Customer Reviews

Lonely Planet Fiji (Lonely Planet Fiji, 5th ed)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A good book, though it sticks to the beaten tourist/backpacker track more than it should. In places like Vanua Balavu (which has three or four places to stay and lots to see), this book is sketchy. The writers have 'nice' things about places they obviously intend to visit again, but I got the feeling they were holding back on the criticism. They seem to have deliberately left out hotels they didn't like, probably because they felt those places were bad (dirty, dodgy, frequented by prostitutes, etc). I'd prefer to be allowed to make up my own mind, after reading their input, of course. Like all the other guides to Fiji, this book was written before the Speight coup and is out of date in that regard. It's also the most commonly used guide to Fiji, which means a lot of people trying to do the same thing. On its back cover, Lonely Planet Fiji claims to include 43 maps, but only 32 are named in their map list in the front of the book. What happened to the others?

I've now read this book pretty much cover to cover and am really un-impressed... it mostly just provides a listing of places with some details... facts and figures... there are no real opinions, recommendations, or even suggestions.

It doesn't have much of an overview section that compares the various chains and lists advantagages, disadvatages, differences, overall feel which is what I really need.

I'm try to plan a honeymoon in Fiji and don't really feel much further along except now I know some of the options.

The Frommer's book on New Zealand on the other hand has been wonderful.

I just went to Fiji for the month of Septembre 2000. I used the LP guide to Fiji and found it very useful in my travels around Viti Levu. I found the people to be warm and friendly and anxious to get back to normal after the political problems they had this summer. LP covers the basic do's and don'ts to the culture. And the insights to different areas through out Fiji are accurate and direct.

It was very helpful and easy to follow. Not having travelled to Fiji before. This book prepared me in so many ways, from accomodation to places to visit and also giving me some idea on how much money I should take there. I would have been totally lost without this book. I recommend that you get it if you're planning to visit Fiji.

I loved this book, and it came in handy for me. I just recently went to Fiji and this book covered what I needed to know for my trip. Fiji is a wonderful paradise, but you need to do your research before you go...and this is the book to do it with.

The facts, figures, and prices in this guide need to be updated. But if you choose to go to sketchy Fiji, then you need to be armed with something. If you take the tourist shuttle from the airport, the tour bus to the Yasawa Flyer, go straight to a resort (I use this term loosely) on the outer islands, then you'll probably love Fiji. Should you go off the beaten path and anywhere near Suva in particular, be very alert. Your wallet & purse are on the radar. One thing LP doesn't relay...Bula (hello/welcome) literally translates to one of the following: 'Come see my shop.'...'Taxi! Taxi!' or 'Let my cousin show you around'. 'Traditional Fijian warmth' unfortunately has become directly proportional to how much you spend.

i bought this book to help me get aquainted with fijian culture before i travel there this coming fall. I plan on living there for awhile so this book was really helpfull in a quick introdutory course on what fiji is all about.!

Get this guide if you're goin' 2 Fiji! If you're thinking of the Mamanucas go to Tokoriki!