An Idyllic Family Vacation. Is there such a Thing? Time for a Visit to the Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Eco-Friendly Resort. FASHIONTRIBES TRAVEL BLOG

Unfortunately, many "family package" vacations are like junk food - soothing & oh-so-satisfying, but somehow devoid of anything worthwhile.

For a more enriched vacation with the fam, the Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort on Vanua Levu, Fiji - FijiResort.com - offers one of the most expansive and diverse lineups of complimentary cultural and ecological activities in the South Pacific. The property's mission is to take as little as possible from the environment, give back wherever possible, and give due respect to others with whom they share this place - an ethic which applies to everything at the resort from growing its own produce to Fijian community contributions, as well as a wide array of eco-friendly activities. The dedication to Fijian environment and culture, combined with a five-star luxury experience, recently earned the property the world's top score on Condé Nast Traveler's 2005 Green List, which recognizes outstanding examples of ecotourism.

Stuff to do:

• glass-bottom boat tours of pristine coral reefs
• edible landscape tours
• Fijian medicine walks
• ecological & cultural tours and seminars
• wellness activities
• evening entertainment such as nightly music from the resort's own Bula Boys
• sailing, kayaking to nearby Split Rock, beaches, night snorkeling, mangrove tours, NITROX seminars, & reef and coral slide shows
• a Nukubalavu Village trip
• Kava ceremonies
• Meke & Lovo - Fiji's traditional dancing and feast featuring fire-pit cookery
• trips to a local farmer's market
• daily yoga classes, water aerobics, rainforest and waterfall hikes

KIDS: Not only do children under 12 stay, eat and play free - but have the run of their very own Bula Club which treats its young guests as the future caretakers of the earth and oceans. Supervised and entertained by attentive nannies and buddies who are bi-lingual in English and Fijian, the Bula Club features:

• a playground
• family pool equipped with a 20-foot water slide and a separate wading pool with small water slide for younger children
• fish painting - where children brush colors onto forms of local fish and imprint the images onto T-shirts to take home
• snorkeling
• beach combing
• picnics
• learning about Fijian arts and crafts
• coral reef exploration, tidal flats discovery, mangrove reforestation & a Giant Clam restoration project - all of which are led by the only on-staff marine biologist in Fiji or the resort's own award-winning Cultural Host
• Evening activities include movies, storytelling, nature bingo and a scavenger hunt.
• Each child receives a Passport showing which activities of exploration he or she completed - signed by Jean-Michel Cousteau.

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

FOR ADULTS ONLY: Parents can steal a little alone time and lounge at the adults-only Serenity Pool or indulge in other luxurious activities, such as the extensive spa program featuring traditional Fijian treatments and massage. Parents can rekindle some of the passion with a special couples' massage in the privacy of their bure or escape to their own private island with a gourmet picnic lunch.

EATING & DRINKING: Included in every room rate, dining is a special part of the package. Focusing on fresh local ingredients - such as seafood and produce from the resort's organic garden - the on-site chefs create award-winning cuisine served in the restaurant and poolside. In addition, the resort can also arrange an intimate dinner for two at either pier's end or any of the private dine-out bures for a romantic evening under the South Pacific stars.

THE DETAILS:

• WHERE The Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort is located on the island of Vanua Levu on a former 17-acre coconut plantation.
• WHAT Accommodations are 25 Fijian-style, thatched-roof Gardenview or Oceanfront bures scattered among the palm trees. These bures accommodate up to two children; the Oceanfront
  Suites, three kids on one king day bed and one regular day bed; and the Oceanfront two-bedroom, three kids on two single beds and a day bed.
• HOW MUCH 2006 daily rates start from US$575 for a Gardenview bure to US$865 for an
  Oceanfront two-bedroom bure.
• WHAT IT INCLUDES Rates include all meals and non-alcoholic beverages, complimentary activities and transfers to/from Savusavu Airport.
• FOR MORE INFO Contact the resort at 800.246.3454, email at info@fijiresort.com or visit FijiResort.com

- Lesley Scott

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