Fiji...

[Guest]

The fam and I are planning a Fiji trip in 2011, and want to know from others who ahve traveled there, what are the best resorts for kids, and how long is a good length to stay.....

I was thinking 7 to 10 days, but am still scoping it all out.....BTW, this is our first trip outside Oz....apart for Canberra that is.....

Thanks in advance...and I know Lauren will have the best places for Cocktails....

[Guest]

Plantation Island is a great resort for families; there's a kids club, daily activities, beaches at your doorstep, three pools (the kids one has a slide, we got kicked out of there at 5am on New Years morning) buffets and if you don't like the food on offer at the resort (which we didn't really because you had to pay upfront for a meal plan), the resort sits in between two others which are in easy walking distance.

Let me know if you have any other questions...or if you want to take me back with you.

[Kramer]

I have to agree with Lauren, Plantation is a great place for kids.
The plane flight in is interesting too.
Also good resorts are on the Coral Coast, The Hyatt, and The Sheraton are also good.
I have been there 4 times and love the people.

You should be able to pick up a good deal on accomodation at the moment.

A 7 day stay is about the right ammount of time I imagine, the kids could become bores otherwise.

Cheers.

[Guest]

We caught the ferry from Port Denaru to the island - was about a 45 minute trip and was actually quite nice.

Kramer's got a good point - the people are awesome. Except they aren't kidding about Fiji time so don't expect things to get done in a hurry!

[Guest]

We stayed at the Naviti. It was an all inclusive resort where all the drinks (beer, wine and spirts) and food were part of the cost. It had a buffet for each meal and it had 2 other restaurants where you could book and eat there as well. Most of the dishes in restaurants were part of the all inclusive price. We would sometimes feed the kids and then go to the restaurant while they played at the kids club.

The kids club was great. It had one for the little kids - up to about 7 and then the older kids - up to teenagers. Most of the activities for the older kids could be joined in by the adults - pool volleyball, touch footy, etc.

Baby sitting was cheap if you need a local to do it. We would book someone for 10pm for 3 hours.

The rooms were like motel rooms but the resort was very nice. Not much else to do on the island except chill. If that is what you are looking for then that it is the place for you.

Watch out when you go shopping as the indian fijians can be VERY persistant and follow you around trying to get you to buy something.

I am sure that there are a HEAP of nice places to stay in Fiji but I would go back to the Naviti for sure.

The down points were that the beach was not like you expect but was OK. The coral was not like you see on the postcards but you can take side trips to other places to see some good reefs.

The locals are very friendly but they all work on "Fijian time".

[Guest]

Thanks guys......I have looked at both places extensively over the last few days, the only other ones that jump out at me are the Shangri-La and the Warrick....and possibley Treasure Island.....

[Guest]

Thanks guys......I have looked at both places extensively over the last few days, the only other ones that jump out at me are the Shangri-La and the Warrick....and possibley Treasure Island.....

The Warwick is the sister resort to the Naviti Phantom,and is just 5 minutes further up the road.It is ver similar to the Naviti,just a lot more expensive in pricing.
After spending 3 weeks at the Naviti last June,I can recommend there.
The food is exellent,varied and plentiful,and the swim up bar in the pool for white rum and pineapple juice is mind blowing.
The kids will love it,as with good security around the resort they can run off and play with other kids at will.
As the temperature there in June is around 30 deg,I would recommend travelling at that time of the year to beat the humidity.
Bula Vinaka...

[Guest]

I like the Naviti, apart from the distance from everywhere....

At present we are leaning towards Plantation Island or Treasure Island, but FC has one question Loz.....do they have TV at Plantation Island.....hehe...

[Guest]

We made the Naviti DJ and the band shut up for the first part of the night and put the SOO on the projector,so we didnt have to leave the free bar and watch the game in our rooms...

[Guest]

At the Naviti they had TV with a few foxtel type channels. Managed to watch a Roosters game while i was there. I recall that they lost....More fiji Bitter please.

Just check out the prices of food and drinks if you stay somewhere that is not all inclusive. You might spend a LOT more than you hoped for.

[Guest]

No TV at plantation!

[Kramer]

Phantom.
Treasure Island is very family orientated, however it is very small, just about all the accomodation is on the beach, it would take you about 10minutes to walk around the island.
It is 500m from Daydream Island which is even smaller, a lot of backpacker go there on their way to Australia, particularly Canadians and Americans.
I had an absolute ball there when I went there some years ago.
The natives would take us between the Islands in canoes.

Having said that Treasure is promoted as a family resort, Plantation would be better for the family though.

[Guest]

You are all very helpful....

Thank you...

[Big Poppa Pump]

I spent a week at the Shangri-La with the wife & kids in November 2008. Great place, very relaxing, couple of pools, excellent beach and golf course. The pub in there had a kids disco each night which co-incided with happy hour.

The only issue was the price of the food. We foolishly did not get a package that included lunch or dinner for us (breakfast was free & the kids eat free). For example a burger and a can of coke cost me $38. We very quickly learned to pig out at breakfast & take a pile of pastrys out of the breakfast restuarant each morning to eat throughout the day. Dinner was usually in the smorgasbord area - cost us about $60 each for dinner.

Everyone is spot on about Fiji time. It can be frustrating. The native Fijians are wonderful people however I found the Indian Fijians to be the same as Indians in Australia - rude & annoying.

Bula!

[Guest]

Have a look at the Shangri La as well but with all meals included...personally I'd recommend looking into Phucket or Koh Samui in Thailand as well...there's heaps to do outside the resorts there unlike in Fiji...cheap shopping...take the bare essentials and stock up on clothes over there to bring back home...I think there's bettter value going to Thaliand than Fiji...outside of the resorts there's heaps of restaurants and you easily feed a family including drinks for about $40...add abit mroe if you want seafood like lobster...even less with smaller kids...I just did it in October with 2 teenagers who liked to eat...I was having a few beers and the wife cocktails...very good value for money in Thailand...beaches are awesome too unlike the beaches in Fiji...unless you go to the island and then your stuck there with no where else to go...