Family Holiday to Fiji  [Including where to stay!]

When someone mentioned Fiji to me, I always imagined it to be an oasis for honeymooners. It absolutely would be! After our recent trip, though, it sailed to one of my top suggestions for a relaxing beach family holiday! Particularly if you are traveling with a baby or toddler. Beyond relaxation, Fiji is such a warm and welcoming culture. In fact, many locals like to welcome you “Home.” If you like perfect beaches, a real vacation with kids, rainbows, relaxation, and water activities, then consider Fiji for your next family trip! 

Best Fiji family resorts

We stayed at two different hotels. The first one was on Denarau (where the airport is). We had a small apartment-style room with a kitchenette, living room, and bedrooms. So quite comfortable for families. That was Sheraton Denarau Villas. Many beaches on the smaller islands are a bit nicer, though. So then we took a 3-hour boat ride to Tokoriki, and we found paradise! Our hotel there, which I can’t recommend more, was the Sheraton Resort and Spa, Tokoriki.  Something I wish I knew is that this hotel has a wet landing. So pack your sneakers and wear water-safe or slip-off shoes. We were greeted by live music and an open-air check-in. I absolutely loved this hotel and highly recommend it. Everything from the room to the food, activities, and kids club was excellent. If it is within your budget, definitely consider staying there!

Getting to a secondary island in Fiji

Most hotels in Fiji require a boat ride to reach the island resort. You can book a private speedboat or take the public ferry. Many are long; ours was about 2 hours. We had booked the private speedboat and I did regret it on account of my seasickness. They also had no child-sized life jackets; we used the adult ones on the kids, but that was not ideal. The seas were CHOPPY. If you are prone to seasickness, carry meds and/or consider other transport options.  On the way back to Denarau, we switched our reservation from the private boat to the public ferry. The ferry ride was much smoother. However, it only has certain pickup times and takes longer to reach. Our ferry also had a couple of long stops where they turned off the AC and it was boiling inside.  The third way to get to/from an island is via helicopter. Of course, that would be the most expensive, and it is weather-dependent. 

Things to Do in Fiji with Kids

If you are on a resort holiday, all your activities will be done through the resort. Snorkeling, Scuba, etc, are all weather-dependent when booking. With that in mind, my suggestion is to try to book the excursion soon after arrival. If one trip out to the reef is canceled or already full, you can catch the next day’s one.

Snorkeling WIth kids in Fiji

In addition, nearly all resorts will have snorkeling right there on the beach. They usually also have lifeguards patrolling the waters, which is great for kids. It is crucial to only snorkel at high tide there. Low tide, you will be too close to the coral and may hurt it or even yourself. The resorts usually rent out snorkel gear very affordably, but the quality is typically poor, and they don’t always have kids’ sizes. They usually do have child life jackets though. For gear recommendations and other helpful tips, check out our Beginners Guide to Snorkeling With Kids.

Water activities in Fiji with kids

Other water activities you can do are SUP or kayaking. Kayaking is great with kids because they just have to sit there and enjoy the ride. It requires no balance or skill from them, just a bit of patience not to jump ship.  Do bring your own sand toys, floaties, etc., if you want to have them because the on-site resort shop is crazy expensive, and they do not have any complimentary ones. 

Other things to do in Fiji with kids

Something else I would recommend doing in Fiji is shopping! I’m talking about unique, local handmade items. I bought a wooden baby rattle, on which the artisan engraved my baby’s name and a handmade doll sold by an NGO that trains and supports local artists in Fiji. Shopping was much better in Denarau than in the resort islands. Note: You may need to declare wooden items purchased to immigration upon returning to your home country. 

Kids clubs

Kids clubs are not all created equal. But a good kids’ club is an absolute luxury! If you are new to kids clubs, you should know that they are usually free, but they do have a minimum age requirement. At the kids club in Fiji, my kids learned to make toys and headbands out of palm leaves, went searching for crabs, did sports, played on the beach, swam daily in the pool (where we met them each afternoon after the morning session), did countless works of art, made friends and so much more! This kids’ club even had dinner parties a few nights a week. Those were paid sessions that included dinner and a disco party! I had to force my kids not to spend all of their time at the kids club. 

Fiji with toddlers

There were SO many babies and toddlers at our resort, and I very soon experienced why. You could hire a full-time (or occasional) nanny through the resort at a very reasonable price. Our nanny was experienced and just all-around amazing. My baby was pushed around the resort pathways for her nap while I went snorkeling with my older daughter. I noticed more solo mums at our resort than I had ever seen. Very clever mums who knew where to go to have a holiday with a toddler while still slipping away for a massage or dip in the ocean. I opted for a nanny every day from day three onwards for 4-8 hours each day. She spent several hours happily relaxing on our oceanfront patio, but if I needed her, she was there. I also loved our conversations, and I learned a lot about Fiji from a local point of view. 

Hiring a resort nanny in Fiji

I realize that hiring a nanny at a resort may be the bougiest thing many of you ever do. So, let me give you a few ideas on how to utilize a full-time nanny when you are not used to having one. Specifically for babies/toddlers (aka bub) because older kids can have fun at the kids club. 

• They can watch bub while you have a date or a massage. 
• They can watch bub while you go and spend 1:1 time with another child
• They can be around at meal times. When bub finishes before everyone else, they can go play on the beach while you eat leisurely
• They can sit near the pool/beach while you swim with all your kids and take bub back a bit early and put them for a nap. 
• They can play with bub in the kids club with your older kids. 
• They can take bub for walks while you have 20 minutes of absolute silence. 

Again, you do not need to utilize your nanny every second of every day. But booking them and paying for their time, means they will be available when you want/need and that is worth it!

Fijian phrases to know

You will never unlearn or forget “Bula” (pronounced boo-lah) It is the most common word in Fijian. It means hello, but it ALSO means a wish for your life. It is a wish for your happiness, good health, and the energy of life. Isn’t that beautiful? So receive it happily and say it back to everyone you meet. Bula vinaka is a more formal greeting. Vinaka means thank you. This is often shortened by locals to “naka” so make sure you use this when people bring you food, drinks, etc. Moce (Pronounced moy thay) is goodbye.

Food allergies and tolerances while traveling in Fiji

Fiji is known to be great for anyone with allergies. As always, chat with the chef about your specific requirements. Our hotel even delivered allergy-friendly meals to the kids’ club for the special night dinner parties. 

Fiji with kids

When we arrived in Fiji, we were welcomed “home.” When we left Fiji, it was the warmest goodbye ever. The resort staff sang a lovely song. The “Aunties” from the kids club gave big hugs to my kids and made them promise to return and visit them.  At the airport, there is a small play area for kids, so look for that to wear them out before your flight home. I hope you found this guide helpful! Moce and Vinaka!  Quick Helpful Links: 

• The Best Gear for Family Travel to make your trip a bit less stressful.
• Savings on Family-Friendly Hotels and Resorts!
• Global SIM cards (buy before you fly).
• Read our Beginners Guide to Snorkeling With Kids. 
• Read up on the Benefits of Family Travel. 

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