Fiji // Signature Travel Network + Fiji Tourism November 2017

Fiji Airways nonstop from Los Angeles to Nadi operates daily with a late evening departure time. It is 11 ½ hours flying time and just across the dateline with an early morning arrival. It is only about 3 hours from Auckland and 5 hours from Sydney.

Fiji consists of 333 islands, but there are 3 larger islands that have most of the population, plus resort islands. The Manamanuca’s and Yasawa Islands are to the west of Nadi and accessible by high speed catamaran or small aircraft.

Fiji is an English speaking country, so communicating is very easy with everyone, even the children. The people are very friendly and welcoming. You are warmly greeted everywhere—at hotels by a singing staff and some sort of welcome lei of shells or flowers, a cold towel and cold drink. You quickly become a part of their “family”. The Fijian dollar is exchanged at 2FJD-1USD. The Nadi Airport does have several ATM’s and a few currency exchange facilities. Fiji is no tipping required. The food was always very fresh and the resort restaurants all offered top quality food, especially fresh fish and fruits. Wine was mostly from New Zealand and Australia. Fiji has 3-4 beer brands as well. Most resorts provide complimentary Wi-Fi in your room.

Rosie Holidays is the main ground operator and also used by many of our preferred tour operators, including Classic Vacations. Rosie Holidays has an office at the Nadi Airport just as you are exiting customs area. Also, the Signature Travel Amenities offered by the resorts are also provided when booked with Classic Vacations. We had wonderful drivers and guides throughout our week in Fiji.

We visited and stayed at the 5 Signature Travel member hotels. Be sure to check Signet for the complimentary amenities offered by each resort with Signature Travel.

Intercontinental Resort & Spa
Thelma Kurinaruku – Business Development Coordinator
Mr. Hudson Mitchell – Director of Leisure Sales & Marketing

Located along the Coral Coast about an hour drive from the Nadi Airport. A full service resort hotel with 266 rooms and suites. It does sit along a long walkable beach, with tidal waters (high and low tides very noticeable). Large rooms – 640 square feet with large balcony or terrace that includes a Cleopatra tub and daybed. Beds face out to the sliding glass doors. Large bathrooms with double sink vanities. Large family friendly pool, as well as adults only infinity pool. It also offers the Club, which is located up the hill with fantastic views at the club lounge and its own pool. It was a popular place at happy hour/sunset time. The Club level offers 50 one and two bedroom suites. It requires an uphill walk or a golf cart ride. The “Bula Bus” makes frequent stops throughout the resort. The restaurants served excellent food. Their fine dining restaurant, Navo, is rated one of the top 10 in Fiji.

Large and full service spa. We had a one hour massage after arrival, and it is a great suggestion for clients after a long flight. Evening entertainment includes torch lighting and a fire walking demonstration, and over cultural events throughout the week.

We enjoyed the Sigatoka River Safari – it is a half day jet boat experience along the Sigatoka River, with all of the local color along the river (ladies doing laundry, children swimming, horses being watered) plus a Fijian village visit. We were given the royal treatment at the village with a kava ceremony, singing and dancing. It is good to take along some gifts for the children, such as crayons, paper etc.

Manamanuca Island Chain can be reached by catamaran from Port Denarau. Port Denarau is about an hour’s drive from the Coral Coast and about a 30 minute drive from the Nadi Airport. South Sea Cruises offers scheduled service and Sea Fiji offers charters and private service as well. We traveled to Malolo Island via private boat and returned via South Seas Cruises in a larger catamaran—main level enclosed and some open seating on top. Drinks and snacks for purchase.

Likuliku Lagoon Resort – on Malolo Island – about an hour boat trip form Port Denarau.
Ms. Tulia Seru – Resort Manager
Ms. Samantha (Sam) Muspratt – Director of Sales & Marketing – based in Adelaide
Mr. Steve Anstey – Group general Manager

Wow, what a welcome – with singing on the small arrival’s island – connected by long pier to the main resort. This resort offers 10 overwater bungalows –the only ones currently offered in Fiji, and therefore must reserve far in advance. This is an adults only resort with a total of 45 rooms – most are Beachfront Bure’s. Mine was about 25 feet from the beach. These are private bure’s set on either side of the main building with restaurant and bar and library. They are very large with traditional décor, thatched roofs, wood floors, king bed in the middle with a view out the patio doors. Sitting area with couch, entertainment system, minibar, stocked with bottled water and milk & coffee/tea service and an outdoor deck with 2 chairs, plus a full sized covered daybed. On the lawn are 2 lounge chairs. The bathroom has 2 vanities and outdoor shower surrounded by rock wall as well as an indoor shower. The Deluxe Beachfront bure was with a step down to the living area and a plunge pool off the verandah overlooking the ocean. The food was excellent here and highly regarded in the islands. There are 2 platforms overlooking the ocean for evening dinner for 2 – on request with the resort for special occasions. Complimentary Sulu (Pareo) and welcome greeting in flowers on bed. Beautiful infinity pool in the central area as well as a watersports building. Non-motorized watersports includes snorkel gear, paddleboards and kayaks are complimentary. The rates include 3 meals per day, but not beverages. Also, there is a small spa.

I loved the resort!

Around the bay is the Malolo Island Resort – same owner’s (Rosie Holidays) and is a family friendly 3 star resort. It is not a Signature preferred resort but we did tour the resort since it is same family owned and next door. The plantation style units are close to together and a very casual atmosphere. Popular with the Australian market. They do have a few 2 bedroom family villas that can accommodate up the 7 persons with a crib. They offer a kids club and an adults only pool/area. I would not hesitate to sell this property to the right clientele.

