11 Tips to Travel Fiji Budget-Style!
Viti Levu - West
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Yes, you’ve been warned, haven’t you? Fiji is a place for the rich. The wealthy Aussies and Kiwis – or the ones that work all year round for that one luxurious holiday to come back to their senses – have communally elected Fiji as a place to be spoiled and pampered.
But what about us, the backpackers and budget-sensitive travelers? Should we just scrape this divine island permanently off the list without even trying to explore it on a shoestring? Well, of course, if you really want to enjoy a Pacific Island on a budget maybe Samoa is a better idea... but even in Fiji there are certainly ways to keep the costs down! Let’s have a look at my budget bucket list, worked off in western Vitu Levu.
But what about us, the backpackers and budget-sensitive travelers? Should we just scrape this divine island permanently off the list without even trying to explore it on a shoestring? Well, of course, if you really want to enjoy a Pacific Island on a budget maybe Samoa is a better idea... but even in Fiji there are certainly ways to keep the costs down! Let’s have a look at my budget bucket list, worked off in western Vitu Levu.
Rocking Fiji budget-style!
1. Boycott resorts and hotels - Homestays and Couchsurfing are the way to go!
I usually never ever even think about booking a resort-holiday. Ugh! Unless you really want zero surprises and have all your experiences and food arranged for, frantically avoiding the way-less-luxurious local daily life and thus not getting to know the country at all, I see no reason why you’d come up with a decision like that. And no, I’m not implying you should stay at a cheap backpackers hostel either, how’s that any different from the previous arguments stated besides the price tag?
A way to experience the local life without the tourist-filter is by staying where the locals stay... like literally, right in their houses. Luckily, this is rather easy as websites such as Air BnB are jam-packed with affordable homestays, Couchsurfing being the 100% free alternative.
1. Boycott resorts and hotels - Homestays and Couchsurfing are the way to go!
I usually never ever even think about booking a resort-holiday. Ugh! Unless you really want zero surprises and have all your experiences and food arranged for, frantically avoiding the way-less-luxurious local daily life and thus not getting to know the country at all, I see no reason why you’d come up with a decision like that. And no, I’m not implying you should stay at a cheap backpackers hostel either, how’s that any different from the previous arguments stated besides the price tag?
A way to experience the local life without the tourist-filter is by staying where the locals stay... like literally, right in their houses. Luckily, this is rather easy as websites such as Air BnB are jam-packed with affordable homestays, Couchsurfing being the 100% free alternative.
Even though I’m generally a Couchsurfer ‘pur sang’, this time a free $200-Air-BnB-voucher randomly flew my way... which can cover about a week of homestays if you plan it low-cost.
2. Which covers the next point: Hang out with the locals!
I think I started loving Fiji the second I stepped into the Fiji Airways airplane, without having seen even the slightest stretch of land. No dressed up Barbie-doll-stewardesses urging you in a high-pitched voice to turn off your electronics, just some laid-back dude in a flower-blouse shouting around “bula” when handing out delicious (vegan!) breakfast trays. A greeting word that any foreigner quickly gets familiar with, as everyone will say this to you all the freaking time. It’s like you’re entering a land of friends without having formerly met a single soul there. And the great thing is: People talk to you because they are genuinely interested in talking to you, not because they want to have a closer look at your well-filled wallet or (hopefully) beach-ready ass.
2. Which covers the next point: Hang out with the locals!
I think I started loving Fiji the second I stepped into the Fiji Airways airplane, without having seen even the slightest stretch of land. No dressed up Barbie-doll-stewardesses urging you in a high-pitched voice to turn off your electronics, just some laid-back dude in a flower-blouse shouting around “bula” when handing out delicious (vegan!) breakfast trays. A greeting word that any foreigner quickly gets familiar with, as everyone will say this to you all the freaking time. It’s like you’re entering a land of friends without having formerly met a single soul there. And the great thing is: People talk to you because they are genuinely interested in talking to you, not because they want to have a closer look at your well-filled wallet or (hopefully) beach-ready ass.
