aFiji - Crusoes Retreat or other suggestions

We, an extended family of 5 adults and 4 children aged 12 months to 13 years are looking at a staying somewhere in Fiji next August. Our priorities are good food, comfortable and clean accommodation and a good swimming beach. We have stayed at Castaway before and loved it, but this time budget is more important. Besides we recently spent a great week in Tonga and realised you don't need a top resort to have an enjoyable time. Crusoes Retreat seems well priced but it seems to have slipped under the radar for reviews etc. Has anyone stayed there, or can offer other recommendations? Thanks in advance.

I think Crusoes is cheap because it is close to Suva where all the trouble may be.
Its even half price on Wotif. com at present.
We stayed in one of the hillside units about 2 years ago and it was fine.
Like most of the Coral Coast the beach is nothing wonderful and snorkeling is best done from their boat as it is fairly shallow in front of the resort.
Watch the rocks if walking to the next bay, I twisted my ankle and was laid up for a few days.
Had a great experience there one night, we were all gathered to watch the opening of the Lovo when there was a great squeeling as the natives took the Boar from one side of the Resort to their village on the other side.
They were directing it by a rope tied around its testicles and just yanked in the direction they wanted it to go.
It stank so much and made so much noise that it put me off the Lovo so I went without dinner that night.
We took a taxi there from Nadi and arranged for it to pick us up again, much cheaper than the resort transfers.

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<hr>most of the Coral Coast the beach is nothing wonderful <hr></blockquote>

generally, yes, but the beach at the Shangri La Fijian is lovely.Also Natadola beach is beautiful.

This may be misguided but if you are looking for clean, safe, private and more of a do it yourself holiday-like a homestay instead of the all-inclusive resorts-I would recommend Dunrovin. The Indian lady who runs it keeps her house very nice and it is also easy to shut a couple of the rooms off for privacy. She can cook or you can take care of yourselves. With her location near the roundabout at the start of Sunset Strip, it's easy to go for walks or horse rides along the beach, take the bus to Sigatoka for marketing, plan day trips to Kula Eco Park, the Sigatoka Sand Dunes, Natadola Beach, Tavuni Hill Fort, cave/waterfall/bilibili river rafting trips (www.adventuresinfiji.com), or even a day or overnight trip to Vatulele (call Atu or Mere at 653-0184).
Of course if you want a nice all-inclusive beach resort, you can find many backpacker resorts that are quite economical...and you won't have to worry about taking care of the kids because the villagers will practically adopt them. With so many choices around Fiji, you just have to choose your preferred location and activities.