-dollar views of the gorgeous water, surrounding islands, and stunning sunsets and starry skies. Each room has its own full bathroom comfortable bed, refrigerator, and balcony. The owners cook breakfast, lunch and dinner for an additional reasonable charge and the food is excellent, we had a Tongan traditional pig roast which was fantastic. Excellent place to stay, they have wifi in the main dining room/deck and the snorkeling is amazing. Highly recommend staying here.
What an incredible slice of paradise! Nesha, Oli and family were so incredibly welcoming and friendly. The island is so tranquil and relaxing and has the most amazing private beach.
Oli prepared the most delicious meals. Breakfast was fit for a champion (toast, eggs, bacon and fresh fruit) and the dinners which were mostly fresh fish were super tasty and fresh and all meals were good value.
The resort itself is a little tired but amazing by Tongan standards (we have stayed at many other places in Tonga). The resort also has hot water which is a rarity in Tonga.
The resort is next to the Japanese Gardens which can be snorkelled from the island with relative ease, the reef had a large range of different fish and we saw a turtle (the best snorkelling we have had in Tonga)!
We also used Mala Resort’s kayak and kayaked to Swallows Cave which was quite a challenge but very doable from the resort.
The transport to and from the resort was also well arranged.
Thanks very much for our stay.
Sophie
8/10 Good
Maria
17 Aug 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Wir waren 4 Nächte hier u es hat uns sehr gefallen. Die Gastgeberfamilie ist überaus bemüht u sehr freundlich/hilfsbereit. Bei Bedarf können Dinge aus dem Supermarkt bestellt werden. Vor Ort wird gekocht u es gibt vom frischen Tuna oder Mahi Mahi über Pasta u Sandwiches alles was das Herz begehrt.
Die Zimmer selbst haben einen fantastischen Ausblick über die Bucht u wir haben aus nächster Nähe mehrmals Buckelwale vorbeischwimmen sehen.
Das Gesamtpaket stimmt u lässt somit über den ein oder anderen Punkt was die Zimmer angeht hinwegsehen (etwas abgewohnt). Kühlschrank im Zimmer vorhanden :-)
Wir würden wiederkommen.
On an island, private trail (920 metres), could walk around island at low tide. Staff tried to be helpful, with limited resources. Did a great job of organizing transit to and from the resort.
Verified traveller
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2019
8/10 Good
Verified traveller
27 Sept 2019
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Des Essen war fantastisch, die Eigentümer superhilfsbereit und freundlich, die Lage der Bungalows ist sehr schön, man schaut aufs Meer und Palmen, der Garten ist schön, der Strand ist ok, leider ist die Anlage in die Jahre gekommen, daher auch schwer sauber zu halten, alles müsste grundüberholt werden. Das Internet ist wie überall langsam oder nicht da, wenn viele eingeloggt sind. Die Korallen vor Ort (Japanese Garden?) kann man vergessen. Aber man kann schöne Bootsausflüge machen und auch die Waltouren sind super von dort aus zu machen.
Wow, where do we even start with Mala Island resort, Neesha, Olivia and the girls were amazing. The location is out of this world incredible, situated on a secluded island, it’s the perfect sanctuary to unwind and relax. We bought food over but mostly ate Olivia and the girls cooking because it’s was always so tasty and fresh. We had the most amazing tuna! I would highly recommend this island for anyone who wants to truly experience a relaxing holiday. This has to be one of my favourite holiday destinations in the world, we will 100% be back next year.
Verified traveller
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019
6/10 Okay
Vega, Washington
19 Jul 2019
I booked but didn’t stay there as the communication with them was less than reliable. Since they are several miles off shore and require a water shuttle it did not look like I would make an 8AM flight departure.
This island is very back to basics and great if you want to get away from everything. The food offered is wonderful and Neisha and Oli are very accomodating. Remember to bring games to keep you amused and snacks and drinks, as you can only get to the shops by boat.