Recently in Fiji Category

The island nation of Fiji is often thought of as the ultimate vacation destination, and for good reason. It boasts nearly perfect weather, incomparable natural beauty, and friendly people who make every visitor feel welcome. If the idea of a few days in a Pacific paradise isn't quite enough to get you on a Fiji-bound airplane, how about the prospect of saving big on a stay at Fiji's only five-star resort complex? The Sheraton Denarau Villas resort is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, with last-minute rates of at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next six weeks. Located on the small Fijian island of Denarau, the Sheraton Denarau Villas is an outpost of luxury amid swaying palm trees and endless ocean vistas. Golfers can try to improve their skills at the renowned course, tennis players will enjoy a lesson and a few matches on some of the finest courts in the country, and fans of water sports can windsurf to their heart's content in the turquoise waters off the coast. And when it comes to relaxing, the options are just as plentiful. There's the lagoon-like swimming pool - complete with swim-up bar - for floating away all your worries. The Heavenly Spa is the place for massage and hydrotherapy treatments that will leave you feeling loose and invigorated. You're sure to find the cuisine and atmosphere you're looking for in one of the resort's 17 restaurants. The Sheraton Denarau Villas resort is just one of dozens of Starpicks properties this week, so check the list to find your next getaway.

When it comes to beautiful island nations in the South Pacific, it's hard to beat Fiji, with its palm-lined beaches and turquoise waters. And while Fiji might be hours away from the stresses of modern life, it just got a little bit closer, thanks to Starpicks. That's because the Sheraton Fiji Resort is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, with last-minute rates of at least 20% off regular rates for stays throughout the month of April. Just think, within days you could be exploring this romantic tropical playground with your significant other, enjoying the finest spa, golf, and dining facilities while surrounded by tropical gardens and pristine beaches. If you're feeling adventurous, take off on a scuba diving trip, go wind surfing, or rent a bike and see the island under your own power. And don't worry about going hungry. When it's time for a meal, you can choose from 17 restaurants and bars in the resort complex, with everything from light fare to the finest Japanese food to be found outside of Tokyo. It's a luxurious way to get to know this amazing island. New Starpicks properties are posted every Tuesday, so check the list often for the latest deals.

Jeremy McCarthy is the Director of Spa Operations Development and Marketing for Starwood Hotels & Resorts and thelobby.com's expert on everything spa. He is currently on an "around the world" spa tour with Starwood and will be posting from his various destinations throughout the month.

You can surf in Fiji, but it’s not necessarily easy. Unlike most parts of the world, where waves are considered public property, in Fiji many surf breaks are considered private. This means you either need to stay at a resort that has access to the break you wish to surf, or in some cases, ask permission from the local village chief before paddling out. Once you do make it out there, usually by boat, you can expect powerful waves, crashing quickly over a jagged reef. For the experts, it is a great wave, with great opportunities for “barrels.” For an amateur like myself surfing Wilke’s Passage, it is a thrilling adrenaline rush, mixing moments of sheer joy with moments of sheer terror.

But who needs that much stress while you are on vacation? If you want to paddle into some kinder waves right off shore you can find some gentle peeling rights at Natadola Beach about an hour’s drive from Sheraton Fiji. It is still a reef break, so booties and rash guards are recommended, but the glassy waves remind you how surfing is supposed to be: easy, fun and above all else, laid back.

Jeremy McCarthy is the Director of Spa Operations Development and Marketing for Starwood Hotels & Resorts and thelobby.com's expert on everything spa.

