- B.M. Allsopp
Fiji: your paradise vacation
In the wake of the August release of Death by Tradition, my second Fiji Islands Mystery, several of you have told me that Fiji is now top of your overseas holiday wish list. During my years living in Fiji, I visited as many islands as I could. None of my trips was longer than a week and many were just weekends, but I sampled enough tranquil gems and challenging terrain to appreciate that Fiji offers much more than sand and coconut palms. Best of all, wherever you go and whatever you do, Fijians will always be welcoming and wonderfully friendly. So, why not ponder the questions below, then hit the official website of Tourism Fiji to check what's available?
1. What do you want to do?
nothing - just unwind and relax
soft nature adventure - snorkelling coral reefs, boating, fishing, hiking, bird watching
challenge - scuba diving, shark feeding, river kayaking, hill trekking
culture contact - visit a village, a school, the Suva museum, craft centre, a Hindu
temple, a farm, a church service, (if you're lucky) a choir competition
sport - play golf, tennis, beach volleyball, and best of all, watch a rugby game
Many resort or cruise hosts will offer you a number of these options. Alternatively, you can tailor your own selection.
2. Where do you want to go?
a resort on the main island, Viti Levu, taking side-trips to small islands
a tiny, remote away-from-it-all island
island hop to experience as much variety as possible
Suva, the bustling capital
the hinterland hills for trekking and kayaking
3. Where do you want to stay?
a 5-star international resort (Hilton, Sofitel, Sheraton)
a high-end boutique, locally operated resort
a mid-level comfortable resort
a budget backpacker resort
rural village homestay accommodation
a small cruising ship (Captain Cook or Blue Lagoon cruises)
4. When should you go?
Unless you thrive on hot and very humid weather, I recommend the months from April to October, when the temperatures are moderate, cool breezes blow, and the risk of storms and cyclones is small.
The best time to start planning your Fiji vacation is now!
You can find more about Fiji on my website, in the Fiji Gallery and Fiji Resources page. As ever, I'd welcome your comments and questions about this post.
until next month,
Bernadette (B.M. Allsopp)