There is no place on earth that truly embodies the “getting away from it all” vacation like Fiji. Fiji is an group of over 300 islands and 500 islets located in the middle of the South Pacific. Of those islands, only about 110 are permanently inhabited. This means there are plenty of islands in Fiji where you can get away from everything.
If you are planning a family trip to Fiji, there are a few things to take into consideration. After all, you can’t just fly into Nadi airport, rent a car, and drive wherever you want to be.
Choose Your Resort Wisely
Fiji has resorts for all types of people, and all budget ranges. Choosing the right resort can mean the difference between a nice vacation, and the perfect vacation.
We recommend getting away from the big island and checking out the resorts in the Yasawa Island Chain. Remaining mostly closed to land based tourism until 1987, the Yasawa Islands have been able to hold on to their natural charm.
Many of the resorts in the Yasawa Islands offer private villas for guests, and some have “dorm” style accommodations. Some of the resorts in the Yasawa islands only allow families during certain weeks of the year, as they are normally “adults only” resorts. So make sure you check with you resort before booking.
Pack Light, Pack Right
You don’t need to bring a lot with you when you head to Fiji. Dinner is usually pretty casual in Fiji, and resorts usually provide towels, but there are some things you should have.
Fiji is all about the beach and the sun. So you should make sure you have a couple swim suits, and enough sunscreen.
A hat and sunglasses are a must, just don’t forget to take them off when visiting a Fijian village. Also, bring a sarong. Bikini’s aren’t considered appropriate village attire, so a sarong will cover you up properly.
Reef shoes and sandals are also a must have. You would be surprised how hot the sand can get. A nice pair of sandals will do wonders to keep your feet comfortable while on land. In the water, some areas can be a bit rocky. For those areas, reef shoes are recommended. Your feet will thank you.
Insect repellent. In tropical areas, like Fiji, mosquitos can be annoying if you are not properly prepared.
Plan Your Activities
Different resorts are better suited to different activities. Some resorts have powerboats available to guests, while others only have kayaks and sail boats. Some resorts have daycare, and activities for toddlers, while others have activities geared more toward older children. It is important to find the resort that has the right types of activities for your family
It is also good to plan some activities away from your resort. Many resorts offer village trips that allow you to see the local Fijian culture firsthand. This is a great opportunity to make your vacation educational for both you and your children. It can also be quite fun.
You may also want to plan a trip to see local landmarks like the Sawa-i-lau caves, or the Blue Lagoon. You might need to book a flight with Turtle Airways to get to these places though because the boat rides can be time consuming.
Getting to Your Resort
Speaking of time consuming boat rides, the boat from Nadi to the Yasawa Islands can take between 4 and 5 hours depending on what resort you are going to. The boat also only leaves Nadi once a day. This can sometimes leave you stuck in Nadi overnight depending on when your flight arrives. This isn’t always the optimal travel condition for people traveling with children. As an alternative, Turtle Airways offers multiple flights per day on our seaplanes to the Yasawa Island resorts. These flights typically take less then 30 minutes, and will drop you off right at the beach of your resort.
Keeping all of this in mind will surely elevate your family trip to Fiji from a “good vacation” to “the best vacation”.