Island Options

I'll be in Fiji for about 2.5 weeks right at the beginning of my RTW trip in about three weeks. I'm thinking of spending some time out on the islands and then some time in the interior, maybe doing a homestay in a village. I'm a 24 year old guy traveling alone, so I'm looking to meet some fellow backpackers. I'm trying to decide between the yasawas (manta ray resort sounds excellent) and the mamanucas. The yasawa resorts sound like they're a little less of a party atmosphere than the mamanucas, so my only concern would be to be stuck with a bunch of honeymooning couples in the yasawas (no offense to honeymooning couples of course!) and therefore I was looking at maybe doing some time in both areas. Is a 7-10 days enough time to do both? Is that even a good idea?
Also, anyone have some advice on setting up a village stay. I know there are some companies that can help. Has anyone done this?

Thanks for the help.

Dan

I don't know if I can say anything useful to you, but here goes anyway...

1. I do not see any real value in 'doing' the Yasawas AND the Mamanucas. No doubt a geologist can provide details about their structural differences. But, by and large they are very close together and you will probably find bigger differences between resorts or islands within a group than between the island groups in general. I suggest you read up on the islands and pick one on the basis of its intrinsic interest to you.

For example, I picked Waya island because it was relatively hilly (hiking opportunities), had a low budget 'resort' close to a local settlement ('culture'), and was not obviously popular with the holiday crowd. In fact, I had a chat with a travel agent in Lautoka (mentioned in Moon's guide) and I explicitly asked her about less-visited islands from my list of candidates.

2. I cannot help on the 'meeting other backpackers' thing. It has never been on any of my to-do lists to meet other backpackers/travelers. I go somewhere for other reasons, and meet whoever is there. If anything, I actively avoid places where foreigners go primarily to meet other people. That said, you should keep in mind that most of the so-called backpackers you'll meet in the Yasawas etc will not be on RTW trips. They'll just be BUDGET holidaymakers who happen to have a pack as luggage. This may or may not be what you're looking for. For what it's worth, the further from the Yasawas I was, the more RTW/expat types I met.

3. I assume you figure on staying on Viti Levu when you refer to the 'interior'. Getting info about homestays is as easy as walking into a tourist office. There are one or two popular destinations in/near the national park not far from Nadi/Lautoka.

Be aware that these homestay deals are tourist arrangements. I'm sure they can be informative and interesting. On the other hand, pick the right island destination (eg near Yalobi on Waya island) and you'll get as good a look at an 'authentic' settlement as you'd ever want. If nothing else, it can certainly bust a few illusions about life in paradise...

3. You question about 'enough time': There is always enough time and never enough time. It depends on what you want to do and the depth of experience you want that makes enough 'enough'. The way I see it, if you have 7-10 days, then that gives you 7-10 days to do stuff. Make the best and most of it. If you do what you want and have time left over, go somewhere else. If your time runs out and you haven't done everything yet, you can at least be assured of having had an interesting time...and a reason for getting back to Fiji some day.

I agree with Oldpro, do Mamanucas OR Yasawas, not both. Hit the main island for a few days, then maybe head east to Ovalau, Vanua Levu (Savusavu etc) or Taveuni.

What will probably happen is you'll meet some people the first few days who are soon heading other places in Fiji that sound interesting, and you'll join up with them. I wouldn't worry about it either way, plenty of visitors to Fiji, plenty of backpackers.

Hi, I've been there about 10 times over the years and mostly just gone there to relax. Typically its an island thing and theres lots of island hoping to do for all ages but primarily its a younger persons thing esp if you like to party. I'd say go to Beachcomber out of Nadi for 5 days you'll love it and its an easy introduction to island life and the other islands around the mamanucas and then on up to the yasawas. If as you have the time further exploration of the northern yasawa island group is easy done: you can get a pass for the daily morning boat the Yasawa Flyer (the Yellow Boat) and an accom pass, they'll book accm for you on the boat enroute if you haven't done so already. There are some great islands which you'll see from the boat. I took the ride as far north as i could go, had a near week at David's place (there is probably better joints but its ok, see Jonathon if you do) and am next week returning to Octopus Resort.

The Mamanucas being closer to the mainland can be more partyish and the Yasawa a little slower but both make up whats there so pick and choose. This time I'm also heading over to the other main island Vanua Levu which you too would have time for. The main island is ok but i think the circuit road of the Coral Coast to Suva is ok but nothing flash compared to the Mamanucas. Suva is ok but like most of those places its just a small regional centre without much modern infrustructure but if you take it all in your stride its ok. Fiji for me is def about the islands though. ENjoy

Bula
Manta ray is a fantastic resort I would reccommend it. The Snorkeling is better then the Mamanucas, I think this is because its further away from the main island and has less pollution in the water. I would also stay in the Mamanucas, Bounty Island being my first choice however for a couple of nights of madness I would also stay on Beachcomber. You probably should stay on a few different Islands as they all differ. If you stay at budget resorts their wont be many honeymooners, I found the yasawa and Mamanucas full of backpackers and Brits and Irish on visa runs out of Australia
Either way you will have a ball

Hi Dan,

I'm staying with couchsurfers (my profile - www.couchsurfing.com/people/tallbird) and also at the The Beachouse - www.fijibeachouse.com<BR><BR>I'm travelling alone too & it would be great to meet up with you if you're going to be in the same areas.. i arrive 17th Oct and leave 26th Oct.

Cheers,
Amy