Who's been to Fiji islands with kids?

[gottaloveem]

We are looking at a family holiday to one of Fiji's Islands in the next few months.
We will have 4 kids with us and I know some islands are very family orientated.I want to be able to access some kids club and maybe nannying/babysitting during the holiday so I get a chance to relax as well.
What experiences have others had in Fiji and where would you recommend?

[emilysmumma]

I haven't been with kids, but the fijians adore children.
We have stayed at Treasure Island, which is only 5 acres so it's easy to get around and not too far from room to anything. They have a kids club and when we were there the kids were always running around doing something with the club. Also even if your eating dinner there was always a willing fijian to entertain the little ones while you ate. The only thing is that the pool is tiny.

Plantation Island is another fun place and very family orientated place that I've read a lot about. They all do babysitting as well I believe.
Just google these islands and you'll get some websites to check out.

But they especially love the little ones and are very sweet with them.

I can't wait to take DD as she was conceived in Fiji.

[Lastcenturymum]

Ive heard various reports - just make sure you do your homework and know what is included - if you have to buy extra food its very very expensive. Drinks and coffees even cost bomb, but heard the ones with kids programs are great.

[emilysmumma]

Once you are on an island they have got you in terms of food and drink. Purchase a meal plan when you book. You will save heaps.
We did a half meal plan which was b/fast and dinner. When we checked out a family that didn't have a meal plan and 3 teenage children had over a thousand dollar bill to pay.
And we ate from the same menu they did and only had to pay about $300 and we stayed longer.

Take as much as you can before hand. We shopped on the main land first and took drinks and nibbles.

[JAZZIESMUM]

I stayed on Plantation Island with my boys and it was absolutely fabulous!!!!

I thought their meal prices were very reasonable and much cheaper than if you stayed in a resort in Aus.

They also have a little general store which servies up cheap lunches like burgers etc. We did the breakfast and dinner meal package and bought lunch if we needed it at the little cafe.

I personally wouldnt buy the meal packages again as restricts where you eat.

The only thing we took over were quite a few bottles of soft drink for the kids and some duty free alcohol.

This island had kids club during the day, the kids had an earlier dinner sitting around 5pm where they made kid friendly meals like chicken and chips etc and ice cream for dessert and then all the kids went to kids club for a play and to watch a movie while the adults had a peaceful dinner! It was gorgeous and all the staff genuinely loved the kids and my DS made a lovely friend in one of the island boys whose Mum worked in reception.

This was the BEST family holiday we have been on as we were ALL happy at the same time!!

My only suggestion is although they market themselves well, to make sure you go to an Island and dont stay on the Mainland as there is no comparison in the water etc! Much more beautiful on the island!

[gottaloveem]

Thanks for your great hints and suggestions about food and resorts.
We have heard alot about Plantation Is being family focused and I can't wait to have a date to look forward to going there.
We originally were going to elope to Fiji in 04 but when I fell pregnant we changed our plans.
Now the holiday will be very different to what we would of wanted as a couple with no kids.
Which I don't mind I still get to go there.

[Jules16]

We stayed at the Fijian on the mainland ealier this year and while we didn't go with kids, there were heaps of families there with kids and they were well catered for. Kids clubs, kids pools, the works. It's run by the Shangri La and the place is huge and has everything.

[arkraider]

I don't know what your budget is extactly and that the thread is a little old, so I hope you haven't booked anything yet.
My wife and I went to the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort in Fiji and had a blast.. She was pregneant at the time, "heavly", and thoroughly enjoyed the way they looked after her. There is a kids club included in the pricing and they have there own nannies looking after the kids on site in a totally seperate area away from the adults.
So if you and hubby want to go off and do something, anything, away from the kids you know they are well looked after. You don't even need to seem them at all for the day.
All the food, drinks and activities are included in the pricing, as are all of yours. The only thing you pay for is alcohol (if you do what I did and buy duty free, drink the mini bar free of coke (free) every day, you can sit on the porch of your buree and ask for dinner to bought to you at night) and motorised activities, such as deap sea fishing, scuba (cause you need a boat to get there). You can even book you own private lunch on you own little island, take the kids if you want. An you can book your own private dinner out on the jetty away from other guests, (no kids) and all this is included.
It was an amazing place to go nothing was ever a stress for them.
It was just a total relaxing experience, we are hoping to back again soon, we went last year in May. I can not recomend this place enough.

[robinson]

Yep definately Plantation Island!! We took DD there last year and DH and I had been there previously by ourselves..

They are all fantastic with kids and the kids club looked fantastic as well.. Most nights at dinner we'd have some staff member take DD off us and wander aroudn the restaurant with her so we were free to eat dinner.. she loved it and we could see her at all times which was also good..
We even got a babysitter on two occasions so we could have some time out and it was so so so cheap..

I would however suggest buying some food on the mainland before you go to the island as it can be very expensive.. and we didnt get the meals plans either as it does limit you quite a bit and you dont always feel like lunch and some vouchers can go to waste that way..

Oh and taking little ones in nappies... take plenty of your own disposables and wipes cause they are very very expensive..

But yes that being said Plantation Island is fantastic.

We also went to "The Fijian" on our way back (its on the mainland) and i didnt find it quite as kid friendly and it was just way to big of a place to walk around and the pools gets very packed as well.. but it would be a perfect place to go if you were taking kids!

[arkraider]

That was the beauty of the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort ther were no vouchers or anything of that kind....
The kids were at the kids clucb and if you wanted to eat you just headed down to the adults pool area and sat down, selected something of the menu and the wait staff would order it and it would be delivered to your table. Just like any 5 star restaurant. No food vouchers or drink vouchers.

It was free, all included kids club the only things you supply to the nannies were the child, and nappies, or bibs. If the child was under 2 years of age they had their own nanny, if over two they had one nanny per 3 children and if there was an under 2 in the group, they still had their own private nanny.

Kids under the age of 16 were not alowwed in the parents retreat area, we didn't even know there were kids at the resort untill we had been there for two days and we saw some kids... LOL....sounds funny now but it was that good.

[Femme la Phoenix]

We can also recommend The Fijian although we didn't take Nick with us, Kids are very well catered for. I talked to lots of mums&dads and they said it was the best because they could still enjoy time alone together knowing that the kids were looked after and having a great time, so it was relaxing for everyone and mum and dad still get a break.

I would suggest that resort living while in Fiji the best way to go, as everything is there and you don't need to be wandering around the streets in uncertain times. The Fijian native people are so hospitable and welcoming, go to Cava night or a traditional under ground BBQ they really look after you and while your there your family. We were upgraded in our accommodation upon arrival....can't wait to go back again.

Another thing, talk to your travel agent about organising meal vouchers, such a Huge $aving!!