Fiji on a Backpacker’s Budget
In the heart of the remote South Pacific is a cluster of +300 islands we’ve come to call Fiji. Its a country with a reputation for its laid back lifestyle, lush beaches, exotic water export and perhaps, even its stellar rugby team. Most people dream of visiting Fiji on their honeymoon, or at some point later on in their lives when they have a few $10k to spare. But actually, Fiji is entirely possible as a backpacker. It’s unreal just how much luxury you can experience here without breaking the bank. So if you’re interested in going to Fiji but don’t have a baller job as a banker, you can definitely start saving up to have an affordable journey.
First are the mandatories, then some advice, and at the very end, I put together a budget for your 12 day holiday.
BACKPACKING FIJI:
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Get Off The Mainland
Of course, what you choose to do on holiday depends on what you like, but overall, most people say that the beauty of Fiji is far away from the mainland. It’s a bit ironic, seeing how you land on an island, only to be told that the real beauty of Fiji is out on the (other) islands. But people say this because there’s some real beauty to be found on the smaller islands that don’t have cars, grocery stores or ATMs. The only touches of civilization in these parts of Fiji are simply the other people with you in your remote accommodation, the fish that wade in the lagoons, and, if you’re lucky to be on an island that’s big enough, the small villages scattered about.
That being said, you’ll be pleased to know Nadi is dirt cheap. (The city you’ll fly into). If your flight gets you into Fiji in the late afternoon, you’ll likely need to crash on the mainland for a day or so. You can get a hostel bed for $7 a night. Granted, it’s a dorm room with like 30 beds in it, but everyone stays in the beach hostels before and after venturing off to other parts of Fiji. Popular options are Smugglers Cove or Bamboo Backpackers, both right on the beach.
Stick to One Area
I went to the Mamanuca and Yasawa islands. Both are popular chains to the west of Nadi, and they’re quite popular for backpackers because they’re affordable. Not many slices of paradise let you sleep on the beach for $25 a night. We were super lucky by the way, because even though it was Cyclone Season, it only rained on us once!
Another Option To Consider
I was really keen on Taveuni, an island up north that sits on the 180th parallel. It’s one of the few places in the world that straddles both sides of the International Dateline, so you can step right back into yesterday. But Taveuni is hard to get to from Nadi. It’s “accessible” either via a ~$600 domestic flight (they’re always so expensive because not a lot of Fijians fly these routes, so somehow they have to make up for lost capital), or a +16 hour ferry ride. The ferry only leaves 2x a week so I’d do this route if you have more time than I did and aren’t with someone who gets seasick.
Since I chose the Yasawa Island hopping route for this trip, I’ll tell you more about how you can do the same:
SO HOW DO I GET TO THE YASAWA ISLANDS?
You’ll need a boat pass. Awesome Adventures is basically a monopoly in this part of Fiji. They operate one giant yellow boat a day called the Yasawa Flier that makes its way all the way up the Island chains (total trip time is ~5 hours). The boat drops people off at all the islands in between, ranging from a short 30 minute ride to the full 4.5 hours. The boat then turns around after about 5 hours journeying north and returns to the main port Denaru on the mainland, Viti Levu.
Bula What ?
Bula means hello in Fiji. And you’ll hear it said 24/7. Because it’s an all encompassing kind of hello, it also means goodbye, no worries, etc. Think of it like an Italian “Ciao” or Costa Rican “Pura Vida.”
The Awesome Adventures website can be pretty complicated to navigate. Basically, you’ll want to get a Bula Pass. They offer a bunch of different options for a 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 or 14 day itinerary.
(Pro Tip: You can always upgrade your pass to a few more days if you’re loving the island life, but you can’t downgrade it so make sure you don’t overestimate how long you want to stay.)
You can choose to get the regular pass (it covers your transportation) or also add on the accom option, called the Bula Combo Pass. If you go for the Combo, you still have to book your own hostels when you board the boat, but they’re pre-paid for you and you’re guaranteed a place to sleep.
