Bula! Fiji is a beautiful collection of islands, each with their own individual character and style. Here is our in depth travel guide to travel to Fiji, and how to pick the best part of the island for you!
Practicalities
Currency: Fijian Dollar (FJD)
Recommended length of stay: two weeks
Month of visit: February
Useful tips: Plan on island hopping for maximal adventure and exploration. A few key phrases to know in Fijian. “Bula” means hello and is used a LOT in Fiji. You should also learn “Vinaka” which means thank you.
CDC Recommended vaccination list: Here!
Packing List
- 3 bathing suits and coverup
- 3 pairs of shorts and light weight shirts
- 2 lightweight dresses or long sleeves
- Lightweight long pants
- Sandals
- Sneakers
- Bug Spray
- Sunscreen
- Packable towel
- Beach blanket
Travel to Fiji
If you’re coming from LA, it’s helpful to know that Fiji Airways flies directly to Nadi, Fiji (the capital) several times a day. We really enjoyed our experience with Fiji Airways. Our trip was pleasant and punctual, and all of the staff were very friendly and accommodating. The trip was a little over ten hours and we were able to get some sleep on the flight. The entertainment selection on board was decent as well.
Nadi is the capital of Fiji and though is the easiest place to fly into, we wouldn’t recommend staying more than 1-2 nights in this area. If you do stay around Nadi, we recommend staying on Denarau Island. This isn’t really an island but rather a projection of land connected via Narewa Road. A few good hotel options in this area include the Hilton Fiji Beach Resort and Spa, and the Radisson Blu Resort Fiji Denarau Island. Both of these have excellent stretches of beach and are located a 30 minute drive from the airport. There is also a large shopping center nearby.
Head to the Islands
We didn’t waste any time before getting on our way. We took a taxi straight to Port Denarau. The port is a close walk away from the resorts on Denarau Island. We booked our tickets in advance with South Sea Cruises and the process was seamless. Our taxi dropped us off at the port a little early and wandered around the gift shops in the area. We then checked in with our booking reference number and boarded our ferry.
The boat ride over to our resort was fun and we were blown away by the crystal blue waters of the South Pacific. We bought a couple of bottled rum and cokes and cheers’d outdoors as we were whisked away to our resort. By the way, the stops on this ferry are mainly referred to by whatever resort is on each island, so it’s difficult to miss yours.
Matamanoa Island
Once we reached an area just off the coast of Matamanoa Island, we along with our backpacks were transferred to a smaller boat that would be able to make it over the reef. That smaller boat then touched down on the sandy beach and we were greeted by multiple smiling faces saying “bula!” We were given shell necklaces and fruit juice, and were taken to the lobby to check in.
After checking in we were taken to our room, which had a hand-crafted wooden sign etched with “Dev and Yas” hanging on the door. Inside there was sparkling wine and flower petals on the bed. We were touched by these thoughtful accents. Our room was spectacular, with teak wood furniture, vaulted ceilings, and a view to die for! As we stepped out onto our terrace, which had a personal whirlpool and overlooked the beach, we truly felt as though we had been transported to paradise.
Mataomanoa Island was the perfect place to relax and unwind. The expansive white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters make for an ideal island paradise. We enjoyed wading in the warm waters and marveling at all the tropical fish. We were taught how to weave long blades of grass into animals. The resort also offers various excursions. You can visit Monuriki Island which is where the famous Castaway movie was filmed. We also went on a snorkeling trip in the big deep blue and saw lots of fish and coral. You could alternatively go on a diving trip if that’s your thing. There was a tennis court on the island with free rackets and balls that we took advantage of during our stay.
While staying at Matamanoa we also visited Cloud Nine. This was a super unique experience. It is basically a 2 story floating bar and restaurant that is entirely self-contained and miles away from any land. It is closest to the Mamanuca islands. We had an amazing few hours relaxing, eating pizza and diving off the edge of the floating platform. There were also tons of stingrays that we swam with, and great music too.
By the way, the spa on Matamanoa is a MUST-DO experience. We still consider this the best spa experience we have ever had. We opted for a foot soak and couples massage with champagne. You’re basically in a teak hut overlooking the Pacific with gentle breezes rolling over you while therapists work out your kinks.
There were lots of things we liked about Matamanoa Island. It is a smaller resort, which means you will interact with the staff again and again. The dinner is good but is only served between certain time periods, and there is nowhere else on the island to buy food or other items. By the end of our stay here we had gotten to know several members quite well. Adi, who helps with breakfast, put a tropical flower in Yas’s hair every morning. On our last night at the resort, Seko (who we assumed was the manager) took us in his private golf cart to check out the stars and some very noisy but awesome storm petrel birds. We were invited to take part in a traditional Kava ceremony late at night. It was the personal touches like this that made Matamanoa really stand out to us.
What is Kava, you might ask? Kava is a drink made from kava root, or Piper methysticum. The Kava ceremony is a Fijian tradition and is usually held at the end of the day. It’s meant to have properties that are relaxing and put you in a good mood. We found that the drink had some mild anesthetic properties as our mouths felt a little numb after. We can’t really say if it was the kava that put us in a good mood or the fact that we had been fortunately invited to this traditional ceremony after hours.
Back to the Main Land
After about a week of luxuriating in our private island paradise, it was time to head back to the mainland. We hopped on our South Seas cruise and headed back to the Port. We grabbed a taxi to our next stop which was Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay. Though this wasn’t as small and private as Matamanoa, we thoroughly enjoyed our time here and highly recommend it. Momi Bay is an expansive property with a wide variety of accommodation, including over-water villas. We stayed in a Royal Lagoon Bure which faced the central blue lagoon, a great place for a morning swim.
The dining options at Momi Bay are great. The breakfast is served buffet style at Goji Kitchen and has a stunning array of breakfast foods, baked goods, Fijian specialties and more. Lagoon House is a great spot for poolside bites. Fish Bar is what we considered the most elegant and more formal restaurant of the resort and is great for a special night out.
Although we spent most of our time at Matamanoa and Momi Bay, there are TONS of amazing islands in the area. Check out our guide to finding the best island for you here! And that was it, back to LAX for us! By the way, the Priority Pass lounge at Nadi Airport is amazing and definitely a great place to relax for an hour or so before your flight.
