Travelers seeking an island getaway often treat Fiji as one option on a South Pacific buffet. Which is better, Fiji or Bora Bora? Fiji or Tahiti? Fiji or Maldives?

But these comparisons don’t do Fiji (or any of these places) justice. Don’t come to Fiji just for its white-sand beaches and cerulean seas—come for the things that make it special. Join a celebratory lovo feast. Watch a traditional firewalking ceremony. Have a Fiji Bitter beer at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, the bustling capital. See birds and animals that live nowhere else on earth.¹

You could spend a year exploring all 330 islands, but a week’s enough to fall in love. This quick Fiji travel guide suggests a few of the best things to do, see, and taste.

3 reasons you need travel insurance for Fiji

1. Fiji is very far from home. A direct flight from Los Angeles is about 11 hours. It’s a delight to get away from it all… until something happens that means you have to leave the island, urgently. If you suffer a serious injury or illness during your Fiji vacation, you may need a medical evacuation to Australia or New Zealand. And if you don’t have travel insurance with emergency transportation benefits, you’ll have to pay the bill yourself. Trip interruption benefits can reimburse you for lost trip expenses and your travel home, if you have to cut your Fiji trip short for a covered reason.
2. Emergency medical insurance is a must for Fiji. It’s an island paradise, you think. What could go wrong? Every destination has risks, and Fiji is no exception. Travelers can be injured during activities, such as horseback riding or scuba diving. And they can fall ill; dengue fever, heatstroke, and ciguatera fish poisoning are some common causes.² Emergency medical and dental benefits can reimburse you for the cost of covered care if you experience a sudden, unexpected illness, injury, or medical condition while traveling.
3. Insurance protects your Fiji travel investment. On average, a week in Fiji for a couple costs more than $2,800 without airfare, according to Budget My Travel.³ When you’re splurging on a tropical vacation, travel insurance is a must. Trip cancellation/trip interruption benefits can reimburse you for lost trip costs (up to the limit specified in your plan) if you have to cancel or cut short your trip for a covered reason.

3 of the best travel insurance plans for Fiji

• For overseas vacations, OneTrip Prime is our most popular plan. It includes all the key benefits you need to protect your wellbeing, your possessions, and your trip investment. Planning a family vacation to Fiji? Children 17 and younger are covered for free when traveling with a parent or grandparent (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents).
• OneTrip Basic gives you trustworthy international travel protection that easily fits your budget. It includes trip cancellation and interruption up to $10,000, emergency medical benefits up to $10,000, emergency transportation up to $50,000, and more.
• If your Fiji vacation is only one of the fabulous trips you’re planning, an annual travel insurance plan can be a big money saver. Consider AllTrips Premier, which can protect every trip you take (up to 90 days in length) for 365 days and can cover your entire household. Choose your preferred benefit level for trip cancellation/interruption.

Did you know that more than 55 million American travelers each year trust Allianz Travel Insurance to safeguard their adventures? See all our plan options and get a quote for your next trip.

3 of the best things to do in Fiji

1. Meet a majestic manta ray. Fiji is one of the best places in the world to snorkel, swim, or dive with the world’s largest rays. Don’t be scared! They’re gentle, toothless filter feeders. The best time to encounter a manta ray is between May and October. Local guides can take you to the best spots and even identify individual mantas by their markings.⁴
2. Experience village life with a homestay. When you stay a night or two in a village, you can play rugby with the local kids, enjoy home-style cooking, and share kava, a traditional drink, with new friends. Just be sure to follow the rules of etiquette, and present sevusevu to the village chief (a gift of kava roots and/or cash) when you arrive.⁵
3. Relax with a traditional Bobo massage. More than just a spa treatment, Fijian Bobo (pronounced “mm-bombo”) incorporates traditional, rhythmic techniques and healing arts. “Skilled practitioners use their thumbs, fingers, palms, and forearms to apply a series of pressing, chopping, cupping and sweeping strokes with varying degrees of pressure,” the island’s tourism board explains. “There’s also a rare foot-based Bobo technique, typically found in some traditional Fijian villages.”

3 of the best resorts in Fiji

Looking for unparalleled luxury? Como Laucala Island is widely considered one of the best resorts in Fiji for privacy and pampering. There are just 25 villas on a private island, “each in its own lost world: suspended over the water, on hilltops, amidst rainforest and beside the rolling waves.” Ride horses, watch the sunset from a vintage sailboat, tour the on-site farm, or play a round of golf.

For a delightful stay at a more accessible price, look at the Malolo Island Resort. Owned by a local Fijian family, it’s a favorite destination for families. Stay in a beachfront bure and spend your days snorkeling, paddleboarding, fishing, or doing nothing at all.

Travelers on a budget can find excellent options too. One of the best affordable Fiji resorts is the Blue Lagoon Beach Resort on Nacula Island, within the Yasawa Islands. Guests rave about the gracious staff, the excellent snorkeling, and the complimentary watersports. Hostel-style dorm rooms are available, as well as reasonably priced rooms, suites, and villas.

3 of the best places to eat in Fiji

The cuisine of Fiji is a melding of Indian flavors, particularly curry (many Fijians are of Indian descent), tropical fruits and root vegetables, and the bounty of the surrounding sea.

One favorite is Nadina Authentic Fijian Restaurant, a waterfront restaurant on Denarau Island. Diners recommend the ika tavu (fish cooked directly on charcoal), ika vakalolo (fish braised in coconut cream), and kokoda, a Fiji-style ceviche made with raw fish, lime, and coconut milk.

Zamzam is a casual spot for lamb curry, chicken liver curry, prawn curry, goat curry and more. Order rice roti and dhal on the side, and wash it all down with fresh passionfruit juice or bu, green coconut juice.

Sails @ Denarau operates its own fishing boats and partners with villagers to source fresh shellfish, so you know that everything you order is locally caught and as fresh as can be. Sails is famous for its extravagant seafood platter: mud crab, lobster, prawns, grilled fish, fish cakes, crispy cassava, and slipper bugs (don’t be put off by the nickname! These are actually small, delicious lobsters.)

Whether you’re planning an adventurous vacation or a week lying on the beach, travel insurance for Fiji is a must. Every plan includes 24-hour assistance by phone or via the Allyz® app, so you can easily get help anytime, anywhere. Find the best Allianz Travel Insurance plan for you.

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