Where to Stay in Fiji - First Time Visitor

Archi on 04/11/2024 - 08:47
Last edited 04/11/2024 - 14:58 by 1 other user

Hoping to tap into the community for their expert travel tips to Fiji.

Looking at taking the kids to Fiji, but unsure where is a good location.

2x adults and 2x primary school aged kids.

  • Looking for recommendation on resorts or places you have stayed in,
  • Just after some relaxing time
  • Maybe do a fishing tour
  • Not much else rather than let the kids experience island culture.
  • I think something like 4 or 5 nights

Have looked online and there is an over whelming number of resorts and holiday packages,

Thanks in advance.

Travel Fiji Oceania

Comments

  • brendanm on 04/11/2024 - 09:36
    +1

    I stayed at the outrigger many moons ago, was great. We hired a car to be able to go where we wanted, was good fun. Not sure what age your kids are, but you are able to snorkel straight off the beach. Can walk up the road to other restaurants if you want something other than the resort food.

  • djkelly69 on 04/11/2024 - 09:59
    +5

    I would probably go somewhere on Denarau Island if that is all you are wanting to do. I have only stayed at the Hilton which was pretty good, but Sofitel and Radisson Blu looked good as well.

    • donga100 on 04/11/2024 - 16:01

      It's also where the majority of fishing and island tours leave from. If you rent a car you can visit attractions such as the mud pools and supermarkets/restaurants outside of the resort which will save you a lot of money compared to eating at a resort or the port.

    • jellykingdom on 04/11/2024 - 16:25
      +1

      The Sofitel was excellent

      But Denarau is hardly like going to Fiji…it was more like going to a golf course in Florida

    • Psdsoft on 05/11/2024 - 08:30

      Radisson blu seems great with kids. Love the little Lebanese restaurant too.

      • pasey25 on 05/11/2024 - 19:04

        We liked that restaurant too

  • pasey25 on 04/11/2024 - 12:36
    +1

    Sheraton villas denerau.

    Closer to stuff than the outrigger which is pretty isolated

    • brendanm on 04/11/2024 - 14:50

      Closer to what, Nadi? Couldn't wait to get out of that place.

      • pasey25 on 04/11/2024 - 15:50
        +1

        Closer to activities, restaurants at the port

        I didn’t visit Nadi when I stayed there

  • cuteseal on 04/11/2024 - 15:10
    +2

    One of the islands like Mana Island would be great - white sands and crystal clear blue sea, snorkeling right off the beach into waist high shallow water teeming with fish.

    Unfortunately on the mainland the beaches are volcanic sand and the water is not that clear.

    • PeterSnoot on 05/11/2024 - 07:57

      Another vote for Mana Island. Having stayed on the mainland and on islands, the better experience by far is on an island. You may not get a 5 stay restaurant for every meal but overall a better experience, especially with kids.

      • Archi on 05/11/2024 - 08:10

        ohhh sounds good. i will keep that in mind.

        • cuteseal on 05/11/2024 - 09:57
          +2

          Having said that you can have fun on the mainland as well:
          - resort pools are great if you stay in a luxury one
          - lots of water sports and stuff on the beach. We did some sailing in a hobie cat (small catamaran)
          - see a fire ceremony and cultural show (some resorts organise cultural nights where they bring in performers)
          - visit a village and partake in a kava ceremony
          - visit the capital Suva (don’t expect much but there are some museums, markets and looooots of souvenir shops)
          - may or may not be your thing but we visited a local church on a Sunday
          - there’s 4wd adventures, river jet boat and other hiking stuff if you are adventurous

          Just depends on what kind of holiday you are after. You can always do the islands as a day trip or split your stay between resorts.

  • pasey25 on 04/11/2024 - 15:51
    +1

    I did a day trip to mala mala island, 30 mins from port denerau. Lovely clear water, coral and fish.

  • samcro on 04/11/2024 - 16:26

    Sheraton villas is good for families. However, for snorkelling etc you will need to do a day trip to one of the islands.

