Like flippers improve snorkelling, stopovers improve long-haul flights, especially when said stopover is in Fiji! Why have one vacay when you can have two? With Fiji, it doesn’t take much to convince your clients that a stopover en route to North America is a good idea. Especially with Fiji Airways announcing their new Dallas-Fort Worth service!
Not that anyone needs an excuse to return to the Soft Coral Capital of the World, but with Fiji Airways now offering five North American stops – Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, Vancouver and now Dallas – your clients can readily add beautiful beaches, tropical vibes, effortless stays, and Fiji’s famous hospitality to every USA or Canada trip!
How to plan the perfect Fiji stopover
If there’s one thing Fiji does super well, it’s get you into relaxation mode quick smart. Why wait until landing in North America to switch off from meetings that could have been an email, school PTA club notifications, and the deepening frowns about the cost of avocados and zucchini?
A perfect stopover has a range of steps, in our humble opinion. How does Fiji stack up?
- Sunshine: check
- Welcoming locals: check
- Wide range of activities: check
- Great food: check
- Drinks with umbrellas in them: check
- Accommodation for all budgets: check
- Accessibility: check
- Suitable for every kind of traveller: check
- Good vibes: check
100% perfect, yeah?!
With all these good times (and good vibes) in mind, we recommend at least 36 hours between flights to soak it all up. To relax, recharge, top up the tan, and ensure vacay mode is fully activated.
Where to stay on a Fiji stopover?
For short stays, Denarau is an obvious location for Fiji stopovers, not only for its wide range of accommodation, fun watersport options, and countless pampering spas but port access, too.
Being port side makes it easy to day trip to fabulous island hotspots like Seventh Heaven, Tivua Island, or Cloud 9. Plus, take to the turquoise seas with Sabre Sailing!
Around Denarau Port, there are also popular spots like Cardo’s Steakhouse (a local/expat hang known for its cheap eats and lively atmosphere). The abundance of 5-star reviews at fresh seafood restaurant, Sails, demonstrates it’s not to be missed.
Are you booking a multi-gen trip? Check out these epic places to stay.
The Coral Coast
For travellers who love both relaxation and adventure, the Coral Coast is an ideal place to enjoy a stopover before the flight to North America (and on the way home, of course – soften the blow of a return to work/school/life).
With 130 kilometres of coastline to entice, the pristine beaches, calm swimming conditions (great for families), and lush forests make for a perfect place for some R&R. The Coral Coast is also a great place to connect with the authentic Fijian way of life.
While there is a range of activities on offer along this coastline, we had a Karryon office poll and decided we’d add a Sigatoka River Safari jetboating adventure and ride an electric bike along an old railway track with EcoTrax to our stopover stay.
For surfers, Cloudbreak, south of Namotu Island, is a top spot. Staying at properties around Momi Bay ensures maximum action surfing rad breaks every day as it’s only 20 minutes by boat to reach Cloudbreak’s legendary surf.
Don’t believe us that the surf is world-renowned for being epic? The World Surf League is on right now, returning after a 5-year hiatus.
What’s new in Fiji
Lauded as a destination in its own right, the newly opened Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay could be just the ticket (room card?) for stopover travellers looking to break up their journey to North America.
The chance to bask under Fiji’s glorious sun on Wailoaloa Beach, swim in the tropical ocean temps, and enjoy the property’s 10 food and beverage outlets – plus beach club and night club – is the kind of okay-twist-my-arm encouragement we appreciate to justify a stopover.
Around the Crowne Plaza, there are also local beach bars, cheap eats, and plenty of spots to relax with a cocktail or beer.
In other news, of course, there’s also the aforementioned new Fiji Airways route to Dallas-Fort Worth, commencing 10 December this year.
Offering access to Southern USA is a thrilling addition for every Australian. Not least because Fiji Airways airfares are affordable, the onboard service (aka the famous Fijian hospitality) is exemplary, and stopovers are easy and encouraged!
Sign us up!
The deets
To discover more stopover inspo, head to Fiji.travel.
Stay tuned for news of Tourism Fiji’s Matai Specialist Training Program upgrade.
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