tropical blooms; Fiji's most beautiful resorts, discovers Richard Alleman, can be found on their own private islands.

Byline: Richard Alleman

Lying ten air hours southwest of Los Angeles, the 330-plus islands that make up Fiji are blessed with untrampled beaches, turquoise waters, virgin rain forests, and genuinely friendly people-most of whom speak English, since the South Pacific country is a former British colony. Frequently compared to the Hawaii of 50 years ago, this unspoiled archipelago also boasts some of the world's most exclusive small tropical resorts, tiny and relatively paparazzi-free Edens that have become coveted getaways for Hollywood A-listers like Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher.

This season Fiji welcomes a trio of glamorous private island retreats. Royal Davui takes over a previously uninhabited isle off the south coast of Fiji's main island, Viti Levu. The creation of the Southwick family-descendants of a German botanist who settled in Fiji in the 1860s-the new resort has sixteen ultraprivate split-level villas. Set on tree-covered cliffs above a lagoon, these luxurious thatch-roofed pads sport mahogany floors, marble bathrooms, showers with retractable roofs, big verandas, and private infinity pools.

Activities include snorkeling and scuba diving, sea kayaking, and catamaran sailing, but no fishing, as this is a protected marine sanctuary. Guests are also welcome to visit the nearby island of Beqa, where they can meet the village chief, take part in a kava (the local herbal drink) ceremony, and perhaps watch fire walking, which is still practiced here. Back at Royal Davui, the spa offers a range of exotic treatments such as the Fijian Bobo massage, which uses cold-pressed oils infused with tropical flowers; the Beqa hot-stone massage; and the ultimate treat for feet: a coconut-milk soak followed by a pineapple-sugar rub. On the food front, Australian chef Anthony Kramer keeps things simple with grilled fish and fresh salads, but he also comes up with Fijian classics like corn and ginger fritters and ivi (a nutlike local fruit) pudding with vanilla-bean dressing. Guests may dine in the resort's banyan-tree-canopied restaurant, or in their villa, or in any number of secret spots on the island. Rates: from $1,013 per couple per night, including all meals and most activities. Phone: 011-679-330-7090; or visit royaldavui.com.

The big news up in Fiji's Yasawa island group-northwest of Viti Levu-is the imminent opening of Navutu Stars Resort on the volcanic island of Yaqeta. The dream of a stylish young Italian couple, Maddalena Morandi and Manfredi di Lucia, who left their jobs as art dealer and city broker in London two years ago to move to the South Pacific, Navutu was originally going to be their personal escape. But once they started on the project, they decided to share their idyllic property with sophisticated travelers. When it opens next month, Navutu will bring Italian style to Fiji in the form of ...