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The Fijians! The good-looking, mainly-barefoot-walking, sulu-wearing angels descended from heaven. Man! Colombia got some serious competition when it comes to the title of ‘friendliest people in the world’. My point being: Why would you not constantly want to hang out with this local crowd?
I have no answer to that, but an extra argument to make my case: They think Fiji is a cheap country as they know where you can eat* / sleep / party for cheap. And so do you, if you’re properly infiltrated.
I have no answer to that, but an extra argument to make my case: They think Fiji is a cheap country as they know where you can eat* / sleep / party for cheap. And so do you, if you’re properly infiltrated.
* Eating local: Visit any market to explore Fijian delicacies like breadfruit, sama (vegan ‘caviar’) and roti for not more than FJD $1. Also, as about half of the Fijian population is Indian, cheap curry restaurants are never far away. Mai kana!
If you want to go all the way, try the bitter kava drink for a mild high. Sure, you can pay the head price for a not-so-‘authentic’ kava ritual organized by some agency, but you can also buy it yourself for half a buck and prepare it easily with the kind help of youtube:
If you want to go all the way, try the bitter kava drink for a mild high. Sure, you can pay the head price for a not-so-‘authentic’ kava ritual organized by some agency, but you can also buy it yourself for half a buck and prepare it easily with the kind help of youtube:
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Plus... The locals can help you with another not unimportant thing:
3. Don’t pay for the main tourist attractions
If you want to check off some well-marketed ‘highlights’, you might be ready to cash in some serious heart attacks when seeing the admission prices the tourist board dares to charge... to unsuspecting foreigners of course, you honestly don’t think the locals will even think about paying while they know their land and all its secrets (and secret entrances) so well? Give them an extra ‘kava’ and they point you exactly in the right direction.
3. Don’t pay for the main tourist attractions
If you want to check off some well-marketed ‘highlights’, you might be ready to cash in some serious heart attacks when seeing the admission prices the tourist board dares to charge... to unsuspecting foreigners of course, you honestly don’t think the locals will even think about paying while they know their land and all its secrets (and secret entrances) so well? Give them an extra ‘kava’ and they point you exactly in the right direction.
Okay, let me help you a bit on the way. Sigatoka Sand Dunes, there you go:
Go to the blue arrow on the map, next to the photographed landmark, ignore that warning down below (who cares) and BAM, you’re in without spending a single dime.
4. Say you are a travelblogger
If the latter didn’t go as smoothly as planned and/or you’re caught red-handed, then there’s always a second card to play: Tell the ticket employees you have a travelblog. I use it all the time! And of course, in my case I’m not lying, but it’s not that they go straight on the internet to verify your statement... so for all that matters, you might be a blogger too. And yes, of course they let you in for free or with a generous discount in case you write something positive about them.
Talking of which: Sabeto Hotsprings and Mudbaths. Positive. And thank you for the discount.
If the latter didn’t go as smoothly as planned and/or you’re caught red-handed, then there’s always a second card to play: Tell the ticket employees you have a travelblog. I use it all the time! And of course, in my case I’m not lying, but it’s not that they go straight on the internet to verify your statement... so for all that matters, you might be a blogger too. And yes, of course they let you in for free or with a generous discount in case you write something positive about them.
Talking of which: Sabeto Hotsprings and Mudbaths. Positive. And thank you for the discount.
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Along the road you will find the Garden of the Sleeping Giant as well, which you can undoubtedly skip. Because it’s boring. And because they don’t give discounts ;-) But still, it’s really boring. Why on earth would you want to witness human’s pathetic attempt to control nature in a garden, while especially here all around you nature’s flourishing in all its uninterrupted roughness? And now we’re asking rhetorical questions anyway, why the hell do people live in stressful and dirty Nadi when THIS is literally at the end of the street!?
