Fiji - Shangri La Resort

by Mandy
(Melbourne, Australia)

In November 2009 we went on a family holiday to Fiji. We had heard so many people talk about their trips to Fiji and the fact that the locals were so friendly.

We were drawn to the idea that you can purchase an all inclusive holiday which meant that most of the expense was out of the way before we left. Therefore we wouldn't get home from our holiday with the burden of working out how we were going to pay off the credit card!

Anyway Fiji was great, we spent most of the time at the resort, we chose Shangri La Resort after speaking with a few different family and friends that had stayed there, plus it also seems to be rated as the best family friendly resort in Fiji by all the travel magazines.

We were happy with our decision. There were three different pools to choose from, one being adults only for those trying to avoid the family environment.

There were a number of restaurants to chose from, however there was a 'kids eat free' deal which meant they only got to eat free at one restaurant. That was a bit full on, all the families trying to self serve, was a bit canteen style and there were always tired, upset kids you had to listen to. So to avoid to much mayhem and ensure we felt like we were on holidays we simply took the kids there early (6pm) for their dinner, ordered ourselves a drink and then later went out to one of the classier restaurants for our own dinner. This is definitely the way to go!

Because of the weather we were in the pool or beach every day by 9am. We'd spend all morning swimming or generally hanging out taking it easy. Then we'd do lunch and 3 of the 5 days the kids went to 'Kids Club' in the afternoon. They loved 'Kids Club'.

They got to play out side, sing songs, learn Fijian Dances, pick flowers, do pictures need I say more....

Our kids were only two and three, but for older kids (and parents could participate) they had excursions into the Fijian Village and even visited a local school, which I think would be quite an educational experience for kids of school age.

We took the kids to a wild life sanctuary one day and a couple of the other days they simply needed an afternoon rest.

When the kids were at Kids Club, us adults played mini golf, real golf, sat at the bar and simply relaxed, you could get massages and paricipate in a number of random sports around the grounds.

We have learn't from speaking to family and friends and many people whilst we were on holidays that going to Fiji is a holiday people tend to take time and time again. The weather is predictable and if you travel at the right time of year (there aren't many wrong times) you'll have a relaxing, fun beach holiday you'll remember for years to come.

Cheers

Mandy.