Sofitel Fiji: so good, you may never leave the hotel grounds

Advantages: Great location, wonderful facilities, very friendly staff, the swimming pool is bliss
Disadvantages: smallish room, slow service

...When traveling to Fiji a couple of years ago, I spent 5 days at the Sofitel there; a wonderful experience! Transportation The hotel arranged a shuttle from the airport, where I was greeted by musicians. This welcome with relaxing music ertainly set the tone for the rest of the stay. The trip from Nadi airport to the hotel took nearly 30 minutes, giving me the opportunity to enjoy the view. The traffic at Fuji is a breath of fresh air after the chaos that is Dutch rush hour: there was room to spare on the excellent roads! On a side note, the shuttle can be used to make a tour; It comes across a number of 5-star hotels and gives you a quick impression of what the island has to offer. Design of the hotel The hotel has been designed in French style, but with a typically Fiji touch to it. As at the airport, I was greeted by...

hetvuurtje 15.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa, Denarau Island

BULA FROM FIJI

Advantages: Super sunsets, friendly people and nice tropical weather
Disadvantages: The flight to get there and the latest government coup.

...'Bula' is the local meaning for 'Hello', and when you get to Fiji, you will greeted by the saying so many times that you will pick up the habit. Fiji is a small island located in the Pacific Ocean, not very far away from New Zealand and Australia, and exports some great Rugby players. Unfortunately with all the problems within the country at the moment, it's not entirely safe to wander off by yourself. There are loads of complexes to stay at which offer the traditional Fijian lighting of the torches,(where they beat the drums and the guy with the torch has to run and set the lights alite) and walking over hot coals. It's a beautiful tropical place that would a honeymoon or just a luxurious break away. Go on jet ski's, snorkelling or just chilling out by the pool. The roads and towns in Fiji are full of potholes...

michellej 04.09.2000 (05.03.2001) · Read review
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Review of Fiji (South Pacific Islands)

Jewel of the South Pacific, FIJI!

Advantages: close to NZ and AUS
Disadvantages: very humid in summer months, only serviced by Air Pacific

...a flurry of madness. The main reason you would go into one store and not another is to enjoy the air conditioning for a few minutes as all the shops sell exactly the same products. Fiji in the warmer months is overwhelming with heat and humidity especially in the crowded streets of Nadi where the middle class family on holiday will be smothered by Indians selling their wares and sometimes even themselves as guides and others just blatantly asking for money. Nadi is worth about a half-day of walking around the streets and will get very boring very quickly and can be very stressful. A small cab fare from Nadi are the mainland resorts such as the Sheraton and the Royal Denarau. When I say ?small? cab fare, maybe about FJD$10 if you?re lucky as the Indian cabbies will not hesitate to rip you off if given the chance. A classic line is ?Oh, I don...

hunkaspunk 08.02.2004 · Read review
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Review of Fiji (South Pacific Islands)

  Paradox in Paradise

Advantages: ?Things that happen here would seem?.?
Disadvantages: ??.Paradox in Paradise.? (Flecker)

.... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * On setting out to circle the globe, the first question to be answered is where to stop en route. Somewhere in the South Pacific is obviously essential, but where? Tahiti? Samoa? The Cook Islands? All of them, ideally, but alas there was no time for that. Our choice of Fiji was not quite made at random. Having claimed on the basis of no personal experience whatsoever in my F-review that ?Fiji is also among the world?s more agreeable places,? I felt the time had come to put it to the test, and also to put to the test the mixed reports we had heard, ranging from ?pure paradise? to ?already spoiled?. Finally, straddling as it does the 180th meridian. Fiji has the merit of being exactly halfway round the world from home, longitudinally at least. Surely here was the place to find contrasts with what we were accustomed to, if anywhere...

torr 08.03.2005 (09.03.2005) · Read review
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Review of Fiji (South Pacific Islands)

Octopus Resort, Waya Island

Advantages: Cheap, great snorkelling and beaches, friendly people
Disadvantages: Long ride in a small boat

...Octopus is consistantly rated as one of the best budget resorts in Fiji, and it's not hard to see why. Our beachfront bure (pronounced like puree) was lovely, traditionally built with a bathroom where the shower had no roof! It was very comfortable, and we didn't mind the resident lizards at all, because they ate the mosquitos! We had our own private hammock, big enough for two, strung between two palm trees, and at night we slept under a mossie net to the sound of the waves. Every day our new towels were folded into a different pattern on the bed and our room was decorated with tropical flowers. We were lucky with weather - apparently it had been raining on and off for the previous six weeks, but we had glorious sunshine the whole week, just a couple of downpours at night. The beach was beautiful, long and sandy with lots of palm...

