Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Schoolies

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Fiji

Hi

i am considering going 2 Fiji for schoolies
(for those who don't kno, schoolies is the time after final exams at the end of High school)

I am an aussie and was wanting to go with a group of friends, prob about 10 or so
i was thinking that we try and get into a resort that had all food/drinks included
I travel o/s fairly often and so do the majority of the group

I hav never been 2 any of the islands in the pacific
does this sound like a good idea?
Vanatau is also fairly cheap, so i thought that might be a viable option

So, any comments, suggestions, thoughts would b appriciated

ET

I'm sorry et, I think my response to your post is probably going to be fairly unpopular, but I need to get it off my chest. I have been in New Caledonia, The Cook Islands & Vanuatu when young Australians, more interested in alcohol consumption than local customs decide to have a "good time".
Perhaps you should think about Bali.
Oh, & by the way 2 is a number, when used as a preposition, it's spelt "to".

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Young Australians having a good time is exactly why i want to go overseas for Schoolies and not to the Gold Coast
I don't intend on getting totally smashed and remaining in that state for the entirity of my trip
It would be nice to go somwhere and let my hair down, and maybe enjoy a drink with some friends accompanied by some dancing
And bali is totally out of the question, i never intend on setting foot in that place aslong as i shall live. My aim in travelling is to get out and see the world and meet people, not end up surrounded by a bunch of pissed Aussies, i could do that here.
I don't agree with the drinking culture that has engulfed our society, especially our youth. I wish to have no part of it and as sad as this may seem i would feel safer celebrating the end of my schooling in a foreign country with a small group of friends that in QLD with the rest of my peers.

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That's good news, et. Perhaps I've misjudged you. I saw "a resort that had all food & drinks included" & knowing you are just finishing school, I assumed you were , out to party hard (as I would have been) (read Gold Coast).
Keep in mind most Pacific Islands -that I've been to, shut down at 11.00pm.

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Good for you, et! I've taken young people like you to Solomon Islands villages, and they have had a great time.
You probably will be staying somewhere more geared to tourists in Fiji, and villages are not really drinking places.

Edited by: Ozziegiraffe

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Doesn't sound like my Solomons villages - they wake up and go fishing after dark, or sing and play guitar all night.

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i have friends and rellies that hav been 2 fiji and they remarked at the price of drinks, that is y i was going for an all food/drink resort.
dw bout the misjudging think, im not ur average 17 yr old, some tell me im wise beyond my years, others say im just a retard...

So, should i favour Fiji or vanuatu?

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now an all night guitar session, i could get into that

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Go for Fiji - definitely more on offer on the drinking and entertainment front there than in Vanuatu, and it is (or at least can be) much cheaper, too!
Also, in general more things to do easily, and more other young visitors to meet if/when you wish.
I personally prefer Vanuatu, but Fiji definitely sounds a better choice for your trip!

BTW, Bali is not that bad at all.
Surely, LOTS of Aussies just go there to party, but in reality, it is what you make of it.
It has much more to offer on the traditional culture, art and architecture front than any of the Pacific islands, too.
I have been there many times, and never to party or to shop. Most of the time I didn't even go to the sea!

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Good on you et_ for avoiding the typical schoolies celebrations. Fiji is a great alternative and there are a few options for you. There are places that do 'all-inclusive' but may be a little bit too family orientated for you. You could do a trip with Awesome Adventures and stop off at 2 or 3 different backpackers may be a good option. Bar prices on drinks can be expensive though most places have 'happy hour' and it would be a good idea to buy any spirits at duty free.

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thanx for all ur advice everyone

cheers
ET

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"i am considering going 2 Fiji for schoolies" - good on ya! Come back when you've grown up, mate.

Go to Bali and get pissed (they have buckets of cocktails and crude bummer stickers for sale so you'll be all set).

PS: Spelling full words doesn't cost any extra here! :)

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