Megan Singleton: BloggerAtLarge.com writer recaps 4-generation family holiday in Fiji

Megan Singleton's just returned from a multi-generational holiday in Fiji and she's outlined how to plan a similar big trip - without everything blowing apart.

They stayed at the Shangri La Resort on the Coral Coast, because it was important to find a location that appealed to a group aged 4 to 80, with a good beach, activities and a wide range of dining options.

She outlined her experience further here. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News Talks, AB Travel with Wendy Wutours Where the
World Is Yours book.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
Now and joining us is Meghansingleton, blogger at lunch dot com.
Good morning, Good morning. So you have been having a
big debrief about your intergenerational family trip that you took
to Fiji and you put some thoughts together about how
to make it good value for families.

Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yeah, and I've done a warts and all review of
the Shangrila Resort in Fiji, which is what we chose
for the just the amount of activities are, the amount
of food options just Fiji, you can get a little
bit stuck, I have found, especially if you go out
to an island or something, you've got like maybe one
two restaurants to choose from. So these were all the

(00:56):
considerations that we needed, like for this multi generation holiday.
And so yeah, I've just gone through with really walking
you through what the resort is like, because we spent
like months choosing this and trying to figure out where
to stay and what we were doing, what we should take.
Can you take snacks? You know, what will the kids eat?

(01:17):
So with this resort Shangri La, the kids under eleven
years old eat free with a paying adult. All breakfasts
are included anyway, So our initial thought was, let's just
stock up on brecke and then no one will need
to eat till dinner. I think after day one, when
the kids went fair all by about four o'clock, we
realized that's probably not going to work. We might need
to actually do lunch. So I've got some tips on

(01:39):
where and how you can do lunches. What I found
good value, what I didn't find good value, and places
to go outside of the resort, which we found a
wonderful restaurant called the Flying Fin nearby. They would come
and collect us and really enjoyed their food. Hiring a
car for a day if you want to get out

(01:59):
of the resort, but there is actually plenty to do
in there. There is the inflatable water park that we
you and I talked about already, but there's a nine
hole golf course, there's putt put there is stand up
paddle bordering, there's kayaks. The boards and the kayaks are
free to use, and so is the inflatable park. You
have to pay a bit extra if you want to
rent a bike or do the goal for do the

(02:20):
put putt. There's an amazing spa. I mean I did
actually meet some adults who weren't here with kids. I thought, oh,
you're brave, But they really liked it, I think for
all those reasons. And they liked being around the hubbub
and joy of families splashing about in the beach and
enjoying the swimming pools. There's two pools, and yes, it

(02:41):
was really good.

Speaker 2 (02:42):
Okay, So what about if you compared this resort to
other popular play areas in Fiji.

Speaker 3 (02:48):
Well, I compared it with DINNEROL. So most kiwis, We're
just going to fly and flop over to dinner raw,
where it's just an island full of just resorts.

Speaker 2 (02:56):
Right.

Speaker 3 (02:56):
So what I liked about Shangrilau or the Coral Coast
in general is the beach. You don't get that at DINNEROL.
And I liked the variety of the restaurants and food
options there. Dinner out is easy, dinner out is probably
more your adults. For me, it would be more an
adults holiday. I know, the likes of the Sophotail have
a really great pool with a lazy river. That's all

(03:18):
good fun as well, but you really do have to
get out of those results to go and experience anything
like on the sea or that sort of stuff. So
I do think it was better than dinner our for
our family, for a multi generational holiday. There was something
for everybody.

Speaker 2 (03:31):
Because would you stay at Shangri La again.

Speaker 3 (03:36):
If it was just me and my husband or maybe
two couples, No, I wouldn't. I'd probably go just try
and go a little bit at the next level up,
if you know what I mean. Don't get me wrong.
The beds were luxurious. I tried to buy the pillows
and there were over two hundred dollars, so it's really comfy.
But I'd probably do a little bit more, like a
little bit more exhaust maybe go somewhere bit fence.

Speaker 2 (03:58):
Thought you're going to tell me you stole a pillow,
but you'll know you're far too well behind, don't.

Speaker 3 (04:02):
You wouldn't come, couldn't fit it in the suitcase.

Speaker 2 (04:06):
Thank you so much, Megan. So, if you are thinking
of an island trip and you want a bit of
a rundown on Fiji, head to blog at launch dot com.
Megan's going to get all that Fiji wrap up in
There for You.

Speaker 1 (04:17):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
live to News Talks at B from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio