redtravelcat

My husband and I are mid-fifties, and pretty much like to spend our vacations parked under a palm tree with a good book. In other words, we are chaise lounge potatoes. Maybe a little swimming and snorkeling but mostly into vegging out when on vacation. Our tenth anniversary is mid-May. Which of these itineraries sounds better based on what I've said our likes are: Tahiti--2 nights at Sheraton Tahiti, and six nights at Sheraton Moorea, or Fiji-eight nights at either Malolo or Tokoriki. Trying to decide is driving me crazy! Need your input, folks.

Louis

Fiji hands down. We know all of the islands you mention. The worse choice is Tahiti, Moorea is far better than Tahiti. All of the Moorea people will tell you the same. Fiji is your best value for the dollar for what you want and we would choose it without question. In the Tahiti area we would always choose the Bora Bora Hotel. As they say in Real Estate, location location location. However my wife would want to go to Matangi Island in Fiji if given the choice. There are others that would choose Vatulele in Fiji.

Peggy

Hello Louis! I have to agree with Louis. Your description fits Fiji better than Tahiti. I have been to Tahiti & neighboring islands many times but once we moved on to Fiji there just was no going back. Mainly because the outer islands were having a honeymoon/hotel boom (I got married there so I'm not against honeymooners! It just was becoming an oversold destination in my eyes.)& the people in Fiji are so wonderful. Just a thought also, look at Coconuts Beach Club in Samoa www.coconutsbeachclubsamoa.com Every reasonable & interesting culture. Happy hunting!

Louis

Hi Peggy. Vatulele for you and Matangi for Cecil I mentioned Vatulele for you. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Holly

Louis,<BR>You seem to really like Matangi, and it seems a lot more affordable than Vatulele. Have you been to Taveuni? We really enjoy hiking to waterfalls, and Taveuni seems to have some really beautiful ones. Any thoughts on which is better? Thank you! Holly

Holly

I almost forgot to ask, how long is the flight to Fiji from LAX? Is it non-stop? <BR>On another tangent - Fiji vs. Cooks? Which is better and why? Thank you for your ideas and advice!<BR>Holly

Louis

To get to Matangi you fly to Tavenui and drive almost half way around the island to get to the boat landing for Matangi. I don't know how many waterfalls there are on Tavenui but we went over to the one in the national park. Matangi furnished transportation and a picnic. Some swam in the lower pool an others hiked to the top. Taveuni is too large for our tastes. If hiking to waterfalls is your primary interest Taveuni would be better as there is no waterfalls on Matangi. You can have some rugged hiking on Matangi if you want. I would not expect to find easy hiking on Taveuni except in areas where trails have been cut by natives. The interior is steep, slippery and with dense growth. Taveuni is about 26 miles long and about 7 miles wide with only one road along the shore. Matangi is about 240 acres. Our taste runs to small private islands. From LAX to Fiji is about 10 hours non-stop. After 9/11 I don't know current schedules but Air Pacific and Air New Zealand flew non-stop but there may not be flights every day.

Louis

P.S. We have never been to the Cook Islands but Peggy has and enjoys them. Every island is different and what best fits one person may not be a good match for another.

redtravelcat

Thanks for your input. We have decided on Fiji. We will either go to Malolo or Matamanoa---we can get good rates at both.

Louise

Just a thought - you might try comparing Matamanoa and Matangi in the meal department. We have stayed at both and on Matamanoa there is only one restaurant and the prices were quite high. We were glad we had a package deal. On Matangi, all meals are included. For us, Matangi would win hands down. At least, for what we like to do on a vacation.