Click for Slideshow of a Visit to a Fijian Village

Update: In addition to our current packages and specials page for Fiji, you may be interested in our new page for vacation packages in Tahiti on our website.

If you are traveling to Fiji, I highly recommend you take in a village visit.  While on the lush and mountainous island of Taveuni, I was lucky enough to visit a Fijian village.  The people of the village happily greeted me and were genuinely excited to give me a glimpse of their daily life.

They started out by showing us how they make baskets which they use to carry their crops back from the hills and mountains where they grow the food they need.  I was amazed at how they use every inch of everything that comes from the earth. Fijian people find a use for everything! I then learned how to husk a coconut and what they use each part of the coconut for.  Every village visit is different, but most villages will show you how they cook their food by building a lovo which they use to steam tasty root vegetables like tarot, kasava etc.  The food was delicious.  We even got to watch them snatch fresh water prawns from the nearby stream which they fed us with fresh coconut only minutes later.

We also got to experience a Kava ceremony led by the chief of the village followed by the children of the village performing a couple songs for us.  It was a fantastic experience and one you shouldn’t pass up. While on the beautiful island of Viwa in the Yasawa Island chain, I was also fortunate enough to get to attend church service in the local village.  They welcomed us warmly and we got to sit amongst the village people, children and all and experience a full service spoken in the Fijian language.  It was AMAZING!

If you visit a village, there are certain protocols you need to observe.  For instance it is customary to be clothed appropriately as bathing suits and shorts are not appropriate to wear when visiting a village. Many guests wear sulus which you can find everywhere in Fiji.  Some resorts will give you a sulu to wear to a village visit and most resorts offer sulus for sale in their gift shop.  It is also customary to bring a gift for the village. It is common for guests to bring Kava, but I happened to bring art supplies for the children of the village which lit up their faces with joy when they received them.  Cash donations to the village are also a great way to show your appreciation for the villagers and their willingness to share their way of life with you.  The village I visited on Taveuni proudly informed me that they were able to purchase a lawnmower for their village thanks to the donations of visitors over the last year.

If you would like more information on village visits or would like information on some of our favorite resorts in Fiji, please give us a call at 1-800-321-7907 or visit our website where you can view our various Fiji vacation packages and reviews.

Click here for a slideshow of Paradise Taveuni

We are often asked which are our favorite resorts in the northern islands of Fiji and some familiar upscale resorts such as Qamea, Matangi and Namale quickly come to mind, but if your budget isn’t big enough for those resorts, an excellent alternative would be Paradise Taveuni.

On a recent trip to Fiji I found this intimate boutique resort on the island of Taveuni.  You can get to the resort by car transfer once on the island of Taveuni, but I arrived via a 30 minute boat ride from a dock close to the airport which you can arrange with the resort. Paradise Taveuni is located on the southern end of the island where you have access to many great diving and snorkeling spots such as Vuna Reef, Rainbow Reef and the White Wall.  I had been touring many resorts on the various Fijian islands and from the moment I arrived I knew this family owned resort was a unique resort aptly named.

The owners Allan and Terri have taken this property which used to be a backpacker’s resort and turned it into a perfect destination for a remote island honeymoon, anniversary trip or even family getaway.  All ten bures are nicely accommodated with a comfortable living space along with bed area.  Outside the bathroom is a private outdoor shower area with a Jacuzzi tub.

The food is very good and the dive operation out of this resort (Pro Dive Taveuni) is top notch!  You can even snorkel and dive right offshore from the resort or enjoy a unique black sand beach just 5 minutes away or perhaps you might want to relax and have a massage in the little massage bure on the edge of the water.

As you can see by my slideshow, this resort is beautiful and is now on my list of favorite resorts in Fiji.  Paradise Taveuni is perfect for a honeymoon, anniversary or family getaway to paradise.  Give us a call at 1-800-321-7907, email at linda@totemtravel.com or check out our website if you want to look at this resort or any other Fiji packages.  We guarantee the lowest prices and know all the resorts well!

