Fiji Vacation

Morning, Noon, and Night in Fiji: Travelogue of a Perfect Day in Paradise

It will only take you 24 hours from the time you begin your Fiji vacation to experience total bliss at the South Pacific seventh heaven at the Fiji vacation rental (Ask about availability), but once you’ve had a taste you’ll want to stay forever.

The magic begins the minute you wake up at the Fiji resort: Sunlight filtering into your bedroom has an opalescent quality, undulating ocean waves pipe a natural soundtrack through your open window, and the salt-scented air tastes softly tangy as you breathe in. Any nagging concern that might have weighed on you before you went to sleep has simply slipped away. Even gravity itself seems to have less of a pull. You’ve woken up happy, relaxed and carefree. And that's when it hits you: You’re on a Fiji vacation.

Southern (Pacific) Comfort

Situated in the Pacific Ocean some 1,300 miles north of New Zealand, the independent nation of Fiji is an archipelago of about 300 islands and 500-plus islets. The largest island is Viti Levu, where you’ll find the capital city of Suva, the major metropolis of Nadi, and the Fiji resort. Denarau Island itself is a private development constructed atop a cultivated mangrove swamp; accessed by a land bridge from the mainland of the island, it’s a safe and exclusive Fiji vacation haven.

The FIji resort has graced Denarau since 1999. Groupings of (primarily) two-story buildings containing one-, two-, and three-bedroom units are scattered across gorgeous beachfront property adorned with lush and fragrant landscaping. Although the beach is safe for both swimming and all manner of water sports, your aquatic needs can also be met by a soak in the Southern Hemisphere’s second largest swimming pool. This 1.5-million-liter-capacity outdoor wonder spreads throughout the center of the resort and beckons all with a children’s pool, tanning pool, net-equipped section for pool volleyball, and designated lap-swimming area. There’s also a swim-up bar with wet and dry seating, and an outdoor spa for steamy, dreamy bubbling.

R&R within easy reach

Fiji has as many adventure and activity possibilities as it has islands, so on the first full day of your Fiji vacation, stick close to home to avoid feeling completely overwhelmed. It’s easy on Denarau Island: This resort community is home to five other leading brand resort hotels brimming with dining, shopping, and indulgence options; the elegant Denarau Golf & Racquet Club; and the bustling Port of Denarau. If you're a strong walker all destinations are actually accessible by foot, but those who prefer wheeled transportation can board the "Bula Bus." According to Jamie Reese, a 9-year WorldMark owner who visited the island with her mom, Marcene, "The Bula Bus was an open air little trolley-like bus that circled around all day long and you could hop on one at a moment's notice at no charge. How can you beat that!"

Start your Fiji Vacation with Morning Snacks and a Long Black

You can jump-start your day with the handy packet of coffee provided for you in your Fiji resort unit, but once you’re sufficiently awake and ambulatory, take a stroll to Seafront (679-675-0722), the resort's on-site restaurant, for breakfast. With both indoor and outdoor seating with exhilarating ocean views, the Seafront (open all day) offers both light and hearty fare for your three squares. Be sure to try a "long black," a cup of Fijian coffee so rich and flavorful you'll forget all about you-know-who-bucks. And you might want to try the breakfast special that combines eggs, sausage, bacon, fried tomato and a basket of bread to fortify you for the full day ahead.

Be a sport while on your Fiji vacation

Morning is a great time for sports activities while on your Fiji vacation; heat and humidity are still somewhat at bay and you're fresh and rested. If you’re a golfer or tennis buff you need only hike across Narewa Road to the Denarau Golf & Racquet Club (679-675-9711), a full-service sports facility complete with an 18-hole championship golf course, driving range, 10 tennis courts, golf and tennis pro shop, golf lessons and tennis clinics, cart and club rental, changing rooms, and a restaurant and bar. Golfers will delight to bunkers designed in the shape of marine creatures along the 7,150-yard, par-72 course; tennis players will be thrilled with their choice of six natural grass or four all-weather illuminated courts.

If you’re a water baby, head to the Adrenalin Water Sports concession (679-675-0061) located at the Fiji resort just south of the pool. Learn the basics of scuba diving via a presentation and class in essential diving skills taught in the pool; the class culminates in a boat dive where you’ll be taken to safe and shallow depths to sample the silent world. If you prefer to travel on the water rather than beneath its surface, choose a rental craft from a variety of towed floats, wake boards, water-skis, Hobie Cats, kayaks and motorized boats — or combine sea and sky by learning to parasail off Adrenalin’s purpose-built boat featuring a winch and tether system that unleashes you safely into the blue.

