Basics - Rough Guide to Fiji - page 38

TYING THE KNOT
Fiji is a beautiful and relatively stress-free place to get married and most resorts offer wed-
ding packages with ceremonies held on the beachfront. For those with large groups in at-
tendance, getting married on the main island of Viti Levu is more convenient, but the at-
mosphere on the offshore islands is far more intimate and a much better option for smal-
ler parties. Amongst the best options are Octopus Resort and Oarsman's Bay Lodge in the
Yasawas; Matamanoa Island Resort and Treasure Island Resort , in the Mamanuca Islands.
If getting married on the beach , find out about the tides and sun direction before fixing a
time. Early-morning weddings are worth considering as it's not only cooler and less windy,
but also less likely to rain - there's nothing more dampening than reciting your vows at a
makeshift altar in the resort restaurant.
The practicalities of obtaining a marriage licence are very straightforward and all resorts
will help with the paperwork. For more information contact www.fijinet.com .
Boutique resorts
A small boutique resort spanning a secluded beach on a remote island is Fiji's speciality.
Some have as few as three bures, others up to fifty, but all focus on providing exceptional
service. A few of the more upmarket boutique resorts are all-inclusive affairs, some even
including alcoholic beverages in the price. The majority have 24hr reception, small shops,
room service, nightly turn-down, restaurants and sunset bars as well as scuba diving and spa/
massage facilities. Perhaps the only drawback is the lack of freedom to sightsee or choose
where to eat, although for most people this simply makes the experience more relaxing.
BURES
The most common style of accommodation in Fiji is a bure , an open-plan traditionally-
styled building with high ceilings and thatch roofing ensuring natural ventilation. At the
upmarket resorts, bures are exquisite handcrafted palaces, usually with king-sized beds,
walk-in showers and wood floors, while at a backpacker resort you can expect thin bamboo
walls, a simple foam mattress, no electricity and a shared communal bathroom. At some of
the mid-range and larger resorts, a bure is often an A-frame wooden structure split into two
or four rooms and referred to as a duplex or quad bure.
Guesthouses and homestays
Guesthouses in Fiji tend to be colonial-style wooden buildings with simple rooms, commun-
al lounges and shared bathrooms. They are usually cheap, with rooms costing less than F$60,
and make convenient bases for travellers wanting to explore off the tourist trail; note that