My Fiji Schedule re Yasawa & Mamanuca Islands

I will be in Fiji this June for ten days and nine nights. I arrive at 7am Fiji time after taking an overnight flight from Hong Kong. My schedule is as follows:

Beachcomber 2 nights
Mantary or Octopus 3 nights
Coral View 3 nights
Last night at a hostel in Nadi so I can catch an early morning flight out of NAN

My question is I can't decide if I should start my trip at Beachcomber and end at Coral View or the other way around. Also, should I chop a night off Coral View and spend two nights at Octopus and two nights at Mantary or is that too much running around?

Thanks

Beachcomber, Mantaray and Coral View are all party places, Octopus is defnitely more laid back.

I have stayed at Mantaray a couple of years ago and found the dorms (bunk beds only) cramped, very hot and noisy at night. Although the manta snorkelling trips were amazing and really close by (just a couple of minutes away) and I kinda liked the sunrise and sunset beaches (first one OK for snorkelling but only at high tide), the party-in-your-face atmosphere wasn't my thing, but you might just like that.

I loved Octopus: good dorms (no bunks), really good food, eclectic mix of people, nice activities to choose from, all day and good snorkelling on the house reef, beautiful and big beach (better than Mantaray). But not a party-hard-place like Mantaray.

Rearding your question where to start: depending if you make it in time for the Yasawa Flyer, which leaves at 8.30 am (last time it took me over 2 hours to get out of the airport) I'd say take the island that is closest to the mainland (i.e. Beachcomber), especially after a very long flight.

Thanks so much for your advice, I cashed in an upgrade so I will be in the front of the plane and intend on only having carry on bags, but if it took you two hours last time to exit the airport then I don't want to chance it and miss the Yasawa Flyer. Therefore, I will start at Beachcomber. Also, thanks for the info on Mantaray vs. Octopus. I don't want every place I stay at to be a party scene and will appreciate the good dorms that Octopus seems to offer.

Having only carry on luggage will certainly save time at the airport, but run for passport control anyway, to be the first one. It can be a painfully slow affair, but I also heard that it can be quick and easy. After immigration you still have to go to Denarau in order to catch the Flyer, or make a reservation and have them pick you up from Raffles Gateway Hotel, opposite the airport. You can walk there or take the free shuttle.

Alternatively you can go to Octopus first. They have a resort boat that leaves a bit later than the Flyer. You have to make a reservation and pay beforehand though. They can pick you up from hotel Raffles Gateway opposite the airport; that will probably be around 8ish.

Hope it all works out and wish you a wonderful time!

Beachcomber also have their own boat that leaves from their sister resort of Anchorage, which is 15 minutes north of the airport at Vuda.
Give them a call to see what time they leave. I reckon it is 9am, but check.

Cheers,
Peter