Whether you’re a backpacker looking for cheap accommodation in Fiji, honeymooners after a slice of luxury or trying to find the best family resorts Fiji has to offer, this post has got you covered. Brought to you by travel bloggers from around the world as they share the best place to stay in Fiji, helping you find a place to sleep in paradise regardless of travel style and budget.
WHERE TO STAY IN FIJI - TOP TIPS
Best Time to Visit Fiji
This is our first tip when deciding where to stay in Fiji – when will you be visiting. The time of year has a massive influence not only on the cost of accommodation, but the other people who will be staying there.
For example, during the Winter Months (November, December, January) is when New Zealand and Australia Summer holidays are and Fiji is a very popular destination for families during this time.
We visited in February as it was cheap, however this was a huge mistake – our travel agent failed to explain this is cyclone season. This meant we were stuck inside due to the miserable weather and dangerous waves, so it was a waste of time and money booking such beautiful hotels as we could do very little.
What is the best island in Fiji
You may not realise that Fiji is made up over 300 islands – only 100 (ish) of which are inhabited. This means there is somewhere for everyone and deciding the best place to stay in Fiji totally depends on your travel style and budget. Here are the most popular islands.
Mamanuca Islands
Consisting of around 20 islands, the Mamanuca Islands are where Survivor and Tom Hanks’ movie Cast Away were filmed. The sublime beaches and tropical snorkel spots make them some of the most popular islands for tourists. These islands are the best place to stay in Fiji for both families and backpackers as there are islands to suit all budgets here.
Yasawa Islands
North of the Mamanuca Islands are the more remote Yasawa Islands. There are no large towns on these islands and due to the sparsity and rural villages, the accommodation is more rustic – ideal for those on more modest budgets. Most backpackers in Fiji head to the Yasawa Islands for this reason, but there are also a handful of luxury resorts for those looking for a Fiji honeymoon away from the crowds.
Viti Levu
If you are wondering where to stay in Fiji, Viti Levu is ideal for those on a budget, as it is the largest island and also home to the main airport in the town of Nadi. This means you will spend less money and time on transport to more remote islands. While the island is more residential and commercialised in comparison to the other islands, there are stunning areas such as Denarau Island that are popular with honeymooners.
Taveuni
If you are not the sunbathing, cocktail in hand sort but prefer an adventure, Taveuni is for you. It is know for its luscious hikes, waterfalls and wildlife – it is the best place to stay in Fiji for a more authentic holiday, away from the touristy resorts.
WHERE TO STAY IN FIJI FOR FAMILIES
If you’re after the best family resort, Fiji has many options suitable to all budgets. Offering kid friendly pools, entertaining activities and menus to suit all ages. In Fiji, family resorts need to tick all boxes so these are the favourites from family travel bloggers which do just that!
Mana Island Resort, Mamanuca Islands
The Best Family Resort In Fiji For Those Travelling On A Budget
Our family of 4 absolutely loved Mana Island Resort as an affordable family resort in Fiji. Not as well-known as other family resorts in the Mamanuca Island chain, our stay on Mana Island was made much more affordable as they didn’t have an obligatory all-inclusive meal program (this may have changed since our stay). Budget was a consideration for our Fiji trip and we find that all-inclusive resorts mean that you focus on meals and not exploring.
Mana Island Resort offers a range of accommodation, from hotel rooms, through to Ocean view deluxe bures, meaning savings for those who want a Fiji Island experience without the big bucks. The resort’s facilities were excellent though not luxury – several pools, a well organised kids club, snorkels and kayaks for use included in the rate.
We also liked that the resort shares the island with a local village and a backpacker’s dive resort. Therefore, if you don’t necessarily like a resort experience, you can wander over to the backpackers for a meal or have your hair braided by the ladies from the village. Mana Island is one of the best family resorts in Fiji as it offers a low key, mid-range resort experience for those who like less polished experiences.
Written By: World of Travels With Kids
For more info check out their post on Fiji with Kids. You can also follow World Of Travels With Kids on Instagram.
Radisson Blu Resort, Denarau Island
The Best Family Resort In Fiji For All Ages
Our favourite Fiji accommodation is the Radisson Blu resort on Denarau Island. We have young kids and it’s absolutely perfect for families with so many child-friendly features. Our favourite part of the resort is the brilliant pool which comes complete with a sandy beach-like shore, it has a gradual slope so is great for younger ones. Having visited most of the family resorts in Denarau, in our opinion it’s the most family-friendly pool. But there’s also features that are great for adults like the swim-up bar and adults only pool, and a fun waterslide which is great for all ages.
