Fiji Luxury Travel Guide | Best Resorts & Islands

Fiji

Welcome to our Fiji travel guide

Off the coast of Australia and about 12 hours from California is the stunning, remote-feeling island nation of Fiji. 333 islands welcome travelers to the slower lifestyle, beautiful landscapes and the picture-perfect vacation you’ve dreamed of. Whether visitors stay on the main island of Viti Levu (where Nadi and Suva are located), or if visitors jet off to one of the hundreds of perfect little islands, Fiji has something for everyone.

To Australians, Fiji is like the Hawaii of the Pacific, which for us means that there are endless options for lodging, ranging from $50 USD a night to $2000+. While Max and I initially thought Fiji was super “remote”, we quickly learned that there are so many options for hotels, transportation and dining. We were, frankly, surprised at how developed it was in general, giving us a number of options for our last minute booking (the night before we left).

I don’t need money, or a big fancy house. I just need a beach, some nice warm water and a coconut. Agree? #fiji #fijiislands #discoverfiji #beautifuldestinations

Aug 25

Take me to paradise - please and thank you 👌🏼. . . . . . #fiji #fijiislands #dronestagram #dronephotography #droneshots #beautifulplaces #beautifuldestinations #coupleshot #couplegoals

Mar 22

What I’m daydreaming about this weekend 😍. How about you? . . . . . . . . . . . #fijiislands #fiji #fijilife #islandlife #islandstyle #yasawaislands #yasawaislandresort #bestplacestogo #nature #beautifuldestinations #exploremore #privateislands #beautifulhotels

Feb 12

Doing just fine with this self-isolation thing 😉. . . . . . . . . . . #fijiislands #fiji #beautifuldestinations #bestplacestogo #wonderful_places #nature #islandstyle #islandlife #fijitime #incrediblebeaches #amazingplaces #amazingdestination #couplesgoals #couplesthattravel #jurassicpark #earthpix #earth_shotz

Oct 10

Current mood - praying for the world to open safely so we can get back on a plane ✈️. . . . . . . . . . #fiji #fijiislands #beautifuldestinations #bestbeaches #beachvibes #islandstyle #coupleslovetravel #couplesphotography #beautifulhotels #remotebeach #fijianstyle #serenityisland #wonderful_places #bestplacestogo #hotelsnresorts #couplesgoals #uniquehotels #privatebeach #privatebeaches #unforgettablehotels #hotelstyle

May 21

Another week is over and another month has passed. Can you believe that max and I have been sheltered in place since March 4th?? It’s such a crazy thought after three years of nonstop work and travel. At one point, we went three months where we were in a different place every. Single. Weekend. It’s been pretty amazing to get to work on projects like our website that we’ve been wanting to update for over a year. At the same time, the travel bug is real and I pray to Mother Nature every day that our Dominican trip happens 🙏. How long have you been cooped up and where are you dreaming of heading next?? . . . . . . . . #fiji #fijiislands #fijian #islandstyle #islandlife #bestplacestogo #wonderful_places #amazingplaces #beachesnresorts #beachgoals #djimavicpro #djiglobal #dji #dronephotography #dronestagram #droneoftheday #beachvibes #aerialphotography #incredibleblue #oceanview #oceanlife #saltyhair #unforgettablemoments #oceanviews

May 1

That Jurassic park 🦖 feel 🙌🏻. Doesn’t this secluded beach just feel so much like a movie set? @yasawaislandresort was such an insane, perfect, secluded slice of paradise in the far northern stretch of Fiji. Speaking of Yasawa, did any of you see our photo in @tatlermagazine this month? 🥰. . . . . . . . . . . . #fiji #fijiisland #fijitime #islandstyle #islandlife #islandors #bestplacestogo #wonderfulplaces #couplesgoals #couplesthattravel #coupleslovetravel #paradise #heavenonearth #privatebeach #fijibeach #yasawa #yasawaislands #yasawas #secludedbeach #amazingdestinations #uniquehotels #hotelsandresorts

Feb 24

“Sunday scaries”, “Monday blues”. I don’t know...who’s excited for a new week? Who’s pumped to attack that to do list and make this the best week ever? This hammock was one of our favorite spots on the @yasawaislandresort property in Fiji. Epic views, crashing waves and a nice cocktail are just about everything I need in life. . . . . . . . #fiji #fijiislands #bula #viewgoals #hammocklife #traveliadies #womenwhoexplore #beautifuldestinations #beautifulplaces #luxuryworldtraveler #luxwtprime #luxuryhotels #luxhotels #uniquehotels #unforgettablehotels #hotelsnresorts #beachesnresorts

