Food, Glorious Food!

So, some people have been asking about food on the island! Is it included in the price of the accommodation? Unfortunately, no it's not.

There are two ways to get fed on the island. One, buy as you go. Two, get a meal plan. The Tokoriki meal plan costs approximately AUD $75 per person per day. It includes gourmet breakfast, lunch and a three course dinner every day. If you were the size of a small house I would recommend the meal plan, but actually it's a lot more food than only one person could eat in a day.

I recommend option one. There are two restaurants on the island. One at Tokoriki Resort, and one five minutes walk away at Amunuca Resort. I have heard TERRIBLE things about the food at Amunuca Resort - but you can give it a shot if you want. Main meals at Tokoriki Restaurant are about $20 to $30 each. Lunch is about $15 to $30, and some of the people I've talked to said they just had a huge lunch and that did them for the rest of the day. For breakfast, you can buy that at the restaurant too but I'd just bring some muesli bars or something with you from Nadi - plus there should be fresh fruit everywhere.

The food at Tokoriki is cooked by French and French-trained chefs. They give the local Fijians the training they need and then a job - so you can feel good while you eat your food. And the food is meant to be scrumptious! A blend of international cuisine, Indian food and local Fijian food. There's a good seafood menu, as well as chicken, beef and vegetarian options. If you would like to see some sample menus then go to http://www.tokoriki.com/food-wine.html and click on the pdf links at the bottom of the page.

And of course, don't forget, you will be fed a MEGA lunch on our wedding day - which will probably end up being the most expensive meal of my Father's life! :-P But good news for you guys at least.

Hope this answers your questions! If not, give me a buzz with this and any more questions and I'll put the answers up on the blog for everyone.

Why Did We Change The Wedding Location?

So, some of you may be wondering why we changed our wedding resort from Beqa to Tokoriki. There were several reasons, and I'll quickly outline them here:

1. Beqa was demanding that all guests stay a minimum of 4 nights at the resort. This was interfering with a lot of guests budgets and travel plans, as guests would have to dedicated thousands instead of hundreds of dollars to our wedding accommodation which could instead go towards their own Fiji travel plans.

2. Beqa was not being very accommodating for our guests. They were not answering questions promptly, or finalising bookings with our travel agent. They were also, at times, a bit rude!

3. There was no wedding coordinator at Beqa Lagoon Resort, meaning that the wedding might have been a flop! Seeing as that is the reason for the whole 'holiday' thought this point was important, lol :-P

4. Beqa Lagoon Resort was located almost on the other side (and South) of the main island, meaning transfers would have taken upwards of 4 hours from Nadi. Beqa is much closer to Suva (the Capital, which is the epicenter of racial tensions in Fiji), so not within many tourists' ideal vacation spots. Tokoriki is only an hour or so away from Nadi - the tourism capital of Fiji.

5. Tokoriki is located in the Mamunuca Chain of islands, which is more temperate. Year round it is sunnier and rains less. Beqa is much more likely to be rained on that time of year.

6. The Mamunuca Chain of islands is the ideal vacation destination, with dozens of tiny islands accommodating honeymooners, party goers, families and backpackers. There's something for everyone, and being the most beautiful islands in Fiji (the postcard islands) they are, in my opinion, a great place to continue your holiday after our wedding.

7. Finally, one last point. Which is not so much why not Beqa, but why Tokoriki? It is a five star resort with five star reviews all around. It drips with orchards, oozes romance, and is set on that perfect postcard beach. The staff are renowned for their friendliness and hospitality, and the wedding coordinator is experienced and knowledgable - having organised  her fair share of weddings.

We don't want a perfect wedding (strange as that may sound), we want a wedding that reflects us and the people we are (so definitely not perfect!). We are still having our simple ceremony barefoot on the beach, with wild flowers for decoration, but we wanted to make sure that things went smoothly for us and for you. So I hope you guys with the question 'why' now understand :-)

Love you all! And hope to see you next year on the sandy white beaches of Tokoriki! :-D

Take A Virtual Tour of Tokoriki!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzjim4P3yxE

I Am Being Bugged, So You Will Be Too

Hi all,

I'm sorry to do this again. I did not want this blog to turn into a nagging blog! Aaron, who is organising all the bookings for our wedding, is getting very concerned that no one has contacted him to book for our wedding yet. Tokoriki is quite a small resort and we are taking up a large number of their rooms (half to be exact). He really does need assurance - if you are not able to pay a deposit yet then please just contact him to let him know you are coming. He will be able to put a room aside for you for a period of time.

I have given him the email addresses of our RSVPd guests (if I had them) and he will be contacting you directly. Please respond as quickly as possible.

Once again, Aaron's email address is: enquiries@tokorikibookings.com

Please do not wait. You do not have to pay the full amount upfront. Just please book, so that Aaron,  Simon and I can have peace of mind.

Love Jess

Number Restrictions :-(

Ok everyone!

I really do need RSVPs ASAP! There is a number restriction at Tokoriki Island Resort and we are approaching it. There are only 3 rooms left at Tokoriki Island Resort for our wedding night. Each room can hold 3 people, and so we can do a people shuffle if we really have to - but it will complicate things. So PLEASE let us know if you are coming or not! If you don't let us know soon, you will unfortunately either have to share a room with a stranger or miss out completely. Those of you who have already RSVPd, don't worry, your rooms are safe for a little while - but you do need to pay your deposit to confirm your reservation (otherwise the resort will sell your room to someone else).

Sorry to be a nag! Just don't want any complications to arise which needn't have to. And definitely don't want anyone who wants to come to miss out.

Jess

Cheaper Transfers

Hi everyone! I have found a way for groups of you to get from Port Denauru to Tokoriki cheaper than it would cost to take the catamaran.

It is possible to book a water taxi through 'Sea Fiji' from Port Denauru to Tokoriki, which can hold 16 people plus their luggage, for FJ$1500. This works out to about AUD$50 each. That is the price one way, but it is still a lot cheaper than the catamaran. You would also need to find a way to get from your Nadi hotel to Port Denauru in time for your transfer (but that should be pretty easy - just hail a taxi or bus).

For up to 10 people the price gets slightly more expensive per person (AUD$67 one way), which is still cheaper than the catamaran.

By booking this way you also choose what time you want your transfer (obviously, in conjunction with your group). Sea Fiji runs 24/7 so it does not matter what time of the day or night you want your taxi. This is great for those only wanting to come to Tokoriki for the night of the wedding, who can still arrive early in the morning in time for the wedding and wedding preparation.

If you are interested in going over in a large group (but don't quite have 16 people) please let me know through email (jjpetrusma@hotmail.com) or phone and what date you want to go over and come back. I will help you to book these transfers, and let you know who you will be going over with and how to get into contact with them.

Sea Fiji also cater for smaller groups. If you would like to get more information then check them out for youselves

Web Address: http://www.seafiji.net/
Email: seafijires@connect.com.fj
Phone: (679) 675 0611
After Hours: (679) 672 5961
Mobile: (679) 708 0607

And don't forget, if you have any questions feel free to give me a buzz or drop me an email.

Love Jess

Tips For Getting Cheap Flights!

Ok, so some of you might have gone to a travel agent and gotten quotes for flights in the thousand dollar range or more. This is ok, but you can get your flight for a lot cheaper if you book it yourself online.

There are three carriers who fly from Australia to Nadi:
1.Virgin Blue
2. Air Pacific
3. Qantas (which is pretty much Air Pacific)

The cheapest is Virgin Blue. You can book flights from any major city in Australia to Nadi with these three, however for an even cheaper flight you can book your own domestic flights with virgin blue or jetstar to Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane and take advantage of the even cheaper international flights from these destinations.

Here are two examples:

How to Get From Adelaide to Nadi Cheaply!
Book a one way domestic flight with Virgin Blue from Adelaide to Brisbane.
Book a one way international flight with Air Pacific from Brisbane to Nadi.
Book a one way international flight with Virgin Blue from Nadi to Adelaide.

TOTAL COST PER PERSON: $821.36 including taxes & 20kg luggage allowance


How to Get From Hobart to Nadi Cheaply!
Book a one way domestic flight with Virgin Blue from Hobart to Sydney.
Book a return international flight with Air Pacific from Sydney to Nadi and back again.
Book a one way domestic flight with Jet Star from Sydney to Hobart.

TOTAL COST PER PERSON: $904.71 including taxes & 20kg luggage allowance

REMEMBER! If you want to book your own flights this way, make sure you leave enough time for you to get from your domestic flight to your international flight to check-in. Check-in for international flights is usually 2 hours before. 

