Solo in Fiji, Jan 28th - Feb 4th

Hello, I'm a 24 yr old female student living in Melbourne travelling to Fiji on the 28th of Jan for 7 days. I'll be travelling alone, excited but slightly anxious at the moment. I'm planning on doing the 'Awesome Adventures' six night trip that cruises through the Mamanucas and Yasawas and has the all inclusive kayaking, snorkelling, accom, meals, etc. for a decent price. Would anyone recommend the 'Awesome Adventures' packages offered by STA? I'd really like to get a package with everything pre-booked since I'll be travelling solo and don't want to plan anything on my own when I arrive (don't really want to do the Bula pass unless someone can highly recommend this). I'm not too picky on the accomodation, I'm more concerned about being able to meet people and packing as much activity into my 7 days without feeling lonely. Also, I will probably be spending one afternoon in Nadi. Can anyone recommend some absolute must-sees and/or must-do's in Nadi? Any good short tours that are worth taking? If I arrive at 2:30pm, will I still be able to do some organized sightseeing that afternoon? Also thinking about doing a small spa session, any recommendations? What are the prices like?

Also, it sounds like Smuggler's Cove is a pretty popular hostel -- fairly new, clean, slightly more pricey than some other Nadi hostels. I'd like to book at least one night (in advance, for the night I arrive) at a decent hostel, any recommendations? Is Smuggler's Cove conveniently located (can I get there easily from the airport, do they have a free shuttle service, etc.) and is it easy to get to Port Denarau from there as well? Any info on this hostel or other ones with good service that are convenient and popular would be much appreciated.

Just some other minor things -- what are some of the hostels really like? Sunrise, Coral View, South Sea Island, Bounty, Kuata, Waya Lai Lai? Will I at least be able to charge my camera every night? Do they have organized evening entertainment or do people just hang out? Should I bring my own bottle of alcohol for the week? Also, my friend recommends that I buy 'reef shoes' to save me some pain on the coral. Will I really need these?

Thanks very much! Any handy tips for a young woman travelling by herself are very welcome!

Hey, I did the same awesome adventures tour last July, Ultimate lei right? anywhoos it was the best part of my rtw trip. I went out on my own but it never felt that way, there were plenty of other young backpackers around so there was no time to really feel lonley. I stayed on:
Coral view: Great resort, very organised, helpful attentive staff, daily activities i.e visiting the underwater caves, the blue lagoon ect and evening activity v.fun!
Manta Ray: Nice resort, run by aussies therefore very organised food is on time, however not much to do besides snorkling and swimming with the Manta Rays. 2 bars but to be honest alcohol is quite expensive, so try and bring your own, you may have to hide it as it isn't permitted on all resorts.
Wayalailai: My favourite, met the best people and the staff are fab. Not as well organised as other resorts due to their laxed attitude and fiji time. The island is run by locals mainly young fijian men who are sometimes a bit too 'horny', but you'll be fine as long as you don't lead them on. Great evening entertainment but it doesn't run every night, but theres always the opportunity to involve in a kava sesh. Number 1 for culture from what I experienced
Southsea Island: Tiny Island 15 mins from the mainland, good food, staff are ok, but not as attentive due to the day trippers who warrant much of the attention. Food was great but this was my least favourite islands just because there was no real culture there it was very touristy.
and did the _Seaspray day adventure: Fun day of sailing with stop offs at many islands and a lovely bbq
Well theres the lowdown on the package I hope it helps, expect early morings and early nights, lots of fun, sun, sand sea ect, but not too many luxuries. Showers are cold, but its worth bringing ur straightners, makeup ipod ect.

Hi I,m an oldie (69) holiday maker from Melbourne also (Elwood). I've been to Fiji and the Yasawas twice and am returning with my wife in March to "my island -Wayalailai '" This will be my wifes first visit.. I stay in the slightly upmarket rooms in the places you want to visit but i can speak a fair bit about them.On my two visits to Wayalailai ( the last last year) I stayed in a single room which is part of the old school and divided into small individual rooms . It only has a bed but is quite comfortable and private.On this visit with my wife we will stay in a bure. I am doing the 7 day bula pass and staying 3 nights at an upmarket resort before my 3 nights at Wayalailai.This resort is very friendly and the evenings are great to sit around on the wonderful balcony with all the other guests (mostly backpackers from all round the world). I would recommend the bula pass but that requires research into which 2 or 3 places you would stay at. If you can do the "Awesome Adventure" you must include Wayalailai in it. I can't recommend others to you except that the upmarket resort we will be staying at " Nanuya Resort " on the Blue Lagoon ( famous for the film of that name) is on an island that has 3 or 4 backpacker resorts.
On my visit last year I stayed in a backpacker resort next to Smugglers Cove. It is owned by the same person. I stayed in an en-suite room so I dont know what the other quarters are like. I was so impressed with Smugglers Cove ( I ate over there at night ) that we are booked for our first and last 2 nights there on this visit. If you book Smugglers Cove you will be met at the airport and transported there free and if you booked the Awesome Adventure as I understand you will be picked up at Smugglers Cove and transfered to Port Denarau free.
If you are arriving in Nadi at 2.30 by the time you get through customs and get to your accommodation there will be no time to do anything except enjoy an evening at Smuuglers Cove.
At Wayalailai they have a well stocked bar. I found their meals a bit sparse so I would advise to take a few extras. We take extra fruit biscuits and "cup- a - soups"

I hope you get to read this and have a good holiday--Tell the 'Captain " on Wayalailai that Jim will see him in March

Thank you both for the great advice! Definitely useful. Unfortunately as you may know the cyclone and flooding has hit Nadi pretty hard over the last few days. I am very bummed, but it looks like I will have to re-schedule my trip for June. I am not sure things will be much better by the 28th of Jan =(

I'd recommend reef shoes or some sort of foot protection; I stepped on a dead sea urchin and (to make a long story short) it took nearly 6 months for it to eject itself completely from my foot. It popped out nowhere near where it entered. So now I wear some sort of protection on the beaches in Fiji and elsewhere in the tropics.