Bula and welcome to the Fiji Island Tours Bula Sheet

In this months' newsletter we would like to introduce you to something really exciting. We have been working on putting together special indulgence packages for those of you who want to experience the absolute best of the best; to indulge in luxury that is unsurpassed.

We therefore introduce Fiji Island Tours "Indulge yourself in Fiji".

Here's how it works. We, at Fiji Island Tours will put together a series of wonderful, indulgent, luxury options. We'll research the best possible resort combinations. We'll build a holiday that includes getting you from home to the airport and getting you onto the best seats in the plane. Once in Fiji we'll get you to your resort in style. Your luxury holiday may include just one resort, or a combination of two resorts, or a resort and a cruise on a private, crewed yacht. We'll transfer you from each place as easily, quickly, and as luxuriously as we possibly can. Nothing will be left to chance. When we book your accommodation, transfers, flights you will be noted as one of Fiji Island Tours "Indulge yourself in Fiji" travelers and therefore afforded the special status that goes along with that title. It's an exclusive club and we invite you to join.

This newsletter will be one of the ways we'll present these wonderful luxury options. Also, we will design a special page on our web site, www.fijinet.com that will encompass this program. So, it's easy - make the web site your first point of call to see what sort of new Luxury package we have put together and then speak to one of the team at Fiji Island Tours to either book the package as it is, or tailor it a little differently for your requirements.

The first of our luxury packages combines a luxury mainland stay with an equally luxurious stay at one of Fiji's premier resorts. Sheraton Resorts Denarau Island Fiji and Yasawa Island Resort represent a combination of true style. The Sheraton Resorts located at Denarau offer three wonderful levels of Luxury, with that luxury only getting better when current refurbishment programmes finish towards the end of 2006. Sheraton Resorts Denarau have committed US$24 million to upgrade Sheraton Royal, Sheraton Fiji Resort and Sheraton Denarau Villas over the period of 2005/2006.

The refurbishment of Sheraton Royal Denarau will ultimately convert the resort to The Westin Resort and Spa Denarau Island. The refurbishment will include a total revamp of the 274 guestrooms and suits including addition of the famous Westin Heavenly Bed and Heavenly Shower. Enhancements will be made to the resorts' lobby, restaurants, bars, ballroom and swimming pool area. In fact the pool is almost complete with it planned to be filled by the end of September, 2005. In addition to all of this, a world class spa, the Seven Pillars of Well-Being will be opened in 2006.

Sheraton Fiji Resort will have a total renovation and refurnishing of its 292 guestrooms and introduction of the newly introduced Sheraton Sweet Sleepers Bed. Upgrading will also occur in the grand ballroom, lobby, Verandah restaurant and cafe. When thinking about this soft refurb, Sheraton have advised us to think "Ralph Lauren" - how truly fabulous!

Sheraton Denarau Villas have not been forgotten and their refurb will begin in November 2005 and the highlight of this will be the addition of a 600m2 fresh water swimmable lagoon and also the introduction of the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper bed in all 165 guestrooms and villas. The swimmable lagoon will be fabulous - giving guests in the ground floor villas and guestrooms direct pool access. The lagoon will completely transform the interior of the resort complex with beautiful landscaped gardens and a central island with adjoining bridges.

Rest assured the people at Sheraton Resorts at Denarau Island, Fiji are very aware of how the refurbishments will affect their guests and have ensured that as guests you will be fully informed of the progress of refurbishments, and areas will have buffer zones so any disturbance is absolutely minimal.

Once you have chosen your level of luxury at Sheraton Resorts, it is then time to move onto the Luxury of Yasawa Island Resort. Yasawa Island Resort have recently made their top grade of accommodation, Lomalagi even better with the completion of its very own pool.

Yasawa Island Resort is the only resort on the most Northern part of the Yasawa Island chain. Yasawa Island itself is some 20 kilometers long (N-S) and sports arguably the very best beaches in Fiji. This is splendid isolation with just the sounds of the waves and a gentle sea breeze mingled with the sounds of island music. The resort nestles in a bay with 18 bures, including Lomalagi which is set apart from the main resort.

Lomalagi's new horizon pool extends across the length of the timber deck, overlooking the ocean at the end of a deserted white beach. Surrounded by coconut palms and pandanus, it gives guests the choice of slipping straight into their own freshwater pool, or strolling down the sands to the turquoise ocean.

Beneath Lomalagi's thatched roof is a vast interior, superbly fitted in contemporary Fijian style with local timbers, traditional art and a cool, open plan. Plantation shutters bring in the sea breezes, while French doors open to a giant sun-deck overlooking the ocean.

It's only a short stroll along the beach to the rest of the resort, where the chef serves magnificent contemporary cuisine including the seafood caught each day by local fishermen. Or, as an alternative let the Valet bring your meals direct to Lomalagi, where a table can be set outside on the deck or on the beach facing the sunset.

Resort staff can arrange beauty treatments in the privacy of Lomalagi, or a long and soothing massage on the deck. Fill your time by taking a private picnic on one of the island's 11 deserted beaches, explore pristine coral reefs with the resort's own PADI dive instructor, or swim in the caves and coves that surround Yasawa Island.

