Overwhelmed by opportunities and completely clueless - Advice needed

Hello,

I very spontaneously booked a flight to Fiji.
Earlier I checked into the library to see what I was gonna do during my 9 day stay.

Somehow I didn't realize just how many opportunities there are and I have absolutely no idea which direction to go, which islands to explore and where to stay.

I really want to use those days to relax.
My perfect holiday would be:
lying on a beach and go for a swim every once in a while.

I don't necessarily plan on doing any surfing/diving although I might try it if I had the opportunity (would probably rather go surfing)

Anyway, I'm on a kinda tight budget (I have loads of money but would like to spend as little as possible and still have a enjoyable trip.. maybe not more than 50 USD for accommodation and food/day if that is even possible. The lesser, the better :D

I'd probably have to spend the first and last night in Nadi which leaves me with 7 days to fill.

I'm desperate and hope the information given might give you an idea of what could be just right for me.

oh, also, I don't need the partying backpacker scene, but I don't mind it either. I guess I rather have that than be all on my own for a whole week. although the possibility of a nice walk all by myself sounds very appealing :D

Thanks

As yiou are so unsure of what to do, I suggest reading the FAQs, buy the LP guide , read it, then come back with more specific queries. The TTers here have a wealth of knowledge but cant decide things for you.

US$50 per day is probably possible.
You will probably need to stay in backpacker accomodation on Viti Levu (by local bus) or the Mamanuca Islands (by South Sea Cruises) to limit your transport costs, but there are several options that should suit.

Cheers,
Peter

For the main island look at the Beachouse website (1 1/2 hours from Nadi, on the Coral Coast) set up for backpackers with dorms, camping, cheap meals (or self cater) and activities on the beach. To avoid a night in Nadi catch the bus from the airport for F$10 or so - all the info is on the website. There are other places that might suit like Mango Bay. As suggested, get the LP out of the library for a good start
Also have a look at the Fiji4less site and Budget Fiji Resorts for other places to start you up for names, locations and costs (then look up their websites, check reviews on Trip Advisor).
The beaches on the main island are not great, but restfull. If you crave great beaches look to the islands. Look at the map on the Awesome Adventures (south sea cruises) and look up the resorts' websites for suitability/cost.Some are party islands, some are rustic (basic) some are better located for different activities.Both transport and accommodation (with compulsory meal costs) are not cheap, but you may make it to budget.

no worries, for a week to relax you just need to get on the Yasawa Flyer and head north on the morning run up to Octopus for 3 days then up to their sister resort up top for another 3, or vice versa, I was just there and its beautiful, Blue Lagoon Beach Resort is it, see trip advisor for rav reviews on both places, book the dorm before you go as both arent large and do book out. you;ll have a great time and meet lots of chilled, interesting travellers and locals! Bula!

Second what Thurston said. If you are looking to lounge on a beach for a week, take the Yasawa Flyer. I'd probably split the time between the Blue Lagoon Beach Resort (on Nacula) and that resort right on the Blue Lagoon that books up months in advances which I forget the name of at the moment. This is my conclusion after weeks of research (talking w/ others who have been to the various islands, reading LP, websites, and looking at photos on Flickr) and mulling, not based on actual first hand experience.

For a less touristy experience, there are other islands I would recommend you look into, but if you do your due diligence, I don't think you'll beat the cost of the Mamanucas / Yasawas. I priced out 4 days / 3 nights at Blue Lagoon Beach Resort including meals and transport and it came out cheaper than renting a 4wd for 4 days and staying on Viti Levu.

"that resort right on the Blue Lagoon that books up months in advances which I forget the name of at the moment"
Oarsman Bay?

no....But that reminds me - from what I've read Blue Lagoon Resort and Oarsman's are right next to each other on the same beach. And from the few photos Ive seen it seems like there may be other accommodations on that beach as well...

Okay I looked it up - Nanuya Island Resort. Probably not for those on a super tight budget but seemed like good value if you have the cash and book well in advance.

the original built resort in the pic of the bay is Oarsmans (good but loosing the gloss due to some decent competion right next door), and next to that is Blue Laggon Beach Resort which opened a year or so taking over and building up on another failed small resort. Nanuya is over on a bay actually called Blue Lagoon not far away where you snornel, which shouldnt be confused with where they will offer you a snorkel trip to and the caves where they filmed Blue Lagoon movie. Easy!

Nanuya is lovely but, I think more upmarket and thus more pricey. They make great espresso coffee.
- we spent an afternoon there, visiting form Oarsman.

Yup true. $270 I think per night at Nanuya vs $40+70 at Blue Lagoon so more than double (comparing cheapest accommodation option at each not necessarily the same level of 'niceness').

mandja, which did you prefer? did you visit any other of the islands?

thurston, I just watched that movie. def recognized the caves! got me wondering which beach they filmed on (i thought it was the one fronting Nanuya), what island the guy with the kids in the early part of the film washed up on, and which island the water falls were on. Wasn't there also a bit where they were at Bouma Falls on Taveuni?

Prioritymail - I loved Oarsman, though we were there 3 years ago and it has, according to others, gone down hill in service since then. I have stayed more recently at Octopus and prefer Octopus, even though the beach on Nacula (Oarsman etc) is nicer. Octopus is also hours closer on the ferry - a major plus for us.

A cheaper option than Octopus is the nearby Manta Ray resort which is more basic but lovely.

priority, unsure about the movie locations, but nanuya is on the edge of the bay/beach called Blue Lagoon, def costs much more here but id prefer sunset further around (if its still open?), manta ray has the manta rays in the near by channel for months march-october-ish and when the local boys see them they come back, ring the bell, in you pile and off you go, crazy madness and a lot of fun, like a young kids rubgy team/swarm of bees chasing a view of the swimming mantas, they also have probably the best snorkeelling just off the beach that ive ever, ever seen, just fantastic, the resort itself is certainly more rustic than octopus or blue lagoon.

Thanks for the replies! Wikipedia had some info on where it was filmed that I thought was interesting.

Nanuya Levu Islands -- San Franciscan Richard Evanson graduated from Harvard Business School, made a bundle in cable television, got divorced, ran away to Fiji, and in 1972 bought Nanuya Levu Island. Growing lonely and bored, he decided to build Turtle Island on his hilly, 200-hectare (500-acre) retreat. He had completed three bures by 1980, when a Hollywood producer leased the entire island as a set for a second version of The Blue Lagoon, starring the then-teenage Brooke Shields. Clocks were set ahead 1 hour to maximize daylight, and the resort still operates on "Turtle Time," an hour ahead of the rest of Fiji. The movie's most familiar scenes were shot on Devil's Beach, one of Nanuya Levu's dozen gorgeous little stretches of sand wedged between rocky headlands.

Read more: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/mamanucaandyasawaislands/3750010027.html#ixzz14gpWG9Dd