Paradise Flooded: Fiji Closes To Tourists

Tropical storms have battered Fiji in recent days, causing flash floods that have stranded tourists, forced mass evacuations and caused upwards of three deaths. Now, the Pacific island nation braces itself as a tropical cyclone approaches the main island of Viti Levu with forecasted gusts of 68 miles per hour and the certainty of even more damage. Already, the government has declared a state of emergency. Sometimes, you just can’t catch a break.

Apart from causing widespread destruction, floods in the main tourist towns of Suva and Nadi have also wreaked havoc on Fiji’s tourism industry. Thousands of visitors were forced to remain in their hotels with limited resources until the waters receded and the air embargo was lifted on Monday. They now face chaos at the Nadi International Airport trying to secure flights back home. Australian and New Zealand news sources describe frantic scenes straight from a natural disaster flick.

The photo gallery below offers a glimpse at the current scene on the ground.

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Luxury vacations now within reach through new travel service

For many travelers, a luxury vacation is a thing for which to save, splurge on for a special occasion, or hope to do some day. Adventure travelers often do not even have luxury vacations on their radar and are more apt to grab the backpack than to hit the road. But luxury vacations do not have to be for just the rich and famous. An online source for discounts on luxury is bringing that world within reach.

Luxury Link is an online destination for deals on luxury vacations at desirable destinations like Fiji, Hawaii or Tahiti as well as the cultural capitals of Europe or cities in Asia.

Luxury Link packages vacations then offers two ways to buy, sort of like eBay or Priceline, via auctions or offers to “Book Now.”

One significant difference when comparing Luxury Link to eBay, Priceline, or other similar options, is in the offerings. Luxury Link partners with upscale hotels, resorts, villas and cruise lines, to offer deals, many of which we don’t find anywhere other than on their own websites.

Luxury link boasts savings of up to 65%, “often including complimentary extras, amenities and activities for the best value available anywhere,” says the Luxury Link website. That’s just sales talk to catch our attention. All online travel sellers do it. Most buyers who frequent sites to research travel probably do not pay a lot of attention to those claims, nor should they.

But also differentiating Luxury Link is the notion that top-shelf hotels, resorts, cruise lines and others want to entice luxury travelers to their product, but often have a hard time making contact with them. Partnering with Luxury Link to create unique vacation products, they are offering something not available elsewhere.

That can be good and bad.The good part is that the move suggests the operators of those vacation options are looking to establish a long-term business relationship with luxury travelers. In other words, they are not in it to fill up some hotel rooms at the last minute where any warm body will do. We don’t see that a lot with online sellers of travel.

The potentially bad part is that those uniquely created vacation packages are difficult to compare with other deals causing buyers to not have a sense about the value being offered. They simply do not exist from any other source.

Still, Luxury Link does have some outstanding values, including a clean report from the Better Business Bureau, and might very well enable luxury travel dreams.


Flickr photo by Andy_Mitchell_UK

The Bachelorette heads to Fiji for tonight’s episode

One of our favorite parts about hit ABC television series The Bachelor / Bachelorette is the final few weeks. This is not because it showcases the show’s main contestant falling in love with multiple men and women, or because of the cheesy “fantasy suite” overnights. It’s because of the far-flung and romantic locations the contestants visit that give us inspiration for our own honeymoons … whenever that may be.

Tonight’s episode takes place at luxe resort Namale in Savusavu, Fiji, which, like many of its romance-ready counterparts in the 20-something seasons before, offers private villas, walks around the grounds to nearby rushing waterfalls, private dinners and luxurious spa treatments – a formula that will make it easy for the Bachelorette and one of her finalists to fall in love.

Previous seasons have taken place in Anguilla (CuisinArt Resort), Tahiti (where Carrie Underwood honeymooned after the show wrapped), New Zealand and more. In tonight’s episode, castmates head to Namale, located on the edge of the Koro Sea. Should you wish to plan a romantic getaway to the island in the vein of The Bachelorette, the resort has created a 7-Night Getaway Package, which includes accommodations at a bure or villa and the following amenities:

  • Inter-island transportation for two
  • A chilled bottle of champagne at arrival and a basket of South Pacific fruits upon arrival
  • A Dolphin Day Tour to Natewa Bay
  • Couples Ultimate Fusion Spa Treatment
  • Horseback riding to Namale’s privately owned waterfall with 3 course lunch served at the base of the falls
  • Private candlelight dinner over the Koro Sea and under a bed of stars
  • Lunch where the Bachelorette dined at the Walu Deck (or choose from Hanging Bed at beach, Veidomoni Deck, Blowhole Deck, Lasalasa, Main Bure private deck)
  • Romantic themed turndown service on the eve of departure
  • The all-inclusive resort features:

    • All meals (champagne breakfast, 3 course lunches and 5 course dinners)
    • All beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) with no limitations on beers, spirits, house wines and house champagnes
    • Daily replenishable mini bar
    • Daily laundry services
    • Nightly turndown services
    • Wi-Fi
    • Complimentary access to fitness center and indoor entertainment center
    • Activities such as snorkeling, horseback riding, Fijian village visits and more

The Bachelorette Inspired Romantic 7-Night Getaway Package to Namale will be offered for 90 days after the July 25 episode airs, and travel dates are August 2011 through the end of March 2012. The inter-island transport is only offered for packages purchased before August 12th 2011.

Yep, we think we’d fall in love in a setting like that too. Where can we sign up to be the next Bachelorette?

SATW blogs live from Fiji

The Society of American Travel Writers Freelance Council is heading to the other side of the world for their annual conference. The group of self-employed writers, photographers, videographers, broadcasters, and other travel journalists will be reporting life from Fiji this week, in an effort to bring readers an inside look at the island down under.

Outside of the professional development sessions taking place, SATW members will blog live about their experiences in Fiji, including what to do, where to eat, what to see, and photos that will make you want to hop the flight to Fiji.

The council has already starting blogging live, and readers can follow along on SATW’s Tumblr page or follow their adventures via the SATW Fiji Twitter hashtag #satwfiji.

Couples can win a trip to Fiji, courtesy of CheapOair

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be about roses and chocolates. How about a trip to Fiji? CheapOair is playing cupid and giving away a free trip for the couple that wins their “Crazy in Love” contest.

All lovebirds are asked to send in a 30-second video that answers the question “What makes you and your significant other unique?” It could be a hobby or a special talent or anything that shows how the couple is exciting and distinctive. Once uploaded, the video is automatically entered into the contest and showcased on CheapOair’s YouTube Channel. The winner will be announced on CheapOair’s blog and Facebook page on Valentine’s Day.

The lucky couple will win roundtrip tickets from Los Angeles to Fiji, courtesy of Air Pacific, and a 5-night stay at the Radisson Resort Fiji Denarau Island. And if they’re ready to tie the knot, Paradise Brides will even set them up with a wedding coordinator, license certificate and everything they’ll need for their big day.

It’s contests like this one that make us sad we’re not part of a “couple” on Valentine’s Day!

[Image via Flickr user YXO]