Air New Zealand Air Points - LAX-NAN arr. 3am? What to do? where to go?

Hi,
Funny that I read most of the Fiji posts and NOBODY complains about the 3am arrival. (?) So, any advice on what to do when we get into Fiji @ 3am?

Well, it will be our first time to Fiji next weekend, and will be staying @ the Westin/Sheraton Denarau (1st 3 days) and Grand West Villas - Wailoaloa Road. (next 5 days). Don't know what to expect!

We won't have any meals included in our accom., so given the location where we're at, it would be nice to get some ideas where to eat out closeby. We hope to venture using public transport from both hotel locations, and if it's not a great idea, do let us know.

We also hope to visit some islands nearby, but limited to full day trips only. So, any suggestions are appreciated.

Planning to do some scuba diving, so any recommendations of local dive companies who are honest and don't over-charge people would be appreciated...

Sorry for all the questions... we're really excited about heading out to the South Pacific!

Thanks!!

Mike

This might be better suited to Travel Buzz. Just ask your hotel for a very early check in well in advance (you'll probably check in before 5am. When entering Fiji, I normally spend my first night at the Tanoa International in Nadi, just to give myself a good rest after the flight.

Nadi itself doesn't exactly have the best dining on the planet so you may well find yourself either eating at the Sheraton or buying stuff in from the local supermarkets and doing your own cooking (not a bad option; I think both the places you are staying are self catering in additional to on site eating options).

Welcome to FT, me4tux!

There's a decent Indian resteraunt in Nadi township that we crew eat at. It does the regular Indian dishes as well as great handmade pizzas!

I can't remember the name of the place, but it's on the first floor above street level and usually has a shill standing outside on the street. Look out for it - or ask the hotel staff, they should know the one I mean.

Make sure you have some cash as the 2 ATMs at the airport do run out :eek:

Also, public transport will be interesting ;)

Too bad you are not staying on the islands as it is night and day compared to the mainland.

I have been to the Tanoa and it looks very decent for a Nadi airport hotel. I had dinner there before my flight to LAX and it was okay if not spectacular. If you arrive at 3am you will likely get to the hotel around 4am and well that's almost time for a very early breakfast!

Agreed, there are no world class hotels in Nadi itself. The Tanoa has clean, comfortable rooms and ok food and service. If I could ever get a good rate (others have been lucky, but not me) then the Sheraton, a little further out is the place to stay (even for a one night stop over).

Thanks, for all the input. I've taken note of all of them!
I'll be monitoring for more great inputs until I fly! Thanks again!

Hi me4tux,

Don't let the 3am arrival bother you, it isn't nearly as bad as it sounds! You'll be on a later timezone anyway, and all flights from the US arrive early in the morning so the airport will be busy. The Sheraton reps will there to meet you and direct you to the transfer bus, so just go straight to the hotel and check in (as long as the hotel know you're arriving from the US on AirNZ you shouldn't need to sort out an early check-in), and be down at breakfast for sunrise. Easy :D

Don't stay around Nadi for your whole trip, as you'd be missing out on most of Fiji and there are no nice beaches (this includes Denerau and the Sheraton, and especially Wailoaloa which is awful). If I can make a suggestion, cancel the 5 nights at Grand West Villas and do one of the following:

- take a 4 day / 3 night Blue Lagoon Cruise, and spend the remaining 2 nights on one of the islands off Nadi (recommend Navini, Lomani, Matamanoa and Tokoriki on a higher budget, and Bounty is very decent on a lower - although there's so many lower budget resorts to choose from it's prob best deciding once you get to Fiji, the Sheraton tour desk will help).

- if beaches aren't your thing, you want a real taste of local life and don't mind roughing it, spend 5 nights at Bukuya village in the interior which is stunning (great waterfalls, no hot showers!)

- for a small sample of local life, stunning beaches and a bit of travelling, take a local bus to Suva, catch an overnight boat to Taveuni, stay for 4 nights at AquaClub Beach Retreat (highly recommended - it's on beautiful Qamea island just off Taveuni) then fly back directly to Nadi and connect with your evening flight back to the US (or fly each way if you don't like the sound of the boat).