We love the lush landscape gardens that the resort is set in and the variety of restaurants which suit every budget. Some of the rooms are apartment style which allows you to self-cater, great for travelling with younger children or if you want to save some money by cooking some of your meals in-house. If you do want some adult alone time, then the kids club is absolutely fantastic with caring staff who genuinely love kids.
Written By: Our Overseas Adventures
Looking for more Family friendly Fiji advice? Read their post on the perfect family holiday. You can also follow Our Overseas Adventures on Instagram.
WHERE TO STAY IN FIJI FOR COUPLES
Planning a Fiji honeymoon? Or just fancy a kid free pool? These are the best Fiji resorts for couples looking for a romantic escape and your own private piece of paradise.
Navini Island Resort
Best Resort In Fiji For A Home Away From Home
Located on a teeny-tiny spit of sand in the Pacific Islands of Fiji, Navini is a family owned luxury resort composed of a handful of private villas. Many of the staff have been there for years, some for decades. When you cross from the water onto the sand below, it truly feels like you are being welcomed home. Within the first day, every staff member knows your name and it’s not long after that you begin to develop a real relationship with many.
The dining area is a beautiful open-air communal space where long tables are set for multi-course meals. Each dish is made on site by the wonderful in-house cooks using fresh and mostly local ingredients. Every single thing they make is utterly delicious. Not to mention the whole experience is a fun place to get to know other travellers.
Aside from the 3 enormous meals a day, the time here is slow and easy. The island is surrounded by a reef and is situated in a marine reserve making it an awesome and easy place to snorkel. There are also daily boat trips to other local snorkelling spots, dolphin hangouts, or whatever strikes the fancy and the weather that day.
Written By: Miles Less Traveled
You can follow Miles Less Traveled on Instagram.
Matamanoa Island Resort
Best Resort In Fiji For Couples – An Adult’s Only Sanctuary!
Matamanoa Island is a tiny speck in the pacific which is almost exclusively used for the resort. While it sounds all very expensive, Matamanoa Island Resort is actually an affordable and laid back, albeit adults-only, sanctuary. There is plenty to keep you busy as well as plenty to keep you relaxed. You can dive, snorkel, fish or canoe right off the beach or play tennis, table tennis, volley ball or hike on land. Alternatively, you can get a massage, lay by your private sea front plunge pool, drink cocktails on the deck and just watch the palm trees dance in the wind.
Getting to Matamanoa is most thrilling via a 15-minute helicopter ride from Nadi airport. You can actually be in the pool overlooking the turquoise sea within 45 minutes of touching down in Fiji! The ferry service also allows a slower, equally pleasant and cheaper option. At Matamanoa, your time is your own and relaxing is the only compulsory activity.
Written By: Sling Adventures
For more info on one of the best Fiji resorts for couples, read this post. You can also follow Sling Adventures on Facebook.
Lalati Resort And Spa, Beqa Island
Perfect Resort For A Fiji Honeymoon
After we got married, we searched the planet for the perfect place to honeymoon. It had to have water, adventure and feel luxurious but not crowded. We found everything and more at Lalati Resort and Spa so booked our Fiji honeymoon.
A half-hour water taxi ride from the mainland, it has 16 secluded villas on Beqa Island in Fiji. There are no roads or other hotels on the island. The only way to travel between the seven villages there is by boat. On Sundays, you may see a long boat filled with villagers going to church. The resort can arrange a visit to the nearest one where you will be welcomed into their modest homes.
During high-tide, take a kayak through the mangrove river to the other side of the island but don’t get caught when the water recedes, otherwise you’ll be pulling it through the rocky ravine. Once through, make a romantic stop on one of the uninhabited sandy beaches or have the resort staff pack a picnic lunch and leave you on tiny Shark Island with snorkel gear. Surfers will rejoice at the barrelling lefts at Frigate’s Passage, a break in the middle of the ocean. Scuba divers will be astounded by the 100 mile reef surrounding Beqa with some of the most diverse sea life viewing available.
Fire walker shows are offered weekly and the kava ceremony is not to be missed. Gourmet meals are provided under a giant thatched hut which is the centre of resort life. Enjoy a fruity drink while you read or just stare at the magnificent view created by centuries of rain and sun. After all that relaxing, it’ll be time to unwind with a massage at the spa. It’s an island experience curated for extreme tranquillity.
Written By: L.A Family Travel
You can follow L.A Family Travel on Instagram.
