Fiji is an amazing vacation spot with fun activities, an interesting cultural history, and of course, some of the most beautiful beaches and crystal clear water on the planet. That perfect palm tree-lined beach in your dreams? It probably exists in Fiji.
As with so many places in the world, how much it costs to visit Fiji depends a lot on what kind of vacation you are planning. You could easily spend a fortune staying at some of the greatest luxury resorts in the world, or you could go the backpacker budget route and spend very little.
That’s not particularly helpful though, so this article will try to provide you with some actual prices to help you plan your trip to Fiji.
Note: These prices are accurate as of November 2018. One of the problems with estimating prices in Fiji is that inflation there is very high, sometimes rising by 12% a year. Therefore all prices here are in USD to make it easier.
I had a difficult time researching for this article because there’s not much information out there on the costs of vacation in Fiji. Although some resorts cost hundreds a night, their website looks like it comes from the ’90s. Travel agents and booking packages are still popular for booking your trip to Fiji and might even get you prices lower than the official listings from their websites. It doesn’t hurt to try contacting them to see if you could get a lower rate.
Contents
When to Visit Fiji For the Best Prices
The peak season to visit Fiji is during the Southern Hemisphere winter, from May to October. This is when you will encounter the least amount of rain and humidity. This is also when prices will be at their highest. While it is the best weather, consider that many hotels are booked during those months and it might be more crowded.
November to April is considered the low-season as well as the wet season in Fiji. You are more likely to find cheap airfare and hotel deals during this period, but the weather is much more variable and there is a risk of cyclones.
Shoulder season is probably your best bet for visiting Fiji. Deals start to show up starting at the end of September and October. October and November and April and May will have the best combination of prices and weather.
If you’re a diver, however, May to October might be better for you because of higher visibility in the water. Either way, the water remains warm year-round.
Cost of Getting to Fiji
The cost of visiting Fiji is dramatically affected by where you are coming from.
There are plenty of cheap flights to Fiji from Australia and New Zealand, as it’s a common and close holiday spot for antipodeans. Airlines like Fiji Air and Virgin Australia offer direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
If you’re coming from North America, your choices are more limited and costly. Fiji Airways is the only airline that flies direct(although there are codeshare options with Qantas and a couple of other airlines), and only out of a handful of west coast cities. During low season you might find ticket prices as low as $900 round trip. In high season you can expect to pay $1500 +.
Another option is to visit Fiji as a layover, or side trip on your way to New Zealand or South East Asia.
There is only one major airport in Fiji, Nadi International Airport on the island of Viti Levi. If you’re headed to any of the other islands (you probably are) you will have to arrange an airport transfer. Most of the islands are only reachable by boat or small aircraft, so that could potentially end up costing you.
Cost of Accommodations in Fiji
This is really where the bulk of your budget will be spent, as where you choose to stay will set the tone of your entire trip. Unlike some destinations, where you can stay somewhere terrible and still have a brilliant time, much of the attraction for Fiji is relaxing and enjoying the weather and natural surroundings. So pick carefully.
Budget Accommodations
Fiji has done a pretty good job of getting the backpacker market. They don’t ignore them like many other destinations do. In particular, the Yasawa Islands and the main island of Viti Levi offer some great options.
Most dorms cost roughly $20 to $25 a night on the main island. If you head to the Yasawas you can expect to pay around $65 a night for a dorm room or around $120 a night for a double room.
The more upscale resorts that offer dorms go up to $50 to $60 a night on the Yasawa Islands.
See below for some tips on how best to visit Fiji on a budget.
Uprising Beach and Resort: This Viti Levi resort offers options that span from dorm rooms up to villas. Even if you pick the cheapest option you still have all the benefits of staying in a nice resort.
- Dorm accommodations start at $40
Blue Lagoon Beach Resort: A postcard-perfect beach resort in the Yasawa Islands. You can get a good deal here, but note that there is a mandatory NZD $85 (~$55 USD) per day meal plan that includes three meals a day.
- Dormitory beds are just $20 a night! This is a fabulous deal even when you factor in the meal plan.
- “Bula Lodge” standard rooms start at $129 a night. Villas run much higher. 25% off you room rate from October- March.
Beachouse: A budget resort located on the Coral Coast. This place has been around forever and is considered a classic. Guests have access to free activities like yoga and kayaking.
- Dorm rooms are $18.50 a night.
- Private huts start at $75 a night.
- They also offer some great package deals that include discounted rooms or free massages or other activities.
Mango Bay Resort: Mango Bay is a “Flashpacker resort” on the Coral Coast.
- Garden front huts start at $56.
- Oceanfront huts start at $144
$20 to $30 a night on the Coral Coast. We didn’t get a chance to see this place but from the outside, it looked really nice. They coin themselves as accommodation for flash-packers.
Bedarra Beach Inn– Located on the Coral Coast, just opposite Lagoon Beach, Bedarra is more hotel than a resort. Their food is affordable and pretty good, based on reviews.
- Standard rooms start at $66
Midrange Accommodation:
If you have a bit more to spend you can get a lot of bang for your buck in Fiji, particularly if you are good at looking for deals. You can stretch your money further by staying close to Viti Levu.
Navini Island Resort– With just 10 bures and a gorgeous private island, this resort usually has more staff than guests on-site! They offer a variety of complimentary activities and the great food is all-inclusive. If we went back to Fiji I would definitely choose to stay here.
