For many people, a trip to Fiji is a dream vacation. Leaving the stress of work behind and traveling across the globe to a south pacific island is the ultimate escape. Nothing epitomizes a relaxing vacation then lying on a secluded island beach with soft sound of the waves crashing in the background, and the scent of sea salt in the air.
Of course, vacations can be stressful themselves if you don’t know where you are going, how you are getting there, or the language and customs of the people that are there. That is why it is always a good idea to research your vacation destination and plan out your trip before you head off on holiday.
To make the most of a Fiji vacation, you want to get away from the big touristy spots like Nadi. Sure, you have to fly into Nadi because there aren’t many airports in Fiji, but after that, get away from the city. Many travelers enjoy the resorts in the Mamanuca islands just west of Nadi. Other travelers prefer the more natural, unspoiled environment of the Yasawa Islands. If sustainable tourism, and eco friendly resorts are important to you, then Yasawa has some of the best resorts in the south pacific to visit. Many of them are built by local craftsman, staffed by local villagers, and serve food grown locally or caught in the local waters by fisherman from nearby villages. These resorts were designed to preserve the natural beauty of the islands, because they were made by people who call those islands home.
The resorts in the Yasawa Island Chain range from budget to luxury, and it is wise to know the difference. Some people may cherish the idea of a communal experience on a tropical island, while others may truly long for a more secluded and private vacation. Budget resorts offer dorm style accommodations, and usually have space for quite a few guests. They tend to be “pay as you go” for things like kayak rentals, subs diving, or even alcohol, so make sure you have cash on hand. ATM’s are few and far between on a pacific island.
Luxury Fiji vacation resorts offer private bure’s (Fijian for villa) and tend to accommodate fewer guests then their budget counterparts. Many of them are also all-inclusive so you don’t need to worry about having cash to pay for rentals or even drinks. Some of them have private beaches, and private dining so they make great honeymoon destinations. Some luxury resorts even provide personal butler service so you know your needs will always be taken care of.
However you want to spend your vacation in Fiji’s Yasawa or Mamanuca islands, transportation is something that must be taken into account. There are no roads to these resorts. There is a boat that travels between Nadi and the Yasawa Islands once a day, but who wants to spend 4+ hours on a boat after flying around the world to Fiji? Turtle Airways offers multiple flights per day from Nadi to both the Yasawa and Mamanuca island resorts. A seaplane from Turtle Airways can take you from Nadi to the furthest Yasawa resort in about 30 minutes, and drop you off right on the resorts beach. Talk about arriving in style.
If you are looking for a luxury Fiji vacation, then arriving in a Turtle Airways seaplane is defiantly the way to start!