Mana Lagoon Backpackers - Is direct deposit safe?

Hi

I am travelling to Fiji later this year with a large group of friends and we are hoping to stay at mana lagoon backpackers.

They have requested that we pay beforehand in full via a bank transfer to an Australian account. I am pretty hesitant about paying this way as if it was some kind of scam we would have no recourse.

Has anyone else stayed at Mana Lagoon Backpackers and how did you pay?

Thanks!

Don't have info on this resort specifically. However, I'd seriously hesitate to pay any resort in cash in
advance since you will have little recourse if there is a problem- say, a misunderstanding on what your
arrival date is. With a credit card, you have some recourse through your bank. With cash- you're probably
out of luck if there's a misunderstanding about the resort's cancellation policy. Also, in Fiji, there is little
reason to pre-pay for a backpacker accommodation. I'd look for another place to stay.

Don't know specifically about Mana Lagoon backpackers, but we had to pay up front last year to a backpackers on an island in Fiji, so it doesn't appear to be unusual. It all went ahead without a hitch. We did a direct bank transfer and were sent a receipt by email from the resort as well as confirmation of receipt from the bank. We had travel insurance in case of unexpected hiccups. Hope all goes well for you----if you travel, and want specific places at specific times, you often just have to trust people.

I've done it in the past with another operation and everything worked fine but certainly you're right to have concerns.

Travel insurance as mentioned is something of a backup but check the fine print they can be a slippery bunch.

Mana Backpackers - 10% deposit and the rest on arrival. Nothing unusual as you pay by credit card. I cant understand the transfer of full amount into an Australian account.???
I do a B/B where full payment is made on arrival and no deposit. Few times I have a cancellation, but most times they just dont turn up.

Even Mana's website- if it's the same resort- said they accept credit cards so I'm a bit puzzled ats to why
they would ask you to pre-pay the ENTIRE amount prior. Many Fiji resorts ask for pre-payment but full
payment in cash is a bit weird. Ask them if they take credit cards, and failing that, ask if they will accept
ONE Night;s pre-payment for your group. Here in the US, if you pre-pay in cash and the establishment
goes bankrupt- you are simply out of luck.

The Backpackers resort on Mana is entirely separate from Mana Island Resort. In fact the main resort apparently tries to keep its guests from visiting the Backpackers and vice versa.

So the comments about credit cards apply to Mana Island Resort.

I know the Backpackers has been there for a while. However, like others, I would never pay everything up front in cash. I know a lot of Fijian resorts ask for 100% payment on booking but, having said that, a number of resorts have gone to the wall.

Personally I think that 25% on booking is reasonable and 50% is high, but acceptable in some circumstances. I know, for example, that some real estate agents charge 50% when booking holiday accommodation but they are regulated.

But 100% - whether cash or credit card - is not. And, unless I knew the resort well, I would not pay in cash. Credit cards give some protection.

Edited by: agingaquarian