Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Savusavu for 6 months; how much to budget?

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Fiji

Hi,

I'm going to be in Savusavu possibly for 6 months leaving this winter, and am trying to budget
cost for food etc while there. I have accomodations covered, and will be in one location most of
the time, other than traveling around the odd time.

Can anyone tell me what the area is like, (other than what i've read in a book). Is there a lot to do, I'm a
photographer, so there'll always be something for me to photograph, but i want to make sure
it's safe enough, and cost effective for me.

Any and all suggestions greatly appreciated!

cheers

Your questions are really difficult to answer -- since it's not obvious what you already know and what you want to know.

For example the FAQ "is it safe enough" -- what's your frame of reference? It seemed safe enough to me as a casual traveler -- especially with a large seasonal ex-pat community built around the yachting scene. But then ... I'd probably feel, if not safer then more relaxed, away from ex-pat communities, and the 'stress' they implicitly create with the local populations.

You figure on being there for 6 months? Why? That might help answer a vague question like -- "is there a lot to do?". I don't know, people live out their entire lives there, as do people anywhere on this planet. How do people live their daily lives? From the point of view of a casual tourist, there isn't a lot -- judging by the number of tourists on Vanua Levu generally. The holiday sort go there for the diving (as in most destinations on Fiji) and, as said, there's an active yachting community based in Savusavu. Bizarre, sometimes, sitting in a cafe and overhear one or another 'committee' having a meeting -- there always seemed to be a group planning something. Perhaps you can get involved in this community...

I don't know what you've read, so I don't know what I can add ... probably not much.

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As indicated by Oldpro (I think!), it would be like living in a small town. Savusavu is pleasant enough,fairly safe as with most small towns in Fiji. How boring or not it is will depend on how much you get involved in local activities. After a few drives out the east coast, and north over the hill, your tourism bug may be staed, so it's the friends you make and local things that will keep you occupied.

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