Pacific Rim Magazine (Spring 2002)

The Fiji Islands are a potpourri of flora, ocean fauna, white sand beaches, and small intimate resorts. Only eleven hours from Los Angeles (six from Honolulu), these islands offer romantic experiences as diverse as the fish in the sea. Fiji has more than 300 islands and islets, but only 100 are inhabited. Take your pick of a nature adventure, cultural experience, diving or snorkeling adventure, five-star pampering, or a beach all to yourself (promise) for the day with champagne and lobster. You can stay at a resort with only one very welcoming villa or bure (pronounced boo-ray) or a variety of resorts with 8-30 bures. The Fiji Isles also appeal to those who want a large resort environment. The Sheraton has three properties in Denarau (Nadi), the new Outrigger property is a fun getaway, and the renowned Shangri-la Fijian (Coral Coast) is another resort option. As a hopeless romantic and bona fide "view addict" it is a joy to experience and then recommend Fiji's most amazing hideaways. I began my Fijian journeys with my new husband on a dive trip/romantic vacation in 1990, in the northern island group, and since then I have visited Fiji more than twenty times in the last twelve years. Each resort has its own special charm and, believe me, it only gets more difficult to pick my favorites. Here are my top four choices of "rooms with a view" for honeymooners in the Fiji Islands.



Vatulele Island Resort has eighteen wonderful bures. The resort won 'Small Luxury Hotel of the Year' in 2000 (a coveted award from Small Luxury Hotels of the World). Be advised that Vatulele's bures are set in the jungle and won't suit people who feel more comfortable in a "bug free" atmosphere. This is best for the traveler who wants to spend time on the beach and take in nature's unspoiled beauty and be pampered at the same time!

The Point elevates the meaning of pampered, and is available starting in April 2002. This five-star getaway is the only air-conditioned bure and the only one with a fresh water plunge pool. At $2200 (U.S. dollars) per night, think twice-then go for it. The price includes all meals, all beverages (including alcohol and an upgraded 5 star wine selection), and all sporting activities (snorkeling, tennis), with the exception of scuba diving. They supply hair dryers, shampoo, conditioner, and beach towels. Men, leave your jackets and ties at home. Dress is informal. Evening wear is smart casual and footwear is always optional! (Ladies, you can wear your barefoot sandals - they are quite the rage in Fiji!)

You'll have your very own staff in separate quarters set far enough away to honor your privacy and close enough to be there when you need them. According to Fijian custom, individual staff members are not allowed to accept tips. You can respect this island wide custom and still show your appreciation for good service by contributing to the staff's annual bonus fund.

On a low cliff overlooking Vatulele's picturesque lagoon, this two-story work of art offers things never heard of on Fiji. Although not on the beach like Vatulele's eighteen other bures, this private hideaway has its own infinity pool that almost hangs over the ocean. A breakfast gazebo overlooks the pool and a small deck with lounges and umbrella complements the resort side of the pool. Inside the air-conditioned palatial bure you have a high-tech sound system (the only bure with a sound system on Vatulele), your own wine refrigerator with a selection of wines, built in book shelves (with books), and a "loo with a view." (The toilet looks out over the lagoon, too!) From your upstairs bedroom is a breathtaking view of Vatulele's dazzling lagoon. There are flowers everywhere in your bure - beautiful hibiscus of every color. As I am writing this I am certain that they dreamed up this bure with me in mind - an endless view of a calm blue sea that makes you take a deep breath and exhale with an irrepressible smile. Henry Crawford, the heart & soul behind the resort, imagines the most amazing things and then puts them into play. You will appreciate his creativity and attention to detail.

Vatulele's other bures are incredible and deserve an honorable mention. I have been there four times and find I spend most of my time on the verandah or at their magnificent beach. The resort offers delicious tropical gourmet dining, a good selection of Australian and New Zealand wines (and French champagne), and the friendliest staff in Fiji, hands down. I was at Vatulele with my husband in May and we had a beautiful time relaxing, exploring, and seashell hunting (only collecting if no creature was alive in the shells), scuba diving, and counting our blessings. The best tapa cloth in Fiji is made in one of the villages on Vatulele. (You can visit if you like). In addition, Vatulele's lush jungle is home to a mesmerizing array of tropical birds that greeted us in the morning with friendly chatter and sang sweet love songs at close of day.

