Fiji Travel Guide

As we brainstormed Australia trip, our goal was to scuba dive on great barrier reef.  The tour planner did a great job of pointing out the pluses and minuses of live aboard 4 day option, highlighting jelly fish issue at Hamilton Island during December, long boat rides from Port Douglas, and ultimately guiding us to consider Fiji as a beautiful scuba option that was easy to access from land.  He recommended VOMO island which turned out fantastic....easy to access from Nadi Intl airport, felt completely remote, excellent food and variety, beautiful accommodations, scuba diving 10 min off shore, hiking, snorkeling and fitness club to enjoy as well and literally no one on the beach in either direction.  I would never have found this place without the tour planner and it was perfect for our entire family.  I'd make the choice to go to VOMO island over Hawaii....definitely worth the extra flight time.   The tour planner also chose the ranger penguin tour rather than the standard tour at Phillips Island near Melbourne which was a definite plus and gave us small viewing area of 30 people compared to the 4000 in the general viewing area.  Apartments in Melbourne also had all the amenities we were looking for and in good location

We're a bit late in writing this review but only because we were so relaxed after our incredible honeymoon!

Rick was an incredible travel agent from beginning to end. He was very honest with us through the process and guided us to a better location than what we had originally envisioned.  We had set out wanting to go to New Zealand and Fiji initially, but after talking to Rick he helped us realize that Northern Australia and Fiji would be a far better trip due to their more similar climates during mid July.

We would definitely like to work with Rick for our next trip to the South Pacific!  He was extremely responsive and flexible with communication and payment options during the planning process.  He also really listened to our desire to have a balance between a both active and relaxing trip, and provided an itinerary that walked that line very well.  He knew all of the places personally, which helped to convey each hotel and activity to us more than anything else.

Our trip itself was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! We spent one week exploring the Port Douglas and Cairns regions in Australia, visiting a rainforest, snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, and visiting the Atherton tablelands. Then we headed off to Qamea, Fiji, to a small all-inclusive and very private resort on one of the Fijian islands.

We just returned from the most amazing trip to Australia and Fiji over a three week period that cover Melbourne, the Great Ocean Drive to Port Campbell, the Penguin parade at Phillip's Island, Uluru in Ayers Rock, The Silky Oaks Lodge in Mossman Gourge, Great Barrier Reef from Port Douglas, and Sydney.  I can not say enough good things about our travel agent with this company, who is Australian.  When I told our agent we didn't want to "just see" Australia - we wanted to "do" Australia - she got me and "do" we did.  We traveled with another couple so she was flexible to change our travel flights and tours as our "hot buttons" were discovered in the planning process.  Our trip was packed full of activities yet left room to relax and enjoy the fabulous hotels she booked for us.  Our favorite with the Silky Oaks Lodge which is literally built in the trees of the rainforest with the sounds of the babbling river below coming through out windows.  It was the best "sound machine" ever for sleeping.  We stayed at Mantangi Island in Fiji, a private island that is adult only and first class.  It was full of honeymooners and offered beautiful snorkeling and other activities daily.  Our burre (room) was gorgeous and the food was excellent and greatly varied with different menus daily.  I highly recommend this resort where the staff and accommodations are excellent.  I actually cried to say goodbye to our Fiji friends as we left.  I had visited Australia 13 years ago and thought that trip was great but it didn't hold a candle to the sights and tours we enjoyed this trip.  Well done and thank you for making our "retirement" trip extra special.   

Our tailor-made trip to Australia included Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne, Port Douglas and the Gold Coast. We were so pleased with the accommodations in every city. The hotels were top-notch and in very central locations, allowing us to walk almost anywhere with ease.

We had no issues with private transfers or excursions. They were always on time and the excursions were outstanding! Our driver in Melbourne, who took us on the Great Ocean Road Tour and to the Phillip Island Penguin Parade, was great! The driver who took our group from Cairns to Port Douglas was very knowledgeable, giving us historical and cultural information on the cities we were visiting and the country as a whole! We had such a wonderful time with both gentlemen.

Zicasso’s travel agent put together such a wonderful vacation. I cannot say enough good things about the attention to detail, our guides, the people we met, and the ease of travel with having folks assigned to pick us up and transport us to and from the various locations to our hotels. I've already expressed to our agent that come our next vacation in that part of the world, she'll be our phone call!