As the only daughter of a strict Filipino family, solo travelling seemed like a fantasy I would have to indulge in another lifetime. However, after some major convincing (AKA buying tickets and letting the ‘rents know until a month before I took off), Fiji became my first big-girl destination as a single queen.
So, as I unpack, recount, rewind, and now, lock back into work, I want to share the ten thoughts I had on my first solo trip to the South Pacific.
Usually, when folks think of Fiji, most minds race to honeymooners, young families and retirees rather than solo travellers. And I’m not gonna lie to you, when boarding that plane, I clocked those were the three major demographics.
But as someone who lives life through screens, I was very desperate for a digital detox and Fiji fit the bill, even as a solo baddie. However, now that I’ve visited the tropical paradise, I’ve discovered that Fiji is more than just a place for these three major groups…
Spoiler alert: it’s the perfect spot for solo baddies looking for a tropical escape.
10. Come on, Bek. Channel your inner Charli xcx and “Talk Talk”.
Coming from a place (Sydney) where Tall Poppy Syndrome is rife, talking to strangers was quite daunting for the first… hour.
Now, I will preface and note that I am naturally a yapper – hence why I made professional yapping my career – but even then, talking to strangers was quite spooky, especially when they’re already set in their own groups or couples.
But after bonding over some frozen margs and some kind of entertainment news gossip, it was easy, and the chats gifted me with amazing stories, life lessons, travel recommendations and beautiful friendships.
And of course, if you’re aiming for that sweet, sweet moment of solitude, that was reached via the book (I barely got to crack in too) and my headphones.
But regardless, I would say the highlight of this trip was the beautiful connections I made. That being said, shout out to Lemba at Nuku in the Hilton and Chubz, y’all are real G’s!
9. It’s okay to spend a day doing nothing.
As a self-confessed workaholic, I often find myself feeling a little guilty taking a breather — especially when Logies and Sydney Sweeney were lighting up the timeline with juicy content.
But as soon as that island breeze hit my neck as I plopped my bundah on that sunbed, that workaholic was GONE. I spent a lot of my days by the pool, the beach, or at some kind of excursion, and while I did have work in the back of my mind, it was nice to log out for a second.
And as many of my new friends in Fiji told me, you’re on island time, it’s a requirement to relax!
8. Thank god you booked those excursions in early.
While I am not usually the Type A kind of traveller, it’s always a good idea to get those excursions early.
Booking excursions early not only saves you the disappointment of sold-out dates, but it also helps you organise the rest of the trip. At the end of the day, when you’re solo, you’re solo, and you gotta get your diva boots together to make it work.
Also, pre-booking excursions gives you something to look forward to for the trip!
To give you a glimpse into my personal experience, I booked months beforehand, and yes, I am that annoying customer who constantly confirms and checks with the organiser when it comes to hotel pick-ups, drop-offs and confirmations.
And while we’re talking about excursions, one of the most memorable ones was definitely the snorkelling with sharks encounter at Nanuku Barefoot Resort.
During this tour, we learned about the coral reefs, the marine life and the fierce whitetip and blacktip reef sharks! And of course, we got some time to swim with the beautiful creatures.
After the snorkel tour, we went back to the resort for a feed and the fried chicken???? I still think about it to this day.
If you’re browsing for your personal Fiji trip — solo or not — I would highly recommend tackling this excursion.
7. Now that you’ve “talked”, look at all the connections you made!
Throwing it back to point ten, you need to make those connections! What made it easier was that everyone was so friendly in Fiji, and I’m not even exaggerating.
On my second night alone, I was invited to a Kava ceremony with new friends I had made at the Hilton’s Nuku bar. I then made more local friends who took me to a local club (shout out to Bar One), and during an excursion, a couple of the tour guides took me and some friends I made on the trip on a special hike on Monuriki, the island in which Survivor USA and Cast Away were filmed.
And while these connections had those perks, it was also just the interaction and the conversations I had with these beautiful individuals that made the trip.
