Fiji with small kids = expensive resort??

I am a barrister in Australia. My wife is a public servant. I have ridden horses through the backblocks of Mali, rock-climbed in Ethiopia, travelled by public bus in East Timor, and driven from Kathmandu to Lhasa. But now I have two kids -- two and a half and five, and what I want to do is lie in the sun and read books while someone else looks after the kids from time to time. And eat decent food. So I googled 'best kids clubs Fiji' and it seems like people think the best kids' clubs are at some of the most expensive resorts. But I don't really like expensive resorts, and I'm not sure that many of the kids' clubs cater to under threes anyway. I like little, simple inexpensive yet tasteful places: Gheralta Lodge in Ethiopia, Virgin Cove in Samoa, Mu and Seraya Shores in Bali, etc.

So I'm wondering, specifically in relation to Fiji, whether most resorts frequented by families will be able to offer babysitting so that the kids will have just as good a time as in a kids' club, or not.

I would appreciate any general comments as well as any specific recommendations for a winter's holiday in July this year: 10 to 14 days. The availability of surfing lessons would be a plus.

the intercontinental is one of the best places with kids, not cheap but lots of advantages, a very large kids only pool, recognised as the best beach in Fiji with waves and very good food, lots of parents go there with very small children including our family. at the other end of the scale though may be a bit basic for you, is a small island called Leleuvia, which is very safe for children, and you could get your own nanny to play with the kids each day.

Jbinternational, thanks very much for the referral to Leleuvia Island. That looks like a great resort and is very well reviewed.

How about Plantation Island Resort, its a lot cheaper than the Intercontinental.

I can recommend Octopus Resort (or their sister resort Blue Lagoon Beach Resort) in the Yasawas. Octopus is bigger and not so far to travel. Both have great beaches, snorkelling, no kids club but very good babysitters to look after children. Check out their websites and I can answer any specific questions you may have. Have been to both many times with family (grandchildren from 1 year old to 9 years). BLBR has a better beach for small children, but both are great.

why not consider a homestay in a village - you won't see your kids the whole time you are there because they will be off playing from dask to dawn with the children of the village

http://www.fijitraveltips.com/index.php/features/stay-in-a-fijian-village

and

http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_Review-g1552721-d1550691-Reviews-Danny_s_Village_Homestay-Namatakula_Coral_Coast_Viti_Levu.html

Ditto what #4 said. They're a step above Samoa's Virgin Cove, but still nowhere near being one of those mega-resorts back on the mainland.

There's no surfing at them, or at least not for beginners needing lessons, as they're reef breaks that you'd take a boat out to - but that applies for much of Fiji. You're better off taking lessons back in Australia.

the intercontinental is the only place on the island that has waves that you can learn to surf, or surf board and it never seems crowded when I am there and I've been there several times, its the type of place that people keep on going back to.