Fiji’s baby sitting services has won international traction in the tourism sector with a returnee bringing her baby this time, as she continued her exploration of the country.

A British travel writer and producer living in Sydney described Fiji as a family-friendly destination, after her initial visit in 2008, when she arrived as a fresh-faced backpacker, island hopping through the Yasawas.

Hayley Lewis vowed to visit again as soon as possible, she wrote in, ‘A Lovely Planet’, an online destination guide, which was part of the highlights in Tourism Fiji’s latest newsletter.

“Fast forward to 2022, I finally returned to Fiji, this time as a mum for a family holiday,” she wrote.

“We loved the nannies at Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort.”

Apprehensive at first about leaving her baby, as she had not used a babysitter before, Ms Lewis said the nannies were warm and kind and, most importantly her baby “loved spending time with them”.

“In fact, the first time I went to collect him he didn’t want to leave,” she said.

“We used the service several times and it was nice to see familiar faces each time we dropped our baby boy off.”

“He had a great time at the kids’ club- meeting other babies and playing with new toys.”

“So I thought I would share my experience and a few tips on making the most of Fiji with a baby.”

She lists international brands such as Sofitel, Sheraton, Hilton, Marriott, InterContinental and ShangriLa, as some of the great spots on the mainland.

“The great thing about staying on Viti Levu is that you can experience day to day Fijian life, visit local markets, villages and more, as well as enjoy the luxuries of a resort,” Hayley said.

Here are excerpts of her story about the Perfect Holiday in Fiji with a Baby, as published in A Lonely Planet Fijian people are incredibly friendly and warm.

Many resorts are very well set up for families and children.

One of the most important decisions you’ll make, when booking a trip to Fiji, is deciding where to stay. Some resorts are adults only.

However, there is a huge choice of family-friendly resorts and accommodation, so you have plenty of options.

During our recent trip, we stayed at two resorts in different locations, Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort in Sigatoka on the south coast of Viti Levu, and Plantation Island Resort on Malolo Lailai in the Mamanuca Islands. Both were excellent.

However, if I was travelling again to Fiji with children, I would most likely just pick one spot to save the hassle of moving mid-trip.

On the plus side, I’ve now experienced both mainland and island resorts in Fiji with a baby, and each offers different benefits.

The downside of travelling to the islands is that you will have access to fewer facilities.

However, most large resorts have some sort of medical centre and shop on site.

There is also less ‘local’ life, though most resorts offer an excursion, to a nearby village and cultural activities.

Depending on flight times, you may also require a night in Nadi at the beginning/end of your stay, in order to make the boat departures.

Nanny Service

Something to look out for, when selecting a resort, is whether they offer a nanny service.

The majority of family-friendly resorts do, but not all.

Also, their services and the cost of these, vary depending on where you stay.

At the time of writing, FJ$6-20 FJD was a typical range.

The nannies are such a great option if you’re travelling to Fiji with a baby, as it means you can take a break from parenting, go on a baby- free excursion, or enjoy a mess-free dinner.

Note most resorts require a minimum age of six-months plus for nannies.

Some resorts, such as Vomo Island Resort, include four hours of a baby butler service per day in the rate, whereas others offer general resort staff as nannies for a much cheaper rate.

If you’re nervous about leaving your little one, then it’s worth look- ing into the service on offer at each resort to ensure you are comfortable.

Kids Club

Most family-friendly resorts have a kids club. Children usually have to be aged three years-plus to attend, unless they are with a parent/nanny, but we found it a great place to take the baby.

The kids club at Plantation Island Resort is excellent, with two outdoor parks, an indoor soft play centre and lots of toys and activities.

It was a great place for the baby to burn some energy, and crawl around in a safe environment.

Story by: frederica.elbourne@fijisun.com.fj