We enjoyed an Island Hopper Trip – visiting some of the area islands, including Monuriki where the movie Castaway was filmed with Tom Hanks. We also did some great snorkeling. These islands offer beautiful white sand beaches and blue water. Recommended to do in early morning when sea is calmer and before the “day trippers” start to arrive from the Mainland. Likuliku can also offer a trip for couples to Honeymoon Island- for a private beach experience. Usually about a 2 hour excursion with a picnic provided.

Next we were off to the island of Taveuni and the northern resorts located off of this 3rd largest island in Fiji.

Here is a sample of how you travel…

We took the hour ferry transfer from Likuliku Lagoon Resort to Port Denarau. Then a short time here—this Port has many different boat companies, shops, restaurants including Hard Rock Fiji. Then a 30 minute (depending on traffic) transfer from Port Denarau to Nadi domestic airport (located next to international terminal) for check in. Then Fiji link – twin otter, 16 passenger plane, 1 ½ hour flight to Taveuni Airport. On arrival at a very tiny airport – open air- with a few benches and local ladies selling pearl jewelry – and luggage quickly off loaded, the Qamea Resort met us and transferred us by dirt road for 20 minutes to a small boat landing. The large speedboat met us at the boat landing and we boarded, luggage also, for the 20 minute boat trip across the sea to the island of Qamea. The north is much quieter and less visited than by Nadi area. It is also very green and lush (reminded me of Kauai). Some of the best diving in the world is located in this area.

Qamea Island Resort
Krista Espelien (from Little Falls, MN) and her husband, Lars Wahlquist (originally from Sweden) are resort managers
Nina Holmes, Global Sales Manager

We arrived at the beach (no pier) and walked in the water/sand to the lounge/bar for arrival check in. There are 17 bure’s at Qamea. Since this is a premier diving area, they do have a dive shop. Snorkel gear and non- motorized watersports are complimentary. The bure’s are traditionally styled with thatched room – ocean facing (not necessarily beachfront as there are lots of rocks along some of the oceanfront.) But there is a definitely beach area – but rocky- snorkeling not too far off shore. This is rated a 4 star resort. Beautiful grounds, very lush and green and hilly. The Bures are very large, all one room with a sitting area, king bed with mosquito netting, a long bench with drawers for luggage, small wardrobe with safe and coffee service and fridge stocked with water, bathrobes to use, beach bag, sulu. Bathroom is smaller-single sink with a large outdoor shower with rock walls covered with the thatch roofing. (No indoor shower). It was quite warm and humid up here and the A/C units in the rooms did not keep it cold. Large deck with a hammock, 2 chairs and a table, plus 2 lounge chairs on the lawn. Very peaceful. Also have 2 honeymoon bure and 3 royal villas (beautiful). One restaurant for all meals and also offer several platforms overlooking ocean for romantic beach dinners. They have a large Sala-open air platform with a ceiling for our group dinners, yoga, and activities. Every night at 6:30 PM the guests gather for cocktail hour (cocktails not included and rather expensive) to visit and share stories. It was a very nice time to bring the guests together. Friday night is Meke night, where the local village comes before dinner to share their singing and dancing- and it is very interactive and not commercial like in Hawaii. The staff is very warm and welcoming. Also a small swimming pool, the gift shop serves as the office. There is a Jungle Spa in the tree tops that offered private treatment tree top rooms. You can book this resort with breakfast only or inclusive of meals. It is much better value to include the food plan. Very friendly, low key resort. Reminded me of going up north for relaxation and quiet.

Matangi Island Resort- this is on another island located across the bay form Qamea. This is a very small resort with 13 bures plus 3 tree house villas and a 2 bedroom villa. Family owned for 5 generations and a very high repeat guest ratio. Again, arrival by boat to the beach and staff greeting our arrival with singing. The bure’s are in the lawn/garden and some along the ocean. Large in the round style – cross ventilation with louvered windows. Only A/C inside the bed/mosquito netting at night. We just did a resort tour here. One of their very special features is Horseshoe Bay, on the list of “1000 Places to See before you Die” which is offered on a private basis to their guests with a beach house for food delivered from the resort, non-motorized water sports and amazing snorkeling off shore.

Namale Resort and Spa – This is located very near (20 minute drive) form the Savusavu Airport on the northern larger island of Vanua Levu.
Nowdla Keefe – Co-General Manager with her husband
Shannon Keefe – Accounts Manager (daughter) based in the USA

This is a very large resort on top of the rocks in very tidal waters – 525 acres with 19 bures- all very different from each other. I and another agent shared the Tatadra Dream House -2 bedroom suite ( I would call it presidential) with over 2000 square feet. Each bedroom was a master bedroom with large bathroom- indoor and outdoor showers, private pool, plus hot tub and covered day beds down some steps. Living area had a pull down screen for movie showing. This resort is owned by motivational speaker, Tony Robbins and has an activity room with one bowling lane, golf simulator, large movie screen, foosball and pool table, plus another hall with a basketball court, a large fitness center, lots of garden/grounds area. Food was excellent. Very large spa with water features complimentary to all guests. Great for someone looking for more activity at resort and not really a beach-but oceanfront. Amazing sunset view. Every evening they have a cultural event. On Sunday evening they brought in a village church choir and it brought us to tears. The people in Fiji are so warm and welcoming!

-Loni