Many families think a place like Fiji just isn’t for them. They picture it as a place for couples, not for kids. In reality, it’s both.
We’ve visited over 30 countries with our kids, and we found Fiji to be extremely welcoming. In particular, for families traveling with young children.
Here are ten reasons why Fiji is an obvious choice for your next family vacation:
1: Welcoming to Kids
The people of Fiji are warm and friendly, especially to kids. We’d heard this before traveling there, but weren’t sure how true it would actually be. We’ve gone to many places that claim to be “kid friendly” only to find out otherwise.
Guess what? It’s 100% accurate in Fiji. Each resort we visited, 5 in total, was focused on kids and families. It was evidenced in the activities available and in the kid friendly spaces on property – for example playgrounds, kiddie pools, tiny tables and chairs at restaurants, etc. (Don’t worry adults, there are spaces just for you, too!)
Resorts typically offer discounted prices for kids and package deals for families.
2: Safe and Free Childcare
Most resorts have a kids club. The resorts will have a designated gathering space for the kids. Here, several nannies will supervise a group of children. There will be an array of organized activities, snacks and meals may be provided as well.
During the day, you’ll see supervised groups of kids at the beaches and pools, or doing other activities together around the resort. We witnessed kids having a great time. The nannies created loving, fun, and safe spaces for kids. It seemed many children preferred spending their vacation with their nannies rather than their parents.
Many resorts offer the kids club as a complimentary service, while others charge a nominal fee. Private nanny service is also available. In those cases, parents hire a nanny to watch their kid(s) and pay them an hourly rate set by the resort. It’s typically very affordable ranging from $5-10 USD per hour.
3: Locals Speak English
Communication is easy in Fiji. English is one of the three main languages and it’s spoken everywhere. In addition to English, Native Fijians speak Fijian. Whereas Indo-Fijians speak Hindi.
If you learn just one Fijian word, make it BULA (pronounced boo-la). It means hello/hi/welcome and you’ll hear it repeatedly when traveling in Fiji. Another helpful word to know is VINAKA (pronounced vee-naka) which means “thank you.”
4: Tourists Speak English, Too
Most of the tourists in Fiji also speak English. That’s because the majority of them come from New Zealand or Australia.
Why is this a good thing? It makes it easier for your kids to make friends around the resort if most of them speak the same language.
5: Cultural Experiences
Don’t worry, though! While the language may be the same, there are plenty of ways for kids and families to experience the diverse, local culture in Fiji.
You can book a village visit through your resort or a tour company. This provides an opportunity to enter an authentic Fijian village and partake in a Kava ceremony. This activity is best for older kids as there are certain rituals to follow. If you’re unfamiliar, Kava is an elixir extracted from the dried roots of a pepper plant. It’s non-alcoholic, but has a sedating effect.
For younger kids, we’d recommend signing up for a cultural experience at your resort. This will likely include a Kava demonstration, but it will be more casual. Other cultural activities may include a cooking demonstration, coconut cracking, basket weaving, and more.
Most resorts also have special local meals on certain nights that may include a performance, like a fire dancing show. These activities may come at an additional cost.
[ Related: Resort Review: Shangri-La Yanuca Island Fiji ]
6: Land and Sea Adventures
With 300+ islands in Fiji, there’s a ton to see and do. As you might expect, there are all kinds of water sports available. Most resorts offer non-motorized sports for free such as snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking, etc. Additionally, there’s scuba diving, surfing, parasailing, jet skiing, fishing, boat tours, and so much more.
There are plenty of land based activities, too. If staying the main island of Viti Levu, consider booking the popular EcoTrax Fiji which is a bike/rail experience that ends up on a gorgeous secluded beach. If your kids like adventure, there’s the Sleeping Giant Zipline, which is an eco-friendly adventure park. Or for something more mellow, consider visiting the Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park, a unique natural wonder that has hiking and walking trails.
7: Laid Back Island Vibes
Like most island cultures, the vibe here is laid back. Fiji isn’t fussy or formal which is perfect for most families.
People are casual, and the pace is slower. Fiji definitely runs on island time.
8: Mild Climate
Fiji has a warm, tropical climate. There are two seasons in Fiji: summer and winter. Summer is from November to April, and it’s considered the wet season. Expect warm weather, higher humidity, and afternoon downpours. Winter is May to October. The days are shorter, but sunnier. Evenings can be cooler.
Temperatures vary only slightly between seasons, hovering in the 70s most of the year. Water temperature is the same year-round, however. The consistently warm waters are especially appealing for those who like water sports.
9: Nonstop Flights
Getting to Fiji is easier than you might think, especially if you live on the West Coast of the United States.
Fiji Airways is the main airline into the country. It offers nonstop flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Vancouver, BC. We’re told that the airline will be adding additional US cities to its schedule in the coming year. Flight times from the West Coast average about 11 hours.
International flights arrive at Nadi International Airport (Nadi is pronounced nahn-dee). From here you can catch flights to other islands within Fiji. There’s a domestic airport located next to the international airport. Boat transportation is another option depending on what island you’re headed to.
[ Considering Tahiti instead? Check out the best hotels for families in Tahiti. ]
10: Good Value
Currently one US dollar is equal to 2.25 Fijian Dollars.
Know that aspects of traveling to Fiji will be expensive. It’s hard to get around the cost of airfare. Food can be pricey, at both resorts and grocery stores.
Due to the exchange rate and the range of resort choices (from budget to luxury), a vacation to Fiji may be more affordable than you’d think. Can you plan a family trip to Fiji for $5000? Our friends at Our Little Lifestyle broke down the numbers and found that it’s absolutely possible.
Not sure how to get started planning your trip? Check out the Tourism Fiji page for travel tips and deals. The options are endless, but the only way you can go wrong is by not going to Fiji at all.
The author traveled to Fiji as a media guest of Tourism Fiji. Tourism Fiji provided accommodations, activities and meals during her visit. All opinions are those of the author.