WHERE TO STAY IN FIJI FOR BACKPACKERS
Don’t be fooled into thinking paradise doesn’t have dorm rooms. if you are backpacking Fiji, forget dirty shared kitchens and overpriced Wi-Fi, this is backpacking accommodation like you’ve never experienced before. So unbelievably beautiful, you won’t even need Wi-Fi as you snorkel, sunbathe and swim your way round the top cheap accommodation in Fiji.
South Sea Island Resort, Mamanuca Islands
Best Resort In Fiji For Backpacking On A Budget
One of the smallest island resorts in the Mamanuca islands is the beautiful, uninhabited South Sea Island. Being only a 30-minute boat trip from Denarau, this is a popular island for day trippers. If you plan on spending a while longer here, there is a 28-bed dorm accommodation available, all meals included in the price.
It only takes 3 minutes to walk around the island, meaning that you get the best of both worlds when it comes to watching the sunrise and sunset. During the day, you will not be short of activities (if you enjoy the water). The crystal-clear, warm water holds many opportunities from swimming or snorkelling with the colourful tropical fish, to learning to scuba dive or going on a boat trip. There are sun loungers and hammocks on the island, shaded by palm trees, which are perfect for drying off after swimming in the sea.
If you are planning a trip to the Fijian islands, be sure to put this one on your list!
Written By: highlands2hammocks
You can follow highlands2hammocks on Instagram.
Barefoot Kuata Resort, Kuata Island
Best Resort In Fiji For Flashpackers On A Backpackers Budget
As the last stop on our Fiji island hopping trip around the Yasawas, we had high hopes to go out with a bang on Kuata Island. Staying at the Barefoot Kuata Resort, we booked ourselves into a 12 bed dorm room on the island. It was by no means luxury, but it was comfortable, classic, and just what you’d want from an island getaway dorm. The rest of the resort was much nicer, but that meant we had all the perks of a resort-style experience without the price tag!
Cliff-side pools overlooking the beaches and palm trees, decadent meals three times a day serving fresh, local foods and hammocks gently swaying on your own personal beach – Kuata has nailed the paradise dream!
What makes this island resort particularly special is the daily ritual as the boats come into pick up and drop off passengers. Along with the traditional Bula welcome of dancing and singing on the beach, Kuata Island has its own iconic Kuata Warrior, who stands atop a striking cliff at the head of the island and performs quite the energetic dance, welcoming visitors to the island.
I loved our short but sweet time at Kuata Island and was in such a dreamy trance by it all that I managed to leave behind my swimsuit as it dried by the pool. Worth it though in my eyes and Kuata will always have a little piece of me there!
Written By: Suzy Stories
You can follow Suzy Stories on Instagram.
Beachcomber Island Resort
Best Place to Stay in Fiji For Those Who Like To Party
Beachcomber Island resort is in the heart of the Mamanuca Islands and only 19km from Nadi airport. It is the best place to stay in Fiji for backpackers and those young at heart as it’s relaxed atmosphere and fun reputation go hand in hand to help you create unmissable memories.
With the option of dorm accommodation or a private bure, both styles are surrounded by sea and sand – you’ll literally be sleeping on a private island! Our bure was complete with our own private section of beach and a fabulous hammock, big enough for two.
Food is provided on an all inclusive basis, served buffet style with affordable drinks available to purchase from the lively beachcomber bar. As it is only a 45 minute cruise from Denarau Marina, it is also one of the best Fiji resorts for a day trip. Allowing you a taste of island life before heading back to the mainland – perfect if you are backpacking Fiji on a budget.
Octopus Resort, Waya Island
Ideal Fiji Resort For Families & Backpackers Alike
Located on Waya Island, part of the Yasawa Islands group, Octopus Resort is situated on the pristine Likuliku Bay. It can be reached via ferry from Nadi and is the perfect place for ocean and land activities.
The resort offers backpacker and luxury accommodation, complete with communal outdoor dining (common on resorts in the Yasawas). The backpacker rooms are spacious and comfortable, and are a great option for visiting Fiji on a budget.
I loved Octopus for the incredible activities on the island – some of the best diving and snorkelling I’ve ever seen can be found just steps from the resort, complete with schools of tropical fish, rays, and turtles. They also offer snorkel trips to observe and swim with (from a safe distance) giant manta rays, who call the waters around their island home. Octopus also offers visits to the island’s village, church, and school, and a range of traditional Fijian arts and crafts. I love that the resort is a strong supporter of the local community through their Education Fund, a local charity, and by fostering meaningful interactions between guests and the village residents.
Written By: The Accidental Australian
You can follow The Accidental Australian on Instagram.
