We all want our grand travel plans to finally, one day, make it out of the group chat and into real-life memories. If you and your friend group have been dreaming of a much-deserved escape away, then take this as your sign to book a friends’ trip to Fiji, STAT. Here’s seasoned Fiji traveller Kelly Meharg’s tried and tested guide to the best places to take pals (and the one place she’s dreaming about herself!).
Capsule x Flight Centre x Tourism Fiji
If you’re part of a group chat, odds are there’s always a mention of a trip away.
‘We simply MUST take that girls’ holiday!’
‘One day we’ll get to Fiji together #memories’
‘I NEED TO ESCAPE THESE CHILDREN WHEN ARE WE LEAVING’
Or words to that effect. But organising life, let alone an entire holiday, can be one level of mental load that never seems to come to fruition – until now.
This, my queens, is a sign that the trip idea needs to finally make it out of the group chat – and where better to go than Fiji?
Whatever vibe you and your besties are looking for I have options for you, whether that’s on Denarau Island (the strip of hotels and resorts close to Nadi International Airport) or more further afield one of Fiji’s picturesque outer islands.
I’ve been lucky enough to go to Fiji quite a lot for both work and holidays and here, I’ve listed some of my favourite places to stay and things to do that I would take my own friends back to in a HEARTBEAT – and one place that’s still on my own bucket list, but I think it should be on yours too.
Maybe me and my gals will see you and yours there?
THE DENARAU OPTIONS – VIBE-HEAVY, CONVENIENT AND A PERFECT INTRODUCTION TO FIJI
Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort
If you want an easy, elegant and elevated experience minutes from the airport, then the Sheraton will tick all of your boxes. Facing west for incredible Fiji sunsets, this resort is big, beautiful and a fab choice for the gals who want to catch up over a cocktail in the pool!
There’s even an adults-only speakeasy, Cellar & Barrel, with a jaw-droppingly good selection of wines, a ladies’ night on Thursdays and a high tea if that’s more your vibe!
And yes, there’s an adults-only pool, so your sanity (or what’s left of it) will be preserved.
Malamala Beach Club
When you’re staying on Denarau you have easy access to the marina, which is a natural jumping off point (sailing off point?) for excursions. If you’ve always wanted to experience the beach club life you have to go to Malamala, located on an island 30 minutes from Denarau that’s so perfect it looks like a Pixar movie. A ring of white sand ensconces the whole island, the water is impossibly blue and clear, and the vibes are HIGH.
It’s an epic experience with beachside cabanas, poolside loungers (book both of these before you go) an infinity pool that really does feel like it drops off the edge of the world, and day-long DJ beats that make you feel young again (well, the cocktails help with that too).
There’s also an adults-only section if your whole point of the Fiji friends’ holiday is to escape children of all forms, and if you really want to bouj your trip up, you can even make the most of the private butler service (WHAT).
Take my advice and treat yourself to a beachside massage as my friend and I did – again, it looks like a spa from a 2000s rom com with the beachfront beds. There’s something so special about your stress literally melting away while you can hear waves crashing onto the shore.
Plus, you get free use of non-motorised water sport equipment, so you can snorkel, kayak and paddleboard to your hearts’ content.
Sailing with Sabre
If I could recommend one excursion for your Fiji friends’ trip, it’s a day out sailing with Sabre. Imagine this – you’re stretched out on a ring of beanbags at the bow of an impressive catamaran, cocktail in hand, speeding towards an idyllic bay for snorkelling and swimming. Plus there is a VERY fun slide at the back of the boat that’ll have you feeling a kid again (but, unlike my youth, there was a bit of holding onto the togs for dear life).
The journey is spectacular enough, but then, if the tides are right, you’ll get to stop alongside a magical sandbar that rises out of the crystal-clear water, where you’ll get to enjoy an ice-cold Fiji Gold that’s been paddled over on a surfboard by the yacht’s crew. It’s one of those incredible travel moments you can’t do anywhere else, and it’s pure magic.
OUT TO THE ISLANDS – INTREPID, BUT MAKE IT LUXURY
Vomo Island Fiji
Ah, Vomo – this is top-of-the-line, bucket-list bestie stuff and the place everyone with an Instagram account wants to head to and the dream group chat destination everyone covets. This is luxury, baby, no two ways about it and it’s what you and your mates deserve (but can I come too, please!?).
One of Fiji’s largest private islands, Vomo isn’t messing around when it comes to dream stays. It’s only 40 minutes from Denarau via speedboat – or if you’re *that girl* (and if you are again, let’s be friends) a 15-minute helicopter.
While Vomo is known for being great for families as well, they have a huge – and very boujee – adults only section, The Rocks, where no kids are allowed and relaxing with a beverage is your highest priority.
Rooms vary from beachfront villas through to family villas with multiple bedrooms, so you can all be under the same roof. This is the place you go where you want your only worries to be your choice between a margarita and a daiquiri.
It’s also a great option for an all-inclusive stay where you never have to worry about charging anything to your room or paying as you go, but you get a lot of value with all your food included, freeing up money for activities like vapour jet scooters (seriously), diving and fliteboarding. They also offer daytrips off the island – great if you need a little variety – and you can head off to Cloud 9, a floating pontoon beach club, or even head to the Yasawa Islands to swim with manta rays.
For a friends’ bucket list trip, it’s pretty hard to go past Vomo as an option – and it’s the place that’s number-one on my own bucket list!
Lomani Island Resort and Spa
I’ve written about Lomani before – click here for the full story – but I couldn’t resist adding it here as well because it’s one of my favourite hotels in the world, let alone Fiji. Beautiful beachfront bures, a gorgeous pool, cocktails that wouldn’t be out of place in an Auckland city bar (trust me and try the Pina Coladas) and a blissful, relaxing and friendly adults-only setting had me wanting to chuck my passport in the ocean and be done with it.
They have a lot of included activities too, including dolphin watching and snorkelling, so when lounging by the pool gets a little too much, you can head out to the ocean.
These guys also head out to the same sandbar (yup, also with a stocked chilly bin) as the Sabre trip, so you if you do both, you’ll get a double experience!
Tips for ACTUALLY making this trip idea emerge from the group chat:
– If you’re wanting a best of both worlds trip, stay for a few nights in Denarau on either end of your stay, and make the most of the excursions you can jump on at the marina. As some of the island resorts can be pricier than Denarau, save a little money too.
– Bring some snacks with you. It’s kind of insane how quickly bowls of 3pm fries can add up between a group (or is that just me…) so having a few bags of chippies, nuts and other snacks will help you.
– Fiji is a fantastic spot to look for all-inclusive deals – as Flight Centre GM Heidi Walker has told us before, even having breakfast included will save you time, money and sanity.
– Make sure everyone in the group is on the same page as to the *vibe* of your friends’ holiday – eg, if there’s someone in your group that thinks hiking up mountains every morning is the way to go (I mean, get it girl) whereas everyone else wants to move as little muscles as possible, make sure you’re one, aware of this and two, are stying at places that can serve both vibes.