Fiji, known for its incredible scenery and warm, welcoming people, is reopening to international visitors starting December 1, 2021 after nearly two years of being closed to the outside world.
The 333 islands are as beautiful as ever, untouched, regrown and brimming with white sand beaches abutting warm turquoise waters.
“We are ecstatic that Fiji will open its borders to international visitors before the end of the year,” says Tourism Fiji’s CEO Brent Hill. “This is the moment we have been planning for nearly two years now and I can assure the world that Fiji is safe and ready. Fiji is the vacation the world needs and deserves right now, and we can finally offer that again starting December.”
Visitors to Fiji can expect to be welcomed into the country with open arms by the friendly locals who are as warm and hospitable as ever. Fiji remains an ideal destination where travelers can spread out amongst 333 islands, stay in boutique resorts, have an entire beach to themselves, and escape any crowds. Whether looking for an adventure, a romantic getaway, or a leisurely vacation, Fiji provides the perfect level of remoteness to detach from the worries of back home.
“It’s been almost two years since we welcomed international visitors,” says Fiji Minister for Tourism, Hon. Faiyaz Koya. “And in these two years, we’ve struggled, we’ve adapted, and we’ve prepared. Today, our national airline is ready, our hotels and tour providers are ready, and Fijians are ready to safely welcome the world back. We are ready to let happiness find you again.”
Incredible December packages are available now and starting at $1,299,ing include six nights’ accommodation, international airfare from US gateways, all meals, transfers and more through www.fijiairways.com. Additional packages for 2022 will be available soon.
Meanwhile, Fiji Airways, Fiji’s national airline, has announced that flights to the South Pacific paradise will officially resume for fully vaccinated international travelers starting December 1, 2021, with the first commercial flight from the United States to Fiji since March 2020 scheduled to depart Los Angeles and San Francisco on November 30th, arriving in Fiji (Nadi) 2nd December.
At that time, Fiji Airways will launch daily flights from Los Angeles to Fiji (Nadi) using new Airbus A350-900 aircraft, five flights a week. Flights will leave from San Francisco on its A330 aircraft, and there will be two flights a week from Honolulu using Boeing 737 MAX jets.
Packages include four nights for a couple at the luxury Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa on Denarau Island, Fiji, with its rich array of exciting guest offerings all starting from $1249 USD per person. That includes roundtrip flights with Fiji Airways, accommodation, all meals, transfers and more. Four nights at the same resort for a family of four (two adults and two kids), including return flights with Fiji Airways, accommodation, all meals, transfers and more will start from $3,499 USD.
SAMPLING OF FIJI AIRWAYS’ PACKAGE DEALS – PER PERSON
- *Shangri-La Fijian Resort Yanuca Island, Fiji – 6 Nights from US$1,299 (Flights, Accommodation, All Meals, Transfers & More)
- *InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa – 6 Nights from US$1,499 (Flights, Accommodation, All Meals, Transfers & More)
- *Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay – 6 Nights from US$1,699 (Flights, Accommodation, All Meals, Transfers & More)
- *Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island Fiji – 6 Nights from US$1,799 (Flights, Accommodation, All Meals, Transfers & More)
- *Castaway Island Resort – 6 Nights from US$1,899 (Flights, Accommodation, All Meals, Transfers & More)
For full romance, whether honeymoon and post-COVID getaway with a loved one, head off to Yasawa, one of Fiji’s most luxurious independently owned/operated resorts. Yasawa Island Resort & Spa, Fiji, announced it will reopen and welcome international visitors with a traditional hearty “Bula” on December 18, 2021.
“Our Fijian family is at the ready and delighted to finally welcome couples, singles and families and groups in time for a traditional tropical holiday escape,” says Director/Owner James McCann.
In celebration of re-opening and to welcome guests, the resort is offering a series of Ultimate Island Escape specials with savings up to 20%. These include “Welcome Back,” “Yasawa Relaxation,” “Complimentary Airfare,” “Year-Round” “Low Season Resort Credit,” “Wedding,” “Honeymoon” and “Family Weeks At Yasawa.” To learn more, visit www.yasawa.com.
Yasawa Island Resort & Spa is located on a 7,000-acre island that is home to a handful of Fijian villagers. Access to the Resort via a 30-minute flight by private party air transfer from Nadi International Airport.
The island resort opens after a major refurbishment that includes new wooden bure doors and decks, sleek outdoor stone showers with cinnamon wood privacy screens, elegant pergolas over the each bure entrance, and other enhancements that include a new outdoor pizza oven and barbecue area for alfresco dining.
Tucked away in the lush Yasawa group of Islands off the coast of main Island of Viti Levu in the Yasawa group of islands, this secluded haven offers 18 authentically thatched luxury bungalows hidden among calming tropical foliage. Bungalows are only steps from a pristine stretch of beachfront.
Fijian style bungalows are fashioned with palm thatched roofs, plantation shutters, an expansive sun deck and personal hammock. Guests enjoy all-inclusive conveniences with a choice of dining at the new al fresco main dining complex with 180-degree view of the ocean, beachside, at the horizon pool or in the privacy of your very own beach hut. The chef places an emphasis on “fresh” whether it is from the garden or ocean. The poolside Manasa’s Bar named after a long-time resort employee, serves signature cocktails from dawn to dusk.
For the ultimate in relaxation, the full service Baravi Spa, offers ocean view massages. Recommended: Baravi Rhythm, which is a four-handed synchronized massage that moves with the sound of ocean waves. Hot rock therapies are also recommended as they make use of the black volcanic stones that hold the history of the island in their creation.
A multitude of complimentary resort activities provide something for everyone. Guests enjoy swimming in the crystal waters of the famous Sawa-I-Lau Caves, snorkeling among pristine corals and columns of tropical fish, sea kayaking, boating on a catamaran, stand up paddle boarding and windsurfing. Back on shore, they enjoy tennis, volleyball hiking and rugby matches.
For the adventurous there is deep sea fishing and PADI scuba diving available for an additional charge. A favorite pastime of many guests is a complimentary uninhibited private beach picnic on a deserted white sandy beach.
Fiji COVID Protocols
The country will still have entry requirements in place to ensure the utmost safety of both visitors and locals. These include being a fully vaccinated traveler, providing a negative RT-PCR test taken 72 hours prior to departure from home country, taking a rapid test 48 hours after arriving to your resort, and fulfilling any obligation to take an additional test prior to returning home, based on individual home country requirements.
Unvaccinated children under the age of 18 will be able to travel to Fiji accompanied by a vaccinated adult. Travel insurance, as always, is highly recommended.
The health and safety of its people and visitors remains Fiji’s number one priority, and the country is able to open back up thanks to a successful vaccination program which has reached over 80% vaccination of its eligible population with both doses. Travelers can book and travel in confidence with the Care Fiji Commitment, where they can stay in certified resorts, use certified transportation and experiences, and be assured that all tourism businesses they come in to contact with have a 100% vaccinated staff.
To align itself with the country’s Covid 19 protocols, Yasawa Island Resort & Spa is a CFC-certified Resort, and has reported that all of the its more than 60 person staff have been fully vaccinated and 80 % of nearby local villages have received a double dose of the vaccine. Prior to lockdown, the upscale resort was a quarantine-approved Resort.
Author: Lark Gould
Lark Gould has been a travel industry journalist for more than 30 years. She shares her insight on cruise travel, air travel, hotels, resorts, popular activities, attractions and destinations to assist travel advisors and travelers with the current news and information they need to travel well.
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