Lautoka is a pleasent enough place. Nice indoor market.
Don't plan to stay long in Nadi -- there's nothing to do. Stay one night and immediately move to one of the islands.
Mana Island … It was the worst place I ever stayed -- food was awful, hostel robbed us, and I couldnt wait to leave.
Robinson Crusoe Island in Coral Coast … This place has a brilliant atmosphere. I would go here right now. It's the best place in Fiji!!
Tubakula Beach Bungalows in Coral Coast … We stayed at the Tuba Kula for two months and loved every day. We felt safe all the time, which is not always the case in Fiji. It's a good place for children. My son had a great time. The shallow waters are perfect for young children. Very laid back and easy.
Mana Lagoon Backpackers in Mana Island … Loved it there. The staff were outstanding, started the day with smiles and ended the day with smiles. They are working hard to upgrade everything, and are open for ideas and help. The twenty-six days I lived there was the most relaxing, Just doing nothing but chatting under the shade of the coconut trees.
Horizon Beach Backpackers Resort in Nadi … Horizon Beach was great! The staff are exceptional, the people are friendly and relaxed, and the food is amazing. I spent four days here, but there were people who had already been here for a month or more, and weren't planning on leaving. The beach is an easy one-minute walk away, the pool is clean, and the rooms are cool and very quiet. I loved every minute I was here. Definitely go to Horizon Beach if you are headed to Fiji for any amount of time!
Nadi Downtown Backpackers Hostel in Nadi … The hostel is great and all the staff were really helpful and friendly. The accomodation is really safe, and of all the hostels we have stayed in--including in the States--this is where we have felt most safe. You don't even have to lock your bags. They are also very helpful in organising your trips out to the islands and anything else you may decide to do, and transportation to the trips and to and from the airport is great as well.
Octopus Resort in Lautoka … It started before we even entered the beach with a singing welcome from the staff. From there on it was just a big upper spiral for us. Everything from the dorms to the food to the activities and privacy and the coming together with the other visitors and the locals -- that's how we feel when thinking back on this stay -- was as perfect as it could be. I hope we get to see Octopus again in the near future.
Aquarius on the Beach in Nadi … The hostel was clean and tidy. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. It's set in a nice beachside location with good facilities and only a short bus ride into town. Meals were good and the rooms were great. I would definitely come back here.
Ratu Kini's Backpackers & Dive Resort in Mana Island … An absolute paradise, everybody is so friendly there. The kids are adorable, say a big hello to Elton and Tomas. I went and stayed on the island twice while on my trip to Fiji.
The Beachouse in Coral Coast … This was one of my first hostels I stayed at in Fiji, so I was excited. Unfortunately, the weather was completely terrible. Going fishing in the stormy seas was good, though. We were all bad at fishing, we didn't catch anything, so the fisherman went home hungry. Anyway, if the weather is good, I imagine this place would be great. Here's a tip for when you're in Fiji: watch out for the sun, because it's real easy to get super burnt. I found out the hard way, but then again, I'm stupid.
Smugglers Cove Beach Resort & Hotel in Nadi … Dorm bed costs $28, NOT the $24 posted. "free" internet costs $4 per hour. Towels cost $2, require a deposit. Mine never was delivered. Still, the place is on the beach (black sand) and has lounge chairs, beach umbrellas, restaruant/cafe. It was clean and a small storage locker is free ($20 refundable key deposit). Staff was friendly.
Newtown Beach Motel in Nadi … It's literally next door to Smugglers and just up the road from Aquarias, both of which have good nightlife. So if you want somewhere quiet but that still has a night life this is a good option. The owner is a cool guy, his meals are quite tasty, and he'll book trips for you. Only one downside, there's a curfew (can't remember what the time was) after which you can't get back in. Note that the beach isn't that nice, so maybe only spend a night here from the airport, then get onto one of the islands.
Mango Bay Resort in Sigatoka … This place was run by an American and an Australian. Because of this, you can't fault how efficient the place was. It was clean, the food was very good, there was a whole host of activities on offer, and it all looked very nice. However, the place lacked character because it seemed geared towards making money and nothing else. It also seemed over-priced -- we paid $30 a night for a twenty-bed dorm, very little space, and no fan. The sheets smelled of damp. Some people couldn't bear it so much that they paid an extra $10 to be upgraded to a better room. Because there was nowhere to eat in the nearby town, we had to eat at the expensive resort restaurant. We even heard that a guy went out to buy some food at a supermarket, only to be told off by management when he returned! To give an idea of just how overpriced the place was, it cost $3 for a packet of crisps and $3 for a can of coke. Moreso, we couldn't save money by buying something small like a plate of chips for lunch -- small…
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