WHERE TO STAY IN FIJI FOR A CULTURAL STAY
Although each of the resorts mentioned so far are incredibly special, it is important when visiting Fiji to escape the bubble of resorts and learn about the fascinating Fijian traditions. These are the best resorts in Fiji which offer the perfect balance between local life and luxury, offering an unforgettable insight into the Fijian culture.
Oarsman’s Bay Lodge, Nacula Island
Best Fiji Accommodation To Experience Traditional Culture
Oarsman’s Bay Lodge is located on Nacula Island, one of the furthest islands from the mainland. The boat ride takes almost 5 hours, but you get to enjoy the luscious sites of a dozen or so Yasawa Islands along the way.
Once landed, you are greeted by the local tribe singing traditional welcoming songs. The very same people who throughout your stay go above and beyond to welcome you. They do everything from taking you on excursions to performing for you and even sitting down with you and teaching you all about their history over a mug of Kava.
Everybody eats together as a ‘family’ during their stay at Oarsman’s. Breakfast is served at 8am, lunch at 12pm and dinner at 7pm, which you’re called to by the sound of a wooden drum being beaten. Oarsman’s offer private rooms or mixed dormitories, which have an amazing view of the ocean. Electricity and water are turned off overnight, but Wi-Fi can be purchased if needed. The resort has plenty of greenery for exploring, surrounded by one of the nicest beaches of all the islands, with soft white sands and perfectly clear warm waters.
Written By: More Passport Stamps
You can follow More Passport Stamps on Twitter.
Camping At BiBi’s Hideaway, Tavueni Island
Best Fiji Accommodation To Live Like A Local
If you make it all the way to Tavueni Island, the best place to stay is at Bibi’s Hideaway. Bibi’s is a guest house with four cottages and a few tents. We camped on their property for one week. It was a perfect base to explore the island.
The beach was only a short walk away. We went to the farmer’s market, went scuba diving, swam in waterfalls, and experienced Fijian culture first hand. Polina and her family treated us like their own. We cooked dinner with her family and made fresh coconut milk from the coconuts on her property.
The garden is incredible and every day we were treated with fresh papaya, passion fruit, and oranges; all for free. We felt like part of the family! I love the way that Polina put it; “We aren’t looking to be a five-star hotel. We are looking to be a five-star home.” It really did feel like home.
Written By: Beard And Curly
For more information on their Fiji visit, please take a look here. You also can follow Beard And Curly on Instagram.
Botaira Beach Resort, Naviti Island
The Best Place To Stay In Fiji (According To Us)
To be honest, we’ve only stayed in 5 resorts in Fiji and this was hands down the best experience of not only Fiji accommodation but best customer service that we’ve ever had on our travels. Botaira Beach Resort is owned and run by a local family, which is evident the minute you step foot off the boat and are welcomed by the traditional singing and garlands.
As mentioned in our Backpacking Fiji post, due to the cyclone our excursions and activities were cancelled during our trip and the staff at Botaira went above and beyond to ensure we had an amazing stay. In all honesty, we packed in more within our 2 nights here than we did our entire trip.
The chef took us snorkelling in his kayak and we were taken to a nearby village by a member of staff named Solo. Solo took us to meet his parents, we bought traditional jewellery from local women then topped off our day with a local rugby match – the island’s favourite sport. We then sang traditional songs in the evening as we enjoyed some of the most amazing food we’ve ever had.
We dined like kings and were treated like royalty our entire stay, despite being just two broke backpackers. In such a short time we learned so much about the Fijian people and their vibrant culture. We left Botaira feeling like we’d made not just memories, but friends for life.
Still Not Inspired? Our Fiji Highlights May Convince You!
We hope after reading our guide, you are feeling more informed about deciding where to stay in Fiji. It is in incredible place but planning a trip here can feel overwhelming and we’re sure there are many hidden gems missing from this list which is just the perfect excuse for us to return. We would love to know if your best place to stay in Fiji is missing from our list – let us know in the comments!
Great post. Proper inspiration. Ms B & I usually visit our friends and family in Sydney every 18 months, and Fiji has been on the cards for a long time. Flights with some of those budget carriers from Sydney start from around AUD200 return, which is crazy cheap. Maybe we’ll squeeze in a bit of tropic paradise as early as next April…
April is probably the perfect time to go and as you say from Oz,so cheap! We went in February which was a tad disastrous although Fiji during a cyclone is something we’ll never forget!
Pingback: The Best Honeymoon Destinations Goals On A Budget - Awesome Traveler