Go to the websites yourself to see what savings you can come up with!

Air Pacific: http://www.airpacific.com
Virgin Blue: http://virginblue.com.au
Jet Star: http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/index.aspx

Good luck! Remember, this blog page is just a friendly hint. You do still have to book your own flights yourself.

Tokoriki Island Resort Accommodation & Transfers

We thought it would be useful to let you know the type of accommodation at Tokoriki and the type of transfers so that you know what you want for when you book. The prices are in Australian dollars, but have been converted from Fijian dollars and so the price will fluctuate slightly. Now is definitely the time to book as the Australian dollar is very strong.

Deluxe Beach Bure
Dotted along the beachfront, the 29 Deluxe Beach Bures offer complete privacy ideal for those looking for the perfect romantic island. These bures are filled with warm colours, open spaces, fabulous views of the evening sunsets over the Pacific Ocean and only steps from the beach. The large bathrooms are appointed with mahogany counters, double vanities, and tropical outdoor showers. Each bure has a King sized bed and a single day bed that can be converted into a bed allowing accommodation for up to 3 people. Bures are air-conditioned and offer every amenity you are looking for at a first class island resort.


Price:     single, double or twin share: $515.00
               triple share: $615.00

Sunset Pool Villa

The 5 luxurious beachfront Sunset Pool Villas have it all. They are 120m2 of space with separate living and expansive bedroom areas. The large sandstone terrace overlooks the beach and your very own private pool. The private cabana has a huge day bed, a perfect place to snooze the dreamy afternoons away. From your outdoor shower, you can watch the sunset bounce vibrant reds and oranges off of the infinite shades of blue of the Pacific Ocean. 

Price:     single, double or twin share: $710.00

               triple share not available

Transfers

Southsea Island Catamaran

Time:

Cost: $83.00 (per person one way. Double for return)

Departs: from Denauru (bus pick-up from Nadi hotels included in price)

Sea Plane

Time: 15 minutes

Cost: $122.50 (per person one way. Double for return)

Maximum Occupancy: 4

Departs: from airport

 

Helicopter

Time: 15 minutes

Cost: $172.50 (per person one way. Double for return)

Maximum Occupancy: 2 people

Departs: from airport

Specials for Guests of Our Wedding

* Stay 5 nights and receive $250 fjd in resort credit

* Stay 6 nights and receive free return catamaran transfers

* Stay 7 nights and receive free return helicopter transfers

Pictures of Deluxe Beach Bure

 The View

 Your Own Private Beach

The Interior

The Bathroom

The Sunbed & patio

Pictures of Sunset Pool Villa

View from the bed

The Hammock

Outdoor Shower

Your Private Deck

Your Own Private Pool with a View

Private Pool

Booking

Hi all,

many of you will have questions about how to book for our wedding. We are no longer going through a travel agent as we had so much trouble with our travel agent last time. It is quicker, easier, and cheaper to book everything yourself.

You will need to book your own flights and additional travel yourself. Either book online or through your own travel agent.

To book accommodation and transfers for our wedding you need to contact Aaron. Aaron works at Tokoriki Island Resort and is in charge of looking after the guests for our wedding. When ringing or emailing Aaron you need to mention the following:

1. That you are a guest of the Carpenter wedding
2. What date you want to check-in, and how many nights you want to stay
3. What type of room you wish to book.
4. If you need transfers, what type of transfers you want (catamaran, sea plane or helicopter) and what time you want your transfers.

Aaron will then get back to you with a quote, and will let you know how much of a deposit you need to pay to confirm your booking. You can pay the deposit using a credit card or by visiting an ANZ bank. We recommend credit card, as it will be cheaper (fee wise) and easier. The total amount needs to be paid 45 days before check-in.

Aaron's contact details are:
email: enquiries@tokorikibookings.com
phone: (679) 6725 926

If you have any questions, then please contact Jess or Simon at jjpetrusma@hotmail.com

Aaron is ready to take your bookings now, and we suggest booking as soon as you can. Tokoriki Island Resort is very popular and will book out.

Good luck and Vinaka!

Wedding Details

"If Love is Not Madness It Is Not Love" -Pedro Calderon de la Barca

Please join us for the wedding of

Simon John Carpenter

& 

Jessica Jane Petrusma

Date: 11-1-11

Time: 11am

Place: Tokoriki Island Resort, Fiji

Reception: sit down, 1pm