Photo by Turtle Island

Originally Posted On: Fiji Vs Maldives: Two Luxury Island Destinations – Turtle Fiji

 

On the face of it you’ll be hard pressed to find any differences between Fiji vs Maldives:  both islands offer the ultimate in romantic getaways with picture perfect white-sand beaches, crystal-clear water and luxury accommodation.

Fiji or Maldives are both island archipelagos close to the equator: Fiji boasts more than 300 islands sprinkled close together in the South Pacific, while the islands of the Maldives are grouped geographically in 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean.

So whether you’re a couple looking for a relaxing escape or you’re scouring the world for that perfect honeymoon location after your wedding, Fiji or Maldives both deliver in spades. But how to decide between Fiji or Maldives? Read our guide to Fiji vs Maldives to help you decide which island is best for you.

 

FIJI VS MALDIVES HONEYMOON

Choosing between a Fiji vs Maldives honeymoon will depend on a number of factors including accessibility, the activities and the cost of Fiji vs Maldives. There will be lots of personal choices to make regarding privacy, accommodation and dining too.

 

MALDIVES HONEYMOON

Exclusive and secluded, this chain of 26 coral atolls in the Indian Ocean has a pretty good tick-list of must-haves when it comes to honeymoon vacations – think dazzling white sand beaches, sapphire blue waters and stylish overwater villas.

Exclusive resorts such as Baros Maldives offer bespoke ‘by design’ services, including guided diving and snorkelling, private dining options and spa packages tailored to every guest. There’s no waiting for a hotel transfer when you arrive as you’ll be whisked by speedboat or seaplane to your resort island. Then there are the reef excursions in glass-bottomed boats and Champagne sunset cruises over the lagoon, where you’ll be able to watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean.

 

FIJI HONEYMOON

With more than 300 islands, Fiji is a popular spot for honeymooners due to the sheer number of islands offering private retreats and total seclusion. With less crowds, honeymooners will have the pick of the colorful coral reefs, coconut palm-lined sandy beaches and magical waterfalls.

And let’s not forget the famous Fijian welcome and hospitality. Nowhere does it better than the privately owned 500-acre Turtle Island Fiji. As soon as you arrive, you’ll be taken care of by your Bure Mama, your personal concierge to look after your every desire during your stay.

Honeymooners will enjoy the privacy and seclusion that comes with just 14 beachfront bures – traditional Fijian-style villas with straw roofs – which means just 28 other guests at any one time are welcome.

When honeymooners can drag themselves away from their bures, they’ll be rewarded with guided snorkeling trips to explore the immaculate coral reef and be spoilt with unparalleled dining experiences such as a picnic lunch on their own private beach with endless champagne and fresh lobster caught that day, or a romantic lantern-lit dinner on a floating pontoon out in the blue lagoon where their meal is served by boat.

 

FIJI VS MALDIVES: WEDDING

While both islands are top honeymoon destinations how do you choose between a Fiji vs Maldives wedding?

 

FIJI WEDDINGS

From stained glass-windowed chapels to rainforests and mountain tops, most couples will choose to tie the knot or renew their vows on one of Fiji’s beautiful white-sand beaches, backed by the sparkling ocean and tropical palms.

Luxury resorts in Fiji offer wedding packages to suit intimate ceremonies or grand occasions with plenty of friends and family. On Turtle Island, couples can choose from everything from a Fijian warrior blowing a conch shell to announce the bride’s arrival, to a 50-strong choir singing their favorite love songs.

 

 

MALDIVES WEDDINGS

The Maldives has always been high on the list of honeymoon destinations, with A-listers dazzled by the islands’ overwater villas and crystal clear waters. The Maldives is fast becoming a hot wedding destination as couples look to tie the knot surrounded by just a few close friends and family.

Locations can include overwater pavilions, beach weddings and sandbanks and even ceremonies on yachts with the soundtrack the traditional Maldivian Boduberu drummers.

 

FIJI VS MALDIVES: THINGS TO DO

THINGS TO DO IN THE MALDIVES

A vacation to the Maldives is akin to being pleasantly marooned on a desert island or atoll – a flat narrow strip of white sand surrounded by the ocean. It’s the stuff of dreams – ideal for days spent lazing in your hammock on your overwater bungalow.

Activities on the Maldives are focused around world-class diving and snorkeling, boat trips to outer reefs and tailored spa treatments. And let’s not forget the fine dining options with beach picnics, underwater restaurants or candle-lit dinners on a pontoon. However, the more adventurous traveler may be left wanting with no mountains to climb, rainforests to explore or villages to visit.

