One of my favorite resorts in Fiji has a fantastic free meal deal so two people can dine for for the price of one. At Tokoriki most meals are served poolside with a stunning view of the ocean beyond. The gourmet cuisine features the best Fiji has to offer including seafood fresh from the sea, tropical fruits, Indian spices and beautiful preparations designed to enhance the culinary experience.

Add a lovely beach, gorgeous and very private oceanfront bures (with and without private pools), a wedding chapel and tropical weather year round and you’ve got all the ingrediants for a romantic honeymoon, destination wedding or special anniversary. Please call, email or request a quote if a Fiji vacation is in your future!

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It’s not often I recommend accommodations in Fiji for less than $100 night but this year has made exceptions to a lot of rules. When I was in the islands a few months ago with the Fiji Visitors Bureau, I discovered several lovely beachfront resorts that are also great values. One favorite was Uprising Resort.

Uprising is built on a long stretch of soft sand beach near Pacific Harbour.  Accommodations range from a bunk house with shared bath facilities suitable for the backpacker to comfortable beachfront bures for a more traditional vacation experience.

At today’s fantastic exchange rate, a bunk is about $20 night and bures start under $100 night for two adults including breakfast daily.  Nearby activities include shark and coral dives, snorkeling, horseback riding, ziplining, river rafting, a visit to a traditional Fijiian village and shopping at a local craft market.

For those seeking a little more upscale environment and time on one of the outer islands, I’ve found quite a number of packages for $5-6K including airfare for two, 7 or 8 nights accommodations and some meals.  May through October is the best time to travel in Fij with high temperatures in the 80’s and lots of sunshine.  So call or email Linda, Totem Travel’s Fiji specialist, when it’s time to plan your vacation  or honeymoon in the South Pacific.

Matangi

Yesterday Air Pacific dropped airfares to $860 roundtrip between LAX and Fiji and as of today the U.S. dollar is worth more than 2 Fijian dollars.  That adds up to incredible vacation for travelers headed to the South Pacific. In fact I put together an excellent 8 night 2 island honeymoon including a beachfront bure at a favorite resort, airfare and some meals for less than $4K total for two…. during high season.  That’s a deal!

Tahiti’s fares haven’t come down that far but there are excellent values in those islands as well.  Some of the best resorts are offering free nights or free meals, but even so a similar Tahiti honeymoon will still be $6-7K.  That’s largely because the cost of goods and services purchased in the islands is much less in Fiji.

Math isn’t everyone’s forte but most of my clients undertand it when I say our dollar is worth 3 times as much in Fiji than in Tahiti.  Let’s use a $100 bill as an example.  In Tahiti, that particular greenback is worth 75 EU (Euro), while in Fiji it’s worth 222 FJD (Fijian Dollars).  So if you’re sitting down to a restaurant meal, ordering a bottle of wine, shopping or headed for a snorkeling trip your money goes much further in Fiji.

Resort and hotel rates are also more affordable in Fiji and there are fantastic specials at some of my favorite resorts such as a 2 for 1 meal plan at Tokoriki, low season rates through high season at Qamea and free nights at Radisson Fiji.  So if you’re dreaming of a tropical honeymoon in the South Pacific please call or email linda@totemtravel.com and we’ll take a look at all the best vacation deals!

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When I returned to Fiji recently, I had the pleasure of exploring the northern islands including Taveuni, Vanu Levu, Qamea and Mantangi. These islands are less known and less populated than other Fiji islands and they are absolute gems!

The islands are lush and green with dramatic mountains, tropical rainforests and pristine beaches. The water is clear, warm, lovely shades of blue and you’ll find some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving anywhere in the South Pacific. You’ll also find some of the best resorts in Fiji!

If you’re looking for privacy, fabulous views, gourmet food, top notch service and an outstanding spa, it would be hard to beat Namale, one of Fiji’s few adult only, all inclusive resorts.

I stayed in a luxurious honeymoon bure with cushy furnishings, stocked in room bar, oversized jetted tub, indoor outdoor shower, spacious furnished deck and private stairs to the lovely beach below. Room service is offered at no extra cost and, according to my host, many guests never leave their bure. I can understand why!

If you do venture out, most activities are included at Namale such as waterskiing, tubing, horseback riding, tennis, boating and snorkeling. There is even a bowling alley, pool table and movie theater on site. As a life long scuba diver, I spent my time underwater at a nearby dive site called Purple Garden which had hundreds of fish and lots of colorful corals.

