Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# Travelling alone to Fiji/ Cook Islands - hints? Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea
nlaw 01:39 UTC 06 Nov 2007 | Decided that next year is the year for a travel adventure. Just wanted some feedback on how safe it is travelling alone as a female in this part of the world as I'm really wanting to island hop. Any words of local wisdom would be great. cheers |
raro 03:12 UTC 06 Nov 2007 | No problem in the Cooks, other than what you might find in a small town, e.g., drunks will hit on you at bars, etc. but rarely any real problems. No real "bad" areas of town, etc. Fiji is a bit different. 99% OK, but avoid some back streets of Suva late at night, near the local bars, the guys can get more aggressive, and there is a bit more crime. But if you avoid these kind of urban problems, it's generally safe (but the Cooks are safer in general). | 1
silvanocat 03:15 UTC 06 Nov 2007 | Be aware that currently there are no flights between Fiji and the Cooks. | 2
ozziegiraffe 14:07 UTC 06 Nov 2007 | As a female travelling alone anywhere in the Pacific, be aware of dressing modestly - most importantly, having knees covered anywhere except touristy plces. Women who respect local custom can travel very safely in the Pacific, and will be respeced by the locals. | 3
oldpro 14:09 UTC 06 Nov 2007 | <blockquote>Quote <hr>Any words of local wisdom would be great.<hr></blockquote> here's mine: My impression is that questions about 'safety' -- from males and females alike -- come from a lack of experience with a location and the sense of insecurity it induces. You see the same question asked about anywhere on the planet, even an idyllic Greek island. When going somewhere for the first time I also can feel my own sense of caution heightened. The caution remains until I can have a look around, make my own assessments, and adjust my behavior accordingly. You should do the same. There are no unique safety issues in Fiji. I also heard the stories about Suva prior to my visit, and was suitably nervous -- until I was there for myself. The stories and cautionary words are all true enough. However, in context, Suva was no more risky than your average European city on Saturday night, and I acted accordingly (avoid certain streets at certain times of the night, etc). What it comes down to is this: some basic common sense probably is enough to settle 95% or more of any safety issues anywhere. For the rest, nothing beats personal experience and trust in your own judgment. | 4