Fiji Family adventure 2011......ideas appreciated ;)

ummmm...please excuse me as this is my first post on TT ;)

We are a family of 4 who always 'backpack' or aka budget independent travel but have mainly been to SEAsia....I have been to Fiji before with a great work trip many moons ago which incorporated Beachcombers island, Treasure Island, Malolo Island, Sheraton Villas and the Warwick, I LOVED that the water off T.I. was phosphorous and sparkly at night just sitting off shore....

I must have read thru I think all of the posts on the Fiji forums here...and as much as I love to travel I tend to overdo it with the kids..... I am wanting to chill with family, not put so much pressure on them to move all the time, and would like to experience the 'real' Fiji, considering a homestay..if they are genuine, we like small casually run places but dont want to be crawling with the young crowds...and feel in the way and uncomfortable.
I have considered the Yasawas but not sure about it for this reason and also it still seems very pricey to me (dont shoot me please .....) I had considered Levuka and Savu savu sounds lovely too, but without moving all the time, and making life easier for the family, Viti Levu seems to have a lot going for it with enough to 'do' with kids 6 and 9 years and easy to get around....

SO....

As this is our first family Fiji adventure...we are loosley planning to cirle Viti Levu and maybe hop to an island on the side for some of the swimming pool perfect water for a couple of days of nothing on the way. I dont like crowds and prefer kids to be able to play with the local kids than in a forced kids club style. Is it easy enough to just buy bus tickets etc on spur of moment..and to get budget accomodation? (looking at late April to June next year for approx 3 weeks - will depend on ticket) Also operating on a tight budget~!

Thanks for the dream material ;)

Oops..forgot to add that we all love to snorkel and would love somewhere we could do good snorkelling off the beach with the kids, DH loves to fish and we all like to mingle with the locals wherever we go...and also love the markets for a glimpse of local life and a few souvenirs....

Edited by: elranchoryan

Edited by: elranchoryan

"Is it easy enough to just buy bus tickets etc on spur of moment..and to get budget accommodation?"

Yes certainly and bus travel is a great way for the Kids to see the Real Fiji.

cool, thanks hardnosethehighway......we are used to travel but I think I overdo it usually for the adventure (hangs head lol)....we were hoping to be able to combine both adventure and chill time with Fiji without lugging around poor green kids! The Yasawas look fantastic (as in the water etc) but even the transfers seem to be a budget killer and I am worried we will just be sitting and staring at other tourists....I am thinking of heading to (exc spelling) Levuka then on to levulia or calaquia.....had been thinking of sticking to Viti Levu and coming and going as we please with a stop for beach & snorkelling from the Raki raki region but reports on here for the island snorkelling not so good?

Is the ferry travel to Levuka really rough?

thanks again, hard to get eyes past the glossy pics for real info for Fiji ;)

take the patterson brothers ferry to levuka, not rough a ride ist a big roll on roll off..
leleuvia isl or caqalai isl are perfect for kids, snorkelling off the beach is great.
you would also enjoy a stay at bobos farm on ovalau
details and links about the region on www.levukafiji.com

thanks melbar, thats what I was hoping! We had serious issues with seasick kids and I in Thailand after rough seas...can laugh NOW.....

will play with the link, thanks ;)