STAY: Mango Bay Resort, Fiji

Mango Bay Resort, Fiji

Location: Sigatoka, Fiji
Accommodation type: 16 bed dorms, 10 bed dorms, private huts
Board Basis: Bed and Breakfast
Price: Dorms from £13 per night, private huts from £50 per night
Date Visited: August 2012

Mango Bay Resort is situated in the Sigatoka area of Fiji, a short drive from the capital, Nadi. I would say that it offers 'flashpacker' level accommodation, with well kept dorms, but basic private rooms. The facilities are not luxurious; the pool is small and the decor is more or less non existent.

But, despair not! The negative set up is only to manage expectations. This is an accommodation option for backpackers, not one for those who are expecting luxury. As backpacker accommodation goes though, Mango Bay is up there with the best. The dorms are kept clean and comfortable, and even in high season are not constantly full, meaning that in our  five day stay we could spread out and make ourselves at home. The communal washing facilities are equally well looked after.

It is in a beautiful location, right on the beach, with no other hotels in sight. A walk along the bay in one direction takes you into secluded coves, and in the other to a long stretch of sandy beach. The sunsets are out of this world, and can be enjoyed each evening from the beach front restaurant.

The restaurant is exceptional. For a modest price, you receive huge helpings, and we steadily worked our way through the menu while we were there (putting on any weight that was lost during our stint in Asia). Every morning we would see that staff pulling in with the catch of the day, later to land on our plates either in traditional fish and chips format, or dressed up in curries and salads. A favourite was wahoo. I would also recommend the pineapple fritters, which I developed a particular weakness for.

Unfortunately our time in Fiji was marred by unprecedented bad weather, despite visiting during the dry season. The staff at Mango Bay, however, were totally geared up for this eventuality. There was a full program of events throughout the day, including frog racing, pineapple smashing and canoeing. In case you wondered what pineapple smashing is, see my attempt below (hint, the pineapple is about six feet to my right):

All in all, Mango Bay is a great stop off is you are backpacking and want something a little more comfortable, or if you are looking for a cost effective way to balance out the expense of your flights to the other side of the world. If we could have a great time despite the atrocious weather, I hold high hopes for any visitor.

Find out more and book here: www.mangobayresortfiji.com