Shandelle Battersby checks into Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa on Denarau Island.
Location: This luxurious beachfront hotel on the Fijian resort island of Denarau, is a 20-minute drive from Nadi Airport.
Check-in experience: We were booked into the hotel's new exclusive adults-only area, Waitui Beach Club, which has its own private check-in lounge in the lobby. After that we headed for the Beach Club's own infinity pool, nabbed a cocoon daybed each and had some wood-fired pizza. You'll also find private cabanas and a Veuve Clicquot Champagne bar, and an after-lunch dip included a mandatory stop at the swim-up bar for a frozen margarita. As well as the pool butler - who sorts you out with a towel, body mist, bottled water, cold towels, and Pure Fiji sunscreen - Waitui offers complimentary cocktails and canapes at sunset accompanied by tunes from the resident DJ or a live band. The rest of the hotel is great for families, with a separate huge pool area, complete with waterslide and toys. Regular outdoor movies can be watched on beanbags under the stars, and once a week there's a beachfront lovo where you can try kava and traditional Fijian food while watching meke dancers from a local village. The family rooms come with Sony PlayStations, and there's a kids' club on site.
What's in the neighbourhood? The Port Denarau Marina, where the ferries for the outer islands leave from, is a five-minute drive and has loads of great shops and restaurants. The 18-hole Denarau Golf Club is also nearby.
Exercise: The Beach Club has a small gym by the pool and offers exercise classes such as yoga and CrossFit. In the main part of the hotel, there's a much larger gym, or if you want to get your Tom Cruise on, there's a beach volleyball set-up.
