JASON BELL-DAVEY
A dad of two who works as Head of Product Development for Qantas Holidays and HelloWorld
FEATURED LOCATION
CASTAWAY ISLAND, FIJI
Our favourite place to holiday with kids is the Fijian Islands. Fijians create a wonderful sense of family for visitors and welcome you like their own.
WHERE TO STAY
Castaway Island remains my favourite place to stay with crystal clear waters, spectacular marine life and vibrant corals just off the beach! The accommodation is great and best of all, no TVs and no phones. Just you, your family and a stunning tropical island.
SURFING
Cloudbreak is a must do! World famous surf site where you can watch the pros or tackle the swell yourself if you’re up to it. For a slightly more tame experience there are several other smaller breaks and spots. Check out Fijisurf Co for tour options.
FAMILY EXPERIENCE
Most resorts offer a local school visit. Take a few hours out of your day and DO IT! A great way to show to your kids how children live and learn in another country and how they manage with a whole lot less. A truly amazing experience that perfectly highlights how the simple things can be more than enough to generate the biggest smiles in kids and provide a foundation for a happy and healthy lifestyle.
Think about taking along some exercise books, pens, pencils, rulers, sharpeners etc. Simple things for us but mean so much to the educators and the kids.
BEACHES
For the best beaches, swimmimg and snorkeling your best bet is to head out to the islands. The Mamanuca islands are the closest and offer a range of great resorts. The Yasawa Islands are less explored and bit further away but worth the effort!
KIDS CLUB
Most resorts offer free kids clubs with great activities and amazing Fijian staff. Kids almost always take an instant liking to the Fijians. Even the most steadfast children soon succumb to the friendliness and warmth of their carers. A great chance for parents to enjoy a little relaxing time of their own. For a quiet dinner after kids club hours you can hire a Nanny for only $5-$7 an hour!
Images by @belldaveyphotos
