Fiji is one of my favourite destinations and so far I have travelled there twice with my 2 girls. I plan on visiting again because there are so many islands to see and it is the most relaxing destination I have been to with the most beautiful and friendliest people and it's only a 4 hour and 45 minute flight from Melbourne. And in regards to Kids Clubs, this is where Fiji has the best. Most accommodations options have fantastic Kids Club facilities and your young ones will not be disappointed. This is why so many families are attracted to Fiji.
Here is a quick overview I hope you find helpful when looking at organising your next Fijiian Experience.
It all depends on what you are looking for in a holiday. If you are looking at a stunning, tropical island feel with sandy beaches then I would suggest an island getaway.
I want to mention, unless you are getting a sea plane transfer to an island, the only flight that will get you into Denarau in time to get out to an island on the same day is the overnight Fiji Airlines flight. The other direct flights to Nadi won't get you into Denarau in time for the last ferry out to an island.
The islands are where you will find fantastic beaches and they have so many activities to cater for children of all ages. Castaway Island would be my first recommendation and it was a perfect haven. Turning up in a seaplane, with a pilot who looked like Ricky Martin and then having the staff all singing and welcoming us on the beach made us feel like VIP's.
We stayed in an ocean view bure and took advantage of their all inclusive meal deal. Paying up front for our meals meant we didn't need to worry about carrying around our wallets and we didn’t have that cringing moment waiting for them to reveal our room account at checkout.
Keep in mind that on the islands you are restricted to dine at the hotel’s restaurants so pre-purchasing a meal package usually is more cost effective.
My next island stay would be the upmarket beachfront resort Malolo Island. There are 3 dining venues and a bar along with 2 pools and free watersports so your days just fly by.
If you are price conscious then Plantation Island is another great budget resort for families with a variety of dining and activities. I wouldn't recommend it for couples though...it's definitely a family resort.
If you're looking for adults only then Lomani Island Resort or Likuliku Lagoon Resort are the places to be.
If you don’t like the thought of staying on an island and you'd like to move around then Denarau is the place for you. This is where the marina is located and is the perfect spot to base yourself especially if you are interested in taking a few day trips out to different islands. There are a small number of restaurants, shops and a supermarket along the marina which you can easily get to by “bula bus”. This is an open thatched roof bus that loops around Denarau. Tickets can be bought from your resort and are approximately FJ$8 per adult and children travel free. You can also look at purchasing a multi day bula bus pass.
In Denarau you are not confined to your resort for every meal. You can dine at the other resorts restaurants and at the marina. A word of warning, food and drinks are not cheap wherever you go in Fiji so I'd definitely keep an eye out on the "kids eat and stay free" packages and utilise the supermarket if you need those quick, inexpensive meals or snacks.
The Radisson Blu Resort Fiji is at the top of my list and we have been there twice. It is a 5 star resort, has an awesome kids club, great pools, a pool bar and my girls loved the water slide which of course, was their highlight. The Radisson have 1 and 2 bedroom apartments at a reasonable price with fully equipped kitchens and washing machines. Denarau is man made so the beaches here are more grainy with dark sand. It's all about the resorts in Denarau. When we travelled there on Friday’s, the Radisson operated a local school for only a few dollars per person. It is absolutely fantastic and I highly recommend it.
Lastly, south on the main island (Viti Levu) you will find the Coral Coast. This is where you’d go for a “sit, drop and flop” type of holiday. You are confined to the resorts as there is not much to see or do within walking distance - this means majority of your meals are eaten at the resort’s restaurants. In the coral coast your resorts are mainly located on black sand beaches. My choice here would be the Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort which is located close to the town Sigatoka and located on a nicer beach in the Coral Coast. The Shangri-La Fijiian is located on a private island just off the mainland connected by a bridge. This resort is extremely popular amongst families and has 1 and 2 bedroom bures so you will have a seperate sleeping area from the kids. Let’s face it, sometimes you just don't want to be in the same room constantly with your kids!
Another lovely resort on the Coral Coast is the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa as this is one of the resorts located on Viti Levu with crystal clear water and sandy beaches. Horse riding along the beach is another beautiful adventure.
If it is value you are after and you are on a budget then you'll love the all inclusive deals at The Naviti Resort or the Warwick Fiji. They are a little tired compared to other accommodation options in Fiji, however when they have all inclusive deals with options that include your alcohol then you can surely see past the tiredness.
I'd love the opportunity to help you organise your next getaway to one of my favourite destinations. Plus, I know a great deal when I see one.