  • jellykingdom on 04/11/2024 - 16:28

    PS i quite enjoyed Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. I would need to Google to see if it isn't maybe just like Bali but for New Zealanders, but the beach and the water was beautiful. It's surrounded by an attol or something like that, so the water was perfectly still, really clear, lots of fish. Very chilled out

    Cheaper than Fiji, but not cheap still

  • jellykingdom on 04/11/2024 - 16:29
    +1

    If you do goto Fiji. Check out some of the charter deals OUTSIDE of the hotels. You can get some really cheap deals for tours. If you're willing to sit through a time-share presentation, you can get it almost for free

  • yellowfever on 04/11/2024 - 21:50
    -2

    There is Fiji and there is Port Denarau, which is where probably 90% of Aussies go.
    It is a tourist location locked away from the locals. There is a gate and guard at the entrance.
    It has the resorts and hotel chains that would satisy most family travellers needs.
    It's nice and feels very safe.

    Outside of this area, you would need to do a lot of research and probably not worth it if going with a family.

    • donga100 on 05/11/2024 - 21:21
      +1

      It's nowhere near 90%. Many Aussies go to the Islands off Denarau as well as Coral Coast. There are major resorts there that cater fantastically to families. I still think Denarau is a good option for OP however as they are only going for 4 days and getting to/from the islands can seriously eat into your time.

  • Tricon on 04/11/2024 - 22:46

    Octopus Resort.

  • lpn on 05/11/2024 - 02:11
    +1

    I just went to Fiji this September. We stayed at the Hilton on Denarau Island, it was a very kid friendly resort. They had activities for the kids throughout the day around the pool area and had a kids club (childcare facility). We used the Bula bus (local open-air bus) to get around the island to the other resorts and main restaurant area at the Port.

  • Bozman on 05/11/2024 - 07:49
    +1

    We’ve been twice in the last year, first time to Outrigger and just recently to Shangri-La Yanucca Island.

    With primary age kids, you’ll want a good kids club and they both have that.

    Outrigger had newer rooms but was a much smaller resort. Yanucca is HUGE so there’s plenty of space.

    The benefit of Outrigger is they had an adults only pool which was great. You could drop the kids at kids club, head to the adults only pool to read, swim and have a cocktail or two. It was a great break.

    Both these resorts are on Coral Coast which is about an hour from the airport, which we didn’t find a problem.

    To experience island life, I’d totally recommend the Sigatoka River jet boat tour. Great fun in the boats, then you go to a village up in the mountains, have a Kava ceremony and eat lunch. Beautiful scenery and great to see the villages.

    If at Outrigger, there’s a great fish restaurant next door to the resort which I’d recommend. Both resorts though I’d recommend the drinks/meal package. We didn’t get it at Outrigger but did at Yanucca. Was just easier to have it.

    Definitely try the local rums too. We loved the Ratu Signature Blend.

    • Archi on 05/11/2024 - 08:08

      awesome thanks… will look at your recommendations.

  • Benno007 on 05/11/2024 - 09:07

    In 2013 I had a great time at the Warwick Hotel on the coral coast. It was about an hour drive from Nadi airport. It was close enough to sigatoka for activities and also I liked the drive, it was nice to get a feel for the island rather than just by the airport. There was a good little reef and plenty of activities.

  • MissKitten1 on 05/11/2024 - 11:14

    Not very Ozbargain but Castaway Island, hands down

    Kids club is fantastic, white sand, crystal clear water. Great pools.

  • jakt70 on 05/11/2024 - 12:04

    I love Fiji, I've been 3 times. What's your budget? I love the Mamanuca Islands, and I believe the Yasawa Islands are beautiful too, but they are further out and more pricey. Plantation Island (in the Mamanuca's) is a reasonably priced, great family friendly island with heaps to do, including some tours you can do from the island. They have packages for 5 or 7 days, often with things like kids stay and eat for free. If you choose the islands, you tend to need to stay on the mainland the night before and night after so you can coordinate with your flights, but not always. If you choose to stay on the mainland there's lots of tours to do too. My recommendation, if the budget allows, is to head out to an island to stay. It might be nice to do a school and/or village tour to let the kids see how others live. It's always a nice gesture to bring some small gifts for the village children too, or ask in advance what supplies are most needed. Get on Trip Advisor and look for the forums, lots of experts can guide you on any subject. Enjoy!

  • AlanW2 on 05/11/2024 - 13:25

    Another vote for Plantation Island. My wife and I have stayed there and at other resorts many times. It's family friendly and has a range of activities for all ages. We usually stay our first night at rhe Gateway (opposite Nadi airport entrance) then take the free shuttle to Denarau and catch the boat to the ferry. The return can be direct to the airport or to the Gafeway for a final pleasant night and time at their pool before the afternoon flight.
    Lots of other places but Denerau is far to touristy!
    Have fun.

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