Aquarius on the Beach Club Fiji Resort

Hi there.....Can anyone give some firsthand information as to the pros/cons of Aquarius on the Beach and Club Fiji? I've been asked to find budget accommodation, around $100 per night, for my uncle and aunt, in their early 50's. They are quite active, but would of course enjoy some relaxing time too. I had also look at Anchorage Resort, but this seems a little out of the way. Also, what is in Nadi town? Is it worthwhile telling them to spend an afternoon there browsing around? A travel agent recommended against it, saying it was a third world dump of a place! All thoughts and advice will be most welcome.
Cheers

have you checked out the Beach House, it is easy to get to by bus, and they could go to Sigatoka, or Suva as a day trip, the museum in Suva is good, and the markets especially on Saturdays are worth the visit, I know nothing about the two resorts you mention, but Nadi is a tourist town selling cheap clothing and trinkets but has an amazing Indian Temple, and a good Indian restaurant

"Anchorage out of the way"?
It is about a $20 taxi ride from the airport.
If you want something closer, Raffles is across the road from the airport at a bit over $100.

What are they looking for and how long are they staying?

Cheers,
Peter

Hi Peter,
When I said it seemed out of the way, one of the reviews mentioned it being "stuck on the side of a hill in the middle of nowhere with nothing else around".... which is fine if you want a romantic secluded stay! They are looking at spending around 10 nights in Fiji, with three night down on the Coral Coast for a wedding. Pretty sure they'll stay at Bedarra or Tambua Sands there, but Nadi is where we're undecided. Beachfront, or close to, sounded nice, so Anchorage, Club Fiji and Aquarius are the top three at the moment. Probably not so keen staying in Nadi town itself. They will enjoy lazing around for a while, but want to do some day trips to islands, and a bit of sightseeing of course. Alan loves his bushwalking, and Bev will want to go nuts at the local markets. The hotels individual websites make all three look fantastic, but of course they'd do that....There are just so many conflicting reviews on all three.....Thorn Tree readers are always helpful, so thought I'd ask for some advice.

Thanks for your reply.....I'm interested in your comment about Suva.....I said to a travel agent about a day trip there and she said not to bother; that there was nothing there, and even the locals hate it! The museum was actually one of the things that looked good. And the Indian Temple certainly looks worth a visit.

I had a travel agent once tell me not to go to Glasgow, and when I did go I wondered why he said that, so you may think the same of your travel agents remarks
In Suva the markets are great, the fish and seafood on sale will tempt you to find someone to cook it, the vegetables are different here, people eat a lot of Ota (ferns) there is duruka, and sea grapes, the variety of tropical flowers are a sight to see, and the there are different fruits as well. You can eat the food that the sellers have made. there is also Colo-I-Suva a great park easily accessible by taxi or bus, and at the museum the park has some great trees, the Grand Pacific Hotel has just reopened after being closed for years, and if you have the energy you can walk from near the Grand Pacific around the waterfront for some kms, better at high tide but great if its near sunset. And more

Yes.....there is a cheap tour (guided) to Suva; I'm going to recommend it to Alan. The more I deal with travel agents, the less I tend to listen to them! Thanks for your comments and advice. :)

don't bother with a cheap tour to Suva, just get a bus, Pacific, Sunbeam or Sunset, (about $15 FJ from Nadi one way) and find your own way, from the bus stop the first place will be the markets , then its a walk through town to the museum, with the Grand Pacific on the way, (about 10- 15 mins) then just get a taxi to colo-i-suva, probably a bit over $10 fiji one way, they could drive you along the waterfront walk as you go. That way you get to see what you want, and not taken to places that most people wouldn't want to visit. There are a couple of places for good coffee, Caffe One in the Tapoo building, just opposite the markets, or ROC (it has changed hands and has a new name) and its on the way to the museum

Anchorage is a sister resort with Beachcomber which although it is a party island it also has a few nice quiet rooms, right on the beach around the back of the island. They also offer day trips from Anchorage with their own boat.
Anchorage is a short cab ride (long walk) from First Landing Resort and Vuda Marina, both of which serve meals to visitors, so some variety is available.
Anchorage (and Beachcomber) is owned by an Ozi guy and his wife. They are great supporters of local charities.

I agree that the Suva museum is good. Worth getting a guide too.
I also agree that the Suva fruit & veg market is good, but I like the Lautoka one better. Watch your wallet.
Suva has a better range of local handicrafts than Lautoka, but the prices are higher too I think. Know the values before you buy and haggle. As a guide in Nadi, divide by 3. Don't be tempted to buy 'handicrafts' at Viseisei village, on the way to Vuda.

Cheers,
Peter

Thanks Peter...I'll be sure to pass your advice on to Al and Bev....

I had considered telling them to get the bus across, then a taxi....but I wasn't sure whether the taxi driver could be bit dodgy for two very inexperienced, naïve, slightly elderly travellers! Could take them anywhere and charge anything....but maybe I'm just being too over protective...lol

There are just so many conflicting reviews

You ask for opinions, then you have to expect this. The solution is to pay attention to the reasons people give for their preferences. And try to pay attention to (and ignore) words that are actually meaningless out of context .. words such as "reasonable".

For example, that one travel agent's comment about Suva, and that even locals hate it .. I find incomprehensible. Possibly the people who feel this way have their reasons, but I'd want to know what those reasons are. I'd highly recommend Suva as a place to visit if anyone was within day-trip striking distance .. for the museum, for the market, for just wandering around the town. Some parts are rather attractive with the wooden balconies etc. It's not the white beach tropical isle fantasy, but it is as real as it gets if you want a good look at daily life in 'paradise'.

If someone was in striking distance of Nadi as a possible day-trip destination, then I'd also substitute Lautoka as an alternative. I can't rate the temple in Nadi because I've been to India, which makes for an unfair subjective comparison. But, that aside, Nadi is more like one main-street strip dedicated to the tourists, and Lautoka is more of a living Fijian town. Market in Lautoka is more fun, as is passing time in the small eateries that ring it and the bus depot.

I had considered telling them to get the bus across, then a taxi....but I wasn't sure whether the taxi driver could be bit dodgy for two very inexperienced, naïve, slightly elderly travellers! Could take them anywhere and charge anything....but maybe I'm just being too over protective...lol

Yep, you are being too protective :)
Long bus rides in Fiji are quite an adventure. From memory it is 4+ hours from Nadi to Suva, unless the bus breaks down or gets a flat tyre.

A great day out is to take a bus to RakiRaki, then a cab to VoliVoli Resort, have lunch and a swim and then go back.
Taxies are not too big a problem provided they check that it has a meter and it is on. If not, get another cab. There are illegal drivers posing as cabs and they are best avoided. Some cabbies will try and negotiate a price. Reject that and insist the meter is on. The only exception to that is some resorts (lie Anchorage) will have Hire cars, not cabs and they have fixed fees to specific locations and no meters. Their number plates make it clear which is which.

I reckon all visitors to Fiji deserve some time in the Yasawas......................

Cheers,
Peter