Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# When did Fiji get so expensive! Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Fiji
mikelindsay 10:36 UTC 15 May 2007 | I posted this question originally on April 27, 2007 and have experienced another price increase in Fiji with Oarsman and I'm sure the rest of the resorts will follow suit. Their deluxe bure for 2 with meals was $280F and has gone up $379F; a 35% increase. The larger room even worse. I'm shocked because I would have thought the coup and less tourism traffic would keep things stable. And even crazier for me is that there is a transfer fee from the Flyer to the Island; it too has increased from $10F to $17F one way - up 70%; two years ago it was free. It looks like this will be our last trip to Fiji as the prices are going too crazy. Perhaps people who say that Fiji is becoming what Hawaii was 30 years ago is true. |
mangrovejacky 11:12 UTC 15 May 2007 | I have just returned from 2 weeks in Fiji. From what I can gather, due to the coup, the islands are pretty busy, with people going 'there' rather than the mainland. I am told the thinking is that if the coup stirs up, people feel safer on the islands. Occupancy on the mainland is apparently about 18% (so I am told) so it 'could' be that the islands are cashing in by increasing prices? Just hazarding a guess here. | 1
bulabear 13:15 UTC 15 May 2007 | Due to the coup - and the negative travel adviseries from certain countries -travel insurances still don't cover Suva and surrounding areas - which is a complete "bull..." (because Suva has never been so safe). So most guests stay around the Yasawas, most popular Oarsmans and Octopus, which seem to be booked out for a long time, whereas other areas here in Fiji hardly see a tourist. So of course, they increase their rates. Why not try Leleuvia Island, which is in the Lomaiviti group, which costs you F$ 50 per person/per day in a newly built Bure ( and newly built shared bathrooms), and that including 3 fantastic meals. Leleuvia has since a year a new managment and it looks fantastic! If you want to find a cheaper Fiji, you will! But it is not in the West! | 2
melbar 11:24 UTC 16 May 2007 | welcome to capitalism, that is simply how the market works and regulates itself. just like a stock which is in high demand will rises in value.... oarsmans is highly popular, they are permanently overbooked... so they increase their rates until the bookings match their capacity. dont generalise that fiji has gone expensive. its only fijis mass tourism destination -the west and especially the yasawas where prices explode. there is also a non touristy fiji but a lot of you people only want to go where the mass goes.... | 3
Laszlo 01:44 UTC 17 May 2007 | OK, I haven't been there since last year, but then I found Fiji one of the cheapest (and best value!) places in the South Pacific. Only Samoa was even cheaper - but thefts there added to "expenses"! | 4
mikelindsay 09:47 UTC 17 May 2007 | I wouldn't say we want to go where the masses are. Our first trip we went to Taveuni and Savusavu etc.; as we will on this trip. When we were at Oarsman last time there was a total of 8 of us total at the time which is what we loved. You can't beat sharing an island with 8 other tourists! | 5
mikelindsay 08:51 UTC 20 May 2007 | Oarsmans prices on the website went back down to $280 now - not sure if there was a temporary glitch on their website - all I can say is that I'm happy again. | 6
peichick 11:10 UTC 25 Jun 2007 | The Yasawas & Mamanucas know everyone is going to go there at some point in their trip & having one boat company doesn't help! The rest of Fiji are struggling therefore is so reasonlably cheap in comparison to the west & its islands! | 7
anonymous 03:02 UTC 05 Jul 2007 | Skip the Yasawas & Mamanucas. They pay a 30% commission to booking agents. And the experience they offer is plastic and decidedly un-Fijian. Head to the mainland and other island groups, and you will be happy you did. They are cheaper, and the experience is not nearly as pre-fabricated. Isn't the point of travel to interact with the people in the place you are visiting? You will not get this in the Yasawas & Mamanucas. We just got back from Fiji and did all of our travel on the mainland and in the Lovamiti group. We felt completely safe, loved the experience, met lots of locals, and were happy we skipped the Yasawas & Mamanucas with their air-conditioned tour buses, high prices, and cattle-car mentality. Top suggestions: Levuka Caqalai & Leleuvia Navala (Bulou's Lodge) Get out there and explore! Local buses are cheap and reliable and the best way to mingle with Fijians. Good luck! | 8