(nadi) figi.. worth stopping off for a week or missable ?

nottooxabi

Hi,

Am due to fly into nadi for a week in figi before heading to new zealand...
anyone been that could recommend somewhere/island to stay for a week ?
preferably not in the busy backpacker district...

requirements : cold beer, hammock, palm trees, turquoise water

Is it missable ? would i be better off spending an extra week in new zealand?

thanks

juvenal

nottooxabi wrote: »

Hi,

Am due to fly into nadi for a week in figi before heading to new zealand...
anyone been that could recommend somewhere/island to stay for a week ?
preferably not in the backpacker district...

requirements : cold beer, hammock, palm trees, turquoise water

Is it missable ? would i be better off spending an extra week in new zealand?

thanks

Fiji is one of the best places I've ever been on holiday. I spent a few weeks there a couple of years ago and IMO it's unmissable.

IMO you can find all the things you listed just a short way outside Nadi (pronounced Nan-dee) and for peanuts if you're travelling in Euro. The Fijian people are probably the most generous and likeable I've ever met, and despite the fact that a lot of them live in conditions that we would find challenging, they'd gladly give you the shirt off their back.

About 1.5 hrs from Nadi is Mango Bay, a self-described flashpacker resort. It's owned by two Aussie lads, who are dead sound, and the accommodation ranges from dorms to private rooms. It's on the sea, with it's own private beaches and also has a bar, restaurant and pool. There's a minibus from Nadi every few days. You can also go to Suva from there if you want, the capital city, which is a bit bigger than Nadi.

It's a full resort, and there's organised activities every day, from scuba-diving, horse treks to waterfall hikes etc.

If you want to head to some of the smaller islands off the main island called (Viti Levu), check out South Sea Cruises. They've a number of packages available, and most people go island-hopping, spending a night on each island before returning to Nadi. You'll meet loads of backpackers there, as it's quite a popular stop off between US/Hawaii and NZ/Aus.

In Nadi I stayed in Nomad's skylodge. They'll pick you up from the airport. It was dead on, once again gated (like most of the resorts/accommodation aimed at tourists), had a pool, bar etc all you need. Nadi itself is fairly run down. I wouldn't stay there for more than a day or two, as there's not much to do except check out the markets downtown and generally get a vibe for the place.

If you go be sure to try Kava - it's a great way to learn the traditions of the people, and if you get to know the customs you'll really get in with the locals, as like any country when they see a visitor making an effort they'll embrace you.

This is the Fijian Tourist Site.

All in all, a fantastic place, and I'd go back in a heartbeat.:)

juvenal

Here's a few photos I rooted out to give you an idea. . .

nottooxabi

cheers dude, thanks for all the info...much appreciated..
photos are quality !

I've always wanted to visit... but at the same time want to go to the right spot... i'm travelling for 6 months but am 32 so dont really fancy arriving in a the wrong place surrounded by 20 year old abercromie wearing backpackers who've just spent a year in sydney

plan was to get in and out of nadi pretty quickly... head to a chilled out spot from some hammocking and snorkelling... meet the natives etc...

will deffo check out your recommendations... and will be in touch ...
thanks !

juvenal

nottooxabi wrote: »

cheers dude, thanks for all the info...much appreciated..
photos are quality !

I've always wanted to visit... but at the same time want to go to the right spot... i'm travelling for 6 months but am 32 so dont really fancy arriving in a the wrong place surrounded by 20 year old abercromie wearing backpackers who've just spent a year in sydney

plan was to get in and out of nadi pretty quickly... head to a chilled out spot from some hammocking and snorkelling... meet the natives etc...

will deffo check out your recommendations... and will be in touch ...
thanks !

There are a fair bit of young backpackers no matter where you go, but there's also plenty of older travellers who are doing it alone. I couldn't get over the amount of English (girls especially), who had just finished their A-levels and were on a 10/12 month trip and not a day working. Their parents were stumping up the cash or they had loans out, but I felt a lot of them were a bit young to really appreciate some of the experiences, while running up a huge debt before they even went to college! But I'm sure they had a ball so whatever floats your boat

I'm in my late 20's and never felt out of place. I was with friends through Asia and Oz, and we all went to NZ together for a couple of weeks before bailing back home as they ran out of coin. I did another few weeks in NZ, a few weeks in Fiji and a few months in the US on my own, and had a ball. In Fiji a lot of the younger crew went to one of the islands that is like Ibiza Uncovered. I love a session as much as the next person, but I'll also get up at 8am to go on some tour to a village or waterfall etc, which I felt a lot of the teenies missed out on as they were on the lash for 12 months. I was as well to a fair extent but I never missed a beat all the way.

The thing is most of us will probably only have one chance to see these places, so you don't want to miss a trick because you had a few too many the night before. Live for the moment, but if in doubt, do it. The best advice I'd give to anyone travelling is don't have any regrets or skip something cause you're worried about money, you can pay it off later! The only regret I have is not doing the bungee in Queenstown as the weather wasn't great and I thought it would be better the next day. Of course I never bothered.:(

I just had such a great time in Fiji that I'd say you'd be mad to miss it. It was the highlight of 15 months on the road for me - that's probably why I've written so much about it in two days! The lifestyle, culture, scuba diving/snorkelling and the locals are all fantastic. Whatever you do, enjoy yourself and make the most of it!

nottooxabi

juvenal wrote: »

There are a fair bit of young backpackers no matter where you go, but there's also plenty of older travellers who are doing it alone. I couldn't get over the amount of English (girls especially), who had just finished their A-levels and were on a 10/12 month trip and not a day working. Their parents were stumping up the cash or they had loans out, but I felt a lot of them were a bit young to really appreciate some of the experiences, while running up a huge debt before they even went to college! But I'm sure they had a ball so whatever floats your boat

I'm in my late 20's and never felt out of place. I was with friends through Asia and Oz, and we all went to NZ together for a couple of weeks before bailing back home as they ran out of coin. I did another few weeks in NZ, a few weeks in Fiji and a few months in the US on my own, and had a ball. In Fiji a lot of the younger crew went to one of the islands that is like Ibiza Uncovered. I love a session as much as the next person, but I'll also get up at 8am to go on some tour to a village or waterfall etc, which I felt a lot of the teenies missed out on as they were on the lash for 12 months. I was as well to a fair extent but I never missed a beat all the way.

The thing is most of us will probably only have one chance to see these places, so you don't want to miss a trick because you had a few too many the night before. Live for the moment, but if in doubt, do it. The best advice I'd give to anyone travelling is don't have any regrets or skip something cause you're worried about money, you can pay it off later! The only regret I have is not doing the bungee in Queenstown as the weather wasn't great and I thought it would be better the next day. Of course I never bothered.:(

I just had such a great time in Fiji that I'd say you'd be mad to miss it. It was the highlight of 15 months on the road for me - that's probably why I've written so much about it in two days! The lifestyle, culture, scuba diving/snorkelling and the locals are all fantastic. Whatever you do, enjoy yourself and make the most of it!

nice one man.. thanks for the info!
cant wait now... headin off early november for 6-8 months...
not working will be nice...

things like deciding which fijian island to go to will be the only "decisions" I'll have to make ...