7 days in Fiji on a budget help

printer09:55 UTC08 Oct 2008

Hi all

We are a couple aged 25 heading to Fiji for 7 nights in October and we just need advice on where to go and what to see in that short time frame.

We are not really into the party scene so just looking for a place to kick back and relax. Should we stay in the one resort while we are there? Or should we island hop? We have heard that the yasawas are really nice. What places would you recommend to stay here?

Thanks
Printer

printer08:35 UTC10 Oct 2008

We have heard that Mantaray is good? Would any of you recommend it?

missworldly19:06 UTC11 Oct 2008

Just from island-hopping experience (in the South Pacific, but not Fiji) I think it would be worth just staying in one central area, and maybe going on a few day-excursions from there. Maybe pick an island that isn't so homogeneous; maybe with a few hills to go on a few walkabouts, a nice resort, decent snorkeling offshore, that way you have some options once you've laid on the beach long enough, but you also aren't stuck in port towns in little motels waiting for transportation.

I did some island hopping in Indonesia, Tonga, and New Caledonia, and though Fiji is a lot more tourist-oriented, ferries and planes still run on 'schedules' (hahah, very loose term) that need to be coordinated, and ferry transfers and bus rides can eat up a bunch of time. Maybe bus to Lautoka, hit up the Sleeping Giant gardens, Saweni beach, stock up on some essentials and check out the market in Lautokathen to a small island for a few days? I've always found that in a perfect world, island hopping for 7 days would be doable, but it's much more relaxing to stay in one or two places and just bliss out.

mik_peka00:02 UTC22 Oct 2008

I have also heard mantaray is good, we are heading there for new years eve, in 7 days you will comfortably do 2 to 3 islands, any more and you might be rushed.

You won't have trouble getting between the islands, the Yasawa flyer runs like clockwork every day to all the islands.

Its possible to do daytrips out of nadi to many of the Mamanuca islands (Beachcomber, south seas, bounty etc..) but I would recommend just going from one island to the next.

The Yasawas are more interesting islands, most have mountains and villages where the Mamanucas are mostly tiny coral atolls.

I would recommend:
1. Octopus or Mantaray - Classy but fun, penty of activities
2. Flying Fish - Authentic fijian culture, near the blue lagoon, basic but beautiful

The Mantarays which give mantaray resort its name will still be around too. Enjoy!

mik_peka00:12 UTC22 Oct 2008

With only 7 days I can't reccommend heading up to Lautoka (where we stay). It is pleasant but dull, good for a look around but only if you have time to burn, you would be better off staying in Nadi. Saweni beach is really nothing remarkable, the nearest good beach to Nadi is Natadola, about a half hour south, though it is hard to get to without your own transport.

7 days in Fiji on a budget... help! Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Fiji
printer09:55 UTC08 Oct 2008	Hi all We are a couple aged 25 heading to Fiji for 7 nights in October and we just need advice on where to go and what to see in that short time frame. We are not really into the party scene so just looking for a place to kick back and relax. Should we stay in the one resort while we are there? Or should we island hop? We have heard that the yasawas are really nice. What places would you recommend to stay here? Thanks Printer
printer08:35 UTC10 Oct 2008	We have heard that Mantaray is good? Would any of you recommend it?	1
missworldly19:06 UTC11 Oct 2008	Just from island-hopping experience (in the South Pacific, but not Fiji) I think it would be worth just staying in one central area, and maybe going on a few day-excursions from there. Maybe pick an island that isn't so homogeneous; maybe with a few hills to go on a few walkabouts, a nice resort, decent snorkeling offshore, that way you have some options once you've laid on the beach long enough, but you also aren't stuck in port towns in little motels waiting for transportation. I did some island hopping in Indonesia, Tonga, and New Caledonia, and though Fiji is a lot more tourist-oriented, ferries and planes still run on 'schedules' (hahah, very loose term) that need to be coordinated, and ferry transfers and bus rides can eat up a bunch of time. Maybe bus to Lautoka, hit up the Sleeping Giant gardens, Saweni beach, stock up on some essentials and check out the market in Lautokathen to a small island for a few days? I've always found that in a perfect world, island hopping for 7 days would be doable, but it's much more relaxing to stay in one or two places and just bliss out.	2
mik_peka00:02 UTC22 Oct 2008	I have also heard mantaray is good, we are heading there for new years eve, in 7 days you will comfortably do 2 to 3 islands, any more and you might be rushed. You won't have trouble getting between the islands, the Yasawa flyer runs like clockwork every day to all the islands. Its possible to do daytrips out of nadi to many of the Mamanuca islands (Beachcomber, south seas, bounty etc..) but I would recommend just going from one island to the next. The Yasawas are more interesting islands, most have mountains and villages where the Mamanucas are mostly tiny coral atolls. I would recommend: 1. Octopus or Mantaray - Classy but fun, penty of activities 2. Flying Fish - Authentic fijian culture, near the blue lagoon, basic but beautiful The Mantarays which give mantaray resort its name will still be around too. Enjoy!	3
mik_peka00:12 UTC22 Oct 2008	With only 7 days I can't reccommend heading up to Lautoka (where we stay). It is pleasant but dull, good for a look around but only if you have time to burn, you would be better off staying in Nadi. Saweni beach is really nothing remarkable, the nearest good beach to Nadi is Natadola, about a half hour south, though it is hard to get to without your own transport.	4

7 days in Fiji on a budget... help!