Originally Posted On: Fiji Vs Bali: How Do These Two Island Destinations Compare? – Turtle Fiji

 

Endless sandy beaches, warm tropical waters and plenty of sunshine. Fiji or Bali both deliver when it comes to dream island destinations.

Fiji can be found in the South Pacific Ocean and is home to more than 300 islands. Bali is the largest island in Indonesia, located in the Indian Ocean, just west of the tip of Java.

Both islands are popular for families, honeymooners and weddings and offer a huge variety of accommodation, activities and dining options. So will it be Fiji or Bali for your next vacation? How do you choose between these two dream holiday destinations?

Let’s take a closer look at what sets these two destinations apart.

 

FIJI VS BALI HONEYMOON

When it comes to choosing between a Fiji vs Bali honeymoon a lot will depend on personal preferences regarding what you and your partner like or dislike: total privacy where you don’t leave your room? Or socialising with other guests, cocktail in hand at the swim-up pool bar? Days spent lazing in the hammock versus surf lessons, stand-up paddle boarding sessions and a day’s mountain biking? A lot will also depend on accessibility and the cost of Fiji vs Bali.

 

FIJI HONEYMOON

With its idyllic tropical location in the South Pacific, Fiji has long been a top choice for honeymooners. And with more than 300 islands to choose from – many of which are home to resorts catering to just a handful of guests – Fiji honeymoons are all about privacy, seclusion and romance.

With less crowds, honeymooners can spend time with each other and feel as if they’re marooned on their own desert island, enjoying the colorful coral reefs, resplendent waterfalls and palm-backed white-sand beaches.

Honeymooners will love Fiji’s range of accommodation from traditional-style ‘bures’ and overwater villas. They’ll also love the intimate champagne picnics on private beaches, cultural immersion into some of Fiji’s colorful traditions, including meke (dance), lovo (underground oven) and kava (drink) ceremonies, and activities such as snorkeling, diving and fishing.

Honeymooners also love the warm welcome they receive when they arrive. Fiji is renowned the world over for the warmth of its people and culture. Take the award-winning, Turtle Island Fiji, home to just 14 couples at any one time. As soon as you step from your seaplane transfer onto the island, you’ll be assigned your very own ‘Bure Mama’ or private butler, who will look after your every whim during your vacation. She’ll arrange your private dining experiences, book spa reservations, take you on guided snorkeling tours and even unpack your bags when you arrive. Yes, really.

 

BALI HONEYMOON

Laid-back and romantic, the small Indonesian island of Bali is a dream honeymoon destination combining dazzling white-sand beaches – think in Seminyak and Sanur – a welcoming culture and terraced rice paddies carved out of the jungle-clad landscape. It’s a slice of island paradise.

A honeymoon to Bali is all about mesmerising sunsets, clifftop temples and private retreats and a place to enjoy the sun, sand and sea.

Newlyweds to Bali will enjoy the hotels and villas with infinity pools, incredible views and dining options with activities ranging from white-water rafting, surfing and cycling through rice paddies, past hill-top shrines and through ancient villages.

 

FIJI VS BALI: WEDDING

With dazzling blue seas to the jungle-backed beaches, who wouldn’t want their wedding photos taken on Fiji or Bali? But it’s a tough decision to choose between a Fiji vs Bali wedding.

 

FIJI WEDDINGS

From a Fijian warrior blowing a conch shell to announce the arrival of the bride, to an intimate ceremony in a mountain-top chapel, there are lots of options when it comes to getting married in Fiji.

Guests can be serenaded by a 50-strong Fijian choir singing the couple’s chosen song, while drinks can be held on a candlelit beach as the sun goes down.

On Turtle Island couples can choose the location they always dreamed of, like the sunset on the shore of the Blue Lagoon, sunrise on Long Beach or late afternoon on Mountain Top.

Wedding dresses can be beautifully adorned with tapa – a cloth of tree bark and hand-painted with tribal symbols in black and tan – while garlands of fresh flowers can be hung around the bride’s neck.

