Fiji with kids – a fab family resort holiday

Where to go for your first family resort holiday? Fiji with kids of course

Your first overseas holiday with kids can be pretty daunting – once you get their passport photo taken (omg how long does that take?) and collect their passport then the real planning begins. And the first big question – where to go with young children that will be fun for everyone, gives mum and dad some time off and is warm, sunny and tropical?

Thanks to Travel Online who have awesome Fiji holiday packages I can save you the hassle of researching: Fiji with kids is where you should be. It’s awesome for everyone and especially great for parents traveling solo with kids or escaping for a few days to scuba without kids on a Fiji liveaboard.

I first took Emmie to Fiji when she was only four months old. I was looking for somewhere where I could stay in a resort so that I had support should I need it, where kids were looked after and holidays were easy. Fiji seemed prefect, plus it’s only a few hours flight from Australia. 

Emmie was the perfect travel companion. She didn’t chat too much, was happy to lie around under palm trees, slept a lot and I didn’t have to buy her expensive meals.

We stayed at the  Warwick on the Coral Coast and my mum came with us for a few days and after she left we were on our own.

Yep, on my own at a resort in a foreign country with a four month old baby. And it wasn’t difficult at all. I’ll tell you why:

Resorts in Fiji are super family friendly

It’s just expected that there will be lots of families holidaying in Fiji and the resorts are set up to make your family holiday easy and fun.

Most Fijian resorts have Kids Clubs that provide an awesome mix of fun and education like lessons in Fijian dance, language and culture. They are generally for kids aged four and up but usually if you hire a nanny for your younger child they can hang at the kids club too. Everyone in Fiji seems to love kids, they are embraced and given big smailes everywhere they go…and happy kids make happy holidays for mum and dad.

All the equipment you need

Fijian resorts have high chairs, cots and all the equipment you need to use with a baby and young child. You need to make sure you book it in when you make your reservation but its so handy to not have to take a travel cot on the plane plus setting them up is never easy!  Knowing that it will all be set up in your room when you arrive at your resort takes the pressure off. I just tok sanitary wipes with me and gave the hire cots a good once over whenever I used them. All good! 

Nannies

Oh Fijian nannies are the best. I still remember our gorgeous nanny Suri from our stay at the Warwick, she was so lovely with Emmie. Kids love the kind, soft, caring Fijian women and they really seem to enjoy looking after the kids too. It’s generally very cheap to hire nannies in Fiji. Depending where you stay it’s upwards of $5 an hour and some will have a booking cost per session. Make sure to give your nanny a little extra if you feel they’ve done a good job (which they will!).

Lovely friendly people

Fijian people are so friendly and kind. It’s that happy go lucky attitude of island life. Everything is relaxed, the island runs on Fijian time and you are forced to just sit back and enjoy. And you will, especially when it’s Happy Hour and the kids are having a wonderful time in Kids Club.

Over the years we have stayed at many other Fiji resorts.

We loved the Radisson Blu Denarau – it’s only 30 minutes from the airport and close to the marina. It’s a super easy resort to holiday at. The rooms are big and ground floor rooms have lovely grass areas in front, the breakfasts are huge and there are many resort restaurants to choose from, or you can head out to the marina for a meal. Best of all the Kids Club is amazing and the nightly fire-lighting ceremonies with the children are magical. Every night there’s Happy Hour for mums and dads and very importantly there’s shade cloth over the kids swimming pool and a fun slide. Read all about our stay at the Radisson Blu Denarau here.

We’ve stayed at the Intercontinental Fiji  which has a lovely beach and snorkelling plus a large children’s pool and play area. This resort is definitely a luxe option however if you keep a lookout you will find affordable packages, especially in low season. That’s when we went and although the weather forecast said ti would rain every day it didn’t! We had fabulous sunshine. 

We also loved Mana Island which has a lovely beaches, swimming, evening performances and a fab Kids Club. It also has access to beautiful coral reefs just off the island for snorkelling trips and daily excursions. Or you can laze by the pool and on the beach instead, after-all, that’s what you’re there for!

So if you’re thinking about where to go for your first family holiday, or if you have young kids and want everyone to have a great time but really want to relax and enjoy Fiji then is the perfect choice!

I’d love to know where you’ve stayed at Fiji and if you would recommend it? We wouldn’t mind another Fiji holiday!