Best Hotel Near Nadi Airport? Our Fiji Gateway Hotel Review

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If you’re looking for the best hotel near Nadi Airport, it’s hard to beat Fiji Gateway Hotel for one very simple reason: it’s basically right across the road.

And when you’ve just stepped off a long flight, have an early departure the next morning or are only spending one night in Nadi before heading elsewhere in Fiji, that location is brilliant.

Fiji Gateway HotelPin
Fiji Gateway Hotel

I stayed at Fiji Gateway Hotel because I wanted somewhere convenient for the airport. What surprised me was that it didn’t really feel like an airport hotel once I was inside. Instead of simply being a practical place to sleep between flights, there are tropical gardens, two swimming pools, a waterslide, tennis court, gym, spa, live music and a lively bar and restaurant.

It made our stopover feel like the continuation of our Fiji vacation rather than an annoying night we had to spend near the airport on the way home.

Fiji Gateway Hotel was previously called Raffles Gateway Hotel, so you may still see that name in older reviews and travel information.

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Best Hotel Near Nadi Airport: Fiji Gateway Hotel

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The reception area has a handy flight arrivals/departures screen

I think Fiji Gateway Hotel works particularly well when proximity to Nadi International Airport is your priority.

There are certainly more luxurious resorts in the Nadi area, but that’s not really the point of staying here. I wouldn’t choose an airport hotel because I wanted the most spectacular resort in Fiji. I’d choose it because I wanted to make arriving or departing Fiji as easy as possible.

Fiji Gateway does that exceptionally well while still having enough facilities to make staying here enjoyable.

This is especially useful for families. Getting children, luggage and tired adults through an airport after a long flight is enough work without adding a substantial transfer to the end of it. It’s also particularly convenient before flying home, as you don’t have to factor in possible traffic or worry about a transfer arriving late.

I also like that this isn’t a hotel that only makes sense for a few hours overnight. If flight times mean you end up with most of a day here, there’s plenty to do without having to leave.

Here is a summary with more information below…

FeatureDetails
LocationQueens Road, Nadi (Directly opposite Nadi International Airport – 600m)
Airport ShuttleComplimentary 24/7 shuttle service which runs every 5 minutes
Distance to Port Denarau~25 minutes by taxi
Room Types7 categories (Small Rooms to Two-Bedroom Suites)
Pools & Water FeaturesResort pool with waterslide + Quiet pool
Dining OptionsPalm Court Restaurant, Shop, Bar, 24/7 Room Service
On-Site SpaNama Fiji Day Spa
Check-in / Check-outCheck-in: 2:00 PM | Check-out: 10:00 AM

Location: Conveniently Opposite Nadi International Airport

The biggest selling point of Fiji Gateway Hotel is its location on Queens Road, directly opposite Nadi International Airport.

Nadi town itself is around eight kilometers away. This means I wouldn’t choose Fiji Gateway primarily for exploring central Nadi on foot. This is very much an airport location.

For an airport stay, however, that’s exactly what I want.

Fiji Gateway HotelPin
Outside our room

Fiji Gateway Hotel To Nadi Airport

You can walk between Fiji Gateway Hotel and Nadi International Airport, which shows just how close they are. We walked there and it was very quick and easy with a proper path.

Even better, the hotel operates a complimentary airport shuttle 24 hours a day. They told me this runs every 5 minutes. I particularly like having this option with luggage and children.

The 24-hour shuttle is also a big advantage for awkward flight times. There’s no need to build a large transfer buffer into the morning or worry about arranging transportation for a very early departure.

For me, this is the main reason Fiji Gateway deserves to be considered one of the best hotels near Nadi International Airport. It’s difficult to make an airport hotel much more convenient than this.

Rooms

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Entry to our small queen room

Fiji Gateway Hotel has 95 rooms, and was much bigger than I expected. There is quite a range of accommodation rather than one standard room repeated throughout the property.

There are currently seven room categories: Small Rooms, Superior Rooms, Superior Family Rooms, Deluxe King Rooms, Deluxe Twin Rooms, Superior Pool View Rooms and Two-Bedroom Suites.

The Small Rooms are the simplest choice, with either a queen bed or two single beds. They make sense for a short overnight stop when all that’s really required is somewhere comfortable to shower and sleep before the next flight.

Superior Rooms have more space, with a king bed and separate small lounge area. These have been refurbished and have a modern bathroom with a walk-in shower.

For families, there are several much better options.

The Superior Family Room has two separate sleeping areas. There’s a king bed plus either bunk beds or two single beds, and a rollaway can be added for a third child. This configuration accommodates two adults and up to three children, which immediately makes it more practical than hotels where a family is expected to squeeze into two beds in one small room.

There are also newer Deluxe Twin Rooms with two queen beds. These sleep up to four people and have a more contemporary style with neutral colors, timber and woven finishes.

For families wanting substantially more space, the Two-Bedroom Suite is the standout. It has two separate bedrooms — one with a king bed and another with two single beds — as well as a separate living area.