There’s two types of combo passes, which indicate different levels of accommodation on the islands. They’re labeled as One Coconut or Two Coconut, based on luxury and amenities. It’s bizarre because the One Coconut passes (which are cheaper) come with food included, while the Two Coconut accom doesn’t. I would think it’d be the opposite?
Anyway, we didn’t go with the Combo Pass because booking accom on our own worked out to be cheaper. And it also allowed us the flexibility of choosing to mix and match one + two coconut resorts, instead of having to stick to one or the other. It also means we could stay in a homestay if we wanted..sorta like CouchSurfing but in a remote village. We didn’t wind up fitting it in for this trip, sadly.
After You’ve Booked Your Yasawa Flier Pass
Once you book your pass online, send Awesome Adventures an email with your flight details. They will pick you up from the airport at no additional cost. The day your tour starts, a bus will also come and get you from your hostel and bring you down to the port where you can board the boat from paradise to an even better paradise.
Where I Stayed
We did a 10 day trip through the islands, ultimately staying at 4 (and with 2 extra nights in Nadi before/after). It turned out that all our resorts were Two Coconut. We didn’t plan for that extra luxury on purpose, but in theory, it shows that you could do this trip for cheaper than we did.
I highly recommend every place we stayed. Barefoot Kuata was especially amazing since we became BFFs with the staff. We also stayed at Octopus Resort, Blue Lagoon Resort and Beachcomber Island.
This was the first time I’ve ever used Hostelworld to book nights at a resort. I didn’t even know that was possible! It was cool to get a luxury experience while still sleeping in a dorm room. The dorms were air conditioned and came with two towels (one for the beach and one for the bathroom). Every day they picked fresh hibiscus and frangipani flowers and put them on our beds.
I’m happy to answer any questions you may have about the resorts or our trip in general!
Total Costs
Yasawa Flyer 10 Day Bula Pass: $350
9 Nights Accommodation: $250
Mandatory Food Passes: $440
Scuba Diving with Sharks: $150
Nighttime Reef Snorkel: $20
Alcohol: $60
Extras for 2 Days in Nadi (taxi, hostel, beer, souvenirs & meals): $100
GRAND TOTAL: $1,370 (~$114 a day)
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A Few Thoughts About The Cost:
With the exception of a few nights, we didn’t drink much to keep costs down. On the islands a cocktail was about $9 (USD) which definitely adds up. Yet in Nadi it was less than half that. The lack of “free” alcohol was the only thing that separated our amazing experience from a bougie all inclusive, really.
The mandatory meal plans definitely ate into our budget way more than we would’ve liked. Especially since the plans doubled the cost of accommodation. Looking back on it, we were fed 3 amazing meals a day for anywhere from $40 — $60 (USD) a day, depending on the resort. From customized omelettes and crepes for breakfast to delicious dumplings, or a two course vegan meal with chocolate mousse for dessert at dinner, the food really was delicious.
Unfortunately you don’t have a choice about the meal plan. There aren’t any grocery stores or restaurants on the islands. It’s that remote. It’s actually crazy that we got this kind of food and service for the price. With that said, it definitely brings us up to flashpacker status.
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It was also really nice that we didn’t have to think about money once we were on the islands. Everything was either included or on a tab charged to my credit card.
My flight was also “free” (thanks to my credit card points) but it’s usually $400-$600 from Sydney or Auckland. Most backpackers tack Fiji onto their Oceania adventures since it’s a lot more affordable (and closer) than flying from Europe/the States. It only took 4.5 hours to fly there from Sydney, btw.
If you don’t have a lot of time, you could always make a long weekend out of it. Fiji is a great layover destination from LA, Singapore or Hawaii to/from Australia, the US or Asia.
All in all, Fiji is an absolutely breathtaking country that really nails relaxation and enjoying life’s simplicities on “Fiji Time.”
As usual, feel free to drop me any questions or comments below and I’m happy to help!
