The friendliest people on Earth – Fiji, a very safe place to travel

Bula, if you’ve been to Fiji you are very familiar with this word. It’s used for hello but they are actually wishing you life. I’ve been all over the world, to so many different islands, cultures, and continents and I can say with certainty that the Fijian people are the most genuinely kind of all. It is also very safe to travel to Fiji.

They’re also still huge on their history and traditions and continue to share these with visitors as often as possible. My favorite has to be lovo, a traditional Fijian cookout. It’s similar to a barbeque, only a little more smoked. While sampling the food which emerges from the lovo pit is the best experience, watching the preparation of a lovo is almost as much fun. They basically bury food in a hole and let it cook from the heat of the rocks. But it’s delicious, I promise, and WAY more fun than how I just described it.

Other Fijian traditions that must not be missed are as follows:
1) Fire walking ceremony
2) Yaqona Ceremony – better know as KAVA (aka dirt/booze/what is in this?!)
3) Meke – This traditional song and dance performance tells the legends of the islands in a series of dances. If you enjoy dancing, they’ll often let you join in!

If you’re trying to decide on WHERE to go in Fiji, I did drive around the whole main island to visit different towns and resorts and fell in love with Voli Voli. It’s this beautiful place owned by some amazing people who are all involved in the day to day at the hotel and who employee only Fijians for the most authentic on property experience you can have. However, there are lots of different reasons to go to Fiji so I’ve listed below with my recommendations.
1) If you just want a relaxing honeymoon, choose one of the remote islands. They’re stunning.
2) If you want a little beach time but also amazing scuba diving, daily adventures (deep sea fishing, dolphin watching, watersports, waterfall hikes, or a visit to a local village) I recommend Voli Voli on the Sun Coast.
3) If you’re short on time and just want a weekend away, stay at one of the nicer resorts in Nadi. They’re expensive and have all inclusive options but it’s still beautiful for a quick getaway from Australia or New Zealand.

All of this being said, the thing that will keep bringing me back to Fiji is the people. They’re always smiling, they’re always ready to hear your stories and tell you theirs, and they’re always ready for you to return. I definitely left a piece of my heart there when I left. Looking forward to returning this fall!

For more info on our trips to Fiji or anywhere else in Oceania, reach out to fun@legittrips.com