Pacific Island Holidays - Recommendations

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#1322685 11-Jun-2015 10:22

I've had that thing when you go snorkelling and the water is noisey (lots of clicking/popping type sounds) and stingy on the body. I think it's a micro jelly fish type scenario but am not entirely sure. Sea lice I think it's called, which sounds gross, but that's most likely the cause of the rash, rather than sewerage discharge. Unless you're swimming next to a sewerage discharge pipe that is.

Re the stomach thing, do you by chance use DEET insect repellent whilst you are there? After 4 days or so of using this you can feel a bit off.

richrdh18

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#1322698 11-Jun-2015 10:32

Xmas 13/NY14 we went to Fiji. Stayed of few days at the Golf Terraces in Denarau. Little known Gem of a place, peaceful, quiet basically had the place to ourselves. Nice pool and pool cafe/bar. Feed family of 4 for breakfast crepe's, juices and coffees for $40. Cheapest beer in Denarau. Not flashy like some of the other resorts, but no crowds.

Then we went out to Malolo Is Resort. Just heaven on earth. Really relaxing, enough to do during the day, great food, activities and H hr each day $4 beers. They had resort cocktail evenings, Managers drinks evening where everyone went along and mingled. Only approx 35 rooms on the Is, so no queues for anything. Just brilliant. I left so relaxed, that I could have been going backwards.

Will definitely be going back.

kiwitrc

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#1322711 11-Jun-2015 10:59

timmmay: You don't go to the pacific islands for the food. You go to relax and you eat some reasonably decent food. If you want top class food go to Sydney, New York etc. If you want sun, relaxation, and decent food go to an island.

The best steak I have ever eaten was in Raro, the best fish and chips in Aitutaki, out of a converted container. Raro has fantastic restaurants, check out tripadvisor. You can always hire a house and cook your own. Fish is cheap, tuna, broadbill, Maimai etc $20 kilo is another option.

I have never been crook while travelling anywhere, this includes eating street food numerous times in KL and other parts of Malaysia, 4 trips through Vietnam, Cook Islands, Fiji, Thailand, China, and many more Western countries. I put it down to the water. I hardly ever drink it unless its been boiled and is in tea, or has spent time with malt and hops.

k1wi

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#1322718 11-Jun-2015 11:14

I had a four day stop in Raro on the way back to the US (Auck -> Raro -> LA). Had a great trip and it was a convenient stop along the way. Very relaxing, the days went by so slowly it was wonderful. We didn't even mind that it rained every day, we knew we were going in the rainy season, but it would have been frustrating if we hadn't rented a car and had gone with scooters.

timmmay

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#1322725 11-Jun-2015 11:33

kiwitrc:
timmmay: You don't go to the pacific islands for the food. You go to relax and you eat some reasonably decent food. If you want top class food go to Sydney, New York etc. If you want sun, relaxation, and decent food go to an island.

The best steak I have ever eaten was in Raro, the best fish and chips in Aitutaki, out of a converted container. Raro has fantastic restaurants, check out tripadvisor. You can always hire a house and cook your own. Fish is cheap, tuna, broadbill, Maimai etc $20 kilo is another option.

I have never been crook while travelling anywhere, this includes eating street food numerous times in KL and other parts of Malaysia, 4 trips through Vietnam, Cook Islands, Fiji, Thailand, China, and many more Western countries. I put it down to the water. I hardly ever drink it unless its been boiled and is in tea, or has spent time with malt and hops.

The best Mexican I've had was in Chaing Mai, Thailand, and all over Thailand the local food was fantastic and cheap. I've had great western meals in Fiji. My point was you don't go to the islands for the food, you go for the whole package, and the food may not be as good as you'd like.

MikeB4

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#1322733 11-Jun-2015 11:40

Stewart Island it's spectacular

macuser

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#1322734 11-Jun-2015 11:40

networkn: Being a foodie I am interested to hear more about the food in Raro? How would it rate compared to a reasonable restaurant in Auckland? I'll eat anything, but I want it fresh and well prepared.

We got some amazing tuna steaks for next to nothing at the fishmonger by the warf, that was really great and luckily I did a good job cooking it. You'd probably manage to get a lot of great fish for a great price, as well as the markets are a good place to score cheap and fresh local ingredients if you're that way inclined.

I would say that the restaurants are similar to small town restaurants in quality with Auckland prices.

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kiwitrc

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#1322737 11-Jun-2015 11:43

MikeB4: Stewart Island it's spectacular

It is indeed!

kiwitrc

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#1322738 11-Jun-2015 11:45

macuser:

Mind you, I went with a small budget which didn't meant no restaurant meals,

macuser:

I would say that the restaurants are similar to small town restaurants in quality with Auckland prices.

Um, based on...............

openmedia

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#1322739 11-Jun-2015 11:47

Just got back from Fiji and we stayed at the Wyndham Resort on Denarau Island. It is supposed to be timeshare only, but you can find offers via AirBnB.

Denarau Island is great for families as you have resort facilities, good restaurants etc in the hotels, the nearby marina, and can easily take day trips.

+1 for Raro as well. We couldn't get availability at the resorts we wanted so ended up in Fiji.

I'd recommend a mozzie repeller for the room, got one of these - http://www.bunnings.com.au/raid-electronic-night-and-day-insect-control-kit_p2960269 - which worked well for the trip.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

dickytim

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#1322756 11-Jun-2015 12:14

Hawaii any day of the week!

Best of both worlds and not super expensive to get to.

networkn

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#1322766 11-Jun-2015 12:37

dickytim: Hawaii any day of the week!

Best of both worlds and not super expensive to get to.

We LOVE Hawaii, but it IS expensive the way we do it, considerably more so than GC, Fiji or Raro. We do that trip 18 monthly but wanted something to give us a break away in the middle.

Hawaii is my favourite place in the world, the food is spectacular, it's just amazing.

Intending to try for March there.

trig42

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#1322769 11-Jun-2015 12:40

Ooo, forgot about Hawai'i.
We have that on our list, now that flights there have got a bit cheaper, but it is still twice the price to get there as Raro/Fiji.

scuwp

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#1322776 11-Jun-2015 12:54

Another vote for Raro. Did family holiday there last year. Loved every second. Not complete without at least a day trip to Aitutaki... That place will blow your socks off. Worth every penny.
http://www.airraro.com/en/tours/aitutaki-day-tour

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dickytim

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#1322777 11-Jun-2015 12:54

networkn:
dickytim: Hawaii any day of the week!

Best of both worlds and not super expensive to get to.

We LOVE Hawaii, but it IS expensive the way we do it, considerably more so than GC, Fiji or Raro. We do that trip 18 monthly but wanted something to give us a break away in the middle.

Hawaii is my favourite place in the world, the food is spectacular, it's just amazing.

Intending to try for March there.

Yes I agree Hawaii is expensive, our next trip we will be staying to the Hilton Hawaiian village that is looking like $3000 for airfares and accommodation for 10 days.

But the airfares being around $1000 it is not so much more than other destinations, and you don't NEED to stay at the flashest place :)

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