Travel Notes - Fiji and Samoa: I broke up my flight segments after last year's fiasco. I flew Frontier to Dallas for $109. I believe Fiji's combo with AA adds $300+. I flew Fiji Air to Nadi for $648. These were about as cheap as I have seen. No issues (this time) there or back except a thirty minute wait at MCO for the moron to attach the jet way door. In Dallas I purchased a RT to Samoa for $385. It actually dropped from weeks and days before. I almost did Tonga. The times and costs didn't line up as well. I now have a whole list of places (that I will write about later) that you can visit from Fiji. Subway Club at DFW for $17. I took a room near the airport at the Airport Ace Hotel (Expedia 7.0) for two nights at $93 because it was cheap and near the airport for my trip to Samoa. That was when I thought I was leaving in two days. They let me in at 5am. I'm not sure if it was because I told them I was leaving after one day. I just ate snacks I had brought from here. FYI - I had to declare them. They didn't seem be bothered by tuna or pepperoni or chips. I also bring packages of mayo and mustard. There was little need. There were enough markets, etc in both countries. I also got fed on the planes. Went for a swim. Walked a couple of miles towards Nadi. Saw the National University and Namaka Market. Went back to the airport for water. Watched the one (Aussie) tv channel. It was pretty hot. Around 90+. It is the end of the rainy season. It rained at dusk. No TSA worries at any of the airports. 14 hour flight. You land two days later. Customs in Fiji and Samoa took minutes. On the return to the US it took three minutes. Had to go through TSA again. I gave myself three hours cushion there and four on the return.
The next day I took a two hour 10am flight to Apia on Upolu (there is also Savaii). My ATM card didn't work at the ATMs. I converted $70 at the currency desk. They gave me a rate of 2.66 with no fee. The rate was 2.7 when I left. Best deal I've ever seen at one of these (usual) rip off joints. The taxi rate is now 80. Not 60. Iran? It takes 45 minutes. I stayed at the Tauese Sea View Hotel (Expedia 8.4) because it was dead center on the main street and they offered a free Cantonese breakfast. I walked around the cove and through the Samoa China Friendship Park. The Chinese are doing all the investment here. The imposing Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was next door. I walked passed the McDonald's to the Lucky Foodtown Market. They had choices. I just grabbed the two local beer choices and a soda for 10. It started to rain. It had been cloudier here. I watched their seven tv stations. Mostly religious ones and a Disney one.
The next day I was awakened by hymns at 5am. Palm Sunday practice. I guess. I had the buffet. Mostly western stuff and fried rice, congee and broccoli in bean sauce. I went to the tourist office and bought a magnet at Janet's. Back to the market for one more beer, tuna and Doritos for 20. The taxis took most of my funds. I walked past the port to a beach I saw on a map (Vaiala) at the hotel. The guy at the tourist office said you couldn't swim there. It seemed like you could. But, I wasn't in my swim trunks because of his advice. I waded. I contemplated taking some shells. I chickened out. That was actually the highlight. Back to the room. Watched tv. The wifi didn't work. Had to use their office computer to check in for my return flight. It was cloudy again.
The next day I was awakened by music again. Ate the buffet again. Noodles, steamed bubs and broccoli again. Watched tv until check out at 11:30am. Most things are closed on Sunday. Took their shuttle (better than the open cab) to the airport for 60. They (and a cabbie I met the day before) told me a taxi is 80 back as well. They won't check in (except for long haul) until three hours before. And then I think I waited until 2pm before they let us through customs into the air conditioned area. Their airport is less advanced. The flight was an hour late leaving. This screwed up my night. In Nadi, I successfully withdrew 60. A cab was supposed to be 20. The Indian shylock I chose wanted 25 and then claimed no change when I paid. It cost 30. The exchange rate here was 2.2. It was a five mile plus ride that I thought I could walk if I had ATM issues again. Would have been rough. It is a beach area (Wiloaloa Beach). I stayed at the Aquarius on the Beach Hotel (Expedia 7.8) between a Ramada and a Wyndham. It was really more of a house. Lots of noise. But, a great ocean view balcony. Two nights cost $190. It was dark by the time I got settled. Mostly issues with the room like the tv. They also claim satellite tv. Nope. Just nine crummy channels from an antenna. I walked to the True Market I had read about down the block. It had a good selection. I bought Australian wine and water for 17 with my credit card. Upstairs was a great. Multi-cuisine restaurant called Olive Tree. Drank the wine with the Doritos from Samoa. Watched the fire dance at the Ramada from the balcony. Walked the beach. It was black sand and all these white shells upon it sparkled at night.