6. Kokoda definitely rivals the ceviche.
Kokoda is a traditional Fijian dish that consists of local raw fish that’s cured with lime juice, fresh coconut and salad. As a raw fish enthusiast and island baddie who has tried both the ceviche and kokoda, it’s that tropical coconut flavour that wins my heart.
If you ever set foot in Fiji, you have to indulge in some kokoda! And while you’re at it, please try Lovo!
Lovo is the method of cooking food in an underground oven. The seasonings, the tenderness and the smokiness of the meat are just *chef’s kiss*.
5. Kava doesn’t taste bad, and you’re all haters.
Before jumping into the unjust character assassination of kava, we must get into the *root* of what it is (that joke is funny, I promise).
Kava is a ceremonial drink that comes from the crushed root of a pepper plant, known as Piper methysticum. Kava holds extreme significance when it comes to celebrations, such as weddings and birthdays, in Fiji.
When consumed, the mouth and lips briefly go numb, and you’ll have a nice, calm, feeling that overcomes your physical being. It’s truly an ~experience~.
Now, before consuming my first high-tide bilo (full cup of kava) many tourists warned me that it tasted “disgusting”.
FAKE NEWS. The taste was honestly fine, and everyone is just being dramatic.
The feeling is also really good and mellow, and it’s definitely something that’s familiar… Regardless of the taste and aftermath of ingesting the ceremonial drink, it was truly something special to partake in.
So, if you get the chance, definitely try some kava when you touch down in Fiji.
4. Take those pics ‘cos YOLO.
With social media becoming a daily routine in our lives, it’s without a doubt that I yearned for that perfect pic for the ‘gram. However, the idea of being ‘caught’ taking pics alone and somehow ending up on “Influencers In The Wild” sent chilld down my spine.
However, after mustering up some courage and reiterating “YOLO” in my mind before every shot, I whipped out my tripod and started having those candid photoshoots.
At the end of the day, you never know when you’re gonna go back, so you might as well get those pics in while you can. If you get caught? Who cares!!! God forbid you want to remember how much of a foxy moron you are when you’re older!
Just do it, and serve c*nt!
3. Pics are not only for yourself, but they also put mama at ease.
This is obviously a given, but what put my mind at ease was constantly badgering someone at home, letting them know exactly what I was doing every time I moved locations.
For me, it was my mum who was my emergency contact, but I also ended up sharing my location with a couple of girls back home. I also made sure to send pics of what I was wearing just in case something happened.
You can never be too careful, amirite?
2. Why is dining alone so spooky to me?
For some reason, this is definitely the one thing that irked me. Even in Sydney, I’ve always struggled to eat out alone. I’m not sure why, so I knew this was going to be one of my biggest struggles!
However, after day two, I suddenly became comfortable eating alone WITHOUT watching something on my phone. Again, I’m not sure why I am uncomfortable eating alone, but Fiji definitely pushed that button for me, and now I feel like I can fully take on the world.
1. Cheers to living your best 365 Party Girl life (safely).
I’m not gonna sit here and lie. I am a 365 party girl through and through! I love a little drinky drank and a little boogie followed by a yap in the smokers’ room. But prior to heading to Fiji, I knew that part of the trip could be a skip, as I knew nothing about Fijian nightlife and clubbing.
Until… I made those connections!!! While most nights I was dancing up a storm to a cover of Fleetwood Mac with some groovy retirees, I did make some friends who took me to the clubs and back to the hotel safely. However, the most important part was watching was I was drinking.
As per usual, always hold onto your cocktails, don’t booze from strangers, drink responsibly, and when it’s time to go, you gotta go!
Also, please make sure you tell someone where you are, even if it’s just the folks back home.
While 10/10 of these thoughts are quite positive, I must admit I did have my moments of doubt and loneliness. But honestly, those moments were outshone by all the beautiful memories I made in Fiji.
That being said, I will be jumping on a solo trip soon, and there’s a 50 per cent chance it’s back to Fiji.
Vinaka, Fiji, for the amazing memories!
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