 

THINGS TO DO IN FIJI

As well as being an ideal destination for couples and honeymooners looking for an island idyll, Fiji packs a punch when it comes to activities and adventures. Pack your walking boots for hikes through verdant rainforests, black volcanic cliff tops and fascinating mangroves. Then there’s mountain biking, horse riding, deep-sea fishing, wind surfing and stand-up paddle boarding, plus rafting the Upper Navua River through pristine rainforests. Add in some ancient archaeological sites, trips to local villages and handicraft markets and you’ll have a truly authentic Fiji experience.

 

FIJI VS MALDIVES: LUXURY RESORTS

MALDIVES LUXURY RESORTS

The resorts in the Maldives are nothing short of spectacular with environmentally sustainable luxury accommodation ranging from the quintessential overwater villas on stilts to underwater hotels and one-hotel islands.

Honeymooners will enjoy the privacy of the couples-only villas – which appear to be suspended over tantalizingly clear lagoons – as well as the private infinity pools, butler room service and outdoor showers.

Impeccable service accompanies myriad dining options for Maldives honeymoons from barefoot luxury on your villa balcony to private beach dining and even aquarium-style restaurants.

 

FIJI LUXURY RESORTS

Luxury resorts in Fiji are as equally lavish as Maldives accommodation with their share of overwater villas, superb snorkeling and award-winning spa treatments.

Many luxury resorts in Fiji also pay close attention to sustainability, with solar-powered resorts, reforestation and reef regeneration projects and using locally grown fruit and vegetables to provide the freshest ingredients for their guests.

Fijian resorts score high on service too offering the inimitable warm Fijian welcome they are known and loved for. Many couples who choose a Fiji vs Maldives honeymoon return year after year, coming to know the local Fijian resort staff as family.

One of the most appealing features of Fijian luxury resorts is the option of shared dining, bringing couples together to share stories while enjoying food grown on the island or fished nearby, in particular the Fijian feast prepared in an underground oven, called a lovo.

 

GETTING THERE: FIJI VS MALDIVES

HOW TO GET TO MALDIVES

The Maldives are grouped geographically into 26 atolls – including North Male Atoll, South Male Atoll, South Ari Atoll, Meemu Atoll and BAA Atoll. Travelers fly into Male International Airport from where they’ll be whisked to their accommodation by speedboat or seaplane – James Bond style!

While you’re in Male you’ll be able to explore Theemuge Palace, Hukuru Miskiiy – the oldest mosque in the Maldives – and local markets.

You might be wondering how far is Fiji from Maldives? While both archipelagos are close to the equator, they are not close to one another: Fiji is in the South Pacific while the Maldives is in the Indian Ocean, a whopping 7,257 miles (11,680 km) away!

 

HOW TO GET TO FIJI

Getting to Fiji from the US couldn’t be easier with direct flights from Los Angeles (10 hours nonstop) and San Francisco (just over 11 hours nonstop) with Fiji’s national carrier Fiji Airways. From Australia, there are daily direct flights from Sydney, while Fiji Airways also operates daily direct flights from Singapore and Auckland, New Zealand.

All flights arrive into Nadi International Airport on Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji. Some of Nadi’s highlights include the iconic Sri Siva Subramaniya temple, the biggest Hindu temple in the southern hemisphere bursting with color, or the Garden of the Sleeping Giant, landscaped gardens at the foothills of the Nausori Highlands and home to a collection of magnificent orchids once the private collection of the late US actor Raymond Burr.

 

FIJI VS MALDIVES: THE BEST TIME TO VISIT

The seasons in Fiji can broadly be split into two categories: humid and hot from December to April, where temperatures range from 22°C to 33°C and mild and dry from May to November with temperatures ranging from 19°C to 29°C.

Generally mid-October to mid-November is the ideal time for visiting Fiji with the weather conditions are settled, dry and warm and when the tourist season hasn’t yet reached its peak.

The best time to travel to the Maldives is from November to April when the weather is pleasant and there are less tourists resulting in cheaper airfares and accommodation. February is the driest month and therefore a popular time to visit. Year round temperatures in the Maldives are around 25°C to 30°C.

 

EXPLORE TURTLE ISLAND FIJI

For a truly memorable private island vacation, packed with activities and authentic experiences, Turtle Island Resort offers the perfect escape for honeymooners, couples and at certain times of the year, families. With only 14 couples staying at the resort at any one time, beaches really are secluded spots of paradise. And with 500 acres of tropical lush forests and 12 private beaches to explore, you’ll be forgiven for thinking you’ve got the entire island to yourself.

If you’re dreaming of your next island paradise vacation to Turtle Island, then contact us today.