Travel in August

Hi all,

Two females will be stopping in Fiji in August after spending months in New Zealand and Australia and we're looking for some help! We would like somewhere both inexpensive and safe to stay for 4-5 days. Possibly a backpackers hostel but not sure where. It would be nice to do some diving but not mandatory. Pretty much open for any kind of entertainment. Would like a balance between western ammenities and staying with locals. Any suggestions? Also, any tips on travel within the area (seems that buses and ferry's are pretty good) and other general tips would be greatly appreciated. While I am from NZ, live in the US and have travelled a lot, neither of have been to Fiji before.

Thanks so much!!

I hope i can be of some help. I went to Fiji for about 6 nights last May and stayed at an excellent backpackers. It was called Nananu Lodge and it was on an island to the north called Nananu-r-ra. We slept 6 of us in a bungalow for $120 Fijian for the week. Pretty cheap. The backpackers had a couple of acres to explore. 2 beaches, wild horses and no other resorts or other backpackers/hostel in sight. When we got to the airport we just went to the information desk and asked how we get to this place. They called a shuttle for us and we paid i think $20 F for a shuttle. Once at the small warf the backpackers charged us another $20 to get their. Kind of pricey, but that is where they all make their money. The Backpackers was well worth it. Completely isolated. Free snorkel gear. Snorkelling trips. Diving trips. You can get certified if you need to there. While their were community kitchens, they provided all meals. $15 for all you can eat dinner, and it was well worth it. The food was excellent. Heaps of friendly Fijians working there as well, had Kava sessions played guitar at night. Excellent hill to watch sunset and had happy hour as well. $2 drinks extremely cheap. At any given point I don't think there were more than 20 people there at once. Mostly british, but that was ok. Mostly single travellers as well as pairs. Overall it was an awesome place to spend our Fiji holiday. Much better then the more advertised backpackers like Beachcomber where all they advertise is drinking and partying. This was much more laid back. I think the website is www.nananulodge.com if you want to check it out.

hi
I stayed at nananu lodge and I'm sorry but I have to say that in all the places I have stayed in Fiji (I've been living here for over a year now) it is my LEAST favourite... very run down, cheap quality food, filthy communal kitchen and the rat in our room got into our food bag anyway... its freezing at night in the cooler months as the doors and windows are screened but have no glass in them, so the wind blew straight in and they didn't provide any blankets.
Octopus resort on the other hand... wow ! its my very favourite... its a mix of up-market, medium level and dorm accomodation... the dorms are only $30 a night, but spacious and lovely and each bed has its own mozzie net, lamp and fan - an unheard of luxury in any dorms in Fiji. And the food..... mmmmmmmmmmmmmm...... everyone eats the same food - the people paying $350 a night and the people paying $30 a night....absolutely the best food in Fiji, fabulous australian chef, great local produce done in modern cuisine style more than the standard of restaurants at home - and luxuries that are hard to get in Fiji, like olives and feta cheese - all imported specially... and only $45 for three meals a day - you don't get cheaper or better in Fiji... and the beach is stunning, no-one else in sight, fantastic snorkling right off the beach... and all the diving etc.... and a lovely swimming pool, movies on an out door screen by the pool (complimentary popcorn) quiet, quality and amayzing sunsets over the water.... oh for an extra dollar they will deliver coffee in bed to you in the morning - what more could you want ! also they work closely with the local village - all the staff are from the village and they run a scholarship fund for the kids etc. Their reef is protected and the fish life is some of the best around. If I sound like I am advertising them, I can't help it... I've stayed in a range of places, from cheap to very upmarket.... and this is the best by far - especially considering the price - and as a volunteer that is an exceptional thing ! The only problem can be getting a booking - its taken me a year to be able to get a booking on a weekend I wanted to go... so book as early as you can..... the boat leaves from vuda marina which is between nadi and lautoka, and they pick you up from your hotel for free and transport you to the wharf... its about 1.5 hours on their private boat to get there.... vuda marina incidentally is the home of the Vuda Yacht Club - a great spot for reasonable food and a drink watching the sun set over the yasawas... let me know if you can't get in to Octopus and I can recommend other places - but try there first - you won't regret it....

I have to agree with Intvolunteer. I would not reccommend Nananu Island Lodge to anyone. Their website looked great but the reality was far from it. It is too bad as the setting is indeed beautiful. We booked for 5 nights but left after 1. Other guests on the shuttle back to Nadi had the same reaction. I would also highly reccommend Octopus Resort - it sure made up for our disappointment at Nananu!!

Thank you so much for your help, Octopus looks great. Does anyone know anything about Oarsman Lodge? It looks good too. Also, I will have insurance but any suggestions for valuable items when we're not in our room, especially because we'll be in dorms? Thank you so much, I really appreciate everyone's ideas!

According to a poster on the Fijiguide site - Nananu Island Lodge closed early March - sounds like it is not an option anyway.

Ditto to #2. We completely loved Octopus. I stayed in the dorm and a bure, never worried about my stuff - the dorm was so nice I considered not moving to a bure, but did - the bures are charming. If you want to be pampered and have a tropical resort vacation, at an almost budget price, this is your choice. The pool was a big plus. It is not like staying with the locals. Locals work there, and their village is over the hill, but the only sanctioned way to get to the village is on a guided trip.

After 4 days at Octopus, went to Oarsmans. Loved this too. A little smaller, a little homier, very friendly feel. Food not as good, but then it would be impossible to match the food at Octopus. But I thought the water was bluer, water floats dreamy, fine snorkeling off the beach, and activities fun - snorkeling outings available. Diving too.

Octopus has that "perfect" resort feel - almost too good to be true, down to the outdoor shower in the bures, the place is crawling with employees happy to do your bidding. Oarsmans is less "perfect", but fewer people, so very relaxing - I liked it a lot and was glad I went there . It is not like staying with the locals either.

Family style meals in both places, so easy to meet and mix with fellow travelers. We were two females traveling and I always felt safe.