48 Hours in Fiji
From its sparkling turquoise water to its white sand beaches, Fiji is an amazing vacation destination for honeymooners, families, and adventure seekers alike! We wish we could have had more time in Fiji, but there was no better location to end our Australian getaway with and 48 hours was perfect for the some R&R before heading home. My husband and I explored Australia and Fiji in May of 2016 as a romantic trip and it has been one of our favorite getaways to date! Honestly, if we were to go back to Fiji (we must make this happen!), we will probably spend more time exploring the 333 islands that make up this beautiful country!
The Accommodations
Imagine feeling the ocean breeze blowing softly into your room while you hear the waves crashing onto the shore. This is what you can expect when you stay at the 5-star Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa, which is located on the beautiful and lush Denarau Island and overlooks the ocean. We stayed two nights in a luxury oceanside room with our own private balcony overlooking the beach. From the king-sized bed to the business desk to the small chaise, the room was very spacious, comfortable, and clean. The decor was simple and featured indigenous Fijian art. However, we weren’t too picky about the accommodations as we barely spent any time in the room. There’s so much to do elsewhere!
However, if you do plan to travel as a family, Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa makes it easy with connecting rooms as well as luxury family rooms, which come complete with game consoles!
The Resort
Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa is expansive and has immaculate grounds with a wonderful tropical feel. There is a huge pool area overlooking the beach. What we particularly loved was the private adults-only pool area so we can enjoy the cool water with some peace and quiet without kids splashing and running about. However, there was a slide at the regular pool and my husband and I may have tried it out a few times! There were quite a few families with young children, so we may have to go back with Remy as there is a kid’s club, called the Turtle Club. Kids are bound to have fun with treasure hunts, arts & crafts, and games while you relax and venture out on your own.
Our stay at the Sofitel included a free buffet breakfast, which was a delicious way to start our day. We even met an Australian couple with their 1-year-old and we met up for breakfast every morning and still talk to this day! Actually,there were lots of Australians and New Zealanders “on holiday” in Fiji since the flight is only about 4 hours. Much better than our 17 hours to the east coast of the US.
Other amenities at the resort include a fitness center,meeting rooms, a spa (more about that later), and multiple bars and restaurants. There is always so much to do that you really don’t have to leave the resort! However, if you do decide to venture out, the resort is next to the Denarau Golf and Racquet Club and within walking distance to the marina with restaurants and shops.
Finally, the staff at Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa are some of the friendliest people you will ever meet in your life! Every employee is so willing to help with a smile on their face and quick to say “Bula”, which means “Hello!” in Fijian. Did you know that Fiji is known as “The Home of Happiness”? You can definitely tell when interacting with the locals!
The Food
Because we had the free breakfast buffet at the resort, we were pretty full for most of the day! When we were hungry after our jet skiing and snorkeling adventure, we ate at the resort’s Breeze Bar and had some delicious pizza, but they were a little on the expensive side (~$17.50).
We also went out one night to the nearby Radisson Blu resort to eat at Chantara Thai Restaurant. With the tiki torches, waterfall, and ocean breeze, the ambiance was exceptional. The service was fast and friendly and the food was exquisite – some of the best Thai food we’ve ever had! For the appetizers, we had satay kai (crunch peanut chicken skewers) and crispy prawns. Then we shared the green curry and pad see yew for the main entrees. Dessert was deep fried ice cream and mango and sticky rice!
The Activities
There is so much to do in Fiji! Unfortunately, we were only there for 48 hours, but we tried to make the best of it!
Jet Skiing
We were able to rent jet skis with a group of people and a tour guide and jet ski all the way to a private island! I’ve never been on a jet ski before, but it was amazing to feel the wind in your hair and have some friendly competition while racing!
Snorkeling
Once we got to the private island, we ditched our jet skis for snorkeling gear! We snorkeled among the amazing coral reef and even saw a reef shark! The water was warm and crystal clear and the schools of fish were so colorful. Since we were on a private island, it was serene and not too crowded.
Spa Day
On our last day, we decided to check out the spa at the resort. We saw a flier for a “So in Love Spa Retreat”, which included a 60 minute couples body massage, a 30 minute couples facial, and a 30 minute private milk bath jacuzzi for with a glass of bubbles! Doesn’t that sound so heavenly? Guess how much this was? $175 AUD, which is ~$123 USD for the couple, not each person! What an amazing deal for 2 hours! The entire experience was superb.
After our spa treatment, we were able to enjoy the spa facilities, which included the loungers and private pool overlooking the ocean. We napped and soaked up the sun before heading back to our room to pack.
Overall, our 48 hours in Fiji was heavenly! However, we will have to come back to experience all that Fiji has to offer, including hiking and surfing. We would also like to explore the village life and see what everyday life is like for the typical Fijian. Because of this, our little family will definitely be back – and hopefully spend more than 48 hours on this South Pacific Island! Have you been to Fiji? What adventures would you do if you came to this tropical destination?
