This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Nadi.
Nadi is the first place that most travelers visiting Fiji see on arriving at the international airport and, on first impressions, it can be a little disappointing for those dreaming of a South Pacific paradise of white sands and palm trees wafting gently in the breeze! Scratch beneath the surface of this practical, no-nonsense town, though, and you will find a plethora of services useful to the independent traveler, and a wide range of attractions often overlooked by those rushing off to the Yasawas Islands. Whilst the main street is a bit scruffy, it has the widest range of food shops, souvenir stores, and places to pick up the bits and pieces you've forgotten (insect repellent, towel, suncream) that you are likely to find, and prices are more reasonable than in many of the smaller resorts.
There are a wide range of hostels in Nadi, ranging from those convenient for the airport to those with a more laid-back beach vibe. The hostels in Nadi are spread out across the town, and although there is a good and easy to use local bus network it is worth a little research to make sure you get what you are looking for and situate yourself in the appropriate area.
In and around the town itself, there are a number of sights worth seeing including the very colourful Hindu temple and, further outside the town, the Sabeto Hot Springs and mud pools and the spectacular Garden of the Sleeping Giant -- both of which lie in the heart of the rural Fijian countryside and are well worth a visit. Activities across the whole of the central island and on the outlying chains can be easily arranged either via the hostels or using one of the many travel shops in Nadi. Whilst it may lack the charm of some of the smaller places, you can't really say you've been to Fiji until you've been to Nadi!
Written by local enthusiast for Nadi hostels
Howellsey