- Standard bure starts at $300
Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort: Outrigger is a chain of very nice resorts around the world. Their Fiji location on the Coral Coast is incredibly gorgeous and atmospheric.
- Rooms start at $200 a night. Private bungalows can range from $300- $600+
Sheraton Fiji Resort– Major chain hotels in Fiji offer a nice balance between price and comfort. They are also a deal if you have hotel loyalty points to burn. Denaru Island has both a Sheraton and a Westin resort which you could book using SPG points. Both look quite lovely.
- Rooms at the Sheraton start at $185 (the Member Rate is even lower), with nicer rooms closer to $300.
- Rooms at the Westin start at $180 for a Garden View room.
Luxury Accommodations
The sky is really the limit when it comes to luxury in Fiji. You can rent out an entire island if you have the money for it. Fiji has beautiful resorts and seriously look like something out of a postcard.
Jean-Michel Cousteau: Don’t let their terrible website fool you, this is the big time. This luxury eco-resort once hosted Beyonce and Jay-Z in their Presidential Villa (with private pool and beach). You can expect to participate in amazing activities and each child under 6 is assigned a dedicated nanny.
- Nightly rates are all-inclusive and start at $1000. The Beyonce villa is closer to $3000 a night.
Castaway Island Resort: This private island in the Mamanuca island chain is beyond amazing. Literally exactly what you are dreaming of when you think of Fiji. Nothing else in sight but crystal clear water, palm trees. All the rooms here are beautifully decorated “bures,” or bungalows with high ceilings and amazing views.
- Beachfront bures start at $500 a night.
Likuliku Lagoon– You’ve probably seen those overwater bungalows in magazines and on Instagram. This is where you can experience them yourself. Here you can watch fish swim on a tropical reef from your own bathtub.
- The overwater bures are $1550 a night. The regular beachfront bures are a bargain at $1170 a night. If you book 7 nights they will throw in a free helicopter transfer from Nadi.
Cost of Food and Beverage in Fiji
Eating economically in Fiji can be very tricky. If you are staying at an island resort you will probably have no choice but to eat at the resort restaurant. The resorts are so isolated that there simply won’t be any other options nearby. Many resorts include meal plans, which can be more economical than dining ala carte.
If you are staying on the main island, you may have more option to go off the hotel grounds in search of food. Local restaurants in Fiji can be quite cheap, especially if you opt for roadside stands serving local dishes. Restaurant buffets are another way to fill up on a variety of foods for a flat price.
There are also some fine dining options on Viti Levu, mostly attached to hotels and resorts.
As always, alcohol can be a major budget inflator. Some resort packages include beverages while others do not.
Cost of Activities in Fiji
This is where it gets fun! Laying on the beach and just hanging out is great, but there are a ton of activities you can do in Fiji. Usually you will need to pay ala carte depending on what you would like to do.
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving – By far one of the top activities in Fiji, which has some of the clearest water and most beautiful fish in the world.
- Rates vary but you can expect to pay around $75- $150 for a single dive, cheaper if you sign up for a package of multiple dives.
- Shark diving is a unique and thrilling activity. Beqa Adventure Tours is great for this, their packages start at around $100 a dive.
- Snorkel trips are usually around $30
Visiting Villages: It’s very popular to visit a traditional Fijian village and drink kava with the locals. Sigatoka River Safari charges ~$130 and includes a ceremony, dancing, food, and kava.
River Rafting: It’s not as well known, but Fiji has some amazing river rapids. You can go rafting or tubing on the Upper Navua River. One day trips are roughly $185/ $239 depending on the level of difficulty.
Cruise Around: South Sea Cruises and Yasawa Flyer are two companies great for cruising around the different islands seeing it all in one day. On South Sea Cruises, a day cruise includes lunch and costs $100.
The Cost to Vacation in Fiji: Budget Tips
Fiji will never be a budget destination like Thailand, but there is a lot you can do to make a trip to Fiji more affordable. Whether you’re truly a budget traveler or you just want to get the most bang for your buck, here are some things to consider to help keep prices down:
Book a Package Deal – Independent travelers are sometimes loathing to do this, but some package deals to Fiji can really save you a lot of money by bundling airfare, accommodations and possible food and activities.
Visit Fiji as a Stopover – The cheapest way to fly to Fiji is as an extended layover on around the world ticket or between Australia/New Zealand and Asia. If you’re planning a larger trip think about folding Fiji into your plans.
Stay Longer – Resorts in all price points often offer specials and discounts if you stay a certain number of days.
Stick to Viti Levu – Transportation costs can be quite hefty, particularly if you are trying to visit more remote islands. You can save a lot of money by staying on the main island. Here you can travel by bus and eat at local restaurants, instead of being tied to an expensive resort.
Budget accommodations are spread across the island, and some major resorts even offer dorm room specials (check out Budget Accommodations above). Head down to the Coral Coast which is beautiful, if a bit more crowded than other parts of Fiji.
“Backpacking” in the Yasawas – If you really want to island-hop, the Yasawa Island chain offers a unique experience for budget travelers. You can buy a pass from Awesome Adventures and hop from island to island while staying in budget accommodations. It’s a fun and different experience.
Check out our post on Exploring Fiji on a Budget for more options.
More Resources
- Backpacking in the Yasawas – Nomadic Matt
- How to Plan a Budget Trip to Fiji – Anna Everywhere
- How to Spend a Week in Fiji for just $500 – Lost in Silver Fern
- Insider Guide- How to Travel Fiji for Cheap – Snorkels to Snow
Pin for Later:
