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Time for me to get away again - need to destress and unwind!! My last proper holiday was in 2008 and I am thinking Fiji this time. So hard when you want to go back to places you love, but I want to see new things too :)
So who has been, what do you recommend and where did you stay etc? Details, details!!!
I am going to have to stay in Nadi overnight looking at the flight schedules, then off somewhere else the next day :)
oohhhh im jealous!!
Junglemum went last year, hopfully she'll see this! shant went too
DH and I went October last year, and a couple of our friends went a few weeks back on our recommendation...
It's wonderful. We stayed at Denarau, and you can pick hotels for kids or without kids... It's pretty affordable, great food... people are really friendly and they smile a lot lol.
You can hotel hop at Denarau which is fun, there's a cheap little bus that can take you around. Taxi's aren't very expensive and there are all sorts of tours to suit your experience requirements.
As a nice relaxing warm place to go, it was super.
Jols, come with me love ;) Doing the solo thing and going with the flow :)
My all time fave holiday was a week at the Sheraton in Denarau Island (sorry, I have the spelling wrong), just outside Nadi. The staff were amazingly friendly ("Bula" everywhere we went!), the scenery spectacular (ohh, that blue, blue water) and the food great! I spent most of the time lazing by the pool and drinking iced chocolates from a local cafe. The island had a shuttle between resorts so you can explore and the resort had locals who came in to demonstrate different crafts - e.g. painting, basket weaving. We took a great day trip inland to visit a local village and see the scenery - just three of us with our own guide in a 4wd.
And one of my fave adventures was the short bus trip into Nadi. Just as we got on, it started pouring with rain and pot holes opened up everywhere. Then, the mini-bus hits one and the suspension breaks and we come to a grinding halt right in the middle of the road! One of the passengers got out in the downpour and hailed another mini bus for us all, stepping on my very expensive sunnies that had fallen off with all the bumps! The rain was so heavy that no-one could see us on the side of the road so we nearly got collected a few times! The locals on the bus were sooooo embarrassed for us and insisted on paying our share of the taxi fare (50c Fijian!) but I loved it! We were absolutely covered in mud and soaking wet but 15 minutes after we got into Nadi the sun was out again!
I know the last paragraph might not sell Fiji as a destination, but it was such a great trip, I'd definitely recommend it.
LOL its all good, I know what sudden downpours are like anywhere... been in a few and its kinda fun but not LOL. What time of year did you go? I am going during a period where there is less rainfall.
From what I have read so far, everyone is suggesting to get out further and explore the islands. I am a five star girl, not a camper by far lol but I also like the idea of a quaint, untouched small island somewhere!!! White sand, blue water and sun... of course I'll take my Mac so I can drink by the pool and keep check on emails ;)
i used to live in Fiji and TOTALLY second getting out to the islands. they are exquisite! the mananuca group and yasawa are the easiest to get to and have heaps of different ranges to choose from in terms of hotels etc.
we enjoyed plantation island resort as a getaway that was a bit more spesh (usually we went local and headed to the islands on the other side of the island lol). if you want total indulgence i remember all the UN people etc would head to the Royal Davui....omg, everything i heard was preeettty nice LOL! (unfortunately our local wage couldnt justify it LOL!).
places like treasure island etc are popular but tend to be frequented by families and TBH have some dodgy practices in terms of ripping off people buying packages. avoid Bounty Island (sometimes sold as a lovely hotel island...lovely island, but VERY rough in terms of accom).
if you want idyllic beaches and superb snorkelling head to either of those two island groups and you wont be disappointed. you could be disappointed if you go anywhere along the coral coast. lovely hotels/resorts but NOTHING in comparison to the islands in terms of beaches and snorkelling IMO.
oh and for spesh i have heard that turtle island is really amazing...apparently 'our' nicole (kidman LOL) went there a couple of times...pure island gossip though LOL!
Yah Turtle Island sounds awesome.... but.....
LOL!!!:
Our packages start at US $ 13,473 for 7 nights all-inclusive of meals, transfers, activities, and much more.
We are going in September this year (which is their best time to go).
We are staying at Sheraton at Denearu island. We are planning to take a couple of day trips out to the smaller islands. We are going for 6 days and for 2 adults plus a child we paid $2500 which includes flights, transfers, buffet breakfast everyday and travel insurance.
My family go every year and the Sheraton is the best place to stay in terms of 5 star accommodation and service.
When are you going in Sept? We might bump into each other!!!
pffft US$13K...no wonder 'our' nicole goes there :ROFL:
now i just need to win lotto LOL!
Sept 5th we arrive there.
Definately let me know if you are going and we can catch up for ****tail at the pool bar! :)
Ahhhh I am going a bit later.... will miss you by the time I arrive!
Crap. Are you going in school holidays? We decided to go earlier.
Yeah I have to, the kids will be with their dad, so its the only free time I can get!
We went in January as DH was doing some work there, but September should be safe from freak afternoon storms!
There are some nice resorts on the Coral Coast between Nandi and Suva. We popped in to a few on our way from the airport in Nandi to a village just passed Suva. We had a fantastic time, but we def didn't stay 5 star ;) We stayed with friends in the house in a village (local style - no electricity etc). Good fun :)
We stayed at Lomani Island as part of our honeymoon last year. It was great, very friendly and adults only. We wanted to do lots of nothing, but they had activites if you wanted. I spent my time on a hammock by the pool, or on the daybed by the pool or lounging by the beach...so hard! :) It's part of Plantation Island (same owners), but kept separate (Plantation Island is the family resort). Food was average, but good enough - no need to buy the package, it was cheaper to just buy meals as we went.
If we'd had the money, I wanted to go to Tokoriki Island and stay in a bure with a private pool.
Also, we didn't bother with the main island - just flew into Nadi then bus/ferry to the resort island.
DP and I stayed on Denerau Island at the Raddison Resort in May this year. The weather was nice- approx 30 degrees during the day, down to about 22 at night. The people are amazing! It was the 2nd time I'd been. Shopping at Port Denerau was not cheap though... food items ie. Cadbury chocolate block which is about $4 here was $12 fjd, which is about $8-9 here... they make the most of the tourists I guess. Nadi was nice, a lot cheaper then the tourist area.