Chew with a view

After an arduous morning of physical exertion you're probably ravenous, so hop on the Bula Bus and head to the Port of Denarau to lunch at Cardo's Steak House (679-675-0900). Cardo's boasts a large open-air deck with tables overlooking the Denarau Marina waterway. Observe the endless marine traffic of tourist excursion boats and private vessels as you sip a frosty libation and dine on char-grilled steaks and seafood, fresh salads, crispy fish and chips, or one of the daily specials posted on the blackboard. You’ll be tempted to linger the afternoon away enjoying the lively atmosphere and lip-smacking cuisine, but be strong and get back on the Bula Bus to your Fiji resort.

Learning is FUNdamental

You spent the morning exercising your body; time to flex the mind with one of the many workshops and classes offered at your Fiji resort (Ask about availability). On any given day the activities board at your Fiji resort is crammed with learning possibilities that include Fijian history, handicrafts and language basics, as well as forays into the worlds of local flora and fauna. Devote a few hours on your first day to delve into the background and culture of Fiji, and for the rest of your stay you'll be aware of a deeper and more meaningful connection to your temporary island home.

Open up and say spaaahhh...

Having put both muscles and brain through their paces, it’s only right to spend some of your Fiji vacation indulging in a little pampering — and that means a trip to the spa. Senikai Spa (679-672-5280), located on premises at the Fiji resort, does much more than just traditional island hair braiding and beading. The full-service spa can arrange for a poolside massage where your tensions are kneaded away while the sun warms your skin and the sound of the ocean lapping the shore lulls you into drowsiness. Or, do your poor tootsies a favor — after all, they’re entombed in socks and shoes for months at a time — and get them barefoot-ready with a luxurious pedicure. Men and women alike can sample from a wide variety of aesthetic treatments that will really kick that vacation feeling into high gear.

The remains of the day...

Whatever you do with your afternoon, you'll want to be sure to be poolside at your Fiji resort come 5:30 p.m. Sundown is celebrated every evening here with sweetly serenading musicians in traditional "sulu" (sarong) garb, commanding drummers in grass skirts, and a bare-chested torch-lighter who runs like an Olympian throughout the resort grounds, blazing flame held high. He lights the many gas lamps spread across the landscape and often stops to hoist up small children who gather under the lanterns, wanting to help ignite the beacons. This nightly honoring of the end of each day is a reminder to savor everything that has come before — which, for you, has been a lot considering it's your first day on your Fiji vacation.

All's that left now is dinner. If it happens to be Tuesday, stay right where you are because it's Lovo Night at your Fiji resort. "Lovo" means "earth oven," and every Tuesday the chefs at Seafront dig an underground pit next to the restaurant where they place fish, meat, vegetables and spices wrapped in banana leaves over a bed of embers for all-day slow-cooking. The lovo meal is just one of the dozens of foods offered at this fixed-price buffet that covers soup to dessert, and it's a truly spectacular and satisfying array.

If it's not Tuesday, well, you can still stay at Seafront and find something to make your taste buds dance. Or amble through the twilight along Narewa Road to one of the other resorts lining the boulevard; among the five there are a total of 25 dining options running the gamut from ultra-casual to elegantly formal. Wherever your appetite guides you, take a deep breath and truly relish the concluding hours of your first perfect day in paradise — and delight in the knowledge that your fun has just begun.

Things To Know Before You Go on Your Fiji Vacation

Documents:When planning your Fiji vacation, make sure your passport will be valid for at least three months beyond your intended period of stay. No visas are required for your Fiji vacation as long as your visit is under four months long. You're also required to have a valid airline ticket for return or onward travel.

Money: The currency of the country is the Fiji dollar; at the time this was written the exchange rate was $.52USD to $1FJD (one U.S. dollar is approximately equal to two Fiji dollars). The Nadi airport has a 24-hour ANZ Bank branch to procure a starter supply of local cash, (your Fiji resort also has an ATM in the lobby). Most shops, restaurants, and travel and touring outfits accept major credit cards, but you’ll want to carry cash for purchasing handicrafts, souvenirs and fresh fruit from local vendors.

Electricity: The electrical current in Fiji is 240 volts, AC 50 Hz, and all outlets require a three-prong plug. If you bring your own appliances be sure to bring the proper converters and adapters. You can also purchase a low-cost adapter at Sogos General Store on the WorldMark resort grounds.

Renting a car: Don’t. Driving in Fiji is not recommended as roads can be precarious, unmarked and confusing to anyone not used to driving on the left. Between the convenient buses and plentiful taxis that will wait for you as you dine or shop in Nadi, you can easily leave the driving to the locals.

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