The Fiji Islands lie in the south-west Pacific, 22 degrees south
of the equator and bisected by the 180 degrees meridian. Nadi International
Airport is the hub of South Pacific air routes and a major stop over
for flights between North America and Australia / New Zealand.
Although Fiji is the main centre for tourism in the South Pacific
Islands, the numbers of visitors is still relatively small (400,000
annually), and tourists are made to feel somewhat special. Resorts
are generally small and many are run privately. There are no high
rise hotels and no stretch where commercial tourism has taken over.
Intimacy is what Fiji has to offer. Still, the country has more hotels
than any of its neighbours, an extensive tourist infrastructure and
it is much cheaper than other parts of the South Pacific. The country
boasts some of the world's most exclusive small resorts that often
feature in Harpers' 'top 50' hotels in the world and Small Luxury
Hotels of the World. There are several International hotel chains
and some exquisite locally run resorts for couples and families.
There are small resorts dedicated to diving, surfing, sailing and
art and several luxury cruise itineraries to choose from. There is
also an extensive range of budget accommodation and camping throughout
the group making it the number one stopover in the Pacific for backpackers
.
Fiji is best known as a romantic destination where you can relax
on the beach by day and later enjoy cocktails pondering over a stunning
tropical sunset. However, few realize quite how diverse and exciting
the country is. The dive sights are amongst the best in the world
with soft corals, incredible sea life, walls, drifts and shipwrecks
to explore. Sailors and surfers alike rave about the waters and friendly
local environment. There are hills to climb for stunning views, waterfalls
to cool off in, several National Parks with trails, nature reserves
for bird watching and walking, rafting trips down rivers and village
visits to experience the very traditional Fijian way of life. There
are lively markets to visit, Fijian ceremonies to participate in
and colourful Hindu festivals to see. What's more, the Fijian people
are extremely warm and hospitable and are excellent with kids making
it a great family destination explore one of the most peaceful areas
of the world, Fiji is an all-round excellent destination for a vacation.
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