Fiji, the Value Family Holiday Destination as Chosen by Parents.

Travelling with kids can be daunting for any family and choosing a holiday destination to please everyone can be just as daunting. The tropical island of FIJI may be a great option for all.

Family holidays can be quite a chore if you are trying to please both parents and kids. Apart from the expense of a family holiday, coming up with a destination which not only helps parents to relax and enjoy a break but also gives enough entertainment for the kids. Fiji is one of those places, perfect for parents to relax and great activities for the kids and parents alike.

We recently flew to Fiji with Jetstar and found a magical place. In Fiji you will find yourself enjoying beautiful hot days, warm nights, a lagoon filled with marine life, friendly people, great food and friendly service.

The Shangri La Fijian, a 40+ year old 4.5 star resort, was our home for 7 nights and the people really did make it feel like home. Although older, the resort has been refurbished and is extremely clean with beautiful plush towels in the rooms, however, rooms are not generous. If value for money is what you are looking for then consider Fiji for your next summer holiday.

Fijian's are known for being friendly, helpful people and we found them to be exactly that. Not just in the resort, everyone was just as friendly out in the villages we visited.

The resort has so much to offer there is really no reason to leave it, however, if the Fijian culture interests you, then taking a day trip is essential. Water sports such as kayaking and snorkeling are free although you must buy the snorkel for health reasons. The Banana Boat ride is great fun as they zoom you around the lagoon on a rubber boat shaped like a banana, hence the name. There is a cost for this ride as there is for parasailing and hiring of bikes. Safety helmets and life jackets are provided.

Most people we met were from Australia with some from New Zealand and many retired Americans, all of whom were very relaxed and pleased with their choice of holiday destination. Many were families with children under 12 as the resort caters very well for children, giving parents plenty of time to enjoy each others' company.

We couldn't fault the food, each restaurant (there are 6 to choose from) has their own specialties and there are theme nights. The Lagoon Restaurant is the largest and it is here you will find most of the families as it is this restaurant that offers family meal deals. The buffet style is good quality and the variety is excellent.

The other restaurants are:

• The Takali - we had breakfast in this restaurant and service was great. Always friendly, they knew us by the second morning. Had dinner one night and we couldn't fault it, food and service. Coffee though wasn't so great in any of the restaurants.
• The Kelavu - this is the fine dining restaurant and it was a nice surprise. The local chef offered some modern Italian food which was excellent.
• The Beach Bar and Grill - our favourite for dinner. Fresh seafood was fantastic, as was the variety of salads. Desserts tend to be stuck in the '70's in all restaurants so we didn't indulge.
• The Golden Cowrie - we didn't go to this one as children under 16 years are not permitted.
• The Blue Marlin Bar - had a drink one night whilst kids were in the games room. Nice place to meet other adults and very relaxing.

Many of the resorts offer family all inclusive deals which are very good value if you have children 12 years old or under. Fiji is not an expensive place to holiday and these deals make the value even better.

One of the things you will learn very quickly when you arrive in Fiji is how to say "hello" and "thank you". Everyone you meet will greet you with a smile and a very happy "Bula" and then a hearty "Vinaka" as you leave. Fiji, visit it soon for an enjoyable family vacation.

The Shangri La Fijian Resort is situated on the Coral Coast on Fiji's Viti Velu Island, this part of Fiji is rich with natural beauty and teaming with tourists. However, Fiji is not a rich country. Much of the population live on or near the poverty line, in rural and mountain villages with many in the mountains living without electricity or running water. Roads can be just dirt tracks although as you drive closer to cities such as Nadi, Suva or Sigatoka they are tarred, however, quite rough.

As we rode our bikes into the villages (visited 2) we were greeted with smiles and many villagers yelling out "bula". The children who were just coming out of school also greeted us. It was amazing to see how happy they all were when it was obvious they had very little. Except for one little fellow who tried to have us give him money, we were mostly greeted by well behaved children who were fascinated yet clearly used to seeing tourists.

Riding into villages is in no way unsafe, in fact, it is encouraged. If you feel uncomfortable going on your own pay a little extra and a guide will take you and interpret if you'd like to interact with the locals.

The political situation in Fiji has always been volatile and a military coo happened late in 2009. We didn't see any evidence of political unrest nor any military personnel whilst in Fiji, although the airport is just as strict with security as any other around the world. A cab driver informed us that the economy was actually improving under military rule and life hadn't changed dramatically at all.

Fiji relys heavily on tourism, their second largest industry, (Sugar is first) so it makes sense that they treat tourists so well. It also makes sense to keep the political situation as far away from tourists as they can.