Where to Stay in the Yasawa Islands: Best Islands, Resorts & Homestays
One of the best things about island hopping through the Yasawas is mixing up where you stay. Beautiful beachfront resorts, simple local homestays and laid-back island lodges all give you a completely different experience of Fiji.
We tried a little bit of everything — and honestly, that’s exactly how I’d do the Yasawas again.
Should You Stay on One Yasawa Island or Island Hop?
If you have the time, I’d definitely recommend island hopping through the Yasawas rather than staying on just one island.
Each place we stayed felt slightly different, and moving between the islands via ferry was enjoyable.
We didn't stay in expensive resorts every night. We mixed things up with budget accommodation, local homestays and a few nights at a resort, which made the trip much more affordable.
If you only have a few days, choosing one great resort makes sense. But with a week or longer, I’d stay on at least two or three islands.
We travelled through the Yasawas using the Yasawa Flyer and Bula Pass, which made getting between our different stays really easy.
👉 Planning a similar trip? Read our complete guide to island hopping the Yasawa Islands, including how the Bula Pass works, ferry tips and what we learned along the way.
Barefoot Manta: Our Favourite Resort
Barefoot Manta was easily one of our favourite stays in the Yasawa Islands.
It is seriously such a beautiful place. The resort sits on a small island surrounded by incredible beaches, and the snorkelling straight from shore was some of the best we experienced anywhere in Fiji.
The food was amazing, but what really made the stay special were the people. The staff were so friendly, warm and welcoming, and we genuinely felt so well looked after while we were there.
You can wander around the island, swim and snorkel from different beaches, or honestly just sit and take in the ridiculously beautiful views.
And then there's the biggest reason we chose Barefoot Manta — the manta rays.
During manta season, you can get the chance to swim alongside these enormous, beautiful rays in the channel near the resort. We were lucky enough to experience it, and it was one of those absolute once-in-a-lifetime travel moments.
If you're only going to splurge on one resort while island hopping through the Yasawas, Barefoot Manta would absolutely be my pick.
Staying in a Yasawa Homestay
Staying in a local homestay was a completely different experience from staying at a resort, and one I'd really recommend including if you're island hopping through the Yasawas.
It gives you such a lovely glimpse into everyday life in Fiji. We became part of the family for a few days, ate meals together and got to know not just our hosts, but their extended family too — aunties, uncles and everyone in between. We were so warmly welcomed and incredibly well looked after.
Our hosts showed us some of the best local places to swim and snorkel, and we also had the opportunity to visit nearby villages and schools and learn more about local traditions and life in the Yasawas.
The accommodation itself was much simpler than a resort, but that's really not why you stay in a homestay. For us, it was about the people, the experiences and getting to see a completely different side of the Yasawa Islands.
It was also a great way to keep the cost of our island-hopping trip down without feeling like we were missing out. In many ways, it gave us experiences we simply wouldn't have had if we'd stayed in resorts the entire time.
Budget Lodges in the Yasawa Islands
Budget lodges are a great mid-range option in the Yasawa Islands, sitting somewhere between a local homestay and a full resort.
You'll generally have your own simple bungalow, often with a private bathroom, and meals are usually provided. We found the food throughout our stays to be fresh, filling and delicious.
Don't expect resort-style extras like daily housekeeping or lots of facilities, but that's not really what you're paying for. What you do get is clean, comfortable and affordable accommodation, usually in an absolutely beautiful location.
For us, budget lodges were another great way to keep the cost of island hopping down while still having our own space and a little more privacy than a homestay.
Octopus Resort: A Great Choice for Families
We didn't stay overnight at Octopus Resort, but we did spend an afternoon here and I was really impressed with it.
The resort itself is beautiful, with a lovely pool, a great bar and plenty of activities. We had lunch here and the food was really good, but one of the biggest highlights for us was the snorkelling.
The snorkelling straight off the beach was fantastic — easily some of the best we experienced in the Yasawas.
Octopus also has a fabulous kids club and plenty to keep children entertained. If I were travelling through the Yasawas with younger kids, this is definitely one of the resorts I'd seriously consider staying at.
We didn't get the chance to stay overnight, so I can't comment on the rooms, but based on the afternoon we spent here, I'd happily put it on my list for next time.
