Cheap(er) Fiji Accommodation

Hi All,

I'm going to be in Fiji come late June and I'm looking for good but relatively cheap accommodation. I'm traveling on my own and don't want to spend more than $100 US per night, but I have been traveling for a year and am really reeeeeeally sick of staying in dirty hostels where people are constantly doing the nasty in my room. In my dream, I stay on an island resort that has direct access to the beach but is relatively isolated (so definitely not in Nadi or Suva) and has fun activities, but also has the fun social aspect of a hostel without the constant debauchery (so, opportunities for scuba diving, village visits, etc. and fun at night, just not a sketchy or Contiki-tour reputation). Is this just a poor backpackers dream? If anyone has any suggestions, let me know!

Thanks!

Jollyhippo

It sounds like you are your own victim of budget/backpacker stereotypes, and package holiday style arrangements. Going independent gives you the freedom to stay away from the hostel 'debauchery'you want to avoid.

My own daily budget while in Fiji (for 2 months) was somewhere around US$30 a day -- that was now almost 2 years ago -- and I never stayed in dorms. If you have a US$100 budget per night, I can't see you as having any problem whatsoever. With that budget you mention you could rent your own bure somewhere. I managed it on less.

There are huge differences in the character of specific resorts. Relatively inexpensive accom (keeping me close to my roughly US$35 a day) was easy to find, even in the Yasawas. I stayed on Waya, to name one example, although Wya might be a touch too quiet for what you appear to want. Ovalau and lagoon island 'resorts' are another option. Nananu i ra is another. Taveuni ...

Have a browse through a guidebook (Moon guide to Fiji probably the best). You'll need to make up your own mind regarding the balance of 'good' 'cheap' and 'fun social'.

Just be cautious that the prices two years ago(when we were also in Fiji) have drastically increased. There is no way you can get private accomodation in the Yasawas for $30US a night. See my "when did Fiji get so expensive posts below". As old pro advises, you'll have better luck in places like Taveuni etc.

want to go remote, do some amazing snorkelling on the astrolabe reef, and/or diving and meet locals, go trekking etc I recommend Waialima Beach Resort on Kadavu Island. Check out the website for prices...i think cheapest on the island...friendly and a real adventure. Very remote. Very different to mainstream and private burres.

But there's still plenty for $100 a night.

The recommendation in #3 is probably great - have stayed on Kadavu but not at that resort - but you will have to factor in flights to Kadavu, which aren't cheap. Well over $100 each way.

Okay, all great suggestions. I suppose I'm more overwhelmed by the options than anything else, and the only thing to fix that is a good guidebook. Thanks for all the tips!

Got to agree with pacboy. I just spent three weeks at pac harbour and the uprising was outstanding. Great beach with a fantastic view of Beqa. Reasonable bar prices( 3.50 for a Fiji Bitter) and an "island feel" without island prices or being trapped on an island. It kicks off on Friday and Saturday nights too. This place is going to be very popular. Only 45 minutes from Suva too, so plenty to do if you want to get away from the beach for the day.

You could go anywhere and do anything with $100 per night.

Another good option is Mango Bay, really chilled, nice beach, fun social life, and they do scuba diving, village visits, free kayaking and good snorkelling trips. You could (and loads of people do) easily spend a week or two there. It is on the coral coast, a few hours from Nadi (3 ish?), get any bus from Nadi to Suva and get off when you see a huge orange mango on the right side of the road. It's a great place.

Yasawas are good too - Mantaray Island for diving, Octopus Island for a break from budget backpacker accommodation (although its still well within your budget). Both have reasonable social scenes and are pretty relaxed.

We just got back from Fiji and I would suggest Caqalai.

Its $48 per person per night for a bure and ALL of your food. Just remember to bring any alcohol because they don't sell it on the island.

BEST snorkeling EVER. Social scene consists of live music each night and interaction with whoever is staying on the island. There is nothing here but the bures, the dining hall, the beach, the reef, and the people. No debauchery, at least not while we were there.

We also heard good things about Bobo's Farm in Ovalau. And we spent a few very special days at Bulou's Lodge outside of Navala.

Good luck!

I don't recommend staying at Waisalima as it was the worst value for money I have ever experienced in all the years I have travelled (we have also spent 7 months travelling in Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Fiji so far this year).

We stayed for a night at Waisalima in September in a standard bure which was basically a thatched shack with a sandy floor next to the beach. The bedclothes were damp and mildewy and the shared toilets and bathroom outside were not that clean. Yet our cost for two people for one night with food and one-way transfer from the airport was over FJ$330. The owner Maureen overcharged us by 1 night ($75) which she refused to refund. In addition Maureen was grumpy and rude to us during our stay (she is currently trying to sell the resort). We had intended to return after sea kayaking around Kadavu but the weather was against us. My inlaws stayed there for a full week so we still brought in a lot of business for the resort. After you arrive at the resort, everything costs additional money including walks and snorkelling (rental price is $35 a day!). My 2 inlaws also thought it was very poor value for money, their bill for the week including only accommodation, food and transfer but no alcohol nor activities was FJ$2,500 (they stayed in the deluxe bure which was much nicer but the only light good enough to read by was in the toilet)!

If you want to see another recent review, look at hostelworld.com.

Kadavu is a spectacular and remote island but there must be better places to stay as Waisalima is on the decline for sure. We also went to the northern Yasawas and paddled around - you can usually get great prices if you just turn up, Oarsman Lodge looked fantastic, run by the local village, much better than tired expats.

Good luck!