Few other tips for Nadi:

- public transport from the Sheraton means going out past the entrance foyer to the road and flagging down any passing bus, minivan or returning taxi (will have "Nadi Town" painted above the license plate), fare is 50 - 60 cents. Getting back is actually more difficult from town, the bus runs every hour or so but I'd recommend getting a local taxi for around FJ$12 rather than hanging around.

- good restaurants in town are Daikoku (Japanese), the one nz_crew mentioned fro pizza and curry (can't remember the name either! it's about 2 mins walk past Jack's handicraft towards town centre), Saffron for curry, Lazy Cactus in Martintar for Mexican, Nakamura's for authentic Japanese (incl crab sushi and stunning tuna if he has it in - ignore the lack of decor, sit at the bar, ignore the menu, just tell Mr. Nakamura what your budget is and roughly what you'd like to eat), and San Tai is a good Chinese. Fine dining is best at Ports O Call in the Sheraton, or for something different, The First Landing Resort has is excellent and dining is under the stars by/on the beach, it's about 20 mins ride away by taxi.

- book day cruises from the tour desk at the Sheraton - Malamala is the best IMHO

Other things to do while in Nadi:
- Natadola beach is stunning, although it's about 45 mins drive away. Public transport isn't really an option, so either hire a taxi for the day (from town, not from the Sheraton, should be around FJ$80 - or arrange a dropoff / pick up), or do the day tour by cane train that leaves the Fijian Hotel (tour and transfers can be booked at the tour desk in the Sheraton). The waves are great but watch out for undertow, it can be a dangerous spot.
- day trips up in to the highlands by 4x4 are excellent if the weather is clear
- Ed's Bar has the best night life
- the only Fijian dish that is really worth trying is Kokonda, Rik's Cafe in Martintar does the best
- ignore all the touts in Nadi ("Bula's" and outstretched hands)
- internet is much cheaper in town, but it's slow everywhere in Fiji. Bula Internet Cafe (a few shops past Jack's Handicrafts, upstairs) is the best.
- tour desks are the best way to book activities in Fiji, and the activities are the same price wherever you book so stick with the Sheraton tour desk

Right well that's probably quite enough :D. Feel free to PM me if you'd like any specifics on any of these, and have a great trip!

Cheers, Zac

Hi me4tux,

Don't let the 3am arrival bother you, it isn't nearly as bad as it sounds! You'll be on a later timezone anyway, and all flights from the US arrive early in the morning so the airport will be busy. The Sheraton reps will there to meet you and direct you to the transfer bus, so just go straight to the hotel and check in (as long as the hotel know you're arriving from the US on AirNZ you shouldn't need to sort out an early check-in), and be down at breakfast for sunrise. Easy :D

Don't stay around Nadi for your whole trip, as you'd be missing out on most of Fiji and there are no nice beaches (this includes Denerau and the Sheraton, and especially Wailoaloa which is awful). If I can make a suggestion, cancel the 5 nights at Grand West Villas and do one of the following:

SNIP



I wasn't thinking of going, but I am now.
Awesome post Zac :)

Excellent post, Zaco - it really bums me out when I see people going to Fiji & just staying around Nadi - the islands are SOOOO much nicer! I like Wakaya Club or, less expensive, Matagi, myself & although not luxurious, the Blue Lagoon Cruises are wonderful.

<snip>
...
Right well that's probably quite enough :D. Feel free to PM me if you'd like any specifics on any of these, and have a great trip!

Cheers, Zac

Dear Zac, your post is THE DEFINITIVE on Fiji!!! Thank you so much for this invaluable posting. I really do appreciate your time taken to write this detail out.

I've printed out a few copies for my eminent trip. One copy stays permanently in my pocket! ;-)

A quick comment on that accomodation in Wailoaloa: I am stuck with that accomm. since it is free anyways. It was a timeshare bonus arrangement that was awarded to me.

Zac, you are da man! Thanks for all the advice!

Hey you're very welcome :D! Hope you have a good trip - since you'll be around Nadi the whole time I'd make good use of the tour desks for activities, I believe there's also one in the Grand West Villas too but if not, Bula Internet Cafe has one.