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This over-water Fijian resort might be Fiji’s best escape

No need to fly to a private island; one of Fiji’s finest resorts is also its most accessible.

Overwater bungalows hovering above turquoise lagoons, fresh seafood under fiery skies and the soundtrack of swaying palms; checking into Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay feels like a dream. It almost certainly sounds like a remote island fantasy. Yet the opportunity to unwind and draw breath (preferably while enjoying a spa treatment or exploring a private sand cay) is nestled on the western coast of Viti Levu, just a 45-minute drive from Nadi International Airport.

You’ll come for Fiji’s picturesque sanctuary but will leave with so much more.

A community feel

staff memeber by the pool at Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay
Feel the heart and soul of Fiji.

Spend a few hours at Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay and one thing becomes clear: the property serves as not just a holiday destination, but a true immersion into the heart and soul of Fijian culture and community.

Leaning on the resort’s long-established relationships with land-owning communities around the property, guests can get involved with initiatives such as the UN Markets for Change, UNICEF’s Check Out for Children, village tours and craft markets. You don’t have to go far; just take a leisurely stroll to Voi Voi, the resort’s al fresco dining outlet, and you’ll find local artisans selling their handicrafts. It’s the best way to shop for souvenirs while giving back to the locals.

An overwater escape

Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay
Enjoy direct access to the lagoon.

Stress‑free location aside, there are countless reasons to choose the Fijian‑owned Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay. Chief among them are the adults‑only overwater bures – private sanctuaries perched above a tranquil lagoon, each with a staircase that leads directly into turquoise water alive with tropical fish. Inspired by traditional Fijian architecture, the bures feature wide doors that invite the cooling lagoon breeze, blurring the line between indoors and out.

Afternoons bring a playful twist: happy hour arrives by boat, delivering icy beverages straight to your deck as you soak in the serenity.

Families are equally at home here. Spacious interconnecting rooms, thoughtfully positioned near resort facilities, reflect Fiji’s family‑first design ethos. Children of all ages are welcomed with warmth, while parents enjoy peace of mind knowing everything is within easy reach.

And for those who crave adventure beyond the lagoon, the world‑famous surf break Cloudbreak lies just 20 minutes away.

Authentic (and atmospheric) dining

seafood at Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay
Delight in Fiji’s flavours and charm.

Picture five distinct dining experiences celebrating Fijian produce and ocean bounty, and Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay has them all. Try the international buffet at Goji Kitchen & Bar, ocean-to-plate dining at Fish Bar, grab-and-go options at Fiji Baking Co, Fijian barbecue at Voi Voi, light bites at Lagoon Lounge and tasty Mediterranean dishes at Lagoon House.

Fancy a meal to go? While in-room and private cabana dining is always an option, so too is a private picnic experience. You can either have a gourmet basket delivered to your chosen spot within the resort, or be whisked away to a secluded sandbar for the most romantic picnic of your life.

What really sets the resort apart, however, isn’t the wealth of options or the views, but the onsite organic garden. It provides fresh ingredients to each of its restaurants and bars (yep, even for those home-grown fruit juices and cocktails crafted by resident mixologist Rikki Handoko). Book a garden tour to explore the property’s sustainable agricultural practices.

Relaxation and rejuvination

Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay spa
Settle into the spa for a blissful afternoon.

Little compares to the signature treatments at the property’s award-winning Quan Spa, which specialises in rejuvenating therapies designed to hydrate and detoxify skin. Choose from a menu of restorative massages, body treatments, scrubs, wraps and beauty services. You’ll melt under the touch of Nama Fiji, a research-driven thalassotherapy skincare brand that’s rooted in the unique properties of nama (Caulerpa racemosa – also known as the sea grape) and time-honoured sea minerals.

The spa is not only for adults, as the Giggles & Glam kids’ spa and wellness program is also on offer for young guests. And everyone who books a treatment receives a complimentary foot ritual, too. The challenge? To stay awake for the duration of your spa visit.

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Something for everyone

A woman planting mangroves.
Give back through meaningful mangrove planting.

All guests can give back to our planet by way of the property’s many environmental initiatives, like mangrove planting. These small habits and new lessons will keep Fiji just as beautiful for generations to come.

And, of course, there’s no shortage of things for younger guests to do at Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay. They can join the popular Momi Marine Biologist, Momi Eco Warrior and Momi Art & Wellness programs, which offer activities such as coral planting and bird nest building. Traditional options are available too, including kids’ club, pizza making classes, an indoor playground and a children’s pool. And Momi Warriors, a program which tracks kids’ eco adventures around the resort through the inventive M Passport, is sure to be a winner.

While the kids make a splash in the shallow pool, non-supervising adults can find serenity at the Sunset Infinity Pool, home to some of the best sunsets in Fiji.

Book your stay with Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay marriott.com.

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Dilvin Yasa
Dilvin Yasa is a freelance journalist, author and TV presenter whose travels have taken her from the iceberg graveyards of Antarctica to the roaring rapids of Uganda. Always on the lookout for that next unforgettable meal, wildlife moment or 80s-themed nightclub, she is inexplicably drawn to polar destinations despite detesting the cold.
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5 things every hotel needs for a more restorative stay

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
    Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

    The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

    1. Easy access to good food

    meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20
    Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

    One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

    In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

    In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

    Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

    At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

    While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

    It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

    2. Better sleep options

    Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room
    Sleep deeply with Novotel.

    There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

    For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

    The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

    3. More ways to move

    woman hiking around queenstown new zealand
    Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

    Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

    At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

    Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

    4. Better connections

    Novotel Sharm El Sheikh
    Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

    One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

    Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

    A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

    5. Location is everything

    Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld
    Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

    Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

    All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

    Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.