Our mainstay piece of paradise in Fiji is Malololailai Island in the Mamanuca chain of islands off the coast about 30km from Nadi. We have timeshare at the Malololailai Lagoon Resort which shares facilities with the Musket Cove Resort. There are a number of private homes, some of which can be leased and also the Armstrong Island Villas. Plantation Island Resort and Anandas restaurant/bar and grocery store are affiliated with each other and offer lots variety.
There is a golf course (watch out for the coconut crab holes, you can lose golf balls down them, unless you are game enough to stick your hand in and get them), numerous swimming pools, restaurants and shops all very unintrusive. There is a very well stocked supermarket plus a cafe at the marina along with a water sports and activities hut plus a laundromat and public toilets and showers. The Musket Cove Resort holds an annual sailing regatta in September and that brings many yachties from all over the world for racing, but mostly for the huge party that goes on for weeks. The winners' names and their boats are carved into the wood in the restaurant and bar 'Dick's Place'. There is also the Airport with the strip running through the middle of the island separating the two distinct resort 'camps'. Pedestrians must give way to low-flying aircraft. Beware, there are no warning lights and the airport is two wooden benches and one staff member who checks you in, checks the plane out and loads the baggage! Multi-tasking is a Fijian way of life.
The Ratu Nemani Island Bar is one of the best finds - a barefoot bar where you can just 'come as you are'. It is very well known and frequented by those who just want to relax and not dress up. Here you can cook on the barbeque (with pre-packed bbq pack from the supermarket - about FJD$12). There is wood and paper for you to start the fire and the girls at the bar will provide lighters, crockery and cutlery and lots of smiles. They will also serve you drinks at reduced prices (much cheaper than the restaurants) and keep on serving you until you want to walk back to your bure.
Our timeshare has authentic bure accommodation with thatched roof and tapa cloth walls, but with a modern twist, full kitchen and a full bathroom.
We have met many people on our visits to Fiji. We return again and again. We met the Damuni family on Lako Mai Island when it was a timeshare. It is now called the Resort Walu Beach. They have worked very hard to be able to buy their own home in Nadi and now work at Plantation Island Resort. Marco is head chef and Kitty works in accounts, reception and the restaurant. The children stay in their family home and go to school while the parents are working on the island. The children cannot visit their parents at the island because of company policy so the parents must commute back during their short few days off.
The Liku Liku Resort is on Malolo Island which you can see when you go on a boat ride around the other side of the island and was Fiji's first resort with overwater bungalows.
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