A Fashion Editor’s Dispatch From Fiji: Where to Stay and Spa

as survivor Dear fans, I was sure that my first trip to Fiji would include at least one gratuitous B-roll sequence of Jeff Probst, the CBS film crew, and me staring dramatically into the distance. But sadly, my encounter with this South Pacific country replaced bamboo shelters with air-conditioned hotel rooms and rationed rice with five-star meals. Although it was a difficult mission, it was a sacrifice I was willing to make. (You better believe I’m still lost in thought. Pictures worthy of Parvatihowever. ) After spending six nights touring the islands around Fiji, I returned with a deep appreciation for this country’s natural beauty, chic resorts, and warm hospitality. That’s certainly true, survivor, love island, and cast away Despite having made films, Fiji’s television and film legend disproportionately pleased me.

overview

Located approximately 1,100 miles south of the equator and comprising more than 300 islands in the South Pacific, Fiji is full of coral reefs, world-famous surf breaks, rainforests, white sand beaches, and rich marine biodiversity. And that’s just the realm of nature. Luxury resorts with overwater bungalows called bures attract tourists to top-notch restaurants, luxurious spas, trendy bars, and fun beach clubs. And thanks to the friendly Fijian people, you can experience all of the above while surrounded by the warm glow of the Bula spirit. In Fiji, people are often greeted with the word “bla”, which doesn’t just mean hello, but reflects the fun, generous and welcoming spirit of Fiji.

weather: Fiji has a warm tropical climate all year round. November to April is hot and rainy, while May to October is typically cooler and drier.

directions: Nadi International Airport (NAN) fiji airwaysis the busiest airport in the country. Fiji Airways flies non-stop to Nadi from Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Honolulu (HNL). No matter which city in the United States you depart from, prepare to time travel across the International Date Line. I took a late night flight from Los Angeles on Tuesday, slept like a baby on a hitch-free Fiji Airways flight, and arrived in Nadi on Thursday morning.

Hint: Fiji Airways’ direct flights from the continental United States typically arrive in Nadi between 5am and 6am. So consider paying for a hotel room the night before so you can check in right away.

time difference: Fiji does not observe daylight saving time, so the time difference with the United States varies depending on the time of year. Fiji is 19 hours ahead of Los Angeles during daylight saving time (mid-March to early November) and 20 hours ahead of Los Angeles during standard time (early November to mid-March). It may sound uncomfortable at first, but I honestly found this time difference easier to communicate with my family in California than traveling to Europe.

Where to stay

As the daughter of an avid surfer, my favorite fun fact is: Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay is the closest resort to the mainland. break in the cloudsone of the world’s most famous surf breaks (and Kelly Slater’s all-time favorite wave). As such, the resort has served as the official venue for several World Surf League events, including the 2024 World Surf League. corona fiji pro And in 2025 Lexus WSL Final Fiji. In other words, don’t be surprised if you spot pro surfers around the grounds between the south swells.

Another interesting fact: this resort has the only overwater burure on mainland Fiji’s Viti Levu Island. Each of these thatched villas (pictured above, bottom tier) has a private deck with direct access to the tranquil lagoon. Floating in this warm turquoise lagoon was my favorite activity at Momi Bay. It wasn’t until my fingers started pruning that I reluctantly decided to swim back to shore.

Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay has some great restaurants. On the sea side of the resort, fish barserving freshly caught seafood and Instagram-worthy sunsets. I also loved the relaxed atmosphere of Voi Voi Bar (pictured above right) where I ordered a beer and took a Fijian cooking class. (To see other activities I tried, head to the “What to do” section below.)

(Image credit: Provided by Marriott)

Here’s a bird’s-eye view of Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay’s free-standing Fiji Bure from both the water and the beach. The hotel also offers standard rooms in a two-story building on the east side of the lagoon.

Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island was the second stop on our luxury tour of Fiji. Accessible only by boat or helicopter, the island is approximately 34 miles off the coast of Nadi. A private boat dropped us directly onto the sand (pictured above, bottom left). I was itching to get into the sea right away. There is great and convenient snorkeling right in front of the resort, where you can see green sea turtles, Nemo-like clownfish, angelfish, and a rainbow of colorful corals. In fact, the corals are so famous that Jacques Cousteau called Fiji the “Soft Coral Capital of the World.”

After snorkeling, I got ready for dinner and wore a polka dot dress from Et Ochs and a red woven bag from Apaya. It matched the fallen hibiscus I had found and put behind my ear. Did you know that in Fijian, Hawaiian, Polynesian, and other cultures, wearing a flower in your left ear indicates you are in a relationship or married, and wearing a flower in your right ear indicates you are single?I can confidently say that Tokoriki is the most beautiful place I have ever taken costume photos. So it was obviously added to my IG grid right away.

