Week in Fiji

Hi there,

We are heading down to Fiji as a stopover on the way to NZ and will be staying for just over a week in mid-October. We are looking for some ideas of where to stay. We are a British/Czech couple and looking for something in the lower budget category. Mainly looking for some good snorkelling and somewhere fairly quiet to relax and sit by the beach. We wanted to combine one place on the Coral coast and one island(ish) place but are open to suggestions.

We originally thought about 5 nights at The Beachouse and 2 at Robinson Crusoe. I know RCI is not going to be that quiet but it seemed a handy way to combine a Coral coast place with an offshore resort. However RCI seems a little pricey for what you get so we are having another look.

Currently we are looking at MacDonalds cottages, Charlies place and/or Caqalai as well as The Beachouse. Caqalai looks great but seems a bit of a pain to get to, the two northern places we are struggling to find that much info about.

As it seems with all current posters here we are not that keen on sharing our week in Fiji with a bunch of screaming kids.

Cheers,

Hi,

I was in Fiji last year in September and stayed on the Yasawas in Blue Lagoon Beach Resort, Mantaray Resort and Octopus Resort. I can totally recommend Blue Lagoon and Octopus. Both have a resorty feel, beautiful beaches, good house reefs, loads of activities (some free) and good dorms (no bunks). For FJ$110 you get a bed and three great meals a day. The bar bill might add up though...
You'll need transport there and back (to Nadi) on the Yasawa Flyer; apparently you can buy a Bula Pass; don't know how much that will be for a week. Do make reservations in the resorts, as dorm space fills up quickly. All in all, very relaxing and plenty beach space if you seek solitude.

I also spend some time in Levuka and travelled from there to Caqalai (pronounce: Thangalai), which I liked a lot too. It's a very small island; you can walk around it in 10 minutes and the beach is small at high tide. You get your own bure (a rambling bungalow, no ensuite) for FJ$60 a night, including meals. They also have a dorm, but I don't know how much that is. It's all very basic though, so outside is a shared cold shower, but toilets are western style. It's a very small island with beautiful reefs close by and run by lovely people. They're Methodists, so they don't serve alcohol, but you're welcome to bring your own. From Levuka it was FJ$30 on an open boat to Caqalai (one way).

Have a great time!

We have stayed at MacDonalds. Basic and quiet. Couple of nights would be enough. Say 'Hello' to Maxine from us.
Bus to Rakiraki (from Nadi) about $10pp (3 to 3 1/2 hours?), taxi to the wharf $15, boat to the resort (? see the web site). A good opportunity to see some of the countryside and villages along the way.
We regularly go to VoliVoli for the day by bus from Lautoka where we live. Have lunch and a swim in their beautiful pool and come home again.

Octopus is a different class and you need to stay somewhere in the Yasawas. Good choice.
In my view, forget the Coral Coast, but others will disagree.

Cheers,
Peter

"Mainly looking for some good snorkelling and somewhere fairly quiet to relax and sit by the beach."
Then don't bother with the Coral Coast. The Beachouse is fine as far as facilities go, but the beach is pathetic (esp at low tide) and the snorkelling a waste of time.
The beaches and snorkelling are far superior out in the smaller islands away from the mainland. Costs a little bit more, but it's well worth it. Plus, if you go to the Yasawas, then there's no real point in going to Robinson Crusoe.

I stayed at the Beachhouse, and while its quite well set up and good value (has a pool too), the beach is the usual Coral Coast disappointment - very careful steps needed at high tide, and useless at low tide. Sigatoka is a 30min bus ride if you want an outing.

thanks for the replies so far!