Which Denarau Resort Is Best For Families? Our Honest Comparison After Staying At Three
- rowofthree
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 17 hours ago
If you're planning a Fiji family holiday, chances are you've found yourself comparing the same resorts over and over again.
If you're trying to decide on the best Denarau resort for families, we've now stayed at Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa, Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort and Radisson Blu, and each one offers something different.
After multiple trips to Denarau Island, we've found that there isn't one perfect resort for everyone. The right choice depends on what matters most to your family, whether that's pools, kids' clubs, dining options, location or overall atmosphere.
In this guide, we're sharing our honest thoughts on each resort, who we think they're best suited to, and which one we would choose if we were booking again.
Quick Snapshot
If you're short on time, here's our verdict:
🏆 Best overall family resort: Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa
✨ Most luxurious: Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa
🏊 Best pool complex: Radisson Blu Resort Fiji
💦 Best waterslides: Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa
⛳ Best for golfers: Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort
🏡 Best apartment-style accommodation: Radisson Blu Resort Fiji and Sheraton Villas
🌴 Best for a first Fiji holiday: Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort
❤️ Our personal favourite: Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa
Why?
Because while the beautiful rooms and premium feel impressed us, the biggest difference was something much simpler.
As parents, we found it was the resort where we could relax too.
Between the two waterslides, inflatable water park and variety of activities, Henry was constantly entertained, which meant we had moments to slow down, enjoy a drink, read a book or simply appreciate being on holiday.
For us, that's what a great family holiday is all about.
Table of Contents
A Few Things Worth Knowing About Denarau
Before comparing the resorts, there are a few things worth knowing.
One of the things we love most about Denarau is that you're not limited to your own resort. The Bula Bus makes it easy to visit different restaurants, bars and resorts throughout your stay, and Port Denarau is only a short trip away.
Another thing worth knowing is that Denarau isn't really about beaches. For most families, the pools become the centrepiece of the holiday, which is why you'll notice we talk about them so much throughout this article.
All of the major resorts have excellent kids clubs, so we wouldn't choose one resort over another based on that alone.
Finally, Fiji Airways offers resort check-in at Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa, Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort and Radisson Blu Resort Fiji, making departure day surprisingly easy.
Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort
What Makes It Different?
If we had to describe Sheraton in one word, it would be variety.
The resort is huge.
Not only do you have the main Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort, but it's connected to Sheraton Villas, giving the entire precinct a much larger feel than many of the other resorts.
There always seemed to be somewhere to walk, somewhere to explore or somewhere new to eat.
Interestingly, we found Sheraton to be the least kids-centric of the three resorts we stayed at. That's certainly not a criticism—in Fiji terms it's still incredibly family friendly—but the atmosphere felt slightly more relaxed and balanced between families, golfers and couples.
What We Loved
One of the biggest advantages for our family was the direct access to the Denarau Golf & Racquet Club.
Rory loves golf and being able to simply walk across to the course made it incredibly convenient.
One of our favourite routines was Rory heading off for a round of golf while Henry and I relaxed by the pool, before meeting later at Heineken House for pizza and a game of pool.
The pool itself works beautifully for families, with a shallow sandy-entry section that younger children especially enjoy.
We also loved having access to multiple pools, including the Sheraton Villas pool and a separate adults-only pool.
Tatavu Grill & Bar was one of our favourite restaurants in Denarau. Sitting right on the beachfront, the setting is beautiful and the South American and Fijian-inspired menu felt a little different from typical resort dining.
Coffee lovers should also make a stop at 28g. We found ourselves heading there most mornings.
Our Room
Sheraton had been renovated before our stay and the room felt fresh, modern and comfortable.
While it wasn't quite as luxurious as Sofitel, it was still a lovely room and perfectly suited to a family holiday.
Things To Consider
The size of the resort is both a strength and a weakness.
Because Sheraton is so popular, breakfast at Island 619 can become busy and noisy during peak periods.
That said, the resort offers plenty of dining options and we often enjoyed venturing into Port Denarau for dinner.
Best For
First-time Fiji visitors
Golfers
Families wanting lots of choice
Families who enjoy exploring
Planning Your Stay
Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa
What Makes It Different?
Luxury without sacrificing family fun.
Many luxury resorts are beautiful but don't always offer much for children.
Sofitel manages to do both.
It was easily the most luxurious resort we stayed at while still keeping Henry completely entertained.
What We Loved
Everything feels polished, modern and premium.
For Henry, the standout features were the inflatable water park and the two waterslides.
He spent hours on them.