Click for Slideshow of Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort

Update: If you’re interested in a South Pacific destination, you may also consider one of our many packages and specials in the islands of Tahiti.

If you are looking to honeymoon in Fiji or vacation with your family in Fiji, take a look at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort.  I recently discovered this gem of a resort located at the end of a dead end dirt road just a short distance from Savusavu Airport on the northern island of Vanua Levu in Fiji.  On this particular trip I was able to see or stay at a dozen high end resorts in Fiji and from the moment I stepped foot on the Cousteau property, I knew I was in for a special experience.

The way the resort is laid out gives it an exotic, romantic feel as well as being both casual and comfortable at the same time. The 24 bures are exquisitely placed along manicured paths that wind along through the tropical landscape of the property.  The resort is perfect for either couples or families as the family areas, ie. pool and bula kids club are set back on the resort and separated from other parts of the resort.  There are separate dining areas for families or adults, yet the resort doesn’t feel divided or disjointed.  The bures are nicely furnished in traditional Fijian style and it was very relaxing to sit on my patio and watch the sunset in such an exotic location. For honeymooners or couples, Cousteau offers:

      Adult Daily Adult Snorkeling Trips        Adult Only Dining          Adult Only Serenity Pool         Romantic Beachfront Bures with private patios facing the ocean and beach   The Ultra Luxurious “Villa Suite” located at the end of the winding path

For families, Cousteau offers:

Lailai Bula Club Programme for children 0-5 years old with complimentary nanny services and   daily activities such as beach walks, snorkel trip in the glass bottom boat with your nanny, lunch at the Bula Club, soccer, volleyball, crab races etc.

Maua Bula Club Programme for children 6-13 years old with a variety of activities that vary daily  Each child is assigned a Bula “buddy” giving mom and dad some precious alone time

One of my favorite aspects of Jean-Michel Cousteau is their Dive Shop and staff.  I was able to snorkel with their resident Marine Biologist “Johnny” who shared his vast knowledge of the coral and fish as we spent a couple hours snorkeling at one of the many snorkel sites easily accessed from the resort.  Johnny handed me several creatures to feel and hold and I learned so much.  The resort offers daily Reef Flat Walks with Johnny as well as slide presentations that explore the secret lives of the coral critters.  It is easy to understand why this resort is one of the premier dive destinations on the globe.

The quality of the food is everything you would expect from a high end resort.  I enjoyed the best tuna I have ever had for dinner one night and I can’t say enough about the eggs in the morning because they are so fresh! The menu changes daily and most of the fantastic meals incorporate fresh ingredients grown right on property in their organic garden which is AMAZING!  At Cousteau, the only items not included are drinks, diving and massages.

In addition to enjoying your time at Cousteau, you might take a day trip to the nearby Pearl Farm or take in local rugby match in the nearby town of Savusavu.  Cousteau Resort is a great place to call home while you are experiencing the beautiful islands in the north.  Give me us a call when you are ready to discover the beautiful islands and people of Fiji at 1-800-321-7907 or email me at patty@totemtravel.com.

Click for Matangi Island Resort slide show

When you go to Fiji every year you have many favorite resorts and Matangi Island Resort is one of mine!  As a Fiji travel specialist and lifetime traveler it is impossible to choose one best place in the world, but I do have a favorite area in the South Pacific and that would be the northern islands of Fiji where Matangi Island Resort is located.

So what makes Fiji, the northern islands and Matangi Island Resort so special?

