Fiji

Fiji sells itself as one destination but functions as several distinct trip types depending on which island group a client lands in. The Mamanucas and Yasawas, a short boat transfer from Nadi, are where the postcard overwater-bungalow resorts and easy day-trip snorkelling sit - this is the low-effort, high-reward choice for a honeymoon or a first Pacific trip. The Coral Coast and Denarau are more accessible again but more built-up and less dramatically scenic. Vanua Levu and Taveuni, the second and third largest islands, are where I send divers and clients who've already done a resort trip in Fiji and want something quieter and more rugged.

Diving and honeymoons are the two biggest reasons people book Fiji through me, and they pull toward different islands. The Somosomo Strait off Taveuni - the self-proclaimed 'soft coral capital of the world' - and the Great Astrolabe Reef off Kadavu are the standout dive regions, both a further flight or ferry beyond the main resort belt. Honeymooners rarely need to go that far; the Mamanucas and Yasawas already have the water clarity and the private-island resorts to match the brochure.

Cyclone season runs officially November to April, peaking January to March, and it's worth being direct with clients about it rather than downplaying it - most years pass without a direct hit on the main tourist islands, but resort cancellation policies, humidity, and rain patterns all shift noticeably in that window. May to October is drier, cooler, and the safer sell for a client who can only travel once.