Fiji - Island or Mainland?
One of the biggest questions I get asked about Fiji is “Should I stay on an island or the mainland...?”
There is no easy answer to this question and there are in fact benefits for both. I’ve stayed on the mainland and the islands so I thought I would note a few points on each to help you decide on the perfect holiday resort for your next Fijian holiday.
I have been lucky enough to stay at a few beautiful resorts on the mainland of Viti Levu, along the Coral Coast. Below are some of the reasons why I think staying on the mainland is a great choice.
- You don’t have to worry about rough seas for transfers or have the added expense of seaplanes or helicopters to get where you are going. All hotels will either have complementary transfers or work with transfer companies to easily get you to where you are going, and you can go straight from the airport to your hotel without any hassle.
- Easy access to some wonderful sightseeing on the Island including 4wd tours, river safaris, eco-touring to beautiful waterfalls and untouched forests, visiting traditional villages, jet boating, hot air ballooning, caving, hot springs, as well as golf, shopping and daytrips to the outer islands.
- Wherever you are staying, there are a load of choices for dining, from the resort restaurants to local eateries serving some wonderful fresh sea food and produce.
- Local shops are a good place to purchase cheap snacks, drinks and souvenirs.
- The beaches are generally shallow and while you will need to wear some sort of footwear because the sand is largely broken coral, it is easy to snorkel and enjoy all manner of water sports.
Then, on the other hand island life is just as fabulous too. I love the fact that once you get to one of the islands, you really do feel all your cares and stresses slip away. It truly is a liberating feeling! In most cases you will have a choice of accommodation styles that will appeal to all markets but one of the biggest factors to consider is whether you have kids or not, and if you require a kids club or babysitting facilities. If so, I would look to island resorts that cater to families and have these facilities available. Let’s be honest it’s not going to be a relaxing holiday if you have a couple of disgruntled and bored children tugging at you to play when all you want to do is sit under a palm tree with a Mojito and a good book. When it comes to family holidays, if the kids aren’t happy, then no-one will be happy.
Below are some of the reasons why I think staying on the islands is a great choice.
- In most cases you will have the choice of a meal package, so all meals are catered for. This means no stress working out what to have or where to go and this can be a godsend for families with fussy eaters.
- The coral reefs are more accessible and generally speaking the marine life is better and much easier to access than on the mainland beaches. I would definitely go for an island experience if you are a water based family as you just can’t beat snorkelling or diving on the pristine reefs. Beats a swimming pool hands down.
- Beaches tend to be more sandy and easier to access and most islands have more than one beach which gives you different options on windy or busy days.
- Because you are on one Island, there are lots of activities on offer to keep people entertained, though it must be said that a good sense of adventure and willingness to entertain yourself wouldn’t go astray.
- Staying on the Islands give you the opportunity to explore and be as private or public as you like. Some islands only cater to adults, specifically honeymooners or those seeking luxury and privacy. Others are more family oriented with great kid’s activities and clubs.
- Easier access to sail around the islands and relax on-board an evening cruise whilst enjoying the sea vistas.
Of course there are so many activities that can be done from either an islands or the mainland and really there is no right or wrong when it comes to holidaying in Fiji. It is a truly beautiful part of the world and excellent for both adults and kids alike.
My ideal trip would be a mix of mainland and Island, and perhaps a cruise up to some of the less visited islands on one of the small cruise ships. What a fabulous way to discover one of the World’s great Paradises.