Wadigi is the gem of the Fijian Mamanuca Island chain. Wadigi Island Lodge is one house. I call it a boutique one-villa resort. In its recent list of Top 30 Private Villas in the World, Conde Nast Traveler included Wadigi in its Highly Recommended Destination category. With two gourmet chefs to cater to your every whim, a fine wine and liquor list included in the price, and three bedrooms to play in, Wadigi delivers more than you will get from any other resort experience. Owners, Ross and Jenny Allen, will assist you when you desire. Otherwise, the place is yours. Let's see if I can give you an accurate picture of just how wonderful Wadigi is.

You'll awake in the master bedroom's comfortable bed looking out on a beautiful reef. South Pacific art is displayed on the walls and out on the deck. Lounges and a sun umbrella beckon you to come outside, relax, and soak in the view. The bathtub fronts a window that opens directly onto the ocean (a little higher up) and has a spectacular view of the sunset. Grab your bottle of Clicquot champagne, slip into a bubble bath, and watch the beauty unfold. Wait until you have a massage in the beautiful gardens among the whispering pines. You might think you've died and gone to heaven. The massage is not included in the cost of your stay, but you must have one. It is your honeymoon, after all.

A maximum of six people may stay in the bure. The second bedroom has a queen bed and the third has twins. If you go alone, the house is all yours, including several places to sit outside and enjoy the view - a bench looking one way, or two chairs looking the other. The bure's living room is delightful with its awesome panoramic views. Leave the windows thrown open to take in the luscious fragrance of tropical flowers and to hear the music of the waves lapping the shore. We had one rainy day when we relaxed in the living room, watched DVD's (most fun), and listened to CD music.

What better place to get married than your very own tropical island? The resort has a wedding package that includes: An island wedding cake, dinner of lobster and champagne, music featuring the village choir, a hairdresser and manicurist, champagne breakfast for the bride and groom, warriors to accompany the bride (yes, warrior!), a flower girl, flowers and fresh flower leis, a massage pamper package for the bride and groom, and a local Fijian Methodist minister to officiate. Fijian wedding ceremonies are legally recognized in the United States.

Snorkeling is superior at high tide because it is protected by a large coral reef. Choose from three beaches to lounge on and, at low tide, you'll be in total seclusion. (Low tide keeps boats away from the island and you have more privacy.) If you want adventure, try water sports - kayaking, windsurfing, waterskiing, or wakeboarding. The resort has longboats and you even get your own personal boatman. There's deep sea fishing, handline fishing, and scuba diving. Let Woody and Selina take you out in their 57ft yacht Emotional Rescue for a real surfin' safari. Cloudbreak, made famous worldwide int he movie Endless Summer II, is one of several surf breaks within sight.

The rate for this total paradise island experience is $990 per night for two people. I really enjoyed all the space to move and laze around. The solitude is wonderful and I can still hear the wind whispering in the ironwood trees.

When you walk into the Veidomoni cliff top bure, you will be completely enthralled by the view - miles of blue ocean stretching to the horizon and lush tropical gardens. Perched on a cliff top at Taveuni Island Resort on the northern island of Taveuni, this freestanding bungalow breathes life into a weary soul. (After all the wedding planning you may qualify).

Veidomoni is luxurious in a "tropical way" and begs for you to lounge away the whole day. Forrest green marble tiles richly blend with walls of native timber and give the feeling that the outdoors followed you inside. The capacious shower is actually outdoors, open-air, and has a view of the ocean. The huge deck overhangs the ocean, inviting you to stretch out on a teak wood lounge chair and gaze at the spectacular view. The rates at Taveuni Island Resort start at $522 per night and include all meals. The Veidomoni Bungalow is $618 per night. Inquire about summer specials, (January-March). Since Fiji is in the southern hemisphere, June, July and August are their winter months and the evenings can be cool, so don't forget to pack a few warm clothes.

