Traveling to New Zealand had always been a bit of a dream of ours. All of the different landscapes, valleys, mountains, waterfalls. So much to see. You’re probably wondering why we’re talking about New Zealand when this is supposed to be a review about a Fiji resort. Don’t worry, we’ll get to that. But first, let’s talk about how we got there.
In searching for flights to New Zealand, we came across a deal on Scott’s Cheap Flights, which if you don’t subscribe to, you SHOULD. They send you all sorts of customized flight deals that are literally out of this world. We stumbled upon a deal for flights to New Zealand, which had a layover in Fiji. It gave you the option of extending your layover for up to 72 hours prior to continuing on to New Zealand. $600 round-trip per person from California. How could we pass that up? So you better believe we planned for a full layover in Fiji, and it was SO worth it.
ABOUT DOUBLETREE BY HILTON
The first thing you should probably know about DoubleTree, is their cookies. Seriously. If you haven’t stayed at a DoubleTree before, they are known for making their visitors feel welcome and at home when staying at their properties. And one of the ways they do that, is by providing chocolate chip cookies upon arrival to all their guests. They’re so famous and popular, that you can actually buy them online, or even get the recipe right from Hilton to make your own!
But the cookies aren’t just the only thing. The DoubleTree properties are truly meant to make you feel welcome and like you’re at a home away from home. From the welcoming staff interactions, to the being local and community driven. And some of their properties, like this Double Tree by Hilton Fiji Resort, are absolutely incredible.
HOW TO GET THERE
There are (currently) two Hilton properties on Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji: DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Fiji – Sonaisali Island, and Hilton Fiji Beach Resort and Spa. Both are roughly a 30 minute drive from Nadi where the main international airport is located, so when searching or booking, make sure you have the right one.
The 30 minute drive from Nadi is easy and beautiful as you pass through the countryside and mountains. On your left you’ll find a mountain in the Nausori Highlands which resembles a man laying down, and is known as the Sleeping Giant. There you’ll find the Garden of the Sleeping Giant where you can explore beautiful gardens with orchids and dense rainforests. The drive will take you right to a port that is designated specifically for transporting you across a little bay to the peninsula where the DoubleTree resides. The boats run back and forth pretty regularly, but we would still advise checking in with the hotel staff about your check-in time so they can confirm timing for the boat. The boat ride only lasts about a minute and then you are officially at the resort and on island time!
THE ROOMS
There are so many things to love about this resort. But let’s start with the rooms. The property has 120 rooms that are a mixture of hotel style rooms, partial ocean-view bures or bungalows, and premium ocean-view bures. If we could give you any advice here, is stay at one of the bures. You will thank us later. We booked using points, which made it easy and we didn’t have to worry about the out of pocket expense for choosing one of the suites. Read more about our GUIDE TO BOOKING TRAVEL WITH POINTS & MILES to learn how you can do the same.
These bures have a large open format with sliding doors that literally open up to the ocean. It doesn’t get much better than that.
THE POOL
We’ll touch on some of the other amenities and activities available to you at this resort, but one that stands out is the pool. You won’t find a better pool at any other Fiji resort on the island. This lagoon-style pool is large, with a giant climbing rock in the middle, and a swim-up seated bar offering all the tropical drinks can you imagine while enjoying this tropical paradise. With a one of a kind ocean view, plenty of seating, options for adults and kids, and a swim-up bar, and access to food at the restaurant right next door, this pool is perfect for everyone.
AMENITIES
We knew that our time in New Zealand was going to be jam packed with activities, so we opted to take more of the relaxing style stay while staying at this resort. We spent most of our time at the pool, or on the beach. Which is something we rarely do, but it was what we needed. But if you’re also hoping to get some activities in while staying here, you have options a plenty.
STAND-UP PADDLE BOARDING & KAYAKING
One of the easier and fun activities to do is stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking. Along the beaches, you’ll find both of these readily accessible to all. Simply walk up, grab what you’d like, and paddle to your hearts desire. We did some of the kayaking ourselves and it was a nice way to get out in the water, get some exercise and enjoy the ocean.
TENNIS AND VOLLEYBALL COURTS
Near the marina where you get dropped off, is a full-size tennis court and playing area for children. And in between the pool and some of the ocean-view bures you’ll also find some sand volleyball courts.
OTHER AMENITIES
In addition to the above, you’ll find
- Horseback riding,
- Scuba diving and snorkeling
- Sailing
- Paintball
- Ping pong and pool tables
- 24-hour fitness center
So if you’re looking for activities, you definitely have options. Additionally, there are plenty of other off-resort options like the Sleeping Giants Gardens, and hiking as well. Personally, we’d say relax and enjoy the views.
DINING
If you’re anything like me (Ryan), food is equally important as anything else when staying at a hotel. You’ll find 3 different dining options at this resort, Tavu Bar and Grill, Vulani, and Village Deli. And they do not disappoint.
TAVU BAR AND GRILL
Right on the beach opposite the poolside bar, is Tavu Bar and Grill. This location is open from noon to 10:00pm every single day and offers a BBQ style cuisine using local and imported meats. This is also where you’ll likely get your food from if you decide to order some food from the swim-up bar.
VILLAGE DELI
Village Deli is located near the main lobby overlooking the pool, and offers primarily grab and go type food items. This is perfect if you are heading out on an adventure, or just simply need a quick snack or bite to eat to hold you over till the next meal.
VULANI
The main restaurant at the resort is Vulani. This is where you’ll find buffet style breakfasts each morning, made to order lunches and dinners, and all with seating that wraps around the pool giving you perfect views of the pool and ocean. Especially during sunset. We would DEFINITELY recommend a sunset dinner. Speaking of which, you can also request a private beach dinner as well. This comes with a fee of course, but if you’re on a special occasion trip, or just looking to enjoy a nice dinner date, this would be the way to do it.
DOUBLETREE BY HILTON FIJI RESORT
Overall, we absolutely loved our stay. In fact, we would not have minded staying longer or making a trip just to stay at this island and this resort. Due to our limited time on the island, we really didn’t get to explore much beyond this resort, and were we to go back, we’d absolutely go out and explore more of the island. But this resort was a perfect tropical island getaway.
If you’ve been to this Fiji resort, or would like to visit here, definitely let us know in the comments below! And thanks for stopping by!
