How lucky are we? Travel is fully back and what better destination to travel to than an iconic warm tropical island like Fiji. I’ve been dreaming of traveling to this island for as long as I can remember and I just so happen to be based in New Zealand which is a short plane hop to paradise, which I of course had to take advantage of this year! Now I totally understand why every person that craves those stretches of white-sand beaches, balmy summer evenings and superb marine life experiences would visit here!
If you’re planning on visiting Fiji soon, you are so in for a treat! From blue oceans, swaying palm trees, and some of the world’s friendliest people who’ll never fail to greet you with an enthusiastic “BULA!” it’s no wonder why a 2-week vacation here wouldn’t feel like enough time!!
So without further ado, here’s my little guide on what I’d recommend you to do in Fiji:
- Cloud 9 – Your Floating Paradise
Think beach club and sun lounge vibes in the middle of the vast blue ocean to spend your day, you just can’t get any better! This was recommended to me by my friends and this experience was by far one of my faves, I even went a second time on this trip because I loved it THAT much. Everything is taken care of when you book a Cloud 9 experience. From hotel pick up in Nadi, to the boat that takes you out on the floating bar where you’ll be welcomed with good tropical tunes plus a full bar and good options where you can get Pina coladas and delicious wood-fired pizzas!
Whether you wanted to spend your time on at Cloud 9 sun bathing in their sun chairs while soaking in the picturesque views or taking a wee dip in the turquoise waters to see fishes (even turtles!) or perhaps you wanted to have a boogie – the options are endless at this floating oasis.
- Nadi – Main island Recommendations
Typically if you are flying into Fiji, you’ll be landing in Nadi. If you decide to spend a couple days on this main island I would recommend heading to Island Surf Beauty & Spa for a nice relaxing massage and/or a quality facial. The spa is rated one of the best on the island and all I can say is the reviews don’t lie! They also do shuttle service from your hotel and back so you don’t have to worry about getting there.
For an evening out in Nadi, start off with dinner at Sweet Laisa’s Kitchen restaurant, only a 10 minute cab ride from the airport, which serves authentic Fijian food. Absolutely amazing food cooked by a local Fijian family where you can experience traditional Fijian cuisine while supporting a local business. After dinner if you’re keen for a night out, go across the street and head to The Hive which is a night club that plays a solid mix of good music (aka RnB and Hip Hop) and all the locals go here which makes the experience so much better in my opinion!
If you’re after a nice relaxing sunset arvo by the beach with amazing live band music then I would recommend The Beach Club Wailoaloa. Most definitely order a bowl of Kava here because you’re in Fiji.. period.
- Beachcomber Island Resort
Think small relaxed island vibes, Beachcomber Island Resort offers a great start to your Fiji trip if you’re looking to get your dose of sunshine and clear waters. It’s about a 1 hour boat ride from the main Nadi Port Denver which is relatively close in comparison to the other islands. The room bookings typically includes an all meals plan which is amazing with everything covered at a very reasonable and affordable price. We spent 6 nights at the resort which sounds like a long time on a tiny island but if you love just spending your time in clear turquoise waters and enjoy straight chilling on holidays this is the absolute perfect recommendation for you.
Although the talk around town is that Beachcomber is a “party island” it felt more so of a “family island” in my opinion. Could be due to post COVID that the vibe on the island has changed to a more casual family oriented holiday destination but I can see why it was a party island previously with such affordable pricing that attracts budget travellers.
The staff at the resort are very warm and welcoming, making you feel very comfortable during your time on the the island and truly would go beyond measures to help you during your stay here. You connect with the staff there like they’re your friends rather than this “service” type of connection you could feel at fancier resorts which I prefer and appreciate.
They provide free snorkel tours everyday and also have a turtle sanctuary on the island to view. If snorkelling and diving is a priority for your trip I wouldn’t recommend Beachcomber as you’d want to head farther off to Yesawa islands for better underwater experiences.
General Key Takeaways:
- $89 boat trip (one way from the main port)
- Buy water from the mart before heading to the resort if you want to save on money and have room in your luggage. They charge $6.50 per water bottle.
- Free snorkel trips daily
- Free all meal inclusive plan
- They offer day trips to Cloud 9 and other island trips during your stay at extra cost.
- Friendly staff and welcoming home environment
- Amazing Kava ceremony experience included
- Blue Lagoon Resort
Set on a beautiful island with long soft sand beaches and incredible snorkelling, this is a great spot for a couple days for people wanting to explore the Fijian reefs.
Overall I find the place quite on the higher end of the scale aka a bit boujee which serves with it’s pros and cons. Be prepared to be charged extra for meals (roughly $99-$129FJD) per adult on top of your room booking. We booked on Agota so the plan stated $99FJD but best to double check before arriving. There are some free activities on the island though a lot of it is also charged with additional fees so beware when traveling here to bring enough cash if you were planning on doing lots of tours as it can easily add up!! Sorry not sorry but I didn’t really enjoy my time here in comparison to Beach Comber to be completely honest, though to be fair, the food here was pretty good!