What impressed us most was that Sofitel didn't rely on one attraction. There always seemed to be something happening.
The dining options were excellent and exactly what we'd expect from the Sofitel brand.
Of the three resorts, Sofitel also had the nicest beach area.
While Denarau isn't known for beaches, this was probably the closest thing to a traditional beach experience.
Our Room
Sofitel had the most luxurious room of the three resorts we stayed at.
Everything felt fresh, modern and premium—exactly what we'd expect from the Sofitel brand.
If room quality matters to you, Sofitel would easily be our pick.
Things To Consider
Sofitel is generally one of the more expensive resorts on Denarau.
But we also felt we got what we paid for.
Best For
Luxury family holidays
Families wanting premium rooms
Parents who want to relax too
Families who still want plenty for kids to do
Planning Your Stay
Radisson Blu Resort Fiji
What Makes It Different?
The pool.
More specifically, the pool becomes the destination.
From the moment we arrived, Radisson felt the most family-focused of the three resorts.
There always seemed to be something happening around the pool area, whether it was music, dancing, games or organised activities.
What We Loved
The pool design is fantastic.
There are beach-entry sections, tropical gardens, waterfalls and a waterslide area that became one of Henry's favourite places to spend time.
Compared with Sheraton and Sofitel, the apartment-style accommodation gave us much more space and allowed us to continue relaxing after Henry had gone to bed.
The grounds are lush and tropical, and we also really enjoyed the food.
One of our favourite dinners was at Byblos, the Lebanese restaurant sitting right on the water.
Watching the sunset there was one of the highlights of our stay.
Breakfast was extensive and our tip is to grab a table outside—just keep an eye on the local wildlife.
Our Room
The apartment-style layout was one of our favourite features.
Having extra space made a noticeable difference and allowed us to continue enjoying the evenings after Henry had gone to bed.
Things To Consider
Radisson had the liveliest atmosphere of the three resorts.
The popular swim-up bar and all-inclusive packages created a more social vibe around parts of the pool.
It never felt inappropriate for families—in fact, we found it incredibly family focused—but it definitely had more energy than Sheraton.
Whether that's a positive or negative depends entirely on your family's travel style.
Best For
Pool-loving families
Families wanting more space
Families who enjoy a social atmosphere
Planning Your Stay
Sheraton Villas
Although we haven't stayed overnight in the villas, we've spent time using the facilities and exploring the property.
For larger families or multi-generational holidays, Sheraton Villas would be one of the first places we'd consider.
The biggest advantage is the extra space while still enjoying access to the wider Sheraton precinct.
Planning Your Stay
What About Wyndham and Hilton?
We haven't stayed at either property.
We have visited Wyndham and enjoyed a meal at the Mexican restaurant, which is worth considering if you're looking for apartment-style accommodation or planning a longer stay.
Hilton remains the one major Denarau resort we haven't experienced firsthand and is often recommended for families wanting larger rooms and extensive resort facilities.
Which Resort Would We Choose Again?
Honestly?
We'd happily return to all three.
My Pick: Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa
For me, Sofitel would be the resort I'd return to first.
Yes, the rooms were the most luxurious and the resort itself is beautiful, but the biggest reason is much simpler.
As a mum, I found it was the resort where I could relax too.
Between the waterslides, inflatable water park and activities throughout the day, Henry was happily entertained and there were moments where I could simply sit back with a book, enjoy a cocktail or soak up the view while he disappeared for another turn down the slides.
For me, that's what a great family holiday is all about.
Not just happy kids, but parents who come home feeling rested as well.
My Husband's Pick: Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort
From Rory's perspective, Sheraton would be his choice.
Having the golf course right next door and the slightly more relaxed atmosphere suited him perfectly.
Still Not Sure Which Resort To Choose?
Choose Sofitel if you want the best all-round family resort.
Choose Radisson Blu if your kids would happily spend the entire holiday in the pool.
Choose Sheraton if you want lots of dining options, plenty of variety and a more relaxed atmosphere.
The truth is that there really isn't a bad choice.
One of the biggest advantages of staying in Denarau is that you're never limited to one resort. Thanks to the Bula Bus and Port Denarau, you're free to explore different restaurants, bars and resorts throughout your stay.
Whichever resort you choose, you'll still have access to everything that makes Denarau such an easy and enjoyable destination for families.
And that's one of the reasons we keep going back.
The best family holiday isn't the one where the kids have the most fun—it's the one where everyone comes home relaxed. For us, Sofitel delivered exactly that.