So you’ve homed in on a dream South Pacific getaway. Lucky you.
You’re excited. You’re feeling the warmth. You’ve already seen the pictures – lush mountains, white-sand beaches, brilliant underwater scenes, poolside sundowners – and, we hate to report, they’re all better in real life. So it’s time for the hard part: which palm-fringed place will best fulfill your desires?
Two destinations usually land at the top of most travelers’ wish lists: Fiji and Rarotonga (and the other Cook Islands). We’re certainly not qualified to weigh the merits of one versus the other – which is why we’ve asked two expert travel writers to make the case for their archipelagic nation of choice.
Shaney Hudson grew up in Sydney, spent way too much time living in Europe, and now races to the South Pacific with her family as much as possible in search of warm weather and a resort kid’s club that stays open all day. She enjoys coconut cream in her cocktails.
Choosing between Fiji and the Cook Islands can feel impossible: both offer the tropical trifecta of swaying palm trees, aquamarine water and idyllic beaches. As a frequent visitor with my family to both nations, I appreciate all their many charms. But when push comes to shove and the time off gets locked in, Fiji stands out in almost every way. From its tourism infrastructure to its cultural experiences, opportunities for exploration and diversity of activities, Fiji surpasses the Cooks. Above all else, it’s a place that greets visitors with a warmth that feels like coming home.
There’s no sugarcoating it: unless you’re flying from Auckland, it’s a hassle to get to the Cook Islands most of the year, thanks to fewer flight options and long connections. By contrast, Fiji's direct connections to Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the USA make travel here markedly more convenient. (Flights on the nation’s flagship carrier, Fiji Airways, are an especially pleasant option.) Once you’ve arrived in Nadi, Fiji’s well-developed tourist infrastructure becomes apparent through seamless onward options, from ferries and seaplanes to helicopters and private car transfers.
Fiji is big, with 333 islands composing its archipelago. Yet most of Fiji’s resorts cluster around Nadi, the Coral Coast, and the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands, with many of Fiji’s world-class resorts occupying their own private specks. Brisk competition between major chains and the destination’s growing popularity with travelers mean that most properties have in recent years put big money into renovating their rooms and overhauling their resort facilities.
And while it might be easy to argue Fiji’s resorts form a bubble set apart from the daily life of locals, Fiji’s reputation for hospitality can’t be
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