Hint: At low tide, it’s too shallow to cross safely over the reef, so at high tide you’ll need to snorkel or rent a jet ski. So be sure to ask the resort staff about timings. (However, you can swim in shallow water near the shoreline even at low tide.) Oh, and learn from my mistake. If you go snorkeling, don’t forget to apply sunscreen to the soles of your feet.

(Image credit: Courtesy of Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island, Fiji)

It took us less than five minutes to put on our fins, swim leisurely through the seagrass, and reach the edge of the reef in front of the Sheraton Resort & Spa on Tokoriki Island, pictured above. If you prefer, you can hitchhike to the resort’s jet ski tow vehicle.

Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort is a foodie’s paradise. While it doesn’t have as spectacularly crystal clear water and white sand as the other two hotels we’ve already mentioned above, it does have a much wider range of restaurants and the biggest breakfast buffet we’ve ever seen.

New opening Cellar & Barrel is Fiji’s only specialty wine and whiskey bar, and the resort’s cafe 28G was the only place we found authentic matcha lattes during our week-long island hopping trip. I also had the delicious dessert pictured above (bottom right) here. A crunchy puffed rice cake coated with dark chocolate is topped with mango mousse coated with yellow frosting, then swirled with whipped cream and strawberry slices. We also enjoyed a tour of the resort’s beehive and 5-acre farm (pictured above and below left). There, seasonal vegetables and fruits are grown on-site for the six on-site restaurants and bars.

what to pack

• Reef-safe sunscreen: As mentioned earlier, Fiji is known as the “Soft Coral Capital of the World,” so instead of chemical sunscreen ingredients, stock up on reef-safe sunscreens made with mineral UV filters like non-nano zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Avoid oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, and parabens, which have been linked to coral bleaching and damage to marine ecosystems. A colleague of mine recently gave a detailed review of Osea’s Marine Screen SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen ($42), which is made with non-nano zinc oxide.
• Durable wide-brimmed hat with chin strap: Sorry, but fluffy sun hats won’t hold up when you’re on a windy boat ride. Both a stiff brim and a chinstrap are necessary to provide adequate sun protection in windy conditions and to ensure that the hat does not blow away easily. The one pictured above that I’m wearing is Your Stylist Says. vest hat ($130). I’m obsessed with this hat and have been wearing it for over 4 years now.I also came to Kauai with you.Oahu, Montecito, and many other locations. Although it’s not “packable” in the sense that it doesn’t fold, designer Abby Arad This Instagram Reel shows a genius way to keep it hidden in your suitcase. Oh, and Hilary Duff owns one too!
• Books related to the theme: There’s nothing I love more than creating themed reading lists for my trips. For example, in Savannah, Georgia I Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evilchronicles the murders that take place in the southern city’s most haunted mansion. I packed my bags for Fiji. Escape!: Novel by ex survivor Contestant Stephen Fishback. (As mentioned above, the show is filmed in Fiji.) It’s a story about a reality TV competition set on a tropical island. Lord of the Flies type of situation. I promise you I don’t have to fall in love with you survivor Watch this fictionalized version of the reality show’s seedy private parts.

what to do

• Village tour: Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay organizes guided visits to nearby villages, where four generations of residents greet us with song and dance (pictured above, top left). We also participated in a kava ceremony, a South Pacific tradition that dates back over 3,000 years. This involves specially preparing and drinking drinks made from kava root.
• Craft workshop: All three hotels I stayed at offered fun craft projects using palm leaves. There, you can learn how to shape and loop palm fronds to make functional objects such as fans (pictured above right), baskets, and small keepsakes, with step-by-step guidance from your local host.
• spa: All three of the hotels mentioned above had surprisingly tranquil spas. After foolishly getting a sunburn on the soles of my feet while snorkeling, I indulged in a Dilo Sun Cooling Lap at the Sheraton Resort & Spa on Tokoriki Island (pictured above, bottom left). Using traditional Fijian dilo oil (a locally used vegetable oil known for its soothing and restorative properties), it is applied as a body wrap to ensure the cooling properties are fully absorbed. It was exactly what this pale girl needed after her sunburn.
• jet ski: All stops offered jet ski rentals, but I think the best views are found at the Sheraton Resort & Spa on Tokoriki Island. There, you’ll skim the water’s surface as it shifts from pale turquoise to deep sapphire, layers of coral visible just below the surface, and small uninhabited islands dotting the horizon.