After a light lunch on a lovely deck overlooking the ocean, I took a quick peek at two of the villas with private pools (gorgeous!) then headed down to the beach for a long walk around the bay.

I celebrated sunset with a coconut scrub foot massage and champagne at the gorgeous oceanfront spa then was off for dinner. Yet another indulgence, with gourmet food beautifully prepared and presented and served to me in barefoot comfort in traditional Fijian fashion…

This is a life I could get used to!

Alas, my Namale stay was brief and I was off to see more wonderful resorts on the northern islands of Fiji. I hope you’ll check back for posts on Matangi, Jean Michel Costeau and Paradise Taveuni. Plus I’ll give you an update on the fantastic new Jungle spa at Qamea, another pick for best resort in Fiji!

It’s easy to spend $10,000 or more for a week on a Tahiti honeymoon. In fact on my last trip I stayed in fabulous villas at Hotel Bora Bora and Le Taha’a Private Island and Spa that run $1000 per night. Yes, they are worth it!

But what if your budget isn’t that generous? You can still enjoy Tahiti on a $4-6K budget; you just need to plan carefully.

One place to economize is by eliminating airfare to a more remote island. Moorea is a fantastic destination with wonderful beaches, fabulous views and reasonably priced overwater bungalows. And, best of all, you can get there by ferry from Tahiti! That will save most couples $6-700 right away.

Another option is to stay in a traditional hotel room rather than an overwater or beach bungalow. This will save you thousands of dollars and you’ll still enjoy 4 star resort amenities without the luxury price tag. On the other hand, I don’t recommend an overwater bungalow at a 2 star property. It’s like buying an expensive house in a lousy neighborhood. You’ll get much better value with the cheapest room at a nice resort – better beach, better pool, better service, better restaurants.

Speaking of food, food is expensive in Tahiti so your best bet is to starve… I’m kidding… a little…

There are a few options that will keep body and soul together at a reasonable price. In Papeete, Les Roulottes offers inexpensive outdoor dining along the waterfront and a number of downtown restaurants are moderately priced. On Moorea you can buy cheese and fruit at a local market or have a pizza for dinner. However be forewarned, most couples spend $180 -200 dollars per day for meals. So plan accordingly!

Remember, once you’ve taken care of transportation, food and shelter all the really great things in Tahiti are free! Fabulous beaches, romance, turquoise water, time together, tropical breezes, unlimited sunshine, snorkeling, sunsets, more time together… you get the picture!

Call me when it’s time to make your plans – Linda, your Tahiti Tiara Specialist

On my most recent trip to the South Pacific I visited six of the Tahitian islands including Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Manihi, Tikehau and Taha’a. Although it was a working trip for Tahiti Specialists, I was thoroughly spoiled with luxury accommodations at some of the most popular resorts, gourmet dining, warm tropical weather and a bit of free time (too little of course) to enjoy the fabulous snorkeling, beautiful beaches, turquoise water and sunset evenings.

I have lots of resort information and pictures to share so I’ll add to Our Blog as time permits. But since it’s almost time for the Bellevue and Lynnwood wedding shows, I thought I’d start with Tahiti – the perfect honeymoon destination!

Many couples choose the summer months for their wedding and honeymoon, so what should you expect?  Perfection!  May through October are the driest months in the South Pacific with air and water temperatures usually in the 80’s. April and November are lovely with just a bit more rain and December through March are the warm, wet months.  That’s when you’ll find the lowest prices in paradise.

Island activities center around the beach, pool and turquoise water and you can enjoy every sport and pastime offered near, in, under and on the water. Adventurous types can scuba dive, sail, kayak, moped or bike around the island, head out for a motu picnic or try a shark & ray feeding excursion. More leisurely options include hammocks, fabulous Polynesian spa treatments and relaxing on a pristine beach.

Honeymoon evenings often begin with a spectacular sunset followed by gourmet, open air dining under the stars. After a leisurely dinner perhaps you’ll enjoy music and dancing, a romantic beach walk or just more private time together…. Tahiti really is the perfect honeymoon destination!

In my next blog I’ll talk about the wonderful resorts like Le Taha’a Private Island and Spa, Bora Bora Lagoon Resort, the Pearl Resorts, the Intercontinental Resorts and more. In the interim please call if I can help with your travel plans, mark your calendar for our Tahiti night in February and see us at the January wedding shows! (See Groups & Events for dates)

Linda

Tahiti Tiare Specialist