Fiji trip in April 2011 needs your advice please

Hi

My Husband and I are planing a trip in late April for our 40th birthday and 10th wedding aniversary. We are thinking to stay on the main island as we have only 7night there. We are both keen to do some adventurous things and also have relax there. we have not decided where to stay and what we do. Things we would love to do are... village experiences, hiking, snorkelling or diving ( we both have PADI licence but has not dived for at least 8years), relaxing on the beach or nice pool side, have good food.

I have read scooter trip somebody did. is it safe enough to do??

looking forward to reading your advice.

cheers

Richan

SA Australia

Hi Richan.
I would suggest a local bus north from the airport to Lautoka for 24 hours (preferably including a Thursday, Friday or Saturday when the local market is in full swing). There are several low to medium cost accomodation options in town with swimming pools.
Then continue north (by local bus) to Rakiraki. The 2 1/2 hour drive along the coast is good and passes through several towns and villages along the way.
Then stay at one of these 3 places for a few days........get to them via a short taxi ride from Rakiraki, plus a boat in the case of MacDonalds.
http://www.volivoli.com/
http://www.wananavu.com/index.html
http://www.macsnananu.com/activities.html
They all have good diving and can arrange village visits etc.
From there, you could retrace your route or circumnavigate the island via Suva (but 24 hours there would be enough for there me).
Locals don't use scooters or bikes. The roads are narrow, trucks & busses are wide and some drivers leave a lot to be desired.

Cheers,
Peter
(From Adelaide, but living in Lautoka for 2 years)

Hi Peter
Thank you for your advice. I have some questions to ask. Do you think if 7nights are not enough time to goes around all the main island as we would prefer not to rush too mush and love to have relaxing time along. I have read some people recommended to stay Danny's home stay, do you know about Danny and what do you think?

thanks for your time and advice

Richan

With 7 days you'd have plenty of time to go all around the mainland, but I wouldn't do that. I'd get off the mainland. The beaches, coral, and water are so much better around the smaller islands. A couple of days on the mainland is perfectly fine, but with a week you easily have time to check out another island.

tch7 is right. You have plenty of time to circumnavigate the mainland. Check out this great report.....
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1972414
The islands are fine, but expect to loose some time getting to and fro. The beaches and diving are great at those places I mentioned too.
I have never visited Dannys home stay.
If the budget is OK, try a 3 day cruise? Operates out of Lautoka.
http://www.bluelagooncruises.com/ Quite special. Get a dive on the way.

Cheers,
Peter

Edited by: Peter_n_Margaret

Please, get off the mainland, the real Fiji is up the Yasawas or atleast the Mamanuca island groups at one of many popular small resorts where you meet wonderful local folks and interact with interesting other travellers there. Its easy to get to and so much better than the safe/boring/bogan prone mainland resorts that you can do any where. A friend once said that he was frustrated to hear of folks who played it safe, go and have a 'ok' holiday and don't return, when all the while those who experience the beauty and enjoyment of the islands return again and again. I couldnt agree more.