Going to Fiji - how planned do i need to be?

Hello all! So Fiji is the first stop on my first ever trip around the world and i'm just wondering how much i actually need to plan. I have booked my first two stops on viti levu (mango bay and beachhouse) but wanted to play it by ear for the last week and a half. will i be risking hostels being full and paying huge amounts of money for transfers/accomodation if i wait until i'm there? a main concern is getting from island to island. the plan now is 4 days on beachcomber after wandering viti levu and then moving on to either wayalailai or blue lagoon, depending on my mood.

so....
A) should i prebook everything or can i wait?
B) what are the cheapest options for island transfers?

thanks!
Jenni Jane
Jenni Jane and the Wanderlust Game
www.jjwanderlustgame.com

Edited by: wanderlustgame

If you are going outside Australia/NZ holiodays then just about anywhere will have vacancies.

If going soon, (14 days prior) check this out -
http://www.wotif.com/hotels/fiji-hotels.html

Blue Lagoon is the only place you mention where you'll have trouble without a reservation. I wouldn't book any of the other places (4 days for Beachcomber is a lot...)

Awesome Adventures/South Sea Cruises pretty much has a monopoly on island transfers.

thanks guys.
yeah blue lagoon ended up being booked up but thats ok.
i cut it down to 3 days to save costs but i'm glad you said that as i kind of feared i'd be missing out with too few days.
So the plan is only 3 days each on beachcomber and wayalailai.

do you guys have any suggestions on where i might stay that could be a little more cultural? as i am a food writer I am particularly interested in the fijian cooking methods, so getting to know some women and learning from them about food in the home is of particular interest to me. any ideas?

consider staying in a village

you can help with preparing the meals

see these short YouTube videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBQ3IopYml0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S65rpioVQzk

I think you may find that the local island food is culturally interesting in it's preparation and tradition moreso than its culinary aspects, and all of the islands will prepare atleast some of their food in a Lovo (think underground microwave ;) while you are there, Yasawa and Mamanuca island hoping is easy done on a daily transfer basis, swappping the big mainland islands is via overnight ferry or flying, tourism is still down in Fiji due to the world economy and Fijis ongoing military government concerns but some of the nicer resorts up the Yasawa are not large so can fill pretty quickly, though the numbers are fluid due to folks leaving at the last minute and opening last minute vacancies. many times I've just booked on the Yasawa Flyer in transit and they call the resort to book me in though this can't be guaranteed if I really want a particular resort such as Octopus or Blue Lagoon (if that one is full try the lesser one right next door called Oarsman bay which share the same magnificent beach. Enjoy.

Hi Jenni,

I was just in Fiji over Christmas and stayed in Suva. Also went to Musket Cove resort on Mana Island (part of Mamanuca). Our resort was fully booked, but I'm sure it was just the Christmas holidays.

The food in Fiji was wonderful, we made lovo - polynesian earth oven - and cooked various items including chicken wrapped in banana leaves, taro, casava, and palusami (taro leaves wrapped with coconut cream and onion filling). The food was devine! I have some family in Fiji so learned a lot on my trip last month and would be happy to share any useful thoughts with you.

Are you heading to South America in February (read through another thread)? I am travelling solo for a week around Carnival and was hoping to go to Salvador.

Hi - I have a similar post to the original poster. I may be going to Fiji arriving this Sunday and have absolutely nothing booked. Will I have trouble? I am not necessarily on a backpacker budget but middle of the range. Is it the Aus/NZ holiday season at the moment? Sorry but I have not yet got around to getting a guidebook and am so busy so any info would be useful. Also, how hard is it to book island transfers etc when there or am I better off getting the pass? I am looking for a quiet island....

Q "going to Fiji arriving this Sunday and have absolutely nothing booked. Will I have trouble?"
A - no - suggest go opposite airport to Raffles Hotel

Q- "Is it the Aus/NZ holiday season at the moment? "
A - yes. It is school holiday season til end January

thanks for reply. am delaying going now.