FIJI - Do it ourself or package tour

My partner and I are traveling to NZ for 2 weeks in October, then flying on to SEA for 3/4 months.

I have always wanted to go to Fiji, and realised the cheapest I'll ever be able to go and see it would probably be whilst I am in NZ, and I am right as return flights from Auckland are about £400.

I am debating whether to then buy one of those package tours, that include meals, accommodations and activities, but they aren't cheap. I have no idea of the costs on FIJI, would it be cheaper just to get a room in a guest house/ air bnb and do the activities with local tour guides?

Let me know. This would be for about a week or two. Would love to see lots, snorkel, see the island.

Thank you!

what exactly are you wanting to do? Fiji for us has been beach time and for that a package deal staying in a resort with flights included has always worked well.

We want to swim, see beach, perhaps do a small hike, I basically want to get a fun over view of Fiji. It's a place I have always dreamed of visiting.

my own personal perspective, if visiting Fiji for the first time I would book a resort on an Island in the Mamanucas and spend a few days enjoying the beach, get a flight and accommodation package. I wouldn't be doing tramps etc

Most resorts, because they are all that there is on many islands, will have a built in meal plan. The resort is the only place to eat.

I'm not sure what your idea of an overview is, but if it includes some hiking as well as Fiji beyond the beaches, then a good alternative is to go to the island of Ovalau, east of Suva (on Viti Levu) and easily reachable from there. You can stay in Levuka for some time, an attractive small town .. staying at a guesthouse and meals in restaurant will likely be cheaper per day than one of the Mamanuka/Yasawa resorts west of Viti Levu. You could take a jungle walk .. Ovalau is extinct volcano. You can add beach/snorkel time with a few days at one of two lagoon island resorts, Caqalai or Leleuvia.

Links:
http://levukatourism-com.webs.com/
http://www.leleuvia.com/

The location will give you a look at a bit of everything, including Suva. There might be direct flights NZ to Suva, so check that possibility.

If you decide that you want to do-it-yourself, there are still a few budget-priced self-catering options that you may want to check out, since food and beverage is usually how the resorts make their $ on package deals. These can be found on Nananu-i-Ra, Nadi area and on the Coral Coast (www.Fiji4less.com lists a few options). If you decide on AirBnB, just be aware that the government is cracking down on unlicensed and untaxed accommodations so you may want to check the status of any AirBnB property....

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