Fiji - should I book a package, or just flights?

OK so I've never been to Fiji and I'm too lazy to buy a guidebook and look this up - hopefully one of you can help me!

I've done lots of travel around SE Asia, so I know that in most places it's easy to just turn up and organise a bungalow without pre-booking. Can I do the same thing in Fiji? Ideally staying around Yanuca Island, or somewhere within scooter distance. This will be in October.

I'm not fussy so I'd be just as happy in a $5 a night place that's a bit grungy, or a $100 a night place that's a bit nicer. I'm just really wary of ending up in an identikit resort full of the kind of people who book package holidays to Fiji!

We're going for a friend's wedding, but they're staying in one of those resorts and we'd prefer to do our own thing. It seems that a package deal from Oz is about $1000 each including accommodation, or $700 each without accommodation.

What would you do in the same situation?

Thanks,
Steve

Edited by: stephenlead

Book maybe the first two nights near the wedding, From there it's pretty easy to check out other places via word of mouth, and check rates and availability etc via phone.

But you might check on one of the super chep packages, it may give you seven nights at a real cheap place almost for free as part of the package. Then you can use it for a few days and leave if you don't like it.

Lots of tourists that are there for more than a few days do move around to different places, booking just a day or two in advance.

OP---if you book via an agent or wholesaler you will probably pay a lot more than if you just show up and book direct after you arrive.

OP--let me add that if you check the profile of #2, what do you see listed by him/her as his/her website? A travel agent/wholesale travel company!!!

Enough said!!!

PPS to all: that recommended "link" in #2's post is to his/her own travel company!!!

What a sleazebag!!!

All persons visiting Fiji should boycott this company "Fiji Holiday Packages", and spread the word about their deceptive practices.

Yanuca Island? I ain't been there or heard of it but it will be in the Yasawas's or the Mamanucas or off the mainland most likely. Any island there is usually pretty good, cheap and relaxed esp. if you take the dorm option. Some do have limited room and you need to book a few days out to get a bed but if you're island hopping the can usually do it for you from your current resport or on the transfer boat doing the island run. Beachcomber is a popular spot for solo travellers and pretty good value. I like it, but I like lots of the islands. All the same and all different. Enjoy!

Edited by: Irene_Adler

#6, I think Raro is right. The site that masquerades as "Tousism Fiji" is a package deal company, and they only link to the generic-type resorts, not the real Fiji. The poster hasn't a clue about Fiji, and only signed on today.
Nuff said.

#6--not sure what you meant by your deisre to slap me, but to me it's very offensive. I'll expect an apology on this thread, or you'll earn my everlasting wrath.

Yanuca is the name of the island---connected to the mainland---where the Shangri-La Resort is located. It was formerly called the Fijian Resort. It's a good but expensvie upscale place.

Thurston, you don't seem to know much about Fiji. If you were here I'd slap you silly with a map of Fiji, maybe some of the info would rub off.

The only question I have, is Thurston part of the "Fijian Holiday Packages" web promoting group??? Sure sounds like it.

I've deleted the comment in question. Thanks all.

OK, now that it has all been rearranged by the moderator's deletion (thanks!) , my comments were obviously aimed aimed at Thurstonhowell4th, previously at #6, now at #5, not against ozzie, a long-time TTer. And ozzie's reference to #6 also referred to Thurston...

Thurston knows about as much about the Pacific as his friend Gilligan, I think.
Meanwhile, thanks Irene (moderator) for removing a spammer.
Now we just have to subtract 1 from each of the references above written before the deletion.

Hi all,

thanks for the useful replies, and also for the explanation at the end about the deleted message - for a while there I had no idea what you were arguing about!

I think I'll book a package which includes a few nights' accommodation since it is fairly cheap, then look around once we arrive.

Thanks again,
Steve