Moon Travel Guides releases Fiji Guidebook by David Stanley

Photo courtesy of Tourism Fiji.

At first glance, the cover image to Moon Travel Guides’ Fiji guidebook had me scratching my head: of all the gorgeous photos featuring the islands, a close up of a blue and yellow damselfish with red gorgonian coral in the background seemed a bit odd. But as soon as I opened the first 24 full colour pages of photos and introductory text by author David Stanley (also author of Moon Tahiti), I never thought about that damselfish again.

Fiji Vacations
This ninth edition of the guidebook is brimming with great travel advice. David starts with a quick summary of the main island groups and then offers “10-Day Best of Fiji” and “Island-Hopper Special” itineraries. After featuring the best beaches, cultural info, diving and snorkelling tips, and water activity highlights, the book starts in Nadi, where the international airport is.

From there, area by area is given an overview, a handy “Highlights” page, recommendations on how to spend your time in this particular location, and the main sites. Then, options for entertainment, shopping, recreation, accommodations, food, practical information and transportation are given, with more meat than most guidebooks.

Bouma Falls. Photo courtesy of Tourism Fiji.

Fiji Travel Tips
Of definite appeal is the wide range of hotels that David lists. He often starts in the $25-$50 backpackers range, but goes right up to the Over US$250 category, too, giving a nice balance to what’s available.

I also love the layout of this book. Each section has an area map by David himself, as well as mostly the author’s own photos. I’m a big fan of single authored guidebooks anyways, and I think it really lends credibility to the book when photos aren’t all airbrushed stock images from the tourism board’s website.
 
The info sidebars and pages are also particularly helpful. Things like local lore, historic individuals, Tom Hanks’ movie Castaway, and yes, even some background on cannibalism that Fiji used to be known for many, many years ago! (“It has been said that the Fijians were extremely hospitable to any strangers they did not wish to eat…”)

Moon Travel Guides’ Fiji Guidebook by David Stanley has all the practical tips you need to plan a vacation there, as well as a ton of background info and a full economical, cultural, social, and artistic history at the back of the book. The author also has an informative website that covers the South Pacific.

I will absolutely be using this book to help plan my next trip to Fiji.

Tags: David Stanley, Fiji Guidebook, Fiji Travel Tips, Fiji Vacations, Moon Travel Guides, South Pacific