Holiday sunburn shame and regret is a real thing that I have experienced far too often. On a recent trip to Fiji’s luxurious Vomo Island Resort, a classic too-much-sun fail. The half-finished sunscreen that I had packed and already liberally used had come to an end partway through a long day by the resort’s adult pool, The Rocks, and that night all of that afternoon Fiji sun was hurting.

A (literal) red-faced trip to the island’s resort store the next morning to pick up a new bottle of sunscreen hurt in a different way: the sunscreens on offer were limited, and pricey (to be fair the resort did have some complimentary emergency sunscreens on hand, but I wanted my own and I wanted a hardcore sports one).

It was an expensive lesson – always pack too much sunscreen, with backup, when you’re heading to the islands – and a reminder of my love/hate relationship with hotel and resort stores.

If there is a store, I will always visit. Often quiet, and a haven of air-conditioning, they are a quirky subset of retail and can be a true snapshot of the resort’s vibe. Much like hotel or resort spas, these boutiques can be a bit hit and miss: some have beautifully curated offerings and resortwear sourced from local makers; others cram a few dusty souvenir trinkets into a tiny space, almost as an afterthought. The prices are often exorbitant, but you’re there and in holiday spending mode: yes, you actually do need a printed kaftan/touristy T-shirt/kitschy handicraft/magnet.

In Fiji, I visited some beautifully curated resort stores that offered luxury and utility; especially on remote private islands where there were no local shops in the vicinity. At Vomo, the boutique is quiet and discrete with a focus on sustainability; situated as a small standalone hut near the main restaurant area it offers silk kaftans by local designer Tracey Farrington, swimwear from Australian brand Bimby & Roy, resort branded shorts by Rocks Push (“A hit with the men who forget to pack their boardies – it happens more than you may think!” they write on the website), water flasks, beach bags from Rise Beyond the Reef and, yes, sunscreen. 

At Kokomo Private Island Resort the store was as well-considered as the beautiful interiors throughout the resort, with high-end jewellery, beauty brands and branded merch (my husband bought a hat that he still wears back home in NZ). It’s also conveniently located where guests are farewelled before they fly back to the mainland, so they can purchase some mementoes before they board the seaplane...

The Beach Shack store at Plantation Island is run by designer Tracey Farrington, offering her resortwear alongside hats, jewellery, accessories and souvenirs, while the Hilton Fiji Beach Resort on Denarau has a big Jack’s of Fiji store in the busy lobby area with a full-force fan, clothing down the back and accessories and local crafts at the front – I bought a woven heart-shaped fan that was well-used on that trip, and I still love and use back home.

These resort stores are worth a peruse, but you don't want to have to rely on them once you get there for island holiday essentials. There’s an art to packing appropriately, so you won’t need to panic buy sunscreen from the resort store – from experience, here’s what to consider before you fly:

SULU/SARONG: Sarongs, from $14, from BFF Boutique; Panikeke sarong, from $20‍

Use for sun protection, to dry off, or as a cover up. You can get fancy sarongs, but the best are affordable sulu/lavalavas/pareo in bright colours.

SUNSCREEN: Bondi Sands Sport SPF 50 Wet Skin Sunscreen Lotion, $17

Make sure it’s a high SPF, you have a big bottle of it so it lasts the whole trip, and that it’s reef friendly.

UNFUSSY DRESS: Karen Walker dress, $345‍

Don’t overpack: pick wisely, and you’ll wear the same pretty much the entire trip. Lightweight cotton and linen are smart options.

SWIMWEAR: Zulu and Zephyr one-piece, $319‍‍

It can be quite hard to find a good set at this time of year, but department, sporting and specialist stores, like Mei Lan, are your best bet while at home.

A FAN: Rise Beyond the Reef fan, $18‍

To beat the heat. Locals always make the best options and you can usually get affordable options at the resort stores or local markets. This one is made locally in Fiji, with hand-constructed Masi (tapa) flower detail.

The writer was supported by Tourism Fiji