When I first booked the tickets to Fiji, I could feel my heart flutter with a mixture of both excitement and nervousness. Sure, I had travelled with my girls before, but they had been quick trips interstate. An international trip seemed so much more daunting – yet I also couldn’t wait to visit the Fiji Islands. At the time of our Fiji family vacation, my toddler was two years old and my baby just eight months.
For our Fiji family holiday, I was travelling with my brother, two of his kids and my parents, so despite the fact my husband was unable to make it with us, I knew I had plenty of help.
I learned so much from this first trip travelling to Fiji with a baby and a toddler that we are all set to return again this year with an extra baby (due in May) and my husband this time as well.
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7 Tips for Traveling to Fiji with a Baby or Toddler
To help you plan the best family vacation possible, here are my tips travelling to Fiji with a baby or toddler:
1. What to take to Fiji for a Baby and Toddler? Pack Everything
I know, I know, this goes against most tips for travelling with a baby or toddler, but all the baby essentials, such as nappies, wipes, creams, formula, are so much more expensive in Fiji.
The price mark-up is just crazy and you will find yourself cringing when you hand over that money, knowing what it costs back in Australia. While the extra luggage can be tricky to handle when travelling by plane with a baby and toddler, it is worth it in the long run.
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Prepare for your long-haul flight to Fiji with these plane activities for babies and toddlers.
2. Hire your Baby Equipment
If you are feeling a little daunted by how much you need to pack (see above!), consider renting the baby equipment you’ll need. Renting baby gear in Fiji is pretty well-priced. You can get everything you need for travelling with a baby and toddler, from strollers and prams to car seats and more. They will meet you at the airport or you can have it delivered to your Fiji resort accommodation.
I actually found babywearing the easiest way to get around your island resort with a hefty little one as there were plenty of stairs around our Fiji hotels which made the pram inconvenient.
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I’ve rented baby equipment many times on family vacations. It’s a great way to pack less and not risk damaging expensive equipment on the flights. Learn more in my post on renting baby equipment on holidays.
3. Organise an Airport Transfer
While the flight may not seem long (Sydney to Fiji flight time is about 4 hours), it is always nice to reach your destination and have someone ready to pick you up and take you to your Fiji resort. We didn’t plan on driving around anywhere ourselves, so didn’t bother travelling with baby car seats, but we arranged them with our Fiji airport transfer so we could buckle all the kids in safely.
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There’s many safety factors to consider when your family vacation plans include driving in a car. Learn more in my post about traveling with car seats.
4. Stock Up on Baby Essentials
If you have organised a transfer, it’s the perfect opportunity to ask them to take you to a supermarket on the way to your resort. If your kids are anything like mine, they love snacking, and this can get expensive at your Fiji hotel. We stocked up on cereal and other staples (so we didn’t have to rush to breakfast for the kids each morning), which saved us plenty in the long run.
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Here are a few more baby travel essentials and toddler travel essentials to pack along for your trip!
5. Find a Family-Friendly Fiji Resort
While you may have your sights set on seeing as much of the Fiji islands as possible, it really is more of a relaxing beach holiday, so it is important to enjoy it as such. We stayed at the Sheraton in Denauru first for two nights, then we moved to the Intercontinental on the Coral Coast for another seven nights.
We don’t recommend you do this as changing Fiji resorts was a hassle with kids. You really do lose a whole day of your Fiji family holiday being transported, not to mention having to pack and unpack multiple times. It actually added stress to our trip. Next time we will be choosing the best island in Fiji for families and staying there.
Find a Place to Stay in Fiji
Take a moment to learn how to find the best baby-friendly hotel for your family, then browse these family-friendly Fiji resorts and vacation home rentals.
6. Get a Nanny in Fiji with a Baby or Toddler
Many parents hesitate at the idea of getting a nanny in Fiji due to a feeling of guilt at not spending time with their kids. If you are travelling to Fiji with toddlers or a baby, half your holiday will be gone before you know it and you will realise how much you missed out on.
The best Fiji resorts for toddlers and babies will have nannies and the nannies are fabulous. Both my girls loved them so much. They had time with a Fiji nanny each day, then we had time together as a family each afternoon. It was the best of both worlds. You usually organise a nanny through the resort, and if you like them, just ask them back each day.
There is also the option of kids club at most Fiji family resorts, but this is usually from the age of four and above, where you can drop them off and sign them in for the day. Our nanny still took both girls to the kid’s club and simply stayed with them while they were there.
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The sun is very powerful in tropical destinations like Fiji. Protect your child’s sensitive skin with these tips for baby sun safety.
7. Best Tip for Travelling to Fiji with a Baby or Toddler – Relax
This is what Fiji is all about. Relaxing, unwinding and enjoying yourself. Don’t try and cram yourself into a busy schedule that will exhaust both the kids and you. Go swimming, lie in the sun and enjoy cocktails by the pool. One of the best parts about a beach holiday with a baby or toddler is slowing down to enjoy your time spent together.
If you are itching for some activities, hotels often give out sheets each day with a list of planned activities that can be anything from Kava tasting to pool volley ball.
We had such a great time and it was all over way too quickly. I can’t wait to head back this year and do it all over again with these tips for travelling to Fiji with a baby in mind. Let the relaxation begin!
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Don’t forget these beach essentials for toddlers! If you are traveling with a baby, here is a full list of beach essentials for babies.
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