Jaycey 22.10.2004 · Read review
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Review of Fiji (South Pacific Islands)

Island Life at its best

Advantages: Warm weather, sun and fun
Disadvantages: Mozzies (dengue fever season)

...A great spot for a resort holiday or stopover. Very enjoyable. Despite the recent turmoil I believe that it would still be safe. Most of the drama was in Suva which is a couple of hours away from Nadi Airport and the islands. I took a 10 day trip to Fiji and stayed at the Sheraton Fiji Resort which is located on Denaru Island just outside of Nadi. It is actually part of the main island but entering the Sheraton resort is like entering a different world. It si one of those places that you could spend your entire holiday in without venturing outside. The rooms are spacious and have air con (a must in Fiji) and tiled floors. Huge bathrooms and most rooms have a balcony. The buffet breakfast us a very diverse range of foods and delicious (as is the view from the breakfast room). It also has pool facilities, sailing and windsurfing...

cherroxi 06.01.2001 · Read review
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Review of Fiji (South Pacific Islands)

Why we visited it

Advantages: Paradise
Disadvantages: Cant find any

...The island of Kiritimati (pronounced Ki-ris-mas?, or Christmas) is the largest of the 33 islands in the Pacific Ocean that make up the nation of Kiribati. The island has some 388 square kilometres of land area, which equals that all the other 32 islands of Kiribati combined. About 5,000 people live on Christmas Island, while the total population of all the islands of Kiribati is about 92,000. All but one of the islands of Kiribati are coral atolls. Christmas Island is not only the largest atoll in this nation but also in terms of land area, the largest coral atoll in the world! In addition, Christmas Island is notable because of its proximity to the International Date Line. People there are among the first to experience the beginning of new calendar day, a new year and other annual observances, such as that of the death of Jesus...

quan 06.08.2007 · Read review
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Review of Fiji (South Pacific Islands)

tropical paradise on the other side of the world

Advantages: tropical paradise, fantastic diving
Disadvantages: 2 days of flying to get there

...and angelfish. obviously depending on where you are situated in fiji what you are able to see will vary slightly. its not just the fish either there is an amazing variety of coral to see as well. luckily for us we had the added advantage that situated next to yadua was a small island - taba, one of two places in the world where the crested iguana are found, so quite an opportunity when we were allowed to visit the island, which is a protected sanctury. I decided to travel on for a week or so afterwards, with some of the people i had met out there and this was a completely different experience. we started off in suva, again, before gradually working our way up towards nadi via the coral coast. first oppinions of suva were that it was maybe a little shabby, but there is plenty to do there for at least a couple of days. it has parks, museums...

Amy_Coppock 31.01.2006 · Read review
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Review of Fiji (South Pacific Islands)

river island

Advantages: great shop
Disadvantages: n/a

...When it comes to shops on the high street and i need an outfit River Island is one of the first shops that i will go into as i almost everytime manage to find something tht i like. Although shopping in River Island is deadly with my store card i get very carried away. River Island is a shop that is in most towns and also has a website if you do not have the chance to pop to your local branch and recently they have started putting sales items online so you can grab a bargain anytime. River Island is a shop that stores ladies and mens wear. In the lasies sections you have footwear, jeans, tops, jackets, shorts, dresses, accessories and skirts. They stock sizes 6 to 16 6-16.. You have clothes for all occassions and at an affordable price. I also think that there is a high quality to al the items they sell. River Island are...

jo_field26 17.10.2008 · Read review
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Review of River Island (Shop)

The 12 Islands of Gocek

Advantages: Lovely boat, fantastic views, gorgeous food, great value for money
Disadvantages: None for me

...All excursion boards claim the 12 Island Tour of Gocek is the most popular excursion, and based on the fact these tours are offered by almost every single tour operator on a daily basis this claim cannot be disputed. Format of the day The day commences with a bus journey (transfers are included from your hotel) from Dalyan to Gocek harbour, which is approximately half an hour away. Once in the harbour you are shown to the boat and introduced to Sammi, the captain, and his assistant. Whilst the assistant carries out all the relevant checks etc. the captain serves traditional Turkish tea (you can choose from normal, apple or strawberry) and some Turkish wafers (not dissimilar to those available in England in taste or texture). Once all the checks are complete the anchor is raised and the boat sets off around...

yackers1 21.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Göcek 12-Island Cruise, Mugla