Though Fiji has palm-lined beaches and coral reefs like many other parts of the South Pacific, it's often the people of the islands, rather than the scenery, who make it memorable. Their friendliness to visitors is well known, expressed with a pleasant bula (welcome) and with an invitation to join them for a bowl of lip-numbing kava.
Fijians have not always been as friendly to one another, however: Political struggles between ethnic Fijians and the descendants of Indian laborers have resulted in several military uprisings since the late 1980s. Visitors were not affected much by the events -- however, the situation remains somewhat unstable.

Political tremors aside, a Fiji vacation promises a lot of enjoyable possibilities: exquisite scuba diving, lovely natural surroundings and an appealing range of places to stay -- from secluded, eye-poppingly expensive resorts to pleasant guest houses on the beach to simple accommodations with local villagers.