Tips for a new traveler in Fiji

Hello everyone, my name is Aaron and I'm new to the forums and traveling in general.

I'm getting married in October and we are going to Fiji for our honeymoon..We've decided to stay at Nanuya Island Resort.

Any tips for a newbie going overseas for the first time? What we should bring? What to expect? Reviews or thoughts from those who have been to Fiji before? Must sees? Must avoids? Really any advice would be helpful for this apprehensive and inexperienced traveler.

Thanks in advance and looking forward to chatting with you all soon!

Hi Aaron, I would suggest that you head on over to Tripadvisor. You'll find 208 reviews of just your resort as well as forum posts from travelers who just got back. This forum here is good for a browse but for actually planning I think TA offers much, much more.

My advice would be to read as many of the reviews that you can because that's where you'll find the best tips.

I totally agree with Silvanocat that TripAdvisor is where you should go. This is the link to the Fiji forum.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g294331-i883-Fiji.html

Ask questions and look at the reviews. But treat reviews from first timers with caution.

Aaron, you don't say how long you have in Fiji or what your interests are or how long you will be at Nanuya. You don't need lots of clothes for Fiji. At the resorts it is good to have a couple of swimsuits so you have a dry one, and some reef sandals as well as a pair of flip flops. Your new wife can have a couple of sulus/sarongs, and you can buy them there inexpensively if she doesn't own any already. I managed on one swimsuit and one sarong but they got wet and I didn't have a dry lot for the boat trip. You might prefer to have a couple of pairs of shorts, (3/4 pants for wife). and a few shirts with sleeves for village visits. A waterproof camera, doesn't have to be expensive, is great for snorkelling. You will need hats, sunblock, a rash vest or snorkelling t-shirt and maybe a beach towel if Nanuya doesn't supply you with 2 towels apiece; A basic first aid kit containing some hydrogen peroxide in case of coral cuts or scrapes ---- be sure to treat them straight away and often, tho' they are rare and look harmless, they can get nasty infections. You will love the Fijian people,so helpful and friendly. If you have room and don't have too many clothes, take your own masks and snorkels, hire the fins or fit them in. Do all the activities on offer that interest you. Relax and have a great time!

Wow, thanks for all the quick responses they've all been very helpful. I read through a good amount of reviews and I'm happy that we chose NID. Only thing that seems to be potentially negative is how far out it is, I was looking forward to exploring Nadi.

Graymare, thanks for your advice. You've given me a good idea of what I should bring..I was worried about having to buy a power converter but then I realized that my laptop will run on any current, I would just need a adaptor for the plug. I can then charge my camera on my laptop!

"I was looking forward to exploring Nadi."

No you weren't.
Things only get better the further away Nadi gets.

I have to admit that most people think Nadi is a hole and to be avoided if at all possible. I always try to arrange flights so I avoid a night's stay in Nadi in either direction.

I actually like Nadi and think it can deserve a day.
It has good shopping rivalled only by Suva, a very colorful local market, Fiji's most colorful Hindu temple, and the town proper is in fact largely untouristed as almost all accommodation is out of town, with tourist only coming in to shop during the day.
Every now and then it hosts great festivals, too - though of course you need good timing or luck to catch one.
I often spent several days staying in town waiting for connections and enjoyed it more than being on a beach with tourists all around! ;-)

Lautoka is even better and has many fewer tourists than Nadi. :-)

Cheers,
Peter

Nadi is that bad eh? My fiance is the type that just wants to lay on the beach all day while I like to have my day packed full of activities and sight seeing. From what I understand the yasewa flyer is a 5 hour trip from the mainland? Is this true of all trips to and from the mainland? A ten hour travel time would really kill any possibility of day trips back and forth.

How long the Flyer takes obviously depends on where.
But if all you want is a beach, you could just head for one of the Mamanucas, within an hour or so of Nadi. Of those, I'd pick Bounty Island.
For sightseeing, forget the islands, and spend time on the mainland: Nadi, Lautoka and the surrounding countryside all offer things to see.

If you do want to stay on the mainland for a day or so, consider this resort.

http://www.firstlandingfiji.com/

It's next door to a working marina, plus is only a short drive to Lautoka. In fact it's about equidistant between Nadi and Lautoka so could be the best of both worlds. Close, of course, to the airport. Just a thought.

From Lautoka, we take a bus to RakiRaki (2 1/2 hours F$8.40pp each way) and then a 20 minute cab ride (F$15 each way) to VoliVoli Resort for lunch and a swim and then back to Lautoka. Depart at 8.15am, return at 6.30pm.
Good day out and get to see a lot of country along the way.

Cheers,
Peter