Rooms are air-conditioned and include a refrigerator, tea and coffee facilities, Smart TV, ensuite bathroom and hair dryer, with additional amenities depending on the room category.

Current check-in is from 2pm and check-out is by 10am.

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Small Queen Room

Fiji Gateway Hotel small queen roomPin
Our room

I stayed at the Fiji Gateway Hotel with my 10 year old son so the cheapest room type suited us fine for our one-night stay.

The room is compact, but comfortable, clean and had everything we needed.

There was a very narrow luggage area just inside the room (although it did hold my carry-on suitcase fine). There was a safe under this as well as two coat hooks and coat hangers instead of a wardrobe.

The bathroom was to the right of the entry and was very small, but there was still a decent basin area, toilet and a great shower with excellent water pressure.

Fiji Gateway Hotel small queen room bathroomPin
Our bathroom

In the main part of the room was a desk area with a mini-fridge and a queen-size bed with one bedside table. There was a big flatscreen TV on the wall.

The room had an air conditioner.

There was a little wear and tear, and the room was generally dated but well maintained.

Unfortunately, the walls were a little thin and we could hear the music and people around our room, but thankfully it was quiet from 9pm. My only other complaint is that there were some flies in our room.

Facilities

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Main pool area

This is the area where Fiji Gateway Hotel most exceeded my expectations for a Nadi airport hotel.

There are two outdoor swimming pools. The larger resort pool is the obvious choice for families and includes a waterslide and shaded loungers. There’s also a smaller “quiet” pool by the restaurant.

The waterslide is lots of fun and my 10 year old went down it many times.

There is also a floodlit tennis court, a fully equipped gym and the Nama Fiji Day Spa if a massage sounds like a better response to a long flight than exercise.

Fiji Gateway Hotel Waterslide and tennis courtPin
Waterslide and tennis court

I also really like the hotel’s large grounds. Considering how close it is to an international airport, it doesn’t feel like you’re staying in the middle of an airport complex.

There is also a convenience store if you want a snack, drink or forgot something essential like sunscreen.

Other useful services include free Wi-Fi for two devices, a tour desk, daily housekeeping and 24-hour room service.

Dining Options

Fiji Gateway Hotel Bar and restaurant areaPin
Bar and restaurant area

Another advantage of staying here is that there’s no need to head into Nadi looking for somewhere to eat after arriving.

Palm Court Restaurant is the hotel’s main restaurant and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. There’s a mixture of Fijian and international dishes, including Fijian-Indian curries and more familiar international options.

Breakfast starts particularly early, which makes sense at an airport hotel. There’s a buffet breakfast, while lunch and dinner are served from an à la carte menu.

There’s a separate bar serving cocktails, beer, wine and spirits, and a café for coffee, cakes, muffins, pies, salads and lighter food.

We ate dinner at the hotel. I would say the food is average and did the job. The service was frustrating. I had to seek out waiters to order. I asked for a glass of wine three times and I never received it, yet it still appeared on the bill.

They did remove it, but then it became a problem again on check-out. We had to wait while they worked out what to do about the fact I had a “bar” bill when I knew I hadn’t ordered anything from the bar. I don’t know if this was the wine again they didn’t bring me at dinner or if someone had just ordered drinks to my room. They eventually let us go saying they would sort it later, but it left me concerned that they would charge my card anyway.

There was live music in this area for some of the time we were there which added a good vibe.

There’s also 24-hour room service. I wish we had ordered this instead.

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Shop

Final Words

So, is Fiji Gateway Hotel the best hotel near Nadi Airport?

For me, yes — particularly when the airport is the reason you’re choosing the location in the first place.

It’s directly opposite Nadi International Airport, has a free 24-hour shuttle and offers far more than the basic bed-for-the-night experience I normally associate with airport accommodation. You can also easily walk to the airport if you don’t want to wait for a shuttle.

I especially recommend it for an overnight stop between a flight and another Fiji destination, an early morning departure or a late arrival. Families are well catered for with proper family rooms and suites, while the swimming pools and waterslide mean kids can actually enjoy being here rather than simply waiting for the next stage of the trip.

Fiji Gateway Hotel Quiet poolPin
Quiet pool

It’s not where I’d stay if my priority was being in the center of Nadi or spending my entire Fiji vacation at a beachfront island resort. That’s not what Fiji Gateway is trying to be.

What it does extremely well is make the beginning or end of a Fiji trip easy.

And after (or before) a long flight, easy is exactly what I want.

But do carefully check any bills and don’t expect great service and food at the restaurant. Our stay would have been fantastic if we had avoided the restaurant. Instead, it ended up being a little frustrating.

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By Shan

Shan is a total travel addict who wants to travel absolutely everywhere. Currently at country #98, she can't wait to get to all the rest. She also enjoys sharing this love of exploring everywhere with you here. She hopes she can encourage you to travel everywhere as well!

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