Fijian Wisdom

Hey! I served in the U.S Peace Corps in Fiji for two years. I have also returned the last two summers for some solo travel. This may sound a bit crazy but I highly doubt there is anyone in the U.S that knows more about traveling in Fiji than me. Ask away! I love talking about Fiji! I also speak Fijian! Not fluently but enough to get around no doubt....

Hello, I'm going to Fiji and it is very expensive $$ if you don't check your budget it can add up very quickly... I would like to cook my own meals to save on food since I'm going to be there 5 weeks I cannot spend on restaurant for 3 people each and every meal for 36 days.... !!! some hotels I booked with kitchenette so no problem there but some places I just have a mini fridge... my question is : is it possible to buy small propane bottle you know like in Canada and America Coleman style 1 lbs 454 gr. propane bottle that is normally use for camping... as I could cook my own food easily where ever I go. I just need this info thanks a lot and if you know the cheapest car rental with no problems and cheapest scuba dive shop for scuba diving it would be GREAT !!! xoxxoxoxo Emmanuelle

So a lot of this depends on where in Fiji you are going to stay. I would recommend Taveuni. You could camp at Beverly Beach campground for around 10$ usd per night. They have nice tents with pads already set up or you can use your own. Beverly Beach is very close to several dive shops that dive in the somo somo strait, some of the best diving in Fiji. And no, you will not be able to find propane easily anywhere in Fiji. Beverly Beach does have a small kitchen where they prepare very cheap meals. You can also buy Curry Roti Parcels very cheap at the small shops in Matei on Taveuni.

Most areas of Fiji do not really welcome campers. There are almost zero campgrounds in the country. The reason is that you can stay in any rural village in Fiji. It is called a homestay. You just stay with a Fijian family in their home. Fijians are some of the friendliest and most hospitable people in the world. They will be thrilled if you choose to stay with them instead of a resort. Staying with a family is the experience of a lifetime. You will never forget it. No matter where you are in Fiji you are near a rural village. It is customary to bring a bundle of Kava roots with you when you enter a village. It is polite and you will most certainly be welcomed. Do not be shy! Stay in a village! Taveuni is full of villages to stay in. I would recommend the village of Bouma or Lavena in Taveuni. Navakawau is also a wonderful village to stay in on Taveuni. Getting to Taveuni requires riding a ferry or plane. The ferry is a 24 hour journey and the flight is about 40 minutes. Buy your plane tickets as far in advance as possible to secure a seat on the small twin otter plane that holds 20. You can fly from nadi or suva. The flight is amazing! The ferry ride is long and crowded but about one fourth the price of the flight. The ferry leaves from suva maybe two days and a week. I would recommend not booking anything before you go to Fiji. Cancel hotels if you already booked if you can get a refund. Feel free to ask more questions! I would stick to Taveuni and Savu Savu on Vanua Levu for diving. They are close to each other and offer world class diving!

One more thing about food. Eat in town not at resorts. The Indian curries in every town are phenomenal and very cheap. The chinese food in town is also cheap and pretty good too but does not compare to the curries. It is all about indian food in Fiji as 40% of the population descends from India. xoxoxoxo Christian

Hi, Thanks so much for the quick answer ! I was not planning on doing camping LOL !!! I just wanted propane bottle to prepare my own meals... I guess I wont be able to do that. I checked to cancel my hotel in Nadi not cancel but just modify it and it is non refundable ! I wanted to visit the island in front. It's so expensive the islands... but so beautifull ! I'm leaving in 3 months 1/2 but I'm already there in my head lol ! I was't going to plan to go to Taveuni at all... but I'll check that out. I already stayed in a family in Peru and was very disapointed. Maybe it's diffrent in Fiji... but Peru was rough !!! The girl killed a hamster in front of me : a guinea pig ! I tougth Kalua Pig in Hawaii is good so I tought a guinea pig must be the same since I'm french I didn't realize it was a hamster.... We stayed in a home on Lake Titicaca wich is 4000 meters above sea level... I was sick from altitude... it wasn't pleasant ! .... Maybe it's time I try again. I don't know what to do to book at a local Fidjian home... I know you suggest to not book anything before leaving but since scuba diving is so so expensive $$ I feel more secure booking everything CAR - Hotels and fligth before leaving... that way I just have to pay for food and activities... wich can add up so quick. I checked for Adventure Camps with canopy tours it could easily cost 500 $ for the 3 of our family !!!!! And scuba can cost 2000 $ CAD for 2 persons for 10 dives... does it even include all material.... you see how it ads up ! incredible ! Your lucky because Us $ is good for now but I have 32 percent less with my pore CAD $ LOL !!! I just found out about KAVA yesterday !! and the local beers to... Fiji by Carlton Brewery and Tiki etc. I try to research a little every day ... I checked where Taveuni is about... I don't think I'm gonna go there becauve I'm not alone I have my kid and 3 people adds up quick ! I'm staying on the big island I'm gonna visit suva, nadi, colo-i-suva gonna do all the trails in the 2 parks with Koroyanitu park I want to hike the big mountain, I was planning on going to Volivoli hotel since they have free kayaks and 3 small islands close from 1-2 KM.... a BIG BIG question FOR YOU... do you think it iv safe to swim 1 KM to go to the islands in front of Volivoli... I would not want to be the shark meals... they are the shark lovers who say that shark never go on humans and their is facts that sometimes shark when hungry do bite off.... do you think it is safe... I don't have 300 $ to pay for taxi boat all around the island each time I want to visit islands... so you think it is secure to swim and go in kayak to visit the 3 island in front of Volivoli hotel... I would go there after Nadi and then go down to suva and colo-i-suva and then Pacific Harbour and the hole south then Gecko at Cuvu to be able to go free to shangrila I would really be amazed to go to Taveuni and the other big island but don't have enough time or budget $ I'm going to see the big island and try to visit the little island all around.... Maybe another time for Taveuni... don't have the $$ for airplane and don't want to wait 1 day in the boat with a kid... that would be fantastik for a celib backpacker that is there for 2-3 month ok I'll have more question later xoxoxoxox take care and thanks a lot xoxoox I'll try to leave 2 nights off for staying in local places with family !

Hi there, My family - wife and 10yo and 9 yo are going to Fiji in March, staying at a resort on the Coral Coast. My wife wants to swim with turtles, I want to walk on hot coals and the kids want to snorkel all day. Also, we want to get a traditional Fijian tattoo. I'd really appreciate any help you can offer.

Thanks.

Fishboy

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