Fiji is Calling – You Should Answer!

But first, a bit about Fiji…

• Located northeast of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean, it’s part of Melanesia

• It’s officially known as the Republic of Fiji

• It was under British rule from 1874 until its independence in 1970

• There are 330 islands in Fiji covering about 194,000 square kilometers or 75,000 square miles

• Only 10% of that area is land

• Only 1/3 of those islands are inhabited

• Population: over 900,000

• Two islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for ¾ of the population

• Capital: Suva, located on the island of Viti Levu

• Fiji’s Rugby sevens team is the reigning Olympic gold medallists and has won the Rugby World Cup Sevens twice.

• Super cool fact: Fiji was the first country to use GPS in aviation!

Airfare: It’s more affordable than you think

When I received an email for a Black Friday sale on airfare on Fiji Airways for flights from Los Angeles from $729 roundtrip to Fiji, I thought, wow that’s doable! Sure, from the east coast of the U.S. you’ve gotta get yourself to the west coast, and the flight to Fiji is looong, but my point is, the cost of getting there is not as insane as you might think.

Activities: There’s Tons of Stuff to Do…Or Nothing at All

We were going to Fiji primarily to scuba dive, but it’s also known as a big surfing destination. Don’t dive or surf? Then how about ziplining, hiking, rafting, paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing? Sure you can probably do those things in other places, but why not do them in Fiji? Oh yeah, or you could just hang out in a hammock by the beach….

Hospitality: The People are incredibly kind and friendly

Everyone says “Bula”! While the actual definition of “Bula” in Fijian means life or health, it seems to be used in the same way as “aloha” is used in Hawaii – as a greeting!

Accommodations: From Budget to Luxury

There are a range of accommodations to suit any budget, including well know chains, like Hilton, Radisson, Sheraton, Westin, Marriott, Intercontinental, etc., but we stayed at a resort specifically geared toward divers and surfers.

Islands: Take Your Pick

Like I mentioned at the beginning of this post, there are tons of islands to choose from. Due to time constraints, we stayed on Viti Levu.

The Food is Fantastic!

I wasn’t sure what to expect, especially as a vegetarian, but the variety and quality of food was surprisingly…INCREDIBLE! Yeah, there was fish, but there was also vegetarian food, and meat like chicken, beef and lamb!

We sampled traditional Fijian Lovo, the Fijian version of barbecue. Lovo not only refers to the traditional way of cooking meals in an underground oven, but also to the underground oven the meal is cooked in. Fiji also has a large Indian population (who knew), and that influence is apparent in its cuisine.

So, there are just a few reasons to plan a trip and pack your suitcase for Fiji!