Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Fiji ? Can it be done ?

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Fiji

My girlfriend and I recently decided that we wanted to go to Fiji, in May 2010. I understand the cost is quite high, and their isn't an awful lot of time between now and then to raise a massive amount of money to fund a grandiose, extravagant holiday. But that's alright with us, we just want o trip around there for a few weeks. Anyway, I'm wondering if a) anybody thinks we are nuts for thinking we can make this happen ? or b) how easy is it to find cheap accomodations over there ? Once there, the activities can take care of themselves, I'd be content to lie on a beach the whole time and not move anyway....oh yeaqh, that's gonna be sweet.
Any kind of advice, opinion or comment is more than welcome, thanks for your time, Ty.

It would help if you could be more specific. The phrase "the cost is quite high" is meaningless without a frame of reference. Fiji (and S Pacific) is more expensive on average than some SE Asia destinations. But Fiji is one of the least expensive S Pacific island groups. Also, a "a grandiose, extravagant holiday" is by definition going to be on the expensive side - although, even here, what might be extravagant for a backpacker could be mundane daily fare for a big budget traveler.

a) anybody thinks we are nuts for thinking we can make this happen ?

Again, it is not clear what it is you want to make happen, so it's not easy for me to judge whether you're nuts or not. What sort of budget do you have in mind? There are resorts of all price classes all over Fiji, from backpacker level to 5-star luxury.
Browse this site for some links to a few lower-end resorts. Keep in mind that many resorts are rather isolated, not close to a village with shopping possibilities. For that reason they include a compulsory meal plan. This website doesn't list all the cheap places, so there's a bias towards upper end budget. It also focuses on the more touristed locations (Yasawas etc, coral coast). But it'll give you an idea of costs.

b) how easy is it to find cheap accomodations over there ?

The cheapest accommodation will be guesthouses in small towns. Considering their location, there will also be a number of restaurants to choose from. Or the guesthouse might prepare meals for you (usually better than restaurant fare, IMO). Here are a few more links with prices:
http://www.fiji4less.com/</a>
http://www.levukafiji.com/</a> The island of Ovalau, old colonial town of Levuka, and 'resort' islands of Caqalai and Leleuvia is a great place to visit, and will be cheaper than the Yasawa resorts.

If the lowest prices are still too high for you, then that's the way it goes...

1

Perfect advice in #1 by oldpro, nothing much can be added to that.

I would just like to help you put costs of a trip to Fiji into perspective - you are obviously already aware that it is not going to be as cheap as India or Thailand, so to see quite how "cheap" Fiji actually can be, try and find out about costs in French Polynesia in comparision! ;-)

2