Nov 18

Nothin but blues skies and blue seas 🙌🏻. As we head into our summer season, we have so many exciting trips coming up: a long weekend in North Lake Tahoe, a wedding in Curaçao, three days at a beautiful beachfront property in Aruba, a Fourth of July escape to Puerto Vallarta and back to our neighbor- cabo. The second half of our year will be filled with even more adventure abroad to French Polynesia, Hong Kong and the Maldives. We’re grateful for our opportunities to explore the most beautiful places on earth and as I’m sure you guys know, the travel bug is more like a lifelong disease. Once it starts, it stays in your body for the rest of your life. We thirst for more constantly. More cultural experiences, more beauty, more nature, more history...just always more. What’s your favorite place on earth? We want to know as we plan for our next trips :). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #traveldeeper #travelblogger #travelblog #traveltheworld #traveladdict #travelbug #travellife #femmetravel #bestplacestogo #liveinspired #wanderlust #citizenfemme #ladieswhotravel #girlswhotravel #luxurytravel #luxuryworldtraveler #beachesnresorts #coupleswhotravel #dametraveler #femaletravelbloggers #fiji #fijiislands #beautifuldestinations #fijibeautiful #beachlife #travelbug

Jun 1

Fun fact: I (Maren) am terrified of the deep ocean. Unless I’m scuba diving, I will never willingly jump into the unknown of the dark, deep part of the sea. I get instant feelings of panic and anxiety thinking about all the things that are swimming below me that I can’t see. But every day we go into the ocean, I try to go a little farther from shore and a little deeper. I try to prove to myself that I can overcome those moments of total anxiety and it’s always worth it. Life is full of these moments, but it’s important to try something knew and just jump in! What are you afraid of? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #traveldeeper #travelblogger #travelblog #traveltheworld #traveladdict #travelbug #travellife #femmetravel #bestplacestogo #liveinspired #wanderlust #citizenfemme #ladieswhotravel #girlswhotravel #luxurytravel #luxuryworldtraveler #beachesnresorts #coupleswhotravel #dametraveler #femaletravelbloggers #fiji #fijiislands #ocean #deepocean

May 14

Ive got a lovey bunch of coconuts 🥥 🎶 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #traveldeeper #travelblogger #travelblog #traveltheworld #traveladdict #travelbug #travellife #femmetravel #bestplacestogo #liveinspired #wanderlust #citizenfemme #ladieswhotravel #girlswhotravel #luxurytravel #luxuryworldtraveler #beachesnresorts #coupleswhotravel #dametraveler #femaletravelbloggers #fiji #fijiislands #remotefijj

May 12

Things to See and Do in Fiji

If you’re taking the ferry from Port Denarau, make sure to stop by the shops before you leave. Apart from the discounted alcohol, you can find great shopping.
Visit the Yasawa islands, a 20-island chain in the far north, providing travelers a true Jurassic Park feel.
If you want to stay close to Nadi, check out the Mamanucas- just off the coast. Known for incredible blue water, this chain offers visitors a remote feel, close to shore.
Visit Taveuni - Fiji’s third largest island. It’s most known for the incredible hiking, snorkeling and scuba diving.
Participate in a Kava Ceremony. Most hotels offer this to guests and we recommend saying YES! It’s a great experience.
Participate in a Lovo, a traditional cooking technique. Fijians place a huge emphasis on community and their cooking is no different.

What to know

Ranging from $20 a night to thousands, you will find exactly what you’re looking for in Fiji. There are adorable, low-key boutique properties all the way up through incredible luxury hotels on pristine beaches. Depending on your budget, you can find some incredible steals. Our favorites are Serenity Island Resort, on the lower end, and Yasawa Island Resort or Kokomo on the higher end.

Due to the proximity to Australia, you can typically find excellent deals for luxury hotels on luxuryescapes.com, or, as we often do, check out trivago.com.

Typically, travelers will arrive to Nadi International (NAN) before transiting to other islands. Fiji Airways is the national airline and is an absolutely incredible flight experience (they even serve my favorite wine, Matua).

Port Denarau is approximately a 20-30 minute drive from the airport and is the main Ferry Terminal in Nadi. Port Denarau offers great shopping, as does downtown Nadi, if you have some extra time. Ferries are an excellent way to get to some of the neighboring island chains and it’s how we accessed Serenity Island Resort. Ferries and taxis are not as cheap as they are in developing countries of Asia, etc, so expect to spend more than $30-40.

The Yasawas and other island chains are further away and require domestic transfers via tiny prop planes. Flights are typically organized through your hotel directly, and sometimes the cost is included in the hotel rates. Expect to pay upwards of $300 per person for flights to farther away chains.

Like many resort destinations, there are endless options when it comes to dining. When traveling to more of the remote areas of Fiji, the majority of your dining will happen on property.

In the main cities and towns, there will be a number of dining options. In Nadi, for example, you can find anything from Indian cuisine to low-key sandwich shops. Prices range, but are more expensive than some of the other island destinations we have traveled to in the past. One recommendation we have is to pick up some Fijian Rum on the way to your island resorts to save money.

Nadi and the port of Denarau offers great shopping if you need anything from clothing to skincare. The islands are more limited, but some of the hotels have excellent gift shops that have a number of local products and crafts.