• The islands are truly remote. Fiji is a 10 hour nonstop flight from LAX and the northern islands are another short flight, shuttle and boat ride beyond Nadi. This is a good thing!
• The northern islands of Fiji are stunningly beautiful. Lush, green, tropical foliage. Dramatic, craggy mountain tops. Crystal clear water in every shade of blue. White sand beaches, cascading waterfalls.
• The resorts in northern Fiji are small. Matangi Island Resort has only 11 bures and other favorite resorts are similar in size. Vacation and honeymoon guests enjoy privacy, pampering and individualized personal service without a smidge of pretension. Bathing suit, shorts and flipflops are all you need.
• The coral reefs are unspoiled and offer some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the world. The Somosomo Strait lies between Taveuni and Vanua Levu and is home to a number of top sites including Rainbow Reef and Great White Wall. But even a novice snorkeler can enjoy Fii’s soft coral and tropical fish because Matangi Island Resort and other northern resorts like Qamea have excellent snorkeling right off the beach.
• The people are the friendliest on earth! Fijian smiles are amazing and start from the inside out. Visitors are welcomed to the islands, into the villages and into the lives of those they meet. Matangi Island Resort is family owned and operated and many a guest leaves with tears in their eyes and hugs from newfound friends.

Of course small, remote and personal is not for everyone and if you are looking for a large resort or a championship golf course Matangi Island Resort is not the right choice…  But for those seeking an intimate setting for a relaxing tropical vacation or honeymoon in Fiji, Matangi Island is calling!  Here’s quote from a recent client

Thank you, it was AMAZING! We loved every minute of it. Matangi was simply magical and we enjoyed having the opportunity to stay in both the beachfront bure and the treehouse!  We cannot say enough about the island, and the people.  It was truly a memorable trip.  Many thank you’s for your assistance in arranging this trip!!  Keisha

Throughout 2011 Matangi is offering 2 free nights when you stay one week and vacation packages start from under $7K total for two including air from Los Angeles, 7 nights in an oceanview bure, all meals, non motorized watersports, transfers and more.  Click for current specials and call or email Linda@TotemTravel.com with your questions.

A lot of attention has been drawn to the resorts and islands of Tahiti with the filming of the Bachelorette, but not every couple has the budget to honeymoon in an overwater bungalow on Bora Bora.  So here are some of the best values, resort specials and honeymoon packages for the South Pacific -

The  Bora Bora Pearl Resort offers one free night and breakfast daily with every 4 night stay.  This is one of my all time favorite resorts and every room category has something extra special.  The garden bungalows have a private plunge pool.  The beach bungalows have a private courtyard with Jacuzzi and outdoor shower.  And the fabulous overwater bungalows offer stairs from the deck into the clear, warm, shimmering lagoon filled with brightly colored tropical fish and turquoise water.

The Hilton Moorea and Bora Bora Nui  have some great deals going and I recently combined the two islands for an 8 night package including air and an overwater bungalow for under $7K total for two.  The final episode of the Bachelorette was filmed almost exclusively at the Bora Bora Nui so the location obviously has the romantic ambiance and beautiful settings for a very special honeymoon.

The Sofitel Resorts offer free breakfast and dinner with a 4 night stay on Moorea or Bora Bora and if you stay 8 nights in any combination of Softel Resorts you’ll get a bonus night on Tahiti.  The Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora  is widely considered the best resort on Moorea and is located on a gorgeous beach with beautifully remodeled garden, beach and overwater bungalows.  My personal favorite is the beach bungalow with more space, more privacy and great views.

Besides catching a great resort special another way to stretch your Bora Bora vacation budget is to dine at a local restaurant.   A couple of favorites include Matira Beach, about a 15 minute walk from the Sofitel, where a popular lunch of kabobs, beer and fries runs about $20.  Or try Le Bounty for a dinner of pizza, pasta or fondue for around $25.

And remember, most non motorized watersports in Tahiti are free.  So you can enjoy snorkeling, sailing, canoeing and kayaks to your heart’s content.  Speaking of hearts…. the secluded white sand beaches and romantic sunsets are free too!

Please call or email linda@totemtravel.com if you need help planning your South Pacific vacation. I am a Tahiti, Fiji and South Pacific island specialist and would love to help you find the perfect spot for your romantic getaway!