2 week solo trip advice

Hi there!

I am a 21 year old girl. I'm studying abroad in Australia from Feb-July and then flying to Fiji on my way back to America and staying for two weeks. I've done my research and found places that I'd like to see while I'm there. I'm looking mostly for advice on how to get around cheaply and whether or not it's even possible (or probable) to make it to all the places I'd like to go in two weeks. I'll arrive in Nadi on July 3 and leave from Nadi on July 17th so I'd like to make a circular trip to end up in the same place I started.
I'm thinking...
Stay in Nadi that first night then head to the Mamanuca Islands (I'd especially like to go to the Beachcomber Island)
Raki raki
Yasawas
Savusavu
Labasa
Taveuni Island
Kadavu
Coral Coast

I'm a student so I don't have much extra cash. I'm planning on staying in the hostels for the most part but any suggestions would be great. Can anyone think of an estimate cost of traveling around to these places? I know there is some sort of ferry that you can purchase a two week ticket for I think...? Anyone familiar with that?
Another random tidbit, I'd really love to go horseback riding somewhere. Does anyone know where I might be able to do that for cheap?

Thanks so much!
Liz

you can easily get around the main island - Viti Levu by catching local buses.

they are cheap and run regularly

see this YouTube video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHRsrj0sIgk

I suggest you cross 2/3rds of those places off your list, slow down and get into "Fiji time".
Visit at least one island (water and air transport can be relatively expensive) and do take a bus trip (cheap).
Maybe circimnavigate Viti Levu by bus?

Cheers,
Peter

Beachcomber is a phenomenal idea--I've been there three times, each for a little over a month (sounds preposterously boring, but believe me--it's loads of fun!). I'm also from America and a student, and I'll be volunteering in Fiji for three months from May-August. I'm hopefully moving there to work in December, but we'll see.

You definitely do need to slow down a bit, as Fiji Time is what it's all about.

You can get what's called a "Bula Pass" on the South Sea or Awesome Adventures boats that go out of Port Denarau. They allow you to hop on and hop off at any time for a number of days (prices dependent). Staying in Nadi is cheap, but you might be surprised about the prices on other islands. I've never been to the Yasawas, but I have traveled the Mamanucas and loved it. Beachcomber is wonderful because the prices include three meals a day, and the food is pretty good so you won't have to worry about that. Most of the other islands also charge you for food along with the housing price.

Hope this helped!

A quick look at www.airpacific.com will show you the prices of flying to Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Kadavu etc. Not cheap.

If you visit all of the places on your list you'd have less than 2 days in each.

Get to all those places? - almost impossible in your time-frame and you would spend all your time trying to coordinate travel between each. Cheaply - no. If Beachcomber is a must then maybe start there & then catch the Yasawa Flyer from there to one of the backpacker places (Wayalailai, Manta Ray etc). The Flyer is not cheap so check their website for costs. That would give you good experience of the beach scene. Then the most do-able would be Viti Levu (I'm thinking of cost here) - bus to Coral Coast area, then you could catch a bus up around the Raki Raki area if you want & finish back at Nadi again.

I agree with the earlier reply that there are too many places on your list to visit on a 2 week visit to Fiji.

Fiji's bus system on the two main islands is good and inexpensive. Inter-island transportation is more expensive, so you might eliminate Kadavu and/or Taviuni from your list.

John
Rakiraki, Fiji

Hi Liz, I'm doing a similar trip and had a look at the Beachcomber as a place to spend a few days, doesn't look cheap but I'm definitely going. Their website is a bit bare but you get a good idea of what's on offer.

Here's their website: http://www.beachcomberfiji.com/

This site has some good stuff about treks, excursions etc, including horseriding:
http://www.touristinformationfiji.com/fijifun/thingstodo.html

I disagree that the Bula or Awesome Adventure passes are a good idea, for two reasons 1) they take 30% off of the place you have booked with and 2) it is really easy to get around the mainland by bus. It is also easy to book directly with the islands and get around either on local boat or the Awesome adventure boat.

If you have about 14 days I recommend a 8 days on the islands and 6 on the mainland. BeachComber and Volivoli are both excellent value on Liti Levu. On the islands, I found the best value and most entertaining to be Mana (Mamanucas), Beachcomber (one night, Saturday perferbably, is enough), Wayalailai and CoralView. Of course it really depends on who's about and on which island, which is why I think not prebooking is a better idea. (Although Bula is the best option if you want to prebook transport, however unless you are changing islands every 1-2 days, paying as you go was a better option for me.

cheers
Amanda

Hi there,

On saturdays, are there any local boats that go across to beachcomber island? If so does anyone have any companies ot times as i cannot find anything on the internet!

I'll be doing the Feejee experience (whole hula) which is a 4 day/3 night thing and be finishing on the 4th day around 2/3pm. From here i was hoping to get a boat to beachcomber,is this possible?

Thanks so much for everyone's advice! I'm definitely cutting down the amount of places I am going...it's so hard though! I just want to see everything!
Is anyone familiar with the Feejee Experience tour bus? They claim to give a non-touristy experience and they have a hop-on hop-off feature with their buses but I'm always a little skeptical about large bus tours. Has anyone taken the tour or heard any accounts about it? I don't want to just be drunk and get driven around the islands...