Note that you cannot take Kava through security at the airport. If you plan to bring Kava powder home, purchase it after security when you leave the country.

Fijian people are so kind, fun, and cannot stop smiling. They are generous, open and incredibly honest about their lives and their country. Fijians are so welcoming and want to include you in their personal lives and really treat you like family in a genuine way. Our experience at Serenity Island, for example, was so different from many experiences we’ve had around the world. We met some of the nicest people who have lived their whole lives on these islands and want to tell you everything about it. They taught us how to pick our own coconuts, they brought us cold coconuts with little umbrellas on them in the mornings, just because they could, and they invited us to their private staff Kava ceremony on a Sunday night. We absolutely fell in love with the people and we still smile and can’t stop thinking about them.

On that note, it’s important to understand the history of Fiji, particularly when it comes to the main island and Nadi. Indians were brought to Fiji as indentured servants to work on the sugar plantations in the late 1800s. Since then, many have settled in Fiji and made it their home. We experienced some interesting tensions in Nadi (not on any islands) between Fijians and Indians. It’s important to keep your eyes and ears open and be wary of any scams, no matter where you go in the world. While your guard may be down from your amazing experiences with the islands, be sure to trust your gut in the major cities. Max and I almost fell prey to a bit of a bait and switch scam when we were shopping around and it made us a bit uncomfortable. This happened a couple times and I do think it’s important to mention here.

Have you ever wanted to feel like you're in Jurassic Park? We've got just the place for you. The Yasawas are a remote, idyllic destination in the northern edge of Fiji and travelers truly feel disconnected from the rest of the world here.

Articles to read

Hotel Review: Yasawa Island Resort & Spa

Typical costs

The flights are typically the most expensive part of the trip- although, there are consistently deals on the major airlines like Fiji Airways and Air New Zealand. Be sure to follow Scott’s Cheap Flights or set up Google flight alerts for your preferred dates. If you’re planning to visit the Yasawas or some of the other gorgeous, remote islands, be sure to account for the additional $300-600 USD per person for the roundtrip airfare from Nadi.

Hotels range dramatically, from boutique bungalows to luxury compounds. Max and I booked the Serenity Island Resort last minute for less than $100 a night plus $150 for a roundtrip transfer for two from Nadi international. Yasawa Island Resort, Hideaway and some of the luxury resorts start at $350 and above. Some of the more remote hotels, like Yasawa, include full board and this is quite common in Fiji.

Suggested daily budget – Water (which happens to be Fiji Water) is around $2 for a liter and alcohol ranges, but is reasonable for around $20-30 for very nice rum. Food costs completely depend on where you are, but it’s reasonable to get coffee for $3-4 and breakfast for $20. The American and European hotel brands will of course be more expensive, but still nothing more than what you’ll find in Hawaii. Keep in mind that alcohol at most resorts will come with resort prices. As always, we recommend looking into F&B packages like full-board or half-board at luxury hotels as you will often save quite a bit of money.

When to TravelFiji Seasons

Overall, the best time to visit Fiji is from late October to early November, when prices have yet to reach their peak. During this period, the weather is dry and warm and the beaches and resorts are far less crowded.

Travel Tips

Transfers through the hotel – If you’re looking for a stress free transfer, check the cost of a transfer to the hotel through the property directly. It can save you quite a headache as they meet you in the airport arrivals hall.
Consider your needs for your vacation – Beach or jungle? Shopping and activity or remote and relaxing? There are a lot of options in Fiji and it helps to narrow down your requirements.
Engage with the Fijian locals – They will truly make your trip.
Shop locally – The markets and local shops have such beautiful craftsmanship and creations. Even some of the small boutique hotel’s gift shops offer locally made products and crafts.

Luxury Hotel Reviews

Check out some of our favorite Fiji resorts and what we like and don’t like about each of them.

Fiji

Hotel Review: Serenity Island

We booked Serenity Island the day we left for Fiji and were absolutely stunned — a private-island gem with incredible staff and…

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Fiji

Hotel Review: Yasawa Island Resort

Entering Yasawa Island Resort has got to be one of the most unique experiences we’ve had to date. We were picked up at the…

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How to plan your trip

You can expect helpful, kind people and a laid back attitude. BULA ! is the term you’ll hear absolutely everywhere and it means “welcome” “hello” “goodbye”…just about everything. Embrace the people and the culture for an amazing experience. Take part in a Kava Ceremony. You will NOT regret it.

When starting to plan your trip, first consider your budget and be sure to add in the high transfer costs to get between hotels, islands and towns. The best advice we have to finding hotels is to go to google maps and search “hotels” over Fiji. You can start to narrow down your requirements and find out how far you have to go to get to your dream hotel. Fiji is a very large country and I recommend picking a section of the country to go to in order to maximize your transfer costs. For example, spend a week in the Yasawas or spend a week in the Mamanucas, but trying to do both in one week would be challenging.