A Magical Fijian Family Holiday Fiji Marriott
We have just returned from a family holiday in beautiful Fiji.
From the second we stepped off the plane at Nadi Airport and were greeted with our first “Bula”, a 3-piece Fijian band and the friendliest Customs officials known to man, we knew it was going to be a fantastic trip!
It was the first time the kids had travelled outside Australia and we wanted to take them somewhere warm to escape Melbourne’s winter and to a destination with a flight time of less than 6 hours.
Fiji was the perfect fit.
We were away for a total of 9 nights and split this time across two properties, Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay and Nanuku Auberge Resort at Pacific Harbour.
Fiji Marriott
We spent the first five nights of our holiday at Fiji Marriot Resort Momi Bay, a brand new resort located approximately 45 minutes away from Nadi Airport.
The Resort is built between an enormous man-made lagoon and the Coral Sea. Despite the resort being at capacity during our stay, this immense lagoon, numerous pools, and sea-side access meant there was no shortage of deck chairs or prime waterfront positions.
Accommodation
Every single room at the resort has water views, whether it is over the pool, the lagoon or the sea. In fact, everywhere you look at the resort you are surrounded by water.
There are five different accommodation options at the resort – the spectacular adults-only Overwater Bures, Lagoon Front rooms perched over the pool and lagoon, plus Duplex and Single Bures with both ocean and lagoon views.
We stayed in an Oceanfront Duplex Bure, which was tucked behind the reception area and close to the Fish Bar and the adults-only infinity pool.
It is a stunning Bure equipped with a beautiful freestanding bath and a huge deck complete with day bed and table & chairs for outdoor dining. The kids loved playing on the deck before stepping straight onto the sand for some beach fun.
At night when the kids went to bed, Pete and I could then relax on the deck enjoying a glass of wine, listening to the waves and the swaying palms while navigating the constellations in the star-filled sky.
Alex loved playing on the sand directly in front of our Bure with his Scrunch Buckets from Lime Tree Kids. These scrunchable beach buckets were perfect for fitting in our suitcases!
The kids each got a new Trunki PaddlePak from The Stork Nest before the trip and they took these cuties everywhere! (Along with their Frankie Ray shades, of course!)
The Pools
There are 3 pools at Fiji Marriott, plus the lagoon – the infinity pool adjacent to Fish Bar Restaurant, a large kids pool complete with sprinklers and water cannons, and the main pool with swim-up bar. All were on the cool side given the season, but sparkling clean and an abundance of seating and day-beds surrounding each pool.
Activities
Fiji Marriott has a daily activities schedule, which includes complimentary activities ranging from live music, pool games, volleyball and cultural experiences, as well as a water sports centre where motorised (and non-motorised water sports are available at a charge). The fitness centre is situated next to the Turtle Kids Club and has an extensive range of equipment.
The Kids Club
The kids enjoyed a couple of short sessions at the Turtle Kids Club – they offer morning and afternoon sessions and it is free of charge for kids aged 4-12. Our son Alex is 3 so we needed a nanny for him when he visited ($25FJD per hour).
The resort also offers an evening session ($25FJD per child) where children enjoy movie nights and other activities. The kids loved the playground and enjoyed a pirate treasure hunt, pirate boat making and other themed activities.
Dining
There are lots of options for dining at Fiji Marriott – our kids favourite was the Lagoon House & Bar which sits next to the main pool and overlooks the lagoon. It has a fantastic kids’ menu including pizza, mini-burgers, pasta, and fish & chips.
We had room service a couple of nights when the kids were too tired to go out and the menu was extensive. There was not a kids menu on the room service list for dinner, however you could order half portions of any item off the full menu.
We ate breakfast daily at Goji, which is in the centre of the resort and offers buffet breakfast and dinner daily. The breakfast buffet was extensive and offered an amazing selection of freshly baked pastries, salads, Asian breakfast options, and numerous made-to-order cooking stations. (The kids were thrilled to see vegemite toast and watermelon in the buffet.)
The swim-up bar in the main pool was another favourite for the kids – between swims they would sit up at the bar and enjoy an iced water and fruit plate.
Pete and I loved Fish Bar, which is next to the stunning infinity pool with spectacular views over the Coral Sea. The day beds were the perfect spot to watch the sunset.
Breakfast at Goji Restaurant.
Verdict
We had a fantastic five days at Fiji Marriott and would definitely return for a family holiday. I would highly recommend spending that bit extra to get a Bure as they are much more private than the Lagoon Front rooms.
Sunset cocktails at Fish Bar are an absolute must, as is getting the kids involved with the daily torch lighting ceremony.
All the staff at the hotel were fantastic with the kids – it was the little things I noticed... the gentle pats on their heads, the complimentary icy poles, ice creams and popcorn that the adoring staff brought over following dinner, and the constant smiles, waves, and cries of "Bula" as we crossed paths throughout the day .
We look forward to returning again soon.
Savusavu Road, Momi Bay, Nadi, Fiji
