Which spot do you prefer? Picture: Unleashed Travel
BALI versus Fiji, which is better for family holidays? That’s a question that can get tempers heated and see friends fall out.
They are two of the top family holiday destinations for Australians and most families have a favourite. Fiji is by far the best of the two, I argue. But my well-travelled friend Maraya Bell of the Stuff Mums Like website says that Bali wins for her every time.
We’ve been having a vigorous discussion about it. So if you’re tossing up visiting Bali with kids or wondering whether a Fiji holiday would suit you better, listen in to our disputes.
CULTURE
Maraya: “Bali provides a great mix of relaxation, adventure and culture. It’s such a small island that you can take yourself out of the tourist centres and really experience Balinese culture. You can see dancing, ceremonies and watch the Balinese women create amazing offerings.”
Seana: “But Fiji has plenty of culture too. You can visit the markets, see hill forts and join the locals at church services. Plus it’s easy to experience Fijian village life.”
FOOD
Maraya: “Well, the food though! Everyone knows that the food in Fiji is average at best. In Bali the choice isn’t what to eat, it’s what not to eat.
“There are so many amazing places in Bali, with new ones popping up daily (some of my faves are Biku, La Lucciola, Sisterfields, Wacko Burger). These are way better than the repetitive buffet options of the Fiji resort buffet.”
When in Bali, eat up ... Picture: Jeff
Seana: “Now there’s a point in there but the resorts we’ve stayed at have actually served really interesting food with plenty of variety plus there are now several world class fine dining restaurants in Fiji such as Restaurant 1808 on Castaway Island and the Ivi at the Outrigger.”
THE TRAFFIC
Seana: “Also getting around to visit those places in Bali is a pest because of the traffic which is generally terrible in Bali. Things are close together in Fiji and you’re never going to get caught in a terrible traffic snarl. Now that’s something Bali can never claim.”
Maraya: “Bali has traffic for sure — but it also has air conditioning in those taxis! Plus, at an average of $3-$5 a taxi ride around the main areas, you don’t have to worry. Just sit back and watch the local action out the windows.”
But be prepared for the traffic. Picture: Fabio Achilli
FOR KIDS
Maraya: “Bali is perfect for kids of all ages. For little ones you can get a nanny on hand (known as a pembantu) to give you some time out. For bigger kids you can do a different activity every day, with the Safari Park, Waterbom (voted number three water park in the whole world!), swimming with dolphins, visiting turtle hatcheries and so many other things.”
Seana: “The kids clubs in Fiji are awesome. And there are excellent nannies for the little ones who are too young for kids club. These won’t break the bank either. There are also heaps of activities for older kids and teenagers. My older boys both learned to scuba dive on our last trip.”
Bali, wow.
WATERSPORTS
Seana: “What about the water sports? In Fiji, if you stay on the Coral Coast or islands you can roll out of bed and go straight for a snorkel on a coral reef. You can also kayak around and do heaps of other water sports really easily.”
Maraya: “There are loads of places to snorkel in Bali. On one of our recent trips we stayed in Candidasa and we took a boat from right outside our resort. We saw turtles.”
Seana: “Well, in Fiji the island resorts are paradise and they’re not far away You can easily fly into Nadi and then get to Denarau and catch a ferry to be on your tropical island paradise by afternoon. It’s an easy trip and all doable door to door during the day.”
Maraya: “Yeah but you’re stuck, in a resort on an island. Trapped if you will! In Bali you can get that relaxing island holiday feeling one day then the next day head off to Waterbom, the Safari Park, on an adventure to the monkey forest in Ubud etc. You can explore the island at your will- after all, the pool gets pretty boring day in and day out.”
Seana: “What! Trapped on a Fiji island ... but there are so many things to do on the island resorts. I dream of being trapped on one.”
Bures in the ocean in Fiji.Source:Supplied
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Maraya: “My favourite thing about Bali is the range of accommodation options — Fiji just doesn’t offer this. Basically you get to your Fijian resort and you are locked in- same activities, same restaurants, same people- let’s face it, if it wasn’t for the fact the staff were Fijian you could be anywhere!
“In Bali you can choose to stay in a resort (kids clubs included), a hotel or you can get your own private villa with a private pool starting at about $200 a night. It’s way more affordable because in Bali it’s a case of supply and demand- there are so many places to eat that you can eat really affordably.
“You can even eat street food for about $1 a meal. You can’t get that in your Fijian resort — right?”
Seana: “Wrong. There are places to eat outside the resorts, just head to the nearest village. And you can rent villas in Fiji too, but they are a lot less well known than the Bali villas. We once stayed in a villa in Bali though that was gorgeous but stuck out on its own in the rice paddies, so hard to keep four kids entertained there, I can tell you.”
The rice terraces of Bali. Picture: McKay Savage
THE PEOPLE
Seana: “The Fjians are warm and welcoming and make their visitors feel so welcome and so safe. The guys wear flowers behind their ears and it seems like everyone plays guitar and sings their hearts out. And Fijians love kids so much too.”
Maraya: “I think this is an equal win — the Fijian’s are gorgeous but so are the Balinese. Both cultures adore children and have this beautiful, calming presence about them.
“When we took my then 15-month-old to Bali she absolutely adored them all. She had never been willing to go with strangers before and in Bali they would take her at all the restaurants while we ate. Both places are so welcoming this way.”
Hanging with the locals in Fiji. Picture: kyle Post
THE TIME DIFFERENCE AND FLIGHTS
Seana: “What about the time difference? Fiji’s one hour ahead of east coast of Australia but Bali is three hours behind. Time differences kill my kids. The Bali difference means they are falling asleep into their dinner when up with the larks. In Fiji they stay up a bit later than usual but they sleep in ... hooray!”
Maraya: “In winter (non daylight savings) Bali is two hours behind us — which let’s face it, is when we want to go! I’ve never had an issue with the time difference really. Sure it takes a day or two to adjust but you keep them so busy in the day they sleep like logs.”
Seana: “Fiji is closer than Bali. It’s a four hour flight from the east coast of Australia to Fiji and it’s quicker on the way home. To get to Bali takes at least six hours ... and that two hour time difference is huge when you’re flying with kids.”
Maraya: “It’s true that Fiji is closer ... if you’re on the east coast. But for the Perth people it’s only a two hour flight. The six hour flight isn’t too bad though, but the night flight home is a killer. Fiji may win the battle in this area.”
WEATHER
Maraya: “Also, the weather. If you head to Fiji in our winter (especially on the coral coast) it can be cold! Cold wind and too cold to swim. I don’t go to the tropics to get cold. Bali weather is perfect that time of year. Not too hot but you feel like you are in the tropics.”
Seana: “Well, I’ve been to Fiji in winter and it’s been fabulous weather. Such a relief after the chilly winter in Sydney.”
CONCLUSION
I think we might have to agree to disagree. I’ll chose Fiji over Bali for our family holidays, but Maraya’s already booked her next flights to Bali. How lucky are we in Australia to have such fab choices?
This article originally appeared on Skyscanner.com.au.
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