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# FIJI Over new years - but which island/s to go to?!? Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Fiji
kat33 22:56 UTC 08 Nov 2010 | Hi Thorn tree peoples! Myself and 2 other gal friends are heading to fiji from australia for a week over the new year period. We will arive in Nadi in the afternoon of the 27th, so will have to spend the first night there, and will be flying out on the 3rd of Jan, so will need to be back in Nadi on the 2nd... Therefore we have 5ish days to explore, obviously not long enough to go too far or do too much, thus we are committed to relaxing on the beach, snorkelling etc. Our problem at the moment tho, is that we cant decide which island to go to! They all sound so good! At teh moment our decision is between Bouny Island, Oarsmans Bay Lodge and Manta Ray Island Resort. We want somewhere with a good beach, good snorkelling straight off said beach and a reasonable mix off travellers. We dont need a hige party over the new year period, but it would be nice to have people to hang out with and socialise - i.e we dont really want to be on an island full of honeymooners and loved up couples! *I'm wondering which of these (or any other) islands you folks would recommend for us? *Also do you think it would be possible for us to visit 2 of these islands in that short time, or would it better to just do the one? i.e for a time we were thinking of having 2 nights at Bounty Island, then heading over to Manta Ray for three nights over the new years period... Is it easy to get between these isalnds? *And lastly, given that it will be the wet season, just thought Id ask for any thoughts on that... I've read that the amount of rainfall and risk of cyclone can vary between islands, and was wondering if those variations would apply to any of these choices, i.e whether one of these islands generally recieves less rainfall than others, or whether his variation refers to teh different groups of islands... Any otehr advice much appreciated! Thank you all!!! |
kat33 04:37 UTC 09 Nov 2010 | P.S - After further research today, I discovered that Manta Ray is now all booked out for that period. Yesterday it wasnt, but today it is, which is making me think Ive really got to get this accomodation sorted out! So any advice or recommendations for Bounty, Oarsmans, Octupus or any of the other islands / resorts would be appreciated!Just want something with a good beach, good snorkelling (pref. staright off the beach), and a variety of travellers, not all families or couples... Please help!!! Cheers : ) | 1
thurstonhowell4th 06:35 UTC 09 Nov 2010 | for 5 days you could but probably better not travel up and back the 4 hours from bounty to oarsmans then back, think bounty (ok) and maybe beachcomber (better) for more of a party life. manta ray is ok but as you say its full. mind you, you might get in on a waiting list and its not too far up into the yasawas. all up island life ticks on and they wont be too overly excited about NYE as you'll be so chilled its just another day in paradise. enjoy! | 2
kat33 22:18 UTC 09 Nov 2010 | THANK YOU!!! Much appreciated, I was sort of thinking the same thing, but Bounty has mixed reviews so I wasnt sure... After a little further Research I came across "Robinson Crusoe Island", which is pretty cheap and seems to get really good reviews on TripAdvisor, other than issues with the name how do you think RCI woould compare with Bounty? Also with the rainfall issues, are they both likely to receive the same?!? THANK YOU again - much appreciated!!! | 3
thurstonhowell4th 00:40 UTC 10 Nov 2010 | i stayed at Bounty but didnt like it, it was new then and had just pinched Beachcomers manager, id def still pick Beachcomber as the most delveloped and better one that im experienced with in the Mamanucas which are in site of the mainland. I've been to Beachcomber about 10 times over 20 years and still recommend it, its touted as a party place but the resorts and local villages are so serene that by party they mean dj and proper bar area though no longer a band, and it has changed owners not long ago. I've not been to RCI. My preference now as ive got older (47) is the more reclusive islands up the Yasawas. Beachcomber does have an old school huge dorm but if you stay cheap ask for the smaller, quieter dorns or pay more and get a bure/chalet on the beach or one of the lodges which are def quieter. enjoy! | 4
thurstonhowell4th 00:42 UTC 10 Nov 2010 | weather wise that time of year will be hot, maybe rainy, and potentially cyclonic, i usually go mid year and hang at the beach in Qld over the summer months here | 5
cwbush83 06:09 UTC 10 Nov 2010 | My girlfriend and I will be ringing the New Year in on Robinson Crusoe. Apparently they put on a decent New Year's celebration. | 6
pastrybloke 09:05 UTC 13 Nov 2010 | Hay Kat, I am thinking of being in Fiji for New Years Eve and I came accross your post above; I would appriciate any adivce you can offer or information you gained for this trip. I did have alternative NYE plans but unfortunately they fell through.... Cheers | 7
kat33 09:46 UTC 13 Nov 2010 | Hey Pastrybloke! Not too sure that I can be of very much help to be honest... I've found that quite a few of the more popular resorts are already booked out, including Manta Ray, Beachcombers and Oarsmans... Airfares are a little more than usual, but not ridiculously so, and probably jsut because we booked fairly close to our flying date... As one of the other posters said, its liklely not be a huge party, just a laidback celebration on a tropical island! | 8
bella84 04:13 UTC 26 Nov 2010 | Hey guys! 2 of my gf's and myself are going over NYE also, so if you hear of anything partywise let us know. We also know its not going to be a mental party but we are looking for some sorta fun! :) Worst comes to worst lets meet up and have our own party! :D | 9
tom1987 07:58 UTC 27 Nov 2010 | hey everyone, im in the same boat hey.. i was thinking beachcomber or bounty but i only decided to go a few days ago and havnt really done any research... im going by myself with a couple boards and just winging it so any tips would be awesome :).. let us know if u find anything that sounds good :) i'll keep looking to and post anything that looks quality cheers tom. | 10
amethyst86 11:23 UTC 02 Dec 2010 | my friend and I have just decided to go for news years too...impulsive!! and I'm freaking out that it's short notice...that maybe we've missed good accomodation? Robinson Crusoe looks great, and affordable, it's about $61 per day accomodation (private room) and food....is this good for fiji?? seems pretty decent. It seems far from the other islands...but my friend and I are both on tight budgets, but don't really want to do dorms the whole week; would we be missing out on much by just sticking to the one island near the big island? We're happy to just have a really chilled week on the beach. Found flights for $900 return...seems ok. Wow I wish I'd started researching this sooner! I feel like I need to book right now but don't know what to book... | 11
tom1987 05:22 UTC 06 Dec 2010 | i havnt booked anything yet either amethyst.. probably should do something about that haha $61 for a private room is pretty good i think.. all the islands are so close u can just pack up and move to another with no trouble and fairly cheaply :) i wouldnt stress to much about having accom booked.. im just gunna get my first 3 nights booked and wing it from there.. so many places to stay you'll b able to find something somewhere :) | 12
brad_davo 03:17 UTC 07 Dec 2010 | hey s me 2 mates goin to fiji over new years tryed to book into beachcomber for new years but its all booked out im on the waiting list to get a dorm room for us 3. weres nother good place to go ive got told bountys not to bad. but theres another island not sure name of not ment to be bad over newyears pacific something | 13
brad_davo 03:21 UTC 07 Dec 2010 | if worst comes to worst will all go to one island party on there | 14
cwbush83 12:33 UTC 08 Dec 2010 | amethyst (and anybody else) - give me a shout if you'll be on Robinson Crusoe for New Year's, My girlfriend and I will be partying it up there! | 15
amethyst86 08:27 UTC 12 Dec 2010 | Hey, Yea me and my friend will be at Robinson Crusoe on years....can't wait!!! Desperate for a holiday. See you there hey?? | 16