Taveuni, the "Garden Island" of Fiji, gets its fair share of tropical rain. It has 140 waterfalls and streams. Grab a picnic lunch and take a day trip out to Boumba Falls in Heritage park (an hours drive from the resort). There you'll spy rare tropical birds with their colorful plumage and exotic songs. There waterfalls flow through the lush rainforest and all along the river are graceful leafy stalks with bright red and yellow ginger. The first waterfall is a breathtaking 100 feet high and cascades into a perfect "Tarzan and Jane" pool. Bring your bathing suit and enjoy a refreshing swim. Walk through the tropical rainforest and you'll reach the second and third falls. All along the way are benches where you can shop, sit back, and take in the awesome scenery. It is truly romantic.

The resort sits on a ridge with a short jaunt to the ocean. The beach is small and protected with good snorkeling. If you are looking for a very long white sandy beach, this may not be for you. If one of the best sunset views in Fiji appeals to you, good food, and a variety of activities, you've found your haven!

Moody's Namena is a 110-acre private island with six white sand beaches. Little has been developed, so it's like a nature reserve of towering trees, deserted beaches shaded by swaying palms, and blessed seclusion. To get you immediately in the mood, you're given a sulu (sarong) upon checking in. Wrap yourself up in the colorful fabric and live out your tropical dream.

The six bures are wood and bamboo hexagons with sliding doors that afford incredible panoramic views. Four bures overlook the sunset side of the island from their cliff tops, and two are on the windward side. There is no electricity on Moody's Namena. At night, gas wall lamps give off a gentle yellow glow that is very romantic. We were on the island for four nights and didn't want anything. The kitchen provides delicious home-style meals with an international flavor.

If all the creature comforts of a regular resort are a must for you, do not even consider Moody's. Because it is a jungle environment, Moody's has some island fauna-bugs. I live in Hawaii and see my share of bugs, so I wasn't bothered one bit. You will overlook the little critters when you see what this paradise island offers. Hike the trails that take you to the rock ruins of an ancient culture. You'll feel the sunlight caress you as it filters bright green through the jungle trees. Explore remote beaches or watch a delightful variety of tropical birds. For certified scuba divers, there's diving on the Namena Barrier Reef which surrounds the island, and snorkeling reefs just off the island. The scuba diving is almost surpassed in Fiji. It is truly magical. Moody's offers the best snorkeling you can find

Included in the price are: ocean kayaks, paddle canoes, paddleboards, beach volleyball, both hand-line fishing with their staff and open-water trolling outside the barrier reef. But don't forget to relax, too. Take a hand-in-hand stroll with your new husband (or wife) on one of Moody's beaches and watch the setting sun cast soft pinks and oranges, then melt into the sea. Don't forget to steal a kiss! :)

Moody's Namena is located in the northern island group. You can charter a sea plane, or share with others if available, or fly to Savu Savu and then take a boat ride of about two hours to the island. Moody's sits far off from the main island of Vanua Levu and has some of the best weather in the north. At only $389 per couple per night, all meals included, and wine with dinner, this soft adventure resort is worth much more than what they charge.

The resort is the ultimate for a "Natural Honeymoon with a View." If I had to recommend one particular bungalow, I would choose number two. It's on the cliff, has the most commanding view of the shimmering sea, and it's the furthest away from the dining bure. You'll get a little exercise at Moody's but it's good to work up an appetite for their fabulous food.

Whatever Fijian resort you choose, you will find the friendliest people on earth (Conde Nast Traveler agrees), a culture that remains an important part of island life, and VIEWS that will make you sigh with contentment while you're there... then clamor to make "anniversary" reservations when you get back home!

Please contact us in Hawaii to make your special arrangements to the Fiji Islands. 1-800-588-3454, 808-871-5986. Visit our website at: www.fiji-islands.com

Enjoy Paradise...


Melissa McCoy

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