flyboyNYC

My partner (soon to be husband) and I are considering Fiji for our honeymoon, and we are looking for someplace unique with excellent service (something like an Aman but in Fiji). We are considering the Royal Davui. Does anyone have any recent experience there (or other places in Fiji)?

ginger50

I have visited Fiji many times though not the Royal Davui. It depends on what you want from the visit.. in particular, do you want to go diving?

Beqa (pronounced Mbenga) is at the Eastern end of the main island (Viti Levu), and here the likelyhood of rain is greater than at the Western end. Having said that, Davui may be far enough offshore to escape the worst effects of the mountain induced rainfall. Suva will be hot and wet, especially November - March.

My preference would be to go to the Yasawas (Western end of the Islands) or to Kadavu (Southern end). The Yasawas has resorts with well established diving centres, Kadavu is way out there and more rustic but you get to dive on the Great Astrolabe Reef - words are not enough to describe it!

At Royal Davui you will be pampered but if it were me, it would not be enough - Fiji has some of the best diving I have ever seen and the Yasawas or Kadavu would be my choice.

Feel free to PM me if you need any more help.

G50

ABG

Laucala Island if you can swing the costs

Travel K

I agree with ABG. Laucala Island is the best. Royal Davui is one that I really want to stay at though.

Larkin

I would love to try Laucala and its on our list, but we have enjoyed Wakaya Club twice in the past! They had Nobu come and stay for two weeks gratis and teach their local staff how to turn their great local ingredients into delicious local dishes. Diving there is terrific and not too far off shore.

KatW

If one does not dive (and one doesn't but adores floating and swimming in tropical waters) does it make any sense to choose Fiji over Tahiti/Bora Bora which is much less of a hassle to get to from California.

Kagehitokiri

only for something different from Four Seasons

bora bora - brando
fiji - laucala / wakaya
(all very different)

(across multiple price levels)

bhrubin

Ironically, we've been three times to Fiji in the past 15 years (twice at Turtle Island--which we do not recommend--and once at Vatulele Island--now closed)...and will only be making our first trip to Tahiti next April.

Fiji is almost as easy to reach as Tahiti--the flight is just a bit longer (10-11 hrs on Fiji Air vs 8.5 hrs on AF/TN from LAX). Usually, the LAX flight to Fiji is cheaper than that to Tahiti, even in business class.

Fiji seems less over-developed compared with all that I've seen and read about Tahit. There also are many private island resorts in Fiji compared to Tahiti. The OW bungalow phenomenon isn't a factor in Fiji, thankfully...and the prices usually reflect that! Overall, I think you get more for your money in Fiji, even/especially when staying at the private islands. (We don't recommend Turtle Island due to its horribly homophobic owner and staff, however.)

While we cannot recommend Turtle, I can say that one of the most amazing beaches we've ever experienced was there...and that the Fijian islands have the softest sand we've ever had. So there are good reasons to go over Tahiti IMO.

gypsyjaney

Definitely Fiji and I would also go for the Yasawas or the Mamanuca islands just south of that. I can't say that I know of anywhere there which is like an Aman, but its still a unique, wonderful place and very friendly people. I found Tahiti to be beautiful, but not so friendly and over commercialised. Stick with the western side for better weather - there is quite a difference. Try Rosie Travel or Hunts Travel - both long standing and reliable companies there of over 40 years.

adiaphane_ft

We just recently returned from Taveuni and stayed at Taveuni Palms. It is small, only three villas, and quiet. I spent five days diving--had some wild rides on those currents. Soft coral capital of the world, indeed. The Great White Wall. Saw a tiger shark. Reefs are healthy. Amazing dives. And the island is undeveloped. Green upon green. Drive the roads and you see locals carrying about their lives. You can go hiking, take a boat around the coast to look at waterfalls, go island hopping.

bhrubin

OK we have to check that out stat! Thanks!

CRAZ8

This may be a bit unusual for a data point, but my memory of the music of French Polynesia is French techo-pop and DJs. My memory of Fiji music is local folk songs with guitars and ukeleles played live. Even the quarantine staff at the airport were humming Fijian songs while they worked.

Pausanias

Just a few points about Fiji -

In some respects it is far more developed than Tahiti as a mass tourist destination. The main island is full of package tourists, mainly from Australia. For them it is a cheap trip, much like Ibiza for Europeans. The main island of French Polynesia, Tahiti, is nothing like that. Bora Bora is over-developed but in a rather subtle way.

For the real Fiji you need to veer away from the main island of Viti Levu and head out to the smaller island groups. Adiaphane is right - Taveuni is a stunning place. I've been there as well. So too are the Yasawas.

And please, people - get out of this ridiculous mindset of always looking for the Amanresort where there isn't one. If you want to go to an Amanresort go to Bali or Pamalican. If you want to go to Fiji just accept that your horizons and expectations should be set just a little wider.

sfoactuary

Fiji's always been on my radar, has been very informative reading through this post.

Question on Royal Davui - just for fun I was punching in a dummy booking in October for 5 nights. The price on the hotel's website is showing about $2k/night, vs. about $600/night on hotels.com. I've never seen such a big disparity between booking direct vs. through an OTA.

If the $600 rates is indeed real, seems like a great value compared to the $5k/night at Laucala.

ajca

Also, the excellent Likuliku