Fiji in April - Where to Stay

[Lynda2475]

Hello AFF Brainstrust,

I managed to pick up cheap J fares SYD-NAN on QF and NAN-SYD on FJ (with a QF Flight number) and use my Amex travel credit for late April - nice little SC earner.

I have never been to Fiji before so am not faimilar with the different areas, but given early morning depature from NAN suspect it would be wise to stick to somwhere on Viti Levu for this first visit.

I will be travelling solo and staying 5 nights (assuming no covid hiccups) and am looking for advice on where to stay considering:

• ease of transfers from/to NAN, I do not want to self drive
• ease of Covid-19 arrival and departure testing (assuming still required then)
• 4 star or above, preference is for a separate shower (i loathe shower tub combinations, so that is a no no)
• adults only pool or not likely to be full of kids
• walking distance to beach. I love to snorkel and sea kayak.
• decent on site restaurant/s or easy walk to options, Im not interested in self catering whilst on holiday

Thanks

 

[Austman]

I have been to Fiji so many times (for work and privately), I have lost count.

Sorry Fiji, but most of the beaches around Nadi and in general around Viti Levu, are, by Australian standards, cough. The resorts can be very, very nice but the beaches aren't anything much. The coral coast (not so far from Nadi) can have some nice coral reefs.

Natadola beach, where the InterContinental is, is an actual beach. The IC is pretty easy to get to/from Nadi but there's not too much around it. The IC itself is pretty good.

The outer islands on the other hand can have really beautiful beaches. But they need transfers of course to get to them. They sometimes can feel a bit too isolated (at least for me haha). Tokoriki is an example of an adults only island resort. It's pretty top notch with top notch prices to match. You'd need to transfer back to Nadi the night before if you had a morning flight. Or pay for a helicopter.

 

[Lynda2475]

Yeah I've heard fiji beaches arent great, but was hoping there might be good snorkel options even if a boat ride is required, if resort has a good pool that would suffice provided its not kid riddled.

Ive already regretted booking the morning flight out, I am going to see if I can switch to the evening departure as that will make things easier (prices were the same), but because I used amex travel credit cant change myself online and due to covid there is no support over the weekend despite website claiming chat support. Have to hope seats still available come Monday.

If I cant change I guess I can stay further a field and just book an airport hotel for final night, so there is no stress on departure day.

 

[pjm99au]

Second vote for the Intercontinental. Great beach. Decent snorkelling both off the beach and by boat. Adults only pool. Good food options. 45 minutes by car from the airport. Well run on-site Covid testing

 

[Lynda2475]

I was able to change my return flight today at no extra cost to the evening one, which gives me ability to consider an island stay. Only downside with the evening flight is that it is a 737 and not the A330

The Intercontinental looks nice enough, are there day tour/trip options from there to the islands, or does one need to go back up to port denaru?

Any other suggestions, now that I have more time?

 

[Lynda2475]

One concern is that the Intercontinental is not a non-smoking resort, and it doesn't look like you can specify a non-smoking room. Can anyone clarify?

Any thoughts or opinions on or recent experience with:

• Sofitel Fiji Resort And Spa (some great deals, fully refundable, bonus QFF and non smoking) or
• Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island (also quite a good rate) or
• Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay (a little more expensive)?

 

[pjm99au]

The Sofitel is a nice hotel with a really cough beach - as are all Denarau resorts. I’m not sure the intercontinental does smoking rooms so I would think you would be ok.

I would read some of the recent stuck in fiji threads on the Marriott.

The islands are beautiful. You just need a long enough holiday as you will spend a day either end transferring.

 

[Lynda2475]

Thanks to everyone for the input.

After a bit more research, despite the coughpy beach Im leaning towards booking the Sofitel. I like the look of the club rooms and inclusions (which are considerably less expensive than club rooms at the Interncontinental) and the reviews online from guests who tested positibe to covid and had to iso at Sofitel say the service was excellent and they didnt have to move rooms (Marriott seems to banish you to a 2 star iso wing).

My thinking is that I can just book a couple of boat trips to snorkel or dive off other islands that have a better beach/reef and even do a day trip down to the Coral Coast provided i use CFC operators. There seems to be alot more option for boat trips and day tours leaving Denarau and feels less isolate, I am someonw who like to get out and do things not just chill in one spot the whole trip.

I do love the look of some of the resorrts on other islands, but either the room type that suits isnt avaible or the prices are too rich on my dates. If I go back another time, I will find aim to find best deal for the island resorts and then look at flights (which wont be over a long weekend or in school holidays like this trip).

Thanks again.

 

[Lynda2475]

So fiji still require pre-departure testing and post arrival testing, but now you need to book a pre-paid Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), to be administered within 48-72 hours of your arrival into Fiji. I was hoping to get tested on arrival day but seems cant do it before the 48 hour mark now.

Pre book test here: Entry Test Fiji – Book Your Tests Here

It is interesting that Sofitel charge FJD$46 but Intercontinental charges $51.