Blue Lagoon Beach Resort: A Beautiful Choice in the Northern Yasawas
We didn't stay at Blue Lagoon Beach Resort ourselves, but if you're looking for a beautiful resort in the northern Yasawa Islands, this would be one of my top choices.
Located on Nacula Island, it's surrounded by the kind of ridiculously beautiful beaches and turquoise water you come to the Yasawas for.
It's also a great base if you want to visit the Sawa-i-Lau Caves, one of the highlights of this part of the Yasawas.
The resort itself looks absolutely beautiful, and if we were planning another trip and wanted to include a resort stay further north, Blue Lagoon Beach Resort would be high on my list.
Resort vs Homestay in the Yasawa Islands Fiji
If you can, do both.
Staying at a resort and staying with a local family are two completely different experiences, and combining the two was one of the things we loved most about travelling through the Yasawa Islands.
If your budget allows, I'd definitely splurge on a resort for a few nights. We absolutely loved Barefoot Manta, especially for the incredible experience of swimming with manta rays and having that little taste of island resort life.
But if you want to spend longer exploring the Yasawas and your budget won't stretch to resorts every night, add a homestay or two into your itinerary.
You'll save a lot of money on accommodation, but one of the biggest savings can actually be the food. Compulsory resort meal plans can really add up, particularly when you're travelling as a family.
More importantly, though, staying with a local family gives you a completely different experience of Fiji.
We ate together, met extended family, spent time with the kids and were welcomed so warmly into their home. It was such a lovely and humbling experience, and one that we wouldn't have had if we'd stayed entirely in resorts.
For us, the perfect Yasawa trip wasn't resort or homestay.
It was a bit of both.
How Much Does Accommodation Cost in the Yasawa Islands?
Accommodation in the Yasawa Islands varies hugely.
At one end, you'll find very basic homestays and hostel-style rooms where you might share with other backpackers and travellers. At the other, there are beautiful luxury resorts where you can completely splurge.
As a rough guide:
$ — Homestays & simple lodgesThe cheapest way to stay in the Yasawas, with basic rooms and sometimes shared bathrooms.
$$ — Budget lodges & private roomsSimple, comfortable accommodation with a little more privacy, often including your own bungalow or bathroom.
$$$ — Full-service resortsBeachfront resorts with restaurants, bars, activities and more facilities.
$$$$ — Luxury Yasawa resortsFor the full tropical-island-resort experience.
One tip when searching for accommodation on Booking.com: don't only search for “Yasawa Islands”. Once you have an idea of which islands you'd like to visit, search for each island individually. Some of the smaller homestays and locally run accommodation can be easy to miss when you're searching such a large area.
It's worth playing around with different islands and dates to see what's available — you might find a little homestay or budget lodge you wouldn't have discovered otherwise.
Where Would We Stay in the Yasawa Islands Again?
If we went back to the Yasawas, we'd definitely stay at Barefoot Manta again. We absolutely loved it — the food was amazing, the island was beautiful, and being there during manta season made it even more special.
I'd also love to try Blue Lagoon Beach Resort and Barefoot Kuata, which both look amazing.
But I'd still mix in a couple of local homestays. For us, staying with local families was such a special way to experience Fiji, and I'd definitely want that to be part of another Yasawa trip.
Resorts, homestays and a little bit of everything in between — that's how I'd do the Yasawas again.
Travel Insurance for the Yasawa Islands
The Yasawa Islands are pretty remote, so we always travel with insurance — especially on trips involving boats, snorkelling and lots of island hopping.
We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
👉 Check travel insurance options with World Nomads
Planning a Trip to Fiji?
If you're planning your own Fiji adventure, these guides might help:
🏝️ How to Island Hop the Yasawa Islands, Fiji — everything you need to know about getting between the islands and planning your route.
🤿 Best Things to Do in the Yasawa Islands, Fiji — from incredible snorkelling and manta rays to caves, beaches and island adventures.
💰 Fiji on a Budget With Kids — how we travelled through Fiji as a family without spending a fortune.
🌴 30 Travel Tips for the South Pacific — all the little things we've learned from travelling extensively throughout the South Pacific.
🌺 Which South Pacific Island Is Best for Your Next Holiday? — comparing the islands to help you choose the right one for your trip.
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