Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Beachcomber, Octopus or both?

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea

Going to Fiji 13.-24. october.

We are to 19-20 year guys who like to snorkel, party, relax at the beach.
We have booked dorm beds at Beachcomber.

I've heard that the dorms aren't that good, and that a lot of travellers upgrade to a "overpriced" bure?
Does anyone have experience with this?

I also see that some recommend Octopus Resort. They offer the same price for a bure as you pay for dorm on beachcomber.
Is this a more peaceful place, or is there nightlife here as well? Would staying some days in Beachcomber and some in Octopus be an option?

Thanks!
Magnus :)

Double check the Octopus prices - they are in US$$ and the bure price does not include the compulsory meal plan (shown separately on the website).
They do have a very good dorm. Its certainly not a "party" place - entertainment is mostly a small band from the village, they do have a party night but it winds down around 10pm. But its a fantastic place, great snorkelling, very good food & lovely people.

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Ok, it seems Octopus is more expensive after all.
Anyone have any experience with the dorms at Beachcomber? Would 10 days be too long?

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Nightlife on islands other than Beachcomber are rather sedate - youll be tucked up asleep in bed by 11pm at most places - probably 12.30 latest at Beachcomber.

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Beachcomber is a tiny island - you can walk around it in 15min. I think I stayed 5 days and it was enough - after a while it's case of people watching the boats come in to see who is arriving. Nightlife is sometimes concerts, otherwise drinking and dancing. In the cavernous dorm I woke to see in the next bed the guy pumping his gal. You never know your luck.

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Hehe, I think I'm going for 3-5 days on Beachcomber, and probably the rest on Octopus. Any other places worth visiting? I have 10 days.

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I recommend getting a ferry pass that allows you to hop around and then staying at a bunch of different islands. Last year, I spent my 21st on Beachcomber and the Saturday night of that week...it really is the only place you can "party" in the mamanucas or yasawas. Other than that you have to hope for a really good group of people on your island, because that makes all the difference. Regardless, Fiji is stunningly gorgeous. I recommend getting farther up to the Yasawas...it gets more isolated but the views are unreal.

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