The next several posts will be from an "around-the-world" journey with Starwood. I'm starting in Fiji, at the The Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa (where I'll be sneaking in a week of vacation.) Then heading to Beijing where I'll be staying at the The Westin Beijing Financial Street and meeting with the new Spa Director for the new The Westin Beijing Chaoyang, currently under construction but on a tight timeline to be ready in time for the Summer Olympics. From Beijing I head to The Westin Guangzhou which just opened a few months ago and features a new Heavenly Spa by Westin. After Guangzhou I meet with some of our corporate teams in Singapore. I then fly to Delhi, India to visit another new Westin property, The Westin Sohna Gurgaon Resort & Spa. After a short stint in India, I move on to visit The Westin Mina Seyahi, Dubai's latest gem. And my last stop (before returning to New York) is in Brussels, Belgium where I will be meeting with our corporate team for Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

One of Starwood Spa Collection's "Seven Pillars of Well Being" is Nature. And with good reason, since contact with nature relieves stress while bringing joy and appreciation. One of the best spas in the world for representing this pillar, is the Heavenly Spa by Westin at The Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa in Fiji. Just walking through the spa has a calming effect. The traditional Fijian treatment "bures" are spread out on the property and surrounded by beautiful flowers and a tranquil lotus pond. We had the Fijian "bobo" massage in a couples' treatment bure right on the pond. The combination of friendly Fijian staff, an extremely relaxing massage and the beautiful natural surroundings left us floating on clouds for the remainder of our stay.

Jeremy McCarthy is the Director of Spa Operations Development and Marketing for Starwood Hotels & Resorts and thelobby.com's expert on everything spa.

Last month I attended, along with 3,000 others from within the spa industry, the International Spa Association’s annual conference in Kissimmee, Florida. This is the largest spa event in the world with vendors from all over the globe showing their wares. (It is said you can smell the aromatherapy in the air for days afterward!)

One of the exhibitors tempting attendees with its fragrant product lines was Thalgo, a line of marine beauty products based on mineral ingredients extracted from the sea. The minerals help to detoxify and then energize the cells for healthy regeneration. To try some Thalgo treatments, I would suggest visiting the Heavenly Spa by Westin at the Westin Resort Denarau Island in Fiji and trying either the Fortifying Body Wrap using marine mud and natural sea salts or the Smoothing Algae Wrap, a detoxifying and relaxing treatment using mineral and vitamin rich algaes. Floating in the water off of a Fijian beach is good way to extract benefits from the sea as well!

Fall has finally arrived in the northern hemisphere, bringing with it dark nights, brisk winds, and chilly temperatures. Weather like this makes it awfully easy to daydream about tropical island paradises like Fiji, and since the Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa, Fiji is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, dreaming and doing aren't that far apart at all. Last-minute rates at this luxurious resort are at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next six weeks, so you could find yourself soaking up the sunshine and feeling the warm breezes of Fiji in no time. The Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa boasts 30 acres of pristine oceanfront property, including a private beach, tropical garden, 18-hole golf course, and a seemingly unending selection of dining choices. If you're into active pursuits, you can scuba, kayak, and parasail to your heart's content, followed by an invigorating dip in the two-tiered infinity pool. And for the ultimate in relaxation, schedule a massage or other pampering treatment at the Heavenly Spa by Westin (pictured), Fiji's largest and most sophisticated spa and a member of Starwood's Spa Collection. Whatever your island fantasy involves, you'll find it at the Westin Denarau Island Resort, Fiji, so visit Starpicks today and don't forget the sunscreen.

A $15 million renovation has transmogrified Fiji's former Sheraton Royal Denarau Resort into the new Westin Denarau Resort & Spa. The hotel's overall Fiji-inspired design, decor, style, and architecture remain intact; all that's changed is a general update and improvement of hotel facilities and room amenities. With the Westin takeover, rooms get the (quite literally) trademarked Heavenly Beds, plus new 32" flatscreen TVs and Bose DVD home-theater systems. The spa received a makeover into a Spa Collection-approved Heavenly Spa, offering a range of pampering treatments and healthful treatments. You've also got four restaurants, two bars, a lounge, live local music, and access to upscale golf, tennis, and water sports excursions. And if you get tired of the ocean thing, you can always paddle around in the three-tiered pool.