This was my first family trip to Fiji and it was nothing short of magical. My husband, our two little ones Lucas (5 years old) and Luna (4 years old), and I recently enjoyed a fantastic 5-night stay, and I’m eager to share our insights on the perfect family-friendly accommodation. Planning a trip can be overwhelming, so let me ease your worries by providing a detailed review of our stay at the Radisson Blu resort on Denarau Island (not a sponsored post).
Proximity to the Airport:
Arriving at Nadi airport at 6:30 pm, we aimed for convenience. The Radisson Blu was a quick 20-minute taxi ride and proved to be an ideal choice, especially after our 3.5hour flight. The yellow taxi’s outside the airport will charge you $45 FJD which I think is fair considering the distance but if you really want to haggle, you could bring this down to $40 FJD. Radisson Blu also offers transfers which you can organise directly through them.
Family-Friendly Accommodation:
We opted for the Courtyard 1 Bedroom King Suite – which is great for families. This spacious suite, equipped with a king bed, sofa bed, washing machine, dryer, and a fully stocked kitchen, ensured a comfortable and convenient stay. We asked for an extra roll-away bed which provided our kids with their own space, making bedtime a breeze. I wouldn’t recommend the sofa bed for an adult though; it was hard and uncomfortable in some places but was perfect for a little person like Luna.
Kids Club and Nanny Service:
The Radisson Blu goes the extra mile with its exceptional Kids Club, offering activities from 9 am to 9 pm daily. The nanny service, at $42FJD for 3 hours for up to 2 kids, provided us parents with some well-deserved alone time. The nannies, warm and attentive, became familiar faces to our kids, and they sent us photos of them and what they were getting up to. Our nanny also braided Luna’s hair in our room because the line to get hair braiding was fully booked.
Diverse Swimming Pools:
The resort boasts three pools – a beach-like pool with a swim-up bar for adults, a junior pool for little ones, and a baby pool. They also provided fresh pool towels each day.
Buffet Breakfast:
A hearty buffet breakfast was a morning highlight. While our kids enjoyed their usual fare of toast or cereal, us parents had a diverse array of options, including fresh fruit, pancakes, waffles, Indian cuisine, eggs cooked in various styles, bacon, hash browns, croissants, other baked goods and more. Tea, coffee and juice were also on offer as well as an assortment of breads and spreads to toast.
Adults-Only Option:
For those seeking a tranquil escape, the resort offers adults-only breakfast and a swimming pool, ensuring a peaceful retreat away from the vibrant family atmosphere. I didn’t get a chance to experience this but from what I saw, it looked lovely and relaxing.
Bar and Refreshments:
The onsite bar served drinks until 10 pm, offering a perfect spot for a cheeky daytime mojito or an evening nightcap before heading off to bed.
Convenient Bula Bus:
The Bula Bus, arriving every 15 minutes, became our go-to transportation. As guests at the start of the loop, we always secured a seat, providing hassle-free access to the port, ferry, and restaurants. On our way back from the port, we were one of the first to get off. Our kids loved that there were no windows on this bus but the smell of exhaust fumes might be off-putting to some.
Fitness Facilities:
Though I didn’t utilize the gym, it’s worth noting that the resort provides a well-equipped facility with weights and treadmills for fitness enthusiasts.
Water Sports:
Hidden at the back of the resort, water sports enthusiasts will find jet skis, kayaks, and paddle boards for hire. I only saw this on my last day but if I saw this earlier, I definitely would have given it a go.
I always want to share my honest reviews to my followers and readers and whilst the above is all true and made for an amazing trip, I will share the not so great experiences.
Mosquitos: Our room had about 6 mosquitos when we first arrived. I was running around the room killing it with my bare hands to make sure we didn’t get eaten alive throughout the night. I think someone must’ve left a door open prior to us arriving, and being on the ground floor that faces shrubs and trees, I’m not surprised that mosquitos made it into our room. Our friends who stayed on Level 2 and Level 3 didn’t have any mosquitos in their room so next time, I’ll be opting for those rooms.
In room dining: We spent most mornings swimming in the resort pools and by the time we came back to our room to freshen up, we were too tired to go out for lunch so we did opt for in room dining. Each time took toughly 30-40 mins to arrive which isn’t the worst but if you’re looking for a meal in a hurry, in room dining wouldn’t be fast enough. We tried the kids chicken nuggets and chips, kids cheesy pizza, a three layered club sandwich, fish and chips, wagyu beef burger and the nasi goreng and unfortunately, the food quality wasn’t the best. I’d rate it a 2.5 out of 5. It was edible, but just not great due to each meal being over cooked .
Margaritas: Margaritas is always my drink of choice, a Tommy’s margarita specifically. But unfortunately the bar staff couldn’t make it how I liked. Their limited supply of quality tequilas didn’t help here either. I did opt to drink Mojitos instead which were delicious but I wanted to point this out incase there are other margarita drinkers out there expecting a good cocktail.
Our stay at Radisson Blu on Denarau Island met my expectations, providing a perfect blend of family-friendly amenities, convenience, and leisure. If you’re considering a trip to Fiji with kids, this resort ticks all the boxes for a memorable and stress-free family vacation. It’s not a 5 star luxury resort so don’t book expecting that. I would consider this a good 3.5 to 4 star resort with a design that gives it a true Fiji island feel.
We travelled as a group of 10 adults and 9 kids total. Here’s some photos:
Joan Caballero - a personal blog 
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