Fiji: The Ultimate Guide to Plan Your Island Vacation
Hundreds of eager travelers are excited that countries in the South Pacific are starting to reopen again, including Fiji, which has officially reopened its borders to international travelers today, Dec. 1. Here are a few reasons why you should consider planning a trip to the island nation located north of Auckland, New Zealand, just a 3-hour flight away and an almost 4-hour flight from Sydney.
Editor’s Note: Those who travel are strongly encouraged to check local government restrictions, rules, and safety measures related to COVID-19 and take personal comfort levels and health conditions into consideration before traveling.
Travel Safely with the Care Fiji Commitment
So, what does the reopening of Fiji’s borders mean for travelers from the United States and Britain? Apparently, both countries are considered travel partner countries with Fiji, which means less stringent travel requirements. You can enjoy a quarantine-free trip if you can show proof of booking with a Care Fiji Commitment (CFC) accommodation for your first three nights in Fiji. You should only engage with CFC resorts, tours, and experiences throughout your stay.
Other testing and vaccination requirements must also be met. If you test negative for the 48-hour rapid antigen test, you’ll be free to check out of your certified CFC resort after three nights and find alternative accommodation options. Per their CFC website, Fiji recommends that tourists avoid low vaccination areas and stay in a CFC-certified property because they are 100% vaccinated and trained in WHO-approved health and safety protocols. Per Fiji’s tourism website, most of the country’s major tourism properties and experiences have all gone through the protocols and checklists to be CFC-approved and certified.
Vacation Package Deals
Travelers can also take advantage of some sweet deals during the summer, the country’s peak tourism season. Tourism Fiji is encouraging travelers to plan their Fijian vacation by offering deeply discounted vacation packages starting as low as $1,350 per person that U.S. travelers can take advantage of this winter and spring. The “Book Your Bula” deals offer special pricing on Fiji’s top getaways, including international airfare from LAX and SFO. The deals are great for travelers planning a family (or chosen family) vacation, a bucket list adventure, a relaxing solo getaway, or a romantic couple’s retreat.
Ideal Island Escapes
Fiji is the ideal destination for travelers looking for seclusion and no crowds. There are more than 300 islands and several intimate boutique hotels with under 40 rooms – many just 10-20 rooms – ideal for social distancing in the best possible way.
Fiji offers tourists immersive nature experiences and relaxing isolation on secluded islands such Vanua Levu, the country’s second-largest island where you’ll find more palm trees than people. Located on the island, Savusavu is a quaint coastal town and the tourist hub of the island, which includes fantastic resorts and vacation rentals. Explore the rainforest and rivers, go kayaking around Salt Lake, take a cool dip under a raging waterfall, or embark on a trek into the Waisali Rainforest Reserve.
After Savusavu, journey to Taveuni, which is called the ‘Garden Isle’ for good reason. It’s the place to go if you want to lose yourself in nature. The Bouma National Heritage Park makes up more than a third of the island, the Somosomo Strait is on its northern shore, and Waitabu Marine Park is located on the island’s northeastern coast. So, it’s no surprise that most of the activities on Taveuni are nature-based. Skilled scuba divers should not miss out on checking out world-famous dive sites like Eel Reef and the Great White Wall in the Somosomo Strait.
Further afield, travelers should consider visiting some of Fiji’s most remote islands. Blessed with dramatic peaks and sun-drenched white sand beaches, the Yasawa Islands are the quintessential paradise located northwest of Viti Levu, the main island. The natural exotic beauty of the Islands has earned them spots on Hollywood movie sets and is a popular choice for reality shows. Reserve your patch of paradise on a single island or hop your way through the archipelago to standout spots like the awe-inspiring Sawa-i-Lau Caves, swim with mesmerizing mantas, or discover delightful underwater coral gardens.
Splurge and Check-in at a Luxury Hotel
Kokomo Private Island is poised to welcome back travelers with a sleek refreshed room design and new guest programs for the ultimate tropical island experience. Since COVID-19 forced a temporary closure, the island tripled the capacity of its coral restoration program, restored thousands of mangroves in neighboring village shores, and launched the ‘Acoustic Manta Project’, the first Manta Ray tagging project in Fiji. Guests are invited to participate in marine biologist-led manta snorkel excursions, ‘Dive Against Debris’ reef clean-ups, and mangrove maintenance workshops. It’s sustainable travel at its best!
In July 2021, VOMO Island Resort announced they had reached the final construction stage of two ultra-modern holiday residences spanning approximately 492 feet of beachfront real estate. The first beachfront addition to the island’s private residence collection is the aptly named Reef House. This five-bedroom masterpiece is Fiji’s most architecturally advanced residence, superbly melding contemporary design with a nod to Oceania. This is practically a ‘resort within a resort’ with multiple areas for dining and entertaining. The second addition to VOMO’s impressive collection is the four-bedroom beachfront residence christened “Talai Taki” – a Fijian phrase that translates to “Precious Place.”
Visit Fiji’s official travel website for more information on how you can plan the ultimate island vacation!