Indeed:
5. Avoid the cities
It’s a budget tip in the sense that you certainly shouldn’t waste your money in the bigger cities of Nadi and Suva. Fiji is great in a lot of things, but not in putting together attractive urban environments. Polluted, dodgy, crowded, loud, unorganized... that kind of sums it up. Use your travel money to explore the breath-taking countryside and coastal strip instead!
5. Avoid the cities
It’s a budget tip in the sense that you certainly shouldn’t waste your money in the bigger cities of Nadi and Suva. Fiji is great in a lot of things, but not in putting together attractive urban environments. Polluted, dodgy, crowded, loud, unorganized... that kind of sums it up. Use your travel money to explore the breath-taking countryside and coastal strip instead!
6. Avoid tours and travel agencies, embrace adventure
And how do you get this exploration started? Well, certainly not by booking a tour. Unless you have some recent inheritance you want to get rid of, then yes, book a few tours and you’ll lose your money before you can even blink. Fiji has one of the highest tourist influx of the Pacific Islands, making it the main branch of labour. Over the years the prices have been pumped up systematically, as basically they can... the rich non-backpackers-group mentioned earlier will pay whatever quoted... but you won’t!
You’re a big boy/girl, you can do it on your own.
And how do you get this exploration started? Well, certainly not by booking a tour. Unless you have some recent inheritance you want to get rid of, then yes, book a few tours and you’ll lose your money before you can even blink. Fiji has one of the highest tourist influx of the Pacific Islands, making it the main branch of labour. Over the years the prices have been pumped up systematically, as basically they can... the rich non-backpackers-group mentioned earlier will pay whatever quoted... but you won’t!
You’re a big boy/girl, you can do it on your own.
Which brings me to the next two points:
7. Get a bus card at a Vodafone shop
Bus transport is by far the cheapest way to explore. Where you’ll pay FJD $85 to reach Sigatoka from Nadi Airport by taxi, and maybe only a tenner less by tourist shuttle, $5 is the standard bus rate (anno 2018). A disposable bus card of a chosen amount can be bought at every main Vodafone shop. Make sure you tell the driver your end destination, or he might charge you until his end destination (unfortunately speaking out of experience). If you can’t be bothered to buy a bus card, you can always pay a local the exact fare and ask him/her to swipe his/her card for you.
7. Get a bus card at a Vodafone shop
Bus transport is by far the cheapest way to explore. Where you’ll pay FJD $85 to reach Sigatoka from Nadi Airport by taxi, and maybe only a tenner less by tourist shuttle, $5 is the standard bus rate (anno 2018). A disposable bus card of a chosen amount can be bought at every main Vodafone shop. Make sure you tell the driver your end destination, or he might charge you until his end destination (unfortunately speaking out of experience). If you can’t be bothered to buy a bus card, you can always pay a local the exact fare and ask him/her to swipe his/her card for you.
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Local city buses can be hailed down at every bus stop on the street (destinations displayed up front), but be aware that they stop everywhere. For fast transport between cities make sure to take an express bus. Another option are the minibuses or vans racing around the main highways, only accepting cash.
Usually I’m the first to present hitchhiking as the choice of free transport, but unfortunately in Fiji that doesn’t fly. Sure, hitchhiking is common here. So common that everyone does it... which makes it a communal mode of transport, and is therefore paid. The driver will charge you the rate of the bus drive or up to double.
Usually I’m the first to present hitchhiking as the choice of free transport, but unfortunately in Fiji that doesn’t fly. Sure, hitchhiking is common here. So common that everyone does it... which makes it a communal mode of transport, and is therefore paid. The driver will charge you the rate of the bus drive or up to double.
8. Hike the highlands, climb the mountains, snorkel the ocean
Okay, so now you know how to reach a wide variety of destinations cheaply... make them yours! Don’t swallow blindly the unauthentic experience a tour company forces down your throat, put on your boots and go out there to see it for yourself. It’s true when people say the best experiences in life are free. Almost free: A good set of shoes and a cheap snorkel set is your gateway to the splendours of Fiji!