The next day I was awakened at 6am by their staff noise. I took a walk to the far end of the beach around 10am. Went for a short swim. It was eerie. No one else was going in. They said it was fine. It was too hot and shallow anyway. Swam in the pool. Took a Matthew McConaughey book from the book swap area (few in English). Read a bit. Went to the market and Olive Tree. Bought Australian wine, one local beer and pineapple soda for 20. At OT, I bought a shitty pizza and good fried chicken strips with great fries and a curry sauce for 33. Started drinking before sunset because I was bored because I had stayed in my room to long because I was too burnt from my morning walk. Videoed the sunset. It got packed on the beach. I'm not sure if they were away on day tours or show up for the sunset. One hotel brought out horses to ride. Back to the balcony and drank the rest of the wine with the chicken and half the pizza. The weather was clear both days.
The next day they woke me up again. I did a mini walk. They tossed my out at 10am. Had them call me a cab. Only 20 this time. Arrived at the airport and twiddled my thumbs and read until 9pm take off. Had a Whopper Jr before customs for 10. A double cb combo on the other side for 21. The return flight (12 hours) was a bit more crowded. I smartly asked if I could change seats and got farther up. Fiji makes you pay for seat selection online. Lands on the same day. Brisket and soda at Sonny Bryan's at DFW for $18
The trip ended up better than I expected. I also justified the miss last year by doing two countries. I will go back next year and do Tonga or Vanuatu. And back each year until I do all the Fiji connection possibilities (if they turn out to be reasonable). They fly to Tuvalu, Kitibati, Kiritati Atoll, Solomon Islands as well. Never heard of some of those. I believe the shit times are because they wait for planes from NZ and AUS transfers. They had many flights to there (as well as Quantas and Air NZ). Fiji has many islands as well. The next biggest is Vita Latu. I was on Vanua Leva. They film Survivor on the Mamanuka Islands (Mana and Malolo). Castaway was shot on Manu Riki. There are boats that go there. Not too far. I believe they leave from Port Denarau just south of my hotel. The airport and the islands are on the northwest side. I'm not sure what there is to do in Fiji. I saw flyers for mud baths, Orchid temple, gun site, sands, sky diving, scuba, etc. It looks like Hawaii. The people in both places were nice. Most spoke English. Fiji had an Indian presence. They ran most things. There were buses. You could rent a car. It was less of a hassle not booking a combo air ticket. I had issues checking in online with Fiji last year. The American segment screwed that up for some reason. And they were the only ones who didn't refund me. And they caused the missed flight!
I spent $459 on hotels. $128 on parking. Around $95 on food and bev ($37 was in our stupid airports). $72 on taxis. $11 on magnets. $1140 on air. Total of $1905. No visas, pre-flight forms, psuedo visas or shots. They had out entry forms on the planes. No forms returning. Now I am getting a bit jaded and most places on this Earth look the same as other places that are closer to you. This could have been the Caribbean or Hawaii or Mexico and it would look and feel almost the same. Yet, it isn't as daunting as you would think. I bought really well airline wise. Those rates will probably be higher for you. Did this trip change me life? No. Did I do all I could to make it so. No. Next year I'll add some fun excursions and see if makes a difference.