Plan Itinerary

My husband, 2 college kids and I are planning to visit Fiji for 9 days between Christmas and New Years. Would it make sense to try and stay in two different places and avoid the main island that you fly into? I hear the Mamanuca and Yasawa groups are great to visit. I can book a package through Costco at the Castaway resort and the Outrigger, but the Outrigger is on the main island, Viti Levu. Should I avoid Viti Levu? What is a good itinerary for 9 days? I am finding this challenging to book with limited knowledge. Thanks!

There are many islands in Mamanuca and Yasawa groups, but these are the places frequented by tourists on the West Coast of Fiji. Very nice though and more access to snorkeling than the mainland.
We stayed at Blue Lagoon, and had a homestay at another island.
Blue Lagoon was a bit exposed to weather.
We also visited Coralview Island resort which looked like a great place for young people.
I would recommend that as it had access to good snorkeling and a broad range of activities.

If you are interested in Castaway, then check out reviews. Some islands are party places and others are quiter and suit families better.

Do check weather though, as this high rainy season for Fiji. I don't know if Yawawas are as affected as the mainland.
Also I suggest reading a bit about Fiji cultural protocol if you can. They are modest, polite and religious people on the whole and can be affronted by wild westeners.

Another suggestion is to stay at Taveuni Island.
It's more relaxed and is less touristy.
You can visit local site, snorkle, dive, go walking (Lavena Coastal Walk) and visit local sites.

The trip there is part of the adventure as flying, driving or boating across Fiji is lovely.
You can fly via Nadi to Taveuni
On return you could get bus/boat from Taveuni to Savu, Savu (on Vanua Levu) and stay a couple of days there.
I had a great snorkle with an Australian tour operator there.
Get flight back to Nadi from there.

Good luck

both castaway and outrigger are very nice and you should have a good time unwinding and enjoying the beach and sea. as per the above advice there are any number of great island resorts. travel to and from castaway via boat will be the best part of a morning or afternoon one way. an alternative is helicopter from Nadi airport, it's about 20 mins and several hundred dollars each way but a very cool way to get to the islands quickly. allow maybe an hour to travel from Outrigger to Nadi town. 8 nights at one resort isn't too long, most resorts are similar and generally what one offers the others offer, so sticking to one resort rather than 2 you will not miss out on something amazing, your experience will be similar at both. so, if you find a resort you really like, seriously consider your entire time there.

I think there are more interesting things to do than spend 9 days in one resort, you could have some days at the Outrigger, with things to see nearby, Bus across to Suva to look at the city and then visit one of the islands on the east side, Leluvia, Ovalau, Air fares for all of you to Taveuni would be expensive. Not sure of your budget, there are some good local 3night cruises of the Mamanuca islands if you could budget for that. different places twice a day and snorkeling twice a day

Hi
I support other suggestions and add this:

Start with mainland stay (Viti Levu).
My 2 suggestions:
Stay at Outrigger Resort which is near Sigatoka (under 2 hours). You can visit Sigatoka town, Fiji animal zoo, Sigatoka sand dunes and beautiful Natadola beach. Note the beach off Outrigger is not great.
or
Stay at Namosi Eco Retreat which is a 3 hour trip from Nadi.
I have been here twice and love it. It's a great opportunity to stay in a village setting in the highlands of Fiji.
Check http://www.trusupfiji.com/namosieco/ or https://www.facebook.com/pg/namosieco/about/?ref=page_internal

Then stay at a resort in the Mamanuca or Yasawa groups.
E.g. Castaway in the Mananuca Islands or Coralview resort on Tavewa Island in the Yasawas.
As previously advised, take into account travel time in your planning. It can take 1/2 day on a beautiful boat trip to Yawawas.

Vinaka
Teresia
p.s. Taveuni Island may be an alternative if you have time and possibly more $. (I haven' t priced the difference.) We stayed at the moderately priced Maravu Taveuni Lodge which was fine and had good food.
You can fly there from Nadi or Suva (I flew from Suva).
You can also travel back to Suva by boat and bus (same ticket), if it suits I loved the journey back to Suva!

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