FIJI FOR US BUDGET-BABIES!

Hello guys, you seem to kno ur stuff so we're hopin u can give us some tips n hints on our specific situation :) Warning:this is a longwinded little inquisition!!

BACKGROUND: We are heading to Fiji somewhere in Oct/November 2009 (by any rate we're likely to have left fiji Dec 01st at latest)
We are four 22-26 year old friends (female if that matters?), travelling the world, hittin fiji for a few weeks before South America. Among the four of us we count 3 drivers, we're all tryin to squeeze the most out of our pennies, and out of our limited time. We want to see the big famous important things in the world, AND the lesser known things about places that the tourists dont tap into. We want to c as much as we can distance wise, yet we want to stay a while in certain places to soak it up a bit. Now u know a bit bout us!

QUESTIONS:
1.) What kinda weather can we expect at the time we're going. We've checked the net for general guide but its all a bit contradictory. We love sunny weather and heat, so hoping we will catch good weather even if it is wet at times of the day. Is there drier regions of fiji? Do different parts of fiji hav different climes? Inland/shore temp and rainfall differences? We dnt mind a splash of rain but are we gonna be stuck inside lookin out at paradise gone gray? :( All advice sooooooo appreciated!!

2.) Will water activities stil be avail at the time we wil be there? We interested in surfing, diving, sailing, swimming, all that!

3.) What is the approx cost of transport in fiji, how much will trains cost from place to place? What's the cheapest way to get around?

4.) Where are the cheapest places to stay? We are not in the least bit fussy, tho if poss we wud prefer somewhere thats close enough to roads or rails that its feasibly possible to lug giant bags and rucksacks to and from our hostel. A bonus wud be location with decent food and in a decent loc with beach or town or activities nearby. Reviews on accom are so contradictory - our heds are spinning!!!

5.) Any places/ activities/ fests /experiences u think we shud NOT miss? Any that we shud forget about as not worth it? Any places in particular u recommend stayin for a while?

6.) BIG QUESTION... Budget wise: What can we expct to pay at a minimum per week (of we do everythin as cheaply as poss) on:
ACCOMODATION
FOOD
TRAVEL (we wnt to c a good bit o the place, see above!)
ACTIVITIES like diving, partying etc

and alsoooooooooooo...............Any other info or advice on any aspect of fiji is very very much appreciated!

THANKYOU SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH IN ADVANCE FOR ALL YOUR HELP! WE'RE THANKFUL FOR ANYYYYYTHING AT ALL U CAN TELL US!

LOVE AND KISSIES FROM THE GIRLS.XXXXXX

#3 Trains? There are no passenger trains

I suggest that you start by reading previous posts on TT, and the FAQs then come back with more specifics

"how much will trains cost from place to place?"

Hahaha! That's really funny, actually... Ironic, but funny.

Why funny?

Because there are no passenger trains... Only cane trains... I could imagine backpackers on top of heaps of sugar canes rattling down the coral coast. All leaping off at the appropriate stops.

Well, it's funny bcawz u r going to a place and seem to know so very little about it! Pick up a copy of the LP or Moon Fiji Guide, it will be worth it.

A few things--
Weather will start getting humid in Nov. and on. Rain comes for an hour or two then it's sunny for a couple of hours, this is maybe two or three days a week.
It's technically drier on the west side, but not by that much in general. Will still be humid.

Buses on the main island (Viti Levu) are the cheapest way to get around. But not many good beaches on the main island. You have to get to the islands offshore, like the Mamanucas or Yasawas on the west/NW, or maybe Ovalau/Taveuni on the east. Check those guides for more info on those places.

You can do all waterports during that time that ar available, but as I said, on the main island the beaches aren't so good. Snorkeling is OK in a few spots. Surfing is pretty much for the experts, as the waves break on or near the reef.

Budget will vary. Backpakcer places can be as low as maybe F$20/night, Food for maybe F$30/day if you cook for yourselves. Fiji Bitter and other beers are not that expensive. Biggest expense after the above will be transport. Flying to outer island is very expensive for one on a budget. There are ferries, and some shuttle services to the W/NW.

But really, get a copy of one of those guidebooks. You'll have a much better time and easily save ten times what you pay for it.

Thanks guys, we'll get a guidebook.. because you're right, we know next to nothing about fiji! We have plenty of time to work it all out, wont be there 'til late 2009. I wasn't thinking logically when I asked about the trains. Silly girl. The weather sounds a bit dodgy but I'm sure we'll get enough sun to satisfy our sunlight-cravings. Yeah?? Thanks for all help here!!

Sounds good, a guidebook by LP or Moon will really help.

And yes, you will be able to get a tan even on those semi-rany days. Actually, you may end up getting burned more than you want, as you can get a tan on cloudy days, but you don't think you can, and then about 10pm you'll look in the mirror and be all red! Try just a half hour or an hour or so the first day, and take it up from there. If you can somehow get a little base tan before you go to Fiji I highly recommend it.

Yes I hope to be a bronzed goddess (well bronzed anyway lol) by the time we arrive, as we are going to be in South East Asia for a couple of months and Australia for 6 or 7 months prior to Fiji trip. So, malaria-tablet induced photosensitivity permitting, we'll be heat hardy by Fiji time.