Fiji suprise birthday visit

HI all,

I"m hoping to take my boyfriend to Fiji for 5-6 days as a suprise for his birthday in April so keen to hear about others experiences for which island(s) to stay, where to go etc. An ideal holiday for both us would be snorkeling, hiking, beautiful beaches and relaxing away from mass tourist areas and five star fancy resorts, any suggestions welcome please! We don't really have a budget limit as such but would prefer to be staying close to the beach and not in a huge hotel. Thanks in advance and hope everyone having a great 2008 of travels

Fiji has over 330 island, so it is easy to get away from mass tourism. The best beaches are in the Mamanuca and Yasawa island groups. There is everything from backpacker places to luxurious resorts. You mention you do not want fancy 5 star resorts but it really depends on your budget. For a cheap, youth oriented place, check out Barefoot Lodge. You can snorkel with manta rays right of the beach. For a nicer resort, check out Matamanoa. And my favorite in this area is Castaway. They get families there, but you don't notice them and you can hike or snorkel off your beautiful beach. I prefer the tropical north more than these areas because they have the lush rainforest and offer more exploration. Qamea is an awesome private resort with a nice beach, but it is expensive and luxurious which might not be what you are looking for. Hopefully this helps a little bit.

Enjoy!!!