Pre-booked tour?

So i'm going to Fiji for 2 weeks at the end of June and i've seen this (what looks like) amazing trip with STA called tropical awegasm with everything included - food. accommodation and actiivites - most of which sound amazing, at $1200 aus dollars. This does seem pretty expensive, especially as i have a guide book on fiji and had a look at some random recommended accommodation which was like $26 dollars plus free wifi and use of a kayak. Would you recommend going on a tour - paying a bit extra for convenience, or would you recommend doing it yourself, OR buying a ticket to island hop, and sort out accommodation/activities seperate?
If so how much would you recommend setting aside as a budget for fiji?
Thanks for your help

I don't recommend taking a tour. It's cheaper and gives you more freedom if you buy a 2-week Bula pass (do this once you arrive in Fiji, as it is cheaper there) and arrange accommodation by yourself.

$1200 for 2 weeks in the Yasawas isn't unreasonable, but your money will go much further if you arrange things yourself and you'll get to stay in nicer places. Check the price directly at Awesome Adventures, as STA is just a reseller of the tour and may be marking up the price somewhat. Most of the stops for the tropical awegasm tour are pretty average places. Even if you're travelling on a tight budget, it's worth it to splurge a little and stay at a nicer place like Blue Lagoon or Octopus for a few nights - you won't regret spending those few extra dollars.

hi there,

I am going to visit Fiji before June, 2012 and without any type of advance booking. I will share my Fiji backpacking experience here in due time.

happy travels...

Another hands up for Blue Lagoon Beach Resort and Octopus. And if you stay in a dorm not that expensive at all: NZ$ 25 for the dorm and NZ$ 59 for the (compulsory) meal package. Food is excellent, loads of activities, beautiful beach and house reef, lovely staff and a good mix of couples, families and solo travellers, at least when I was there . Easy to find solitude if you wish as the beach is really big.
Enjoy, it's paradise!

I think i'm gonna be really lazy and book the trip. It's roughly the same price if i do it all myself, and then i've got 3 days after to stay in more 'luxury' accommodation like Octopus etc as i've heard they are worth visiting. And thanks i'd really appreciate your experiences and how you got on!

"It's roughly the same price if i do it all myself,"

Time and time again people have returned here to post after a trip and they all say the same thing-
" Over priced for what it was next time I'll book it myself for a fraction of what I paid"

In Canadian parlance we call it 'Getting clipped'

I'm really stuck! I was thinking i could do a 7 day tour, and then have the other 7 days to organise myself, but even that is quite expensive and i reckon it would be more worthwhile doing a longer trip! arghhh

I've done a bit more research and discovered the company Feejee experiences - slightly shorter, but packed with way more activities. Do people think that the bula pass is worth it? even that seems quite expensive for only 1 'hop' a day? x

Feejee Experience is a major cash grab. You can do their trips on your own using public transportation for 1/3 the cost. They're also primarily on the mainland, which is nowhere near as nice as the islands.
The Awesome Adventures tours are expensive, but nowhere near as inflated as Feejee Experience.

tours are fine if you are unsure of the place and want some company or guidance and to share the experience, but and fair enough, the tour arranger has business and staff costs that need to be covered to offer the service. as others say above though that for what it is and where the main island life is you can book the resorts and boat travel yourself as many do, esp those who pop up in here. i like to take a boat from denaru up to the yasawa island group to usually 2 resports out of which you can do their local tours/boat trips/village visits which they all offer because they are interesting and as a way to make a few more dollars for them (and the villages they may share some with). keep in mind that if you do a tour then want to go to Octopus for 3 days it is a fair way on the boat for that and then to return when you factor in the once a day usual transit boat times, so perhaps think of a lower island in the mamanuca group such as Beachcomber or such (preferably over a family one if you are on your own). A tour that circles the island the Nadi airport is on (Viti Levu) might be good as it would cover more authentic 3rd world and rural fiji, 8 days would do it, then head up to the Yasawas yourself afterwards which then gives you some rnr island style which is what everyone enjoys

It's so much more fun, and a better experience, to get "lost" then "found" in Fiji than to take an organized tour, which really isn't necessary, unless you are afraid to travel on your own. Local travel around the two main islands is very easy and inexpensive. You also get to meet locals much more easily when you're on your own than in a group, which is a major part of the whole travel experience (IMO).