There are plenty of options when visiting Fiji, but if you are taking children/grandchildren with you then Mana Island is a good choice. It includes all meals and use of equipment, whereas some resorts charge you additional fees. You travel by ferry from Port Denarau, which takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. You can purchase your ferry tickets on-line from South Sea Cruises. So, what are the features worth considering if choosing this island?

  1. Accommodation – there are a number of different accommodation options to choose from, depending on the size of your family and whether you wish to be closer to the beach. We chose the Deluxe Ocean View Bure which was away from the main resort area, so a little quieter. The bures are a good size for a family, with balconies facing towards the ocean.
  2. Food options – the main dining area is situated by the pool and offers either a buffet menu, or you can choose from a small a-la-carte menu.  There is an adults only restaurant called South Beach Restaurant which is great for a night out if you want a change from the buffet. The food is innovative and it offers a completely different menu from the resort restaurant, and it comes at no additional cost. Sitting on the outside deck watching the sunset was a nice way to finish off the day.
  3. Pool – the pool area is amazing and kids and adults alike will enjoy it. The size of the pool allows for plenty of space to swim and play so you don’t feel like you are on top of other people. A separate ‘adults only’ pool is off to the side which is great if you wish some time away from the busyness of the resort pool. The swim up bar in the pool can also be accessed from the pool deck in case you wish to sit and enjoy the view.
  4. Other activities – we did a lot of swimming in the ocean and snorkelling amongst the coral reef. The ocean temperature is warm and the water is calm and crystal clear. There are a number of water sports to choose from on the island, and you can also go scuba diving for an additional cost. The southern side of the island offers a bit more shelter than the northern side if it happens to be a windy day.
  5. Kids Club – our grandchildren loved kids club. There are plenty of other kids to play with and lots of great activities. The staff are amazing and it didn’t take them long to get to know the kids and form a really good relationship with them. They even put on a little performance for the guests, which was great for the kids to showcase what they had been doing.

Overall this is a good holiday, probably not the most modern accommodation but it was good value for the money we spent. There are plenty of things to do, so it really is a case of how busy you want to be, or whether you just wish to sit with a good book and soak up the atmosphere.

Travel Tips

  • There are always specials to be had for island holidays, so it is worth checking holiday websites.
  • You don’t need to take beach towels, as everything is provided by the resort.
  • There is a decent gift shop with limited food for sale if you need to top up on sunscreen and other consumables.

Travel Alerts

  • The ferry crossing can be rough, so if you are not used to sea travel best to stay on the deck.
  • The rooms are gradually being upgraded, so some rooms are a little tired in their decor.
  • We did have to ask for fresh towels occasionally as the rooms are not serviced every day. This was a little disappointing.
  • As the resort was not at full capacity there were less options available at the buffet.
  • The pool bar was not operating during the hours advertised due to lower guest numbers.
  • Drinks are not included in your package.

Travel adventures

  • The Mana Spa – we had 2 x 60 minute massages included in our package.
  • Day trips to other islands are available through South Sea Cruises if you are looking for a bit of adventure.
  • Explore the island and make sure you visit Lookout Point to get a panoramic view of the surrounding islands.