Resort recommendations for Fiji with 2 year old!

[Now we're 3]

Hi

Looking at booking a little trip to Fiji in late May early June.

There will be the 3 of us DS will be 2.5 and two friends and their 2 year old. Any recommendations on where to stay.

I think Denarau Island will be better than Coral Coast as it is much closer to the airport so we don't have a long car/bus trip when we arrive and I like the fact that we can wander in and out of other resorts also if we wish. I am leaning towards Raddisson at the mo as friends have stayed there with their little girl who a few months old than my little man but open to other suggestions. Neither of the two littlies will of course be old enough for kids club but we should be able to get a nanny on an evening or two to have some adult free time

Any ideas on which one to choose?

Cheers

[AliBaby]

We have stayed at the Sheraton twice. We got married last Sept when our DD was 2.5. She had her Bestie there as well who was also 2.5yrs and we got Nannies to look after them most nights as they were zonked from big days of swimming. They loved the nannies. The best thing about denarau is you can go to the port and eat there. The golf club also is really really cheap to eat at and is yummy pub food like chicken and chips, roast with veges or pizzas. Great with kids without the expense of resort prices. We took a day trip out on a boat to a ittle island with the kids which was great for the day.

[~Kim~]

oooh subbing. DH has decided that we're all going to Fiji next January.

[Onelittleprincess]

Naviti hideawy or outrigger. My suggestion is get all inclusive deals (eat stay and drink)

[Mum2SweetCs]

We stayed at an island called malolo lai lai 45 mins off drom denauru. Well worth the travel.

beaches were pristine and my dd loved it so much, she's 3.

we stayed at a beach villa at musket cove resort which has twoo bedrooms and a kitchenette.

I guess it depend what you want there. If you love the beach according to all my friends denuru has really ashy water. If you dont mind the swimming pool, denauru has lovely resorts.

[FabFiona]

We loved the Raddison. We stayed when my son was 10 months (he's now 2) and its great. Very family friendly and the best pools on the island.

Try Expedia for great prices.

We used the baby sitters a few times and they were lovely.

There aren't proper beaches on Denaru but you trade that off for having a totally family holiday experience.

Let me know if you want more info.

[Eenee]

Shangrila (sp?) is great and very kid friendly. We will be taking DD and this baby once it's born at some stage.

[BellyBelly]

I went to Fiji with my partner when my kids were with their dad, but despite being kid-free here's my 2c anyway

If you want postcard beaches, you need to go out to an island and out of Nadi. For the Coral Coast (lots of coral beaches) and Denaru, the beaches are meh. Many resorts have child minding or a kids club, so see what they offer - you can get some time alone with your partner which is a great opportunity to reconnect. Fijians are beautiful, smiling people, I would have no problems using their child minding services on a good resort.

We stayed in two places, Blue Lagoon Beach Resort and Nanuya. The Blue Lagoon Beach Resort is stunning but 30 mins by sea plane (or 4hrs by boat), so probably too far for you. But had to recommend it! Its in the Yasawa Islands, where there are the most stunning powder white beaches and bluer water than i've ever seen. Its near where the Blue Lagoon was filmed. We also stayed at Nanuya afterwards which was closeby, it was smaller, but beautiful too - more couples than kids. Awesome holiday! Love Fiji.

[OceanPrincess]

We stayed at Outrigger on the Lagoon for our honeymoon (4.5yrs ago) and are now planning on taking our kids back there in July. DS will be 2, DD will be 3.5.

We can't wait. We're looking at a "kids stay play eat free" deal, so it'll be just airfares for them, everything else included! We'll be putting DD into the kids club for a few days while DH and I go diving - or DH dives and I sit by the pool drinking ****tails Don't get me wrong I LOVE my kids but I need a break too!

DS will be too young for the kids club so we'll be looking at the nanny option - Ali, how much were nannies on Denarau?

Anyway Outrigger is an awesome set up on a beautiful beach - but it is about an hour's drive from Nadi airport. But we are taking the kids there as we know the resort, the beach, etc and we feel comfortable with the initial one hour drive. From there we can also access the islands, activities, Sigatoka town, etc.

We can't wait! Fiji is lovely!

ETA: whoops, I got censored! I meant the alcoholic drinks of course

[peanutter]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Holiday.

I could use another ...

Will stalk for tips

[BellyBelly]

Ps. I plan all my holidays based on Trip Advisor reports and ratings. NEVER lets me down, amazing holidays each time.

[Onelittleprincess]

I think last time I went and had a nanny for my cousins it wasn't more then $10 which for them is alot of money. Alot of resorts can arrange it

[tina_k]

Sheraton denarau is fantastic! We stayed there with a 18 month old then again with a 2 yo and a newborn. They are so child friendly. Close to the airport. No need to drive an hour to the coral coast.
And the best part is you dont need to eat there as the port is easily accessible by shuttle or walking and there are heaps of food options. I'd get a package with breakfast, but leave out dinner!
Hope that helps!

[FabFiona]

Nanny is stupidly cheap. We paid something like $10 for first 2 hours then $4 for every hour after that. I felt horrid so gave her a big tip at the end.

[OceanPrincess]

... No need to drive an hour to the coral coast...

Unless, like us, you want a gorgeous beach and access to the amazing diving at Beqa Lagoon, which is another 40mins past the Outrigger, where we will be staying!

Nanny is stupidly cheap. We paid something like $10 for first 2 hours then $4 for every hour after that. I felt horrid so gave her a big tip at the end.

Woohooo! That's great news for me and my plans to do nothing for a few days!

[Now we're 3]

Thanks everyone for GREAT replies. Will need a little bit of time to read them properly. Okay have another question or two

Regarding size of rooms/apartments we are looking at one bedders at the moment. Don't think we need to splash out and pay for a two bedder when there is just the two of us plus DS. Our friends would then separately book the same for them and their 2 year old. Do you think this would work or do we really need to go for the 2 bed option so that he will have a separate room from us? My friend who is looking at travelling with us has mentioned that she doesn't think that you can fit a cot/pull out/roll out bed in the bedroom room for DS's to sleep on. This was in relation to Raddisson as opposed to anyother specific hotel. Reason given was they have a table in the room but perhaps this would be the same regardless of whereever you go ????

@ Fab Fiona any other tips info you can give me would be great.

Any feedback on what others have one whereever they've been would be great.

Secondly what are you thoughts re nanny for some down times rather than that kids club. Friend has suggested Sofitel as their kids club starts at 2 years old. I am thinking that nanny might be better option especially given she has never left her DS alone before. My DS has now been in day care for a year so he should be okay but her's has only been a play group with his Mum.

Also regarding Nannies do you book in advance or simply do it when you get there and how does it work?

PS Kelly - have quickly read review on Trip Adviser comparing Raddisson to Sofitel and read lots more negative reviews on Sofitel than on Raddisson
PPS Found finding a good travel agent who had been there with kids who could really recommend a place rather than reading brochure which I can do myself to be difficult
PPPS thanks for the tip on Expedia will definitely be giving them a shot at booking once I've worked out where I want to go
PPPPS just want to get it booked so we know we are going

[Onelittleprincess]

Ok. Nannies u can do whenu get there. Remember some kids will happily do kids club others won't.

I think a 1 bedder would be fine. In my experience both naviti (which we stayed when dd was 6 months) and hideaway had plenty of room for a cot. Remember u won't be 'living' in the room.

Maybe booking together with your friend could be beneficial as you can arrange to be close to each other and possibly gain a cheaper rate

[peanutter]

we always get two rooms, so DH and my activities aren't restricted by sleeping bubs

has always been well worth it, in our opinion!