Our honeymoon in Fiji started with flights to Nadi, Fiji on Air Pacific and we were lucky to be upgraded to Air Pacific Tabua Class or Business Class! We purchased regular coach tickets like just about everyone does, but at check in, we were able to purchase the upgrade to business class seats for about $600 each! This was a huge savings over the regular rate for business class tickets. We weren’t so lucky on our return and didn’t get the upgrade. However, Air Pacific’s service was great in both directions. In the Tabua Class we had more room to stretch out and a full hot meal. In Coach Class we also had a full meal, just not as many choices. A generous beverage service, movie and music selections in both cabins. If you can swing it at the time of check in, I would recommend paying for the upgrade!
Once we arrived in Fiji it was just after 5am and surprisingly we were wide awake and ready to go! There were friendly Bula’s being sung out everywhere with warm Fijian smiles to match. After collecting our luggage we were met by Rosies Tours with these little towels scented with mint, bottles of cold Fiji Water and a beautiful tropical fresh flower lei; what a way to arrive in style!
Qamea Beach Resort & Spa, Fiji Islands
Next we were taken across the street to the Island Hoppers Tarmac for our flight to the island of Taveuni. They have new fixed wing planes with leather seats and air conditioning. The flight was beautiful, clear skies led way to see the smaller islands and the crystal clear blue lagoons – just stunning!
Once we landed on the island of Taveuni we were met by a member of Qamea’s staff and taken to the boat dock. Qamea’s dive boat picked us up and about 10 minutes later we were there….in front of one of the most beautiful beaches that we had ever seen dotted with little huts! We would later learn that the little huts are the bures that we would be staying in, right on the beach.
We spent 7 beautiful nights in the Royal Beach House! It was amazing, our own private pool, an outdoor rock shower and the beach just steps away! It was like our own private slice of heaven! A chilled bottle of Champagne was waiting for us in our bure and they had placed fresh tropical flowers everywhere…talk about romance, romance was everywhere! The staff was amazing, we have never felt such a warm welcome (after all this is a hotel /resort right? not), we felt like we were in their private homes – like family! The food was beyond our expectations. A bounty of fresh tropical fruit every morning and strong coffee, a perfect start to the day. Fresh fish every night pared with New Zealand and Australian wines. We spent our days on the beach (I even found a heart shaped piece of coral that I took home!), snorkeling right off the beach seeing a wide variety of colorful tropical fish and kayaking in the beautiful blue lagoon! Our evenings were filled with memories of the Qamea Band playing Fijian favorites as we gazed into the sunset, chatting with the other guests & staff and ending the night with a dip in our private pool!
We stayed over a Sunday and went to the Naiviivi Village on the island of Qamea for a local Fijian church service. Even though the entire service was in the Fijian language we were awestruck! Their language is so lyrical and the singing is so angelic and beautiful. It was one of the highlights of our trip. We also toured the Naivivi Village during the day, met the village chief and experienced a Kava ceremony. Kava is the national drink in Fiji, a powder made from dried and ground roots of the Kava plant. Everyone sits in a circle while the Kava is mixed with water in a wooden Tanoa bowl. As we sit in the circle amongst the Fijian villagers telling stories and singing, a coconut bowl of Kava is passed around for all to drink. As one drinks from the coconut there are a series of claps before it is filled and passed along to the next person. Now I can’t really say it tastes good; it is a light brown color and makes your mouth tingle. They say it helps you relax and sleep soundly, maybe we didn’t drink enough…..but once is enough! The experience itself was one we will remember forever!
I also experienced one of Qamea’s signature Jungle Spa massages. I was a bit nervous to be honest as I’m quite ticklish and haven’t experienced many massages at the hands of a professional in my lifetime. As I walked the tropical path to the spa I was yet again in awe by the beauty that is synonymous to Qamea. Around every twist and turn you are presented with another unique form of visual delight. Qamea not only offers a feast for the waistline but for the eyes too…everywhere!
As I got closer the steps ascended into a forest canopy of emerald green. The Spa itself is a very serene and calming place with low music and delicious scented candles to set the mood. Charlotte welcomed me and showed me to a changing room. Here I undressed and put on a Qamea robe. Charlotte then lead me to a treatment room. She asked me what type of massage we would like in terms of pressure. I said firm. Over the next hour I was at the mercy of the lovely Charlotte and she worked her way through all of the kinks and knots. Not once did I feel ticklish! It was true bliss and such a treat. At Qamea time slows again and for those of us who live in a busy, rush- rush world it is such a positive feeling to get back to basics again and to be able to take the time to breathe. I left the spa feeling like the weight of the world was lifted with my entire body feeling moisturized and pampered. The only problem is once you have experienced one of Qamea’s massages you then continue to think about when you can have another and another… I think I can safely assume my massage drought has now passed!
My new husband used this time to try one of the new activities at Qamea; stand up paddle boarding! The activity boys at Qamea were on hand to give instruction and even went out into the lagoon with him. Needless to say it took a few tries before he was up and standing. He booked his massage the next morning!
It was time to say good bye and we found tears in our eyes as the staff sang the Fijian farewell song; Isa Lei. We will remember our honeymoon forever and will return to this magical island.
When we arrived back into Nadi we checked in for our sad flights home only to find we had a rather long wait in the Nadi Airport. Being adventurous, we took a taxi into Nadi town for a look around. You can walk up and down the blocks in about 20 minutes but by walking a bit further we were able to find a great little restaurant; Chefs and had a great Indian curry dish for dinner. Back to the airport….we had passes to enter Air Pacific’s Airport Departure Lounge and were able to grab a beverage in the air conditioned waiting area before we departed for Los Angeles.
Was this the best trip we have ever taken? Yes! Would we do it again? Yes! Would we change anything? Not one single thing, it was the perfect honeymoon!
Annie & Matthias
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This Honeymoon review was written by staff member Annie. Contact Annie if you would to hear more about her Honeymoon. She would be happy to chat with you.
Warm regards,
Remarkable Honeymoons
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