Okay, so now you know how to reach a wide variety of destinations cheaply... make them yours! Don’t swallow blindly the unauthentic experience a tour company forces down your throat, put on your boots and go out there to see it for yourself. It’s true when people say the best experiences in life are free. Almost free: A good set of shoes and a cheap snorkel set is your gateway to the splendours of Fiji!
9. Use the airport’s services in your advantage
Buying a bus card here? Yes! Refilling your bottle(s) with free drinking water (which – by the way – is expeeeeeensive in Fiji)? Yes!
Cashing out at the ATM’s? No! Those bastard-banks dare to charge you FJD $15 here, which they don’t do anywhere else on the island. Buying a phone simcard here? Also a clear and loud NO, as they know how to rip off foreigners here. Wait half a day until you’re in your nearest town and get ten times as much data for not even half of the price they charge you via the ‘tourist simcards’.
10. Decide which one or two islands you want to explore and stick with it
If you think tours or shuttle services are expensive, try taking a ferry service or flight to another island. To give you an example: I randomly checked the boat fare for the short 1,5-hour trip to Cast Away Island (I have a thing for Tom Hanks, can’t help it - I always felt like he should be my neighbour)... 120 US dollars one way. Fiji needs a serious reality check. Commercial island-combination-tours are extremely pricey and generally merely scratch the surface, focusing on quantity rather than quality. Unless you have at least two months time to traverse the entire country (and I doubt two months would be even close to enough for that - Fiji has 322 islands and about 500 extra islets, good luck), decide which one or two islands you want to do and explore them properly without only focusing on the so-called ‘highlights’... and save some serious bucks during a more in-depth expedition.
Buying a bus card here? Yes! Refilling your bottle(s) with free drinking water (which – by the way – is expeeeeeensive in Fiji)? Yes!
Cashing out at the ATM’s? No! Those bastard-banks dare to charge you FJD $15 here, which they don’t do anywhere else on the island. Buying a phone simcard here? Also a clear and loud NO, as they know how to rip off foreigners here. Wait half a day until you’re in your nearest town and get ten times as much data for not even half of the price they charge you via the ‘tourist simcards’.
10. Decide which one or two islands you want to explore and stick with it
If you think tours or shuttle services are expensive, try taking a ferry service or flight to another island. To give you an example: I randomly checked the boat fare for the short 1,5-hour trip to Cast Away Island (I have a thing for Tom Hanks, can’t help it - I always felt like he should be my neighbour)... 120 US dollars one way. Fiji needs a serious reality check. Commercial island-combination-tours are extremely pricey and generally merely scratch the surface, focusing on quantity rather than quality. Unless you have at least two months time to traverse the entire country (and I doubt two months would be even close to enough for that - Fiji has 322 islands and about 500 extra islets, good luck), decide which one or two islands you want to do and explore them properly without only focusing on the so-called ‘highlights’... and save some serious bucks during a more in-depth expedition.
11. Okay... maybe don’t boycott the resorts entirely: Use their facilities FOR FREE!
Remember when I was just raging about the shallowness of unauthentic resort-experiences? Yeah yeah, sticking with that, but that doesn’t mean we can’t use them to our own advantage. Imagine at the end of the day you’re really tired of all that hiking, snorkelling, eating at markets and chatting non-stop with the locals and all you want is a brainless dive into a palm-covered hot pool... well, you can simply use the facilities of basically any resort surrounding you without even staying there. No no, no sneaky stuff this time, you can simply subscribe as a day guest and legally enjoy the free luxury.
Just saying:
Remember when I was just raging about the shallowness of unauthentic resort-experiences? Yeah yeah, sticking with that, but that doesn’t mean we can’t use them to our own advantage. Imagine at the end of the day you’re really tired of all that hiking, snorkelling, eating at markets and chatting non-stop with the locals and all you want is a brainless dive into a palm-covered hot pool... well, you can simply use the facilities of basically any resort surrounding you without even staying there. No no, no sneaky stuff this time, you can simply subscribe as a day guest and legally enjoy the free luxury.
Just saying:
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