Raintree Lodge

Raintree Lodge is a very peaceful hostel about a half-hour bus journey from central Suva, making it ideal for those who wish to relax and slow down for a few days. It is priced slightly above average for Fiji. It is in a natural jungle setting, nicely landscaped with a lake, gardens, and a river. However, there is very little to do here (on purpose) and it can get quite boring.

The staff are efficient in performing their specific duties, if not overly friendly. There is a (mostly unmanned) tour desk with limited info for onward travel, but bookings can be made. Inquiries about local buses and the most cost-effective means of transport yield both inconsistent and incorrect answers. This is particularly frustrating given the hostel's isolation. Both linen and towels are provided.

The hostel has detached lodges, which hold a number of private rooms and varying sizes of dorms. These are designed to give a more homey feel with wooden staircases, balconies, porches with seating. The biggest (and cheapest) dorm is a living room-cum-crash pad that stretches from the front door to the loft, housing bunks interspersed with singles and sofa beds. Each lodge has a very small kitchen, which makes cooking difficult, and the restaurant is on the pricey side (but the food is great). The resort probably doesn't have enough bathrooms given the number of guests it can hold and the bathrooms are not very well cleaned. There are token-operated laundry facilities. One internet station is available.

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