Denarau · Natadola · Nadi Bay
Denarau or Natadola:
which suits your family?
A beach holiday, a pool holiday or a base for exploring? Our three stays helped us decide where we would spend our own money again.
Our answer: Natadola for the holiday we wanted
For our family, InterContinental Fiji’s Club accommodation at Natadola was the strongest choice. The beach, quieter Club pool, generous two-bedroom suite and attentive service made it easy to settle in. We would choose a shorter stay there over a longer holiday elsewhere.
Denarau still has a place in our plans. At Sheraton Denarau Villas we loved the oceanfront pool, the outlook and memorable dinners. We would treat it as a pool-focused holiday and consider it when planning trips from Port Denarau. The room’s upkeep and sleep problems mean we would ask more questions before booking again.
Choose Natadola if…
The beach and time at the resort are the point of your trip. We enjoyed Natadola’s sand and outlook far more than the waterfronts at our other two hotels. Swimming conditions varied with the tide and staff advice during our stay.
Club suited us because we wanted space, a calm pool where our son was welcome and generous food and drink inclusions. We paid a premium and used those benefits. If you plan to be out all day, consider how much of that premium you would actually enjoy.
Choose Denarau if…
Your family is happy spending most swimming time in pools, or you want to plan around excursions departing Port Denarau. We would save those outings for a stay in this area rather than add journeys from Natadola.
Our Sheraton villa had a kitchen and generous shared space. But our three-bedroom villa’s upstairs bedroom was unusable for sleep because of heat and air-conditioning noise. We would consider a two-bedroom oceanfront-view villa next time; we have not stayed in that category.
Where does Crowne Plaza fit?
Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay is at Nadi Bay, not Denarau or Natadola. Its proximity to the airport made arrival easy, and we enjoyed the breakfast, some meals and the children’s pool. We could see the appeal of the location for a short stop before or after an island holiday.
Our four-night stay in a two-bedroom pool-access suite fell short on privacy, upkeep and service processes. Pool access alone would not persuade us to book it again. Read the full account of room 001 before treating the lower nightly cost as better value.
Compare the whole holiday cost
The room rate is only part of the decision. Our InterContinental rate included Club benefits; Crowne Plaza included buffet breakfast; all food and drink at Sheraton cost extra. Transfers also differed. Compare the total for your own dates, party and intended meals, including the conditions of the rate you are offered.
These are three specific stays, not a survey of every hotel in each area. The table below records what we paid and experienced. Our transfer guide and activity planning notes help put the location decision in context.
These are different room categories, dates and inclusions—not equivalent quotes. Prices are the historical amounts we paid, in Fiji dollars. Read each review for the detail behind the comparison.
| The detail | InterContinental Fiji · Club | Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay | Sheraton Denarau Villas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our stay | 4–8 October 2026 · 4 nights | 30 September–4 October 2026 · 4 nights | 25 June–4 July 2025 · 9 nights |
| The room | 156 m² two-bedroom Club suite, private plunge pool · Block 37 | Advertised 74 m² two-bedroom pool-access suite · Room 001 | 148 m² three-bedroom beachfront-category villa, two levels; ocean view beyond the pool |
| The beach | Beautiful sand; easier swimming at high tide. Conditions varied. | Not a beach we wanted to swim at. Urban Sugar was our preferred waterfront spot. | Brown, muddy at low tide and murky water. We preferred the pools and waterfront deck. |
| Privacy & sleep | Private-feeling terrace, comfortable beds, quiet AC; some footsteps upstairs. | Facing rooms and public paths reduced privacy. Comfortable beds; noise from above. | Privacy okay; neighbouring noise audible. Upstairs bedroom unusable for sleep due to AC noise and heat. |
| Pools & family | Calm family-friendly Club pool, private plunge pool and main resort children’s pool. | Variety of pools and a small children’s slide; maintenance issues at our room’s pool. | Oceanfront family pool with gradual entry, winding villa pools and access to main hotel facilities. |
| Food & drink | Excellent. Generous Club inclusions and delicious dining. | Good overall. Strong breakfast and seafood bucket; other meals and pricing disappointed. | Excellent overall. Varied buffet and memorable dinners. Wet Edge listed temporarily closed in October 2026. |
| Getting there | About an hour from Crowne Plaza. Epic transfer FJ$150. | Our airport transfer: Explore, FJ$41.28. | Our airport transfer: Epic private car, FJ$51.75. |
| Total paid | FJ$13,577 | FJ$6,645 | FJ$20,365 |
| Average per night | FJ$3,394.25 | FJ$1,661.25 | Approximately FJ$2,262.78 |
| Included / extra | Club access and the food/drink inclusions described in our review; other food and alcohol extra. | Daily buffet breakfast included; other food and drink extra. | All food and drink, including breakfast, extra. |
| Would we return? | Yes—to Club. | No. | Maybe—to a two-bedroom oceanfront-view villa. |
On a small screen, swipe across the table to compare all three hotels. Our observations describe our own stays, not every room or current availability.
Five questions before you book
- Which exact room? Confirm the bedroom count, floor, outlook and whether any pool is private or shared.
- What is included for your family? Ask about breakfast, Club access and where children can join evening food and drinks.
- What matters most each day? A beach you want to spend time on, a calm pool or easy access to planned departures?
- What will the full stay cost? Include meals, transfers and the charges in your chosen rate.
- What has changed since our stay? Confirm maintenance, dining availability and any facility that is central to your plans.
Our reviews are a starting point for better questions. Confirm the current room, inclusions and terms directly before committing.