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Hey Phantom I travel to Fiji twice a year, my family and I just love the relaxed culture and fiji time, even seen a few Rooster boys there in my time 
Fiji time can be annoying to some, but for me its forces us to relax something we don't do enough of at home so I embrace it every chance I get.
I always stay at either the Outrigger on the mainland Coral Coast
or Castaway Island, Mamanuca's (same Island area as Plantation, Treasure, Mana, etc). I've also done a captain cook cruise through the Yasawas which was fantastic for the kids.
Having been so many times I visited many of the resorts over the years from Denarau to Pacific Harbour.
Where to stay really depends on what you like to do and budget I guess.
If you want to laze around the beach/pool, or snorkel/dive, do some serious water sports and visit outer reefs I highly recommend an Island and Castaway is absolutely fantastic, Castaway (Aussie owned) is a bit pricey but you can get meal plans included in your stay at certain times of the year which works out cheaper. Im going again in 2 weeks yipee can't wait. I have visited Tokoriki couples only resort (no good but amazing if you ever want a trip with the FC), Mana Island (family), and Amanuca (family) I personally wouldnt stay at the Amanuca Resort but Mana island has heaps to do and from what i hear is fun and pretty cheap (opposite Castaway) it is run by the Japanese. I have heard that Plantation is good also know a few fijians that worked there over the years and they say its okay.
If you like to experience culture and good resorts, but also want to do some tourist stuff like Cave Tours/Waterfall Tours, Shopping, Zipline, Water Rafting, then the Coral Coast to Pacific Harbour is for you (but stay on the Coral Coasts and do a day trip to Pacific Harbour - Cultural Centre is a great day for adults and kids). It is closer to all that kind of stuff but you don't get the pristine beaches etc that we are used to here in Oz. When you get closer to Pacific Harbour the beaches are great again. Coral coast beaches aren't fabulous unless of course you stay at the new Intercontinental at Natandolo Beach (it is gorgeous). You can do Island tours from the Coral Coast to the different Island Resorts and thats fun also but they take a few hours each way travelling by bus and boats. On the coral coast the Outrigger is great, the Shangri la probably better in some respects for the water sports you can do there but I can't drag myself away from my family at the Outrigger to stay at the Shangri la, I personally prefer the Warwick to the Naviti as far as resorts go.
If you think you would prefer to stay on the Mainland then Denarau has gorgeous hotels and good water sports and on the harbour so easy access to Island day visits without the added hour/half travel to the Coral Coast, I personally wouldn't stay at Denarau other than as a stopover to the Islands, flashy resorts, but you can get good deals.
Anyway, I could rave on for hours and hours telling you which tour companies and stuff are good.....so if you have any questions pm me I don't think it matters where you stay really, I'm sure you will love it, just relax and embrace the fijian way
Another tip check out www.tripadvisor.com and search fiji hotels mentioned
Fiji time can be annoying to some, but for me its forces us to relax something we don't do enough of at home so I embrace it every chance I get.I always stay at either the Outrigger on the mainland Coral Coast
or Castaway Island, Mamanuca's (same Island area as Plantation, Treasure, Mana, etc). I've also done a captain cook cruise through the Yasawas which was fantastic for the kids.
Having been so many times I visited many of the resorts over the years from Denarau to Pacific Harbour.
Where to stay really depends on what you like to do and budget I guess.
If you want to laze around the beach/pool, or snorkel/dive, do some serious water sports and visit outer reefs I highly recommend an Island and Castaway is absolutely fantastic, Castaway (Aussie owned) is a bit pricey but you can get meal plans included in your stay at certain times of the year which works out cheaper. Im going again in 2 weeks yipee can't wait. I have visited Tokoriki couples only resort (no good but amazing if you ever want a trip with the FC), Mana Island (family), and Amanuca (family) I personally wouldnt stay at the Amanuca Resort but Mana island has heaps to do and from what i hear is fun and pretty cheap (opposite Castaway) it is run by the Japanese. I have heard that Plantation is good also know a few fijians that worked there over the years and they say its okay.
If you like to experience culture and good resorts, but also want to do some tourist stuff like Cave Tours/Waterfall Tours, Shopping, Zipline, Water Rafting, then the Coral Coast to Pacific Harbour is for you (but stay on the Coral Coasts and do a day trip to Pacific Harbour - Cultural Centre is a great day for adults and kids). It is closer to all that kind of stuff but you don't get the pristine beaches etc that we are used to here in Oz. When you get closer to Pacific Harbour the beaches are great again. Coral coast beaches aren't fabulous unless of course you stay at the new Intercontinental at Natandolo Beach (it is gorgeous). You can do Island tours from the Coral Coast to the different Island Resorts and thats fun also but they take a few hours each way travelling by bus and boats. On the coral coast the Outrigger is great, the Shangri la probably better in some respects for the water sports you can do there but I can't drag myself away from my family at the Outrigger to stay at the Shangri la, I personally prefer the Warwick to the Naviti as far as resorts go.
If you think you would prefer to stay on the Mainland then Denarau has gorgeous hotels and good water sports and on the harbour so easy access to Island day visits without the added hour/half travel to the Coral Coast, I personally wouldn't stay at Denarau other than as a stopover to the Islands, flashy resorts, but you can get good deals.
Anyway, I could rave on for hours and hours telling you which tour companies and stuff are good.....so if you have any questions pm me
I don't think it matters where you stay really, I'm sure you will love it, just relax and embrace the fijian wayAnother tip check out www.tripadvisor.com and search fiji hotels mentioned
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