To the sound of beating drums, brides can arrive at their wedding ceremony on a special raft, called a billi billi. After the wedding, all the guests will gather for kava, an ancient tradition, followed by the wedding feast or traditional lovo, which consists of roast pork, fresh seafood and local root crops.

 

BALI WEDDINGS

As well as beach and in-resort weddings, there are a few different options in Bali to give your wedding a bit of an edge. Very much an edge, when you’re standing on top of a cliff in fact. Overlooking the spectacular Indian Ocean, Balangan Cliff, just outside Jimbaran, is one of Bali’s most popular wedding locations with the sensational backdrop of the rocky terrain below and the endless ocean.

You can also tie the knot in a cave, on a golf course and on a yacht. Prepare to get wet with a wedding at Nungnung waterfall, located high in the mountains of Bali, an hour from Ubud. This tourist spot is also a popular wedding spot for yogi couples who enjoy Bali’s less crowded and more spiritual side.

 

COST OF FIJI VS BALI

Many resorts in Fiji or Bali will be all inclusive – where all your meals, snacks and most drinks will be included in the overall price – which means you’ll be aware of your costs up front and able to budget.

If you’re on a tight budget then think about travelling to both islands in the off season, from November to April. But be sure to check the weather, as this is usually the wet season.

The best way to see Fiji is by island hopping around its 300-plus islands. Rather than having to take an expensive sea plane, island hopping in Fiji can be done via a boat – such as liveaboards or multiday trips – which helps keep the costs down.

Bali is considered to be one of the most expensive islands of Indonesia to visit, and is becoming more so as tourists discover more of the island. But cost savings can be made with all-inclusive accommodation and some respectful bargaining when it comes to souvenir shopping.

GETTING THERE: FIJI VS BALI

HOW TO GET TO BALI

Currently there are no direct flights to Bali from the US – a trip that can take anything from 20 to 23 hours. Popular routes from Los Angeles or New York would include a stopover in Hong Kong, Singapore or Doha with airlines including Delta, Garuda Indonesia and Singapore Airlines.

However from Australia there are plenty of airlines that fly direct to Denpasar, Bali’s capital, including Qantas, Jestar, AirAsia and Garuda Indonesia. Bali is only a six-hour flight from Sydney and Melbourne making it a popular fly-and-flop destination for Australians.

Before heading to your resort, it’s worth checking out some of Denpasar’s cultural highlights including Sinhu Market and Bajra Sandhi Monument.

 

HOW TO GET TO FIJI

It couldn’t be easier to get to Fiji from the US 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, you’ll find daily direct flights from Sydney to Fiji, 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. While in Nadi, it’s worth checking out some of its history and culture including Sri Siva Subramaniya temple, the biggest Hindu temple in the southern hemisphere.

 

HOW FAR IS FIJI FROM BALI?

On a map Fiji and Bali seem pretty close – just under 7,000km in fact with just the rather large land mass of Australia between them. You can fly between the two but you’d have to stop over in Sydney and the flight time would be around 10.5 hours.

 

FIJI VS BALI: THE BEST TIME TO VISIT

Fiji is lucky in that it offers year-round warm temperatures and sunny skies.

Its seasons can 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 think about visiting Fiji from mid-October to mid-November when weather conditions are settled, dry and warm and when the tourist season hasn’t yet reached its peak.

Bali also boasts year-round warm temperatures and, like Fiji, its wet season is generally from December to March when the skies can turn cloudy and stormy. The dry season in Bali is from April to October.

 

EXPLORE TURTLE ISLAND FIJI

For a taste of true island life with authentic experiences and a warm family welcome, check out Turtle Island Fiji.

Perfect for families, honeymooners and newlyweds, it’s that longed-for escape and the chance to unwind.

With only 14 couples at the luxury resort at any one time, you really can call one of the 12 private beaches your own or have the island to yourself as you explore the 500 acres of tropical verdant forests.

For the ultimate in tranquil dream getaways, contact us at Turtle Island today.