 The
love of beautiful water, sun and a beach are almost
universal when it comes to honeymoons, but Fiji
takes each of these elements further than most
destinations, to a level of quality that most
couples would never believe possible – until they
arrive here. The bright waters and the colorful
coral captivate divers and snorkelers alike. The
many private beaches reachable only by boat entice
sun worshipers and privacy seekers. And, the gorgeous
private island resorts, sometimes only offering
10 bungalows, ensure all of the romance, relaxation
and intimacy anyone could want.
 Welcome
to your honeymoon in Fiji! It starts with a
flight south-west from Los Angeles, past Hawaii,
past French Polynesia, to a part of the South
Pacific that many people overlook in spite of
its natural beauty and friendly people. You
arrive in Nadi (pronounced nandi), the
international gateway city on the main island
of Viti Levu, early in the morning. You’ll have
time to clear customs, recheck your luggage
and have a cup of coffee, but soon you are on
your way to your first Fijian destination –
Qamea Island Resort in the Northern Islands.
 Located
on a private island, you first fly to Taveuni
Island, and are met at the airport by Qamea
staff who bring you, via boat (!) to the resort.
Twelve beachfront bures, all recently refurbished,
are here for your relaxation and enjoyment over
the next five days. As you unwind from your
wedding and the associated craziness, you’ll
be helped by the opportunity to take an afternoon
picnic together on a secluded beach, enjoy a
couples massage, or watch the sunset as you
dine on excellent food in a romantic environment.
For a little excitement, as you are ready for
it, there are 4WD safaris on Taveuni, and arguably
some of the best scuba and snorkeling in Fiji,
and therefore some of the best in the world.
 Relaxed
and ready for a change of scenery, but by now
unwilling to give up the intimacy of a small
resort, your next location certainly preserves
all that you have come to love on Qamea and
takes service, quality and dining to new heights.
You’ll depart Qamea for Nadi again, where you
will be taken via air charter to Yasawa Island
resort, 35 minutes to the northeast. Yasawa
is one of the 16 words in the Fijian language
that means “heaven”, and this property, featuring
16 luxurious bures, lives up to its name.
 You’ll
be staying in a deluxe bure, right on the beach.
Because it is so beautiful and spacious you
may find you’ll never want to leave…but perhaps
the beach and the water can tear you away. There
is a lot to do here as well, so venture out
for at least part of each day – for a snorkeling
trip, to play some tennis, for a bit of deep
sea fishing or possibly a sunset sail. Be sure
to enjoy a traditional Fijian Kava ceremony
– the making of this important beverage and
sharing it afterwards is a cultural highlight
not to be missed.
Dinner each night
at Yasawa is heavenly as well. A dedicated chef
and viticulturalist offer you the abundance of
local Fijian offerings fused with contemporary
cuisine, making this a culinary journey that
will delight gourmets as well as those who
simply enjoy eating. And no worries here – dress
is casual, no need for heels, slacks or anything
that will detract from the setting and the
moment.
After five nights
on Yasawa it’s time to return to Nadi for your
flight home. You’ll have time for a little
shopping and dinner in town before your
international flight so you can pick up some
postcards and last minute souvenirs – basically
all those things that will make your friends and
family jealous of your 10 beautiful days in
Fiji!
Who
will enjoy this trip
Couples who value small resorts, intimate
surroundings, and the ability to truly be away
from civilization on an extended basis.
Who
should avoid this trip
Those requiring a bit more in the way of full
service resorts and city access might enjoy
the Coral Coast south of Nadi on Viti Levu.
Adventurists should head for the larger islands
rather than the private islands as there exist
more in the way of national parks and outdoor
activities such as kayaking and hiking.
Those seeking a lower cost honeymoon alternative.
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