FIJI OR VANUATU?

Hi,

I'm looking to arrange a Pacific island holiday with my wife and 14-month son and was looking at either Fiji or Vanuatu.

We're looking to stay a week and are we're the sort of couple that would love to flop down on a beautiful beach for a few days but also get out a bit, do a day-trip or two, see a bit of local culture -- if at all possible with a baby in tow.

Our model in the past has been the much-maligned Bali -- which we've been to a couple of times together and dug the hell out of. Yeah, it's overdeveloped and touristy as hell and the beaches aren't even that clean or nice, but the people are great, the food awesome, the hotels great value and you can drive a beat-up truck around the island to lovely places like Ubud for $10 a day.

Also, really dug the scene at Boracay in the Philippines when I was there and thought Koh Pangan and Koh Samui in Thailand were perfectly lovely places despite some travellers comparing them poorly with other Thai destinations.

If we can capture that blend of convenience and adventure in either Fiji or Vanuatu, brilliant, because we live in Melbourne and the thought of the five-hour haul to Fiji with our one-year-old fills us with enough dread as it is, let alone going further.

So it would be great if we can stay at a nice, laid-back kid-friendly resort or two within reasonable distance of a pleasant town with restaurants and amenities. If anyone thinks they know places that fill the bill, we'd LOVE to hear from you.

A last qualifier -- we're not really into the rough and tumble of backpackers or Kontiki-style resorts or the usual LP youth-oriented places and would hope to avoid places that pack bunches of people into tours against their will or better judgement like the plague. We're prepared to spend up to US$200 a night on accomm but don't want to be stuck at a remote resort, no matter how beautful if it means eating and drinking at the hotel every night....

God, how fussy are we?

Cheers,
Ian

If you liked Bali and Boracay, then you should definitely choose Fiji.
Also, Fiji has many specifically kid-friendly resorts. Most of these are along the Coral Coast, where the beaches may be quite average, but it's a great location for independent exploring of Fiji's main island. There are better beaches on smaller islands, but there you'd be truly stuck and would have to be happy with a the resort's activities.

I second Fiji as the best choice. The flight will be fine - don't worry - just make sure your child has something to eat or drink when descending (the ears usually cause the biggest problems).

I agree with the others.
If you can afford a little more, look at the Shangri La in Fiji- If you want lots of resorts , then maybe Denearau Island - a clusterf of 4 and 5 star places, a short drive from Nadi town.

Fijians are marvellous with kids, the FJ $ is way down and good value (for a Pacific nation)

Thanks for the tips people, looks like Fiji could be the go.