RE: Short notice request for advice on Fiji!!

Hi all,

First off, sorry if I have missed a similar topic already posted - have read through pages and pages as well as other internet sites and my head is spinning with information at the moment!

Anyway, I am a 30yo solo traveller currently on a rtw trip, and decided a few days in fiji would be a nice stopover between australia and new zealand. I fly into Fiji on 24th January, arriving late afternoon, and I leave early in the morning on the 30th (8am so need to be back in Nadi on 29th Jan). The last couple of weeks have been rather hectic though so I haven't had much chance to figure out what to do while I am there!

Basically I am on a backpacker budget, but willing to splash the cash a little more if it is really worth it. I'd like to do a bit of diving if possible (love the sound of the shark dive in beqa) and also some surfing if it's good for a beginner surfer (ie. can just about stand up and turn!). Beyond that I am looking for a relaxing few days on a beach, maybe with a good night or two thrown in for good measure, and perhaps with a possibility of a day trip out to the blue lagoon or somesuch. Quite happy to do 2/3 days in one place then move onto another.

Obviously a lot to ask for! Hope there is somewhere that can cater for this, but none of it is absolutely compulsory so somewhere that can reasonably cater for as much as possible would be great.

One possibility I have picked up on is the beachouse on coral coast, may not be able to do much surfing but may tick the rest of the boxes.

Thank you in advance for your advice!

if you are considering the Beachouse on the coral coast then you should consider

Danny's Village Homestay on the Coral Coast

see the pictures at this link

http://www.fijihomestays.com/homestays/dannys-village-homestay

lots of backpackers stay at Danny's because it is right on the beach and there is lots to do.

The guys that run the shark diving can pick you up from Danny's one morning and take you shark diving for the day and then return you to Danny's

another place to consider is Mango Bay Resort

http://www.mangobayresortfiji.com/

Maybe a couple days at The Beachouse then Danny's Village Stay then Mango Bay Resort

hope this helps

The Beachouse is ok, but probably the low-point of my trip. If you're looking for good beaches and snorkelling/diving, you need to get off the mainland, simple as that.

Most of the surfing in Fiji is on reef breaks, so not exactly beginner friendly.

A day trip to the Blue Lagoon area isn't really a good idea - you'd spend the entire day on a boat. In my opinion, you shouldn't bother with the mainland and instead head straight for the Yasawas or Mamanucas and spend your entire time at any 2 places in those islands.

Without taking away from the Coral Coast, for a quick island hit I'd head to Beachcomber Island (I still like it, some prefer others) in the Mamanuca Island group which is close to the mainland but defintiely islanderish which is what most folks want if lookin for the really away from it all relaxation, alt you could travel on the Awesome Adventures boat up to the Yasawa Island group and pick one of the great budget resorts up that way. Right up top will allow you to day trip over to Blue Lagoon but the caves are better if you can only do one not both. Try Blue Lagoon Beach Resort or the original one on the same spectacular beach. See tripadvisor for more rankings and feedback.