Monica Salter: Fiji
As told to HILuxury
Fiji holds a special place in my heart. It’s where my husband Deane and I honeymooned a decade ago and recently returned with our two boys, Landon and Orion. Traveling with kids vs. traveling for romance are completely different, but Fiji delivered delightfully on both accounts. Rich with culture, outdoor activities and pristine natural beauty, it was effortless for each of us to slide into our own unique vacation vibes. My personal goal for this voyage was to unite wellness with conscious travel—to feel healthy, experience fully and contribute positively to the destination.
From Hawai‘i—a direct, six(ish) hour flight on Fiji Airways gets you to Nadi International Airport on the main island of Viti Levu. Totally doable for wiggly children. We had the added benefit of traveling with our dear friends, Kimo and Kate Greenwell and their two keiki, making the trip more fun for all.
VITI LEVU
Fiji has been ranked the world’s happiest country and I understand why ... A booming “Bula, Bula, Bula!” is heard as guests enter Outrigger Fiji Beach resort (outrigger.com). Singing and clapping permeates the air as we’re greeted by a dozen hosts serenading us with the warmest welcome and biggest smiles. Their authentic enthusiasm is contagious, putting us immediately at ease.
Two of our adventures here were also community givebacks and especially priceless experiences for all. First was the Sigatoga river Safari (sigatokariver. com)—zipping down Viti Levu’s longest river in a jet boat at intense speed, our giddiness was uncontainable. Arriving at a traditional Fijian village, we drank kava with chief then dined and danced with the locals. Second was a trip to Conua District School; the resort organizes a voluntourism project there that has raised funds to build a new library, computer lab and kindergarten.
With the kids club a huge hit—we escaped to a blissful couple’s massage at the award-winning Bebe Spa and ate incredible meals at Iwi and Sundowner Bar & Grill. When in Fiji—trying kokoda is a must—it’s a type of ceviche made with local reef fish, lime juice and coconut milk.
MAMANUCA ISLANDS
Fiji is made up of 333 tropical islands reachable by boat or seaplane. For a true island escape, we hopped on the South Sea Cruises catamaran (ssc.com.fj) at Port Denarau to Castaway Island, Fiji.
Once again, we were greeted with songs and smiles as the resort hosts came to the sand as our boat arrived, calling out “welcome home!” in the most uncontrived and beautiful way.
Our home for the week was a beach bure (traditional Fijian bungalow) with intricate hand-painted tapa ceilings and uninterrupted views of the turquoise Pacific. In today’s world of 24/7 connectivity—Castaway Island, Fiji is the place to unplug; there is no TV, phone or alarm clock in the bure—if you want WiFi, it’s only found at the main bar area. True “barefoot luxury,” my shoes and makeup bag stayed packed in the suitcase the entire stay.
Without the distraction of screens, our daylight hours were filled outdoor adventures. We saw dozens of bright-purple starfish while stand-up paddle boarding, snorkeled with tropical fish and learned how to plant coral. Deane and Kimo were in surf heaven—a daily pongo pickup at our bure, they surfed famous spots like Namotu, Wilkes Passage and Cloudbreak at Tavarua.
With our keiki thrilled to play at the Coral Kids Club, we took a boat to Cloud 9— the legendary solar-powered floating bar and wood-fire pizzeria. It’s an over-water oasis with daybeds and Djs.
We also re-visited the adults only Lomani resort (lomaniisland.com) on the island of Malolo Lailai where we honeymooned 10 years earlier. So much had changed in our lives—but our deep love for Fiji, and each other—remained the same.