The combination of any of the Sheraton Resorts, Denarau Island and Yasawa Island Resort present, to our special Fiji Island Tours "Indulge yourself in Fiji" clients a truly remarkable luxury package. Your very special package would include business class flights with Air Pacific to Nadi. Private car transfers from Nadi International Airport to Denarau and the Sheraton Resort of your choice. Four nights accommodation at Sheraton Resorts - this will ensure you are able to sample the many things available to you at all three resorts - spa packages, dining options, and sampling each of the wonderful pools! From Sheraton you will be transferred again by private car to Nadi International Airport where your private transfer flight will take you direct to Yasawa Island Resort. Flight time is approximately 35 minutes to Yasawa's own air strip.

Spend 10 luxurious nights accommodated at Lomalagi and you will really know what luxury is about. Dine on some of the finest food you have experienced, indulge in as many beauty or massage sessions as you like, swim, dive, play tennis, or just float in your own private pool. Yasawa Island Resort is truly heaven - a heaven where less is more than enough.

At the end of your ten night stay at Yasawa Island Resort you will again be flown by the resorts' own plane to Nadi, and a one night stay at Sheraton Resorts, before you board your Air Pacific, business class flight home. You will have truly indulged yourself in Fiji.

A package such as this one is as flexible as you would like to make it - the key to it is that it presents you, our valuable client, with the very best of the best. We have suggested the 14 night combination, but of course, spend less time on the mainland, and more on the island, more on the island and less on the mainland. It's up to you. We've deliberately not put a price on this package as we present it to you today, because we want you to decide on how this combination works best for you. But, if this is exactly as you would like, then please, call either Eileen, Salote, Sarah or myself and we will give you the costings and arrange it for you - it's as simple as that. We hope that you enjoy our "indulge yourself in Fiji" programme and look forward to presenting you with other wonderful combinations throughout the year.

There's one other exciting thing that we would like to share with you. This opportunity is for those who like to combine a holiday with some valuable learning! Courses in Paradise are presented by Daku Resort which is located on the island of Vanua Levu. Daku Resort is located in Savusavu, which is nicknamed the "Hidden Paradise". It is unlike the Fiji most of us know in so far as it is not overdone, and not overtouristy. Savusavu offers vintage island style charm and picture postcard scenery.

Daku is located about a 2 minute taxi drive from the main town of Savusavu which is reached with a 50 minute scenic flight from Nadi. The resort is one of a kind, being upscale but not expensive. Accommodation is in the form of 6 bures, a family villa and a self contained cottage all set naturally in beautiful tropical fruit and flower gardens with spectacular views of Savusavu Bay and lush tropical mountains. Daku is small, low key and casual. In fact, the key requirement of a holiday at Daku is to relax and have fun.

Courses in Paradise are run at Daku Resort and the programme offers a chance to spend a week in Fiji pursuing a passion - whether that be writing, art, reading or quilting, in the company of like minded people. Your teacher is an expert in the field from Australia. The programme offers daily workshops plus a chance to see some local culture.

The courses vary, but all are a week in duration - leaving Australia on a Saturday and returning the following Sunday. The first course for 2006 is a truly remarkable one, and one that we recommend attending. Running March 11 - March 19 "Fiji: Its History, Culture and Modern Politics" will be run by Dr Robin Irwin and has as its special speaker ex Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. Rabuka led two coups in 1987 and was subsequently elected Prime Minister from 1992 -1999. Rabuka is a well known figure throughout the region and has played a major part in shaping Fiji's recent political past. Other speakers will cover Indian perspectives, Fiji's place in the South Pacific, local industries and culture.

This is a truly unique opportunity.

Other Courses in Paradise include "Writing in Paradise", "Quilting in Paradise: South Pacific hand applique", "Reading in Paradise - Exploring Australian Fiction" hosted by Andrea Stretton, "Writing in Paradise: Making Stories" hosted by Kate Grenville.

The team at Fiji Island Tours have a full list of all the courses being run throughout 2006. This is a unique opportunity for those who want more than just a tourist trip, but want to gain knowledge and experience from professionals in their field. And, combine this with a true holiday in paradise.

There's been a lot in this months' newsletter, but there's so much to share with you. All the team at Fiji Island Tours would be delighted to hear from you about "Indulge yourself in Fiji" or "Courses in Paradise", or any other of your holiday planning needs.

Again, we do recommend your planning ahead going forward into 2006. We now have most of the new contract rates moving into the new year, so can put together costings up to March 2007. For those of you who know Charmaine, we're excited to report that she has moved into a new role taking care of groups traveling to Fiji. This includes sporting groups, wedding groups, corporate groups, even reunion groups. So, if you, or your company is looking for somewhere for a large group event, Charmaine certainly has the expertise and skills to help you plan an effortless event! Think about next time you are watching your kids playing sport on a Saturday if your local club would like to take a trip to Fiji for a cultural/sporting event for the kids. Or your company conference this year - wouldn't Fiji be a fabulous destination? Or simply, if you have relations spread around the globe, why not arrange to meet in Fiji for a get together to celebrate a special occasion, or even for no reason at all!

Moce for now, best wishes from the team at Fiji Island Tours. And remember, our other division Island and Corporate Travel (which will be renamed Travelscene Mona Vale as of September 01) continues to serve our other clients with their travel arrangements throughout the world for both holiday and corporate travel.

For full details of anything discussed in this newsletter please contact us as below.

Email. sales@fijiislands.com.au
Tel. (02) 9979 2403
Fax (02) 9979 2407
 

Richard Miall Director Lamil P/L Fiji Island Tours Island and Corporate Travel

Email: sales@fijiislands.com.au Phone: +61 2 9979 2403 Fax: +61 2 9979 2407