Suitcase Vs. Backpack for Fiji
It’s the ultimate showdown in travel: suitcase vs. backpack. Everyone has a preference, but which one is best for Fiji? The short answer is that it depends on what type of holiday you intend to do in Fiji. Those staying for a week in a luxury resort will have different needs than those island-hopping around the archipelago. So in this article, we’ll go through some things to think about when choosing luggage for Fiji.
For information on what to pack in your luggage, see The Complete Packing List for Fiji, as well as What Clothes to Pack for Fiji.
Tips for Picking Luggage for Fiji
Choose According to Your Baggage Allowance
Check out your airline baggage allowance before choosing your luggage. For checked baggage, there is usually a maximum weight allowance of 23-40kg (50-88lbs), while carry-on baggage allowance is typically 7kg (15lbs) and the dimensions must be no more than 55cm x 40cm x 23cm (21″ x 15″ x 9″). Each airline is different so be sure to check.
If you plan on taking a domestic flight during your stay in Fiji, note that the baggage allowance for checked baggage is lighter, around 15kg (33lbs).
Learn more about travelling to Fiji in Everything You Need to Know About Arriving in Fiji.
Think About the Surfaces You Will Encounter
If you’re doing a bit of island-hopping, perhaps in the Mamanucas or the Yasawas, know that you will probably have to carry your luggage over water or sand.
Choose a Bit of Everything
If you can’t decide between a backpack or suitcase, pick both! That way you can use your suitcase for transporting the bulk of your stuff and check your backpack in as carry-on luggage for your flight. Then, when you arrive at your accommodation, unpack your backpack and use it as a day pack.
Suitcases for Fiji
For the traveller who is staying in only one or two resorts, has transfers organised, and is not going anywhere “too crazy”, a suitcase will be the easy-going choice. Nothing beats the ease of rolling a wheely suitcase across the smooth surfaces of airports or high-end resorts. Plus, finding your clothes is far easier than rummaging in a backpack. However, if you’re planning on travelling to a few different places, especially when island-hopping, you might run into trouble when you need to carry your suitcase over water or sand. And there’s a whole lot of water and sand in Fiji…
In short, if you plan to not travel too much while in Fiji, or even just stick to the mainland, then a suitcase will be the best option.
The Pros of Taking a Suitcase to Fiji
- Easier to organise and find your things inside than a backpack
- Easier to transport around airports and resorts than a backpack
- You can usually fit more in a suitcase than a similar-sized backpack
- Hardshell suitcases help protect the contents better than a backpack.
The Cons of Taking a Suitcase to Fiji
- Harder to carry across different surfaces like beaches
- External elements like wheels and handles can break.
Backpacks for Fiji
While carrying a heavy backpack on your back in the heat might not always seem like the most appealing thing, there are certain situations when carrying your luggage on your back is your only option. For instance, when using boat transport and having to wade through the water to get to a resort. Backpacks are also more accepted on public transport, like public buses, where drivers prefer passengers to not have too much luggage.
In short, if you plan to be on the move a lot in Fiji, a backpack will be your best option.
The Pros of Taking a Backpack to Fiji
- Ideal for island-hopping, as they are easier to carry over difficult terrain than suitcases
- Can be used as a day pack
- Forces you to not overpack and not go over the airline luggage restrictions (as you usually don’t want to carry something too heavy)
- More durable than suitcases.
The Cons of Taking a Backpack to Fiji
- Can be uncomfortable to carry on your back for long periods
- Not as easy as suitcases to transport around airports and resorts.
Day Packs for Fiji
You’ll need to carry a few things around during your day-to-day in Fiji, including sunscreen, beach towels, water, money, etc. See The Complete Packing List for Fiji for a full list. With that in mind, a day pack is essential in Fiji. Day packs can also double up as your carry-on for your flight to and from Fiji.
Day Packs for Beach Bums
For those travelling on a cruise, spending days going to the beach or lazying by the pool, a beach tote or beach bag is a good day pack of choice. You’ll have enough space to fit all your essentials, as well as a chunky beach towel, and look good in the process.
Day Packs for Families
Carrying things for the whole family can be a challenge. One way to go about juggling the day pack is to take a suitcase and a large backpack to Fiji. That way, when you arrive at your resort, you can unpack the backpack and use it as a day pack, having more than enough space to fit in all the millions of things that come with carting kids around on holiday. Check out more tips in 29 Essential Tips for Travelling to Fiji With Children.
Day Packs for Active Travellers
For travellers who like to be on the move, sightseeing in the towns or hiking to waterfalls, a small backpack is a versatile option for a day pack.
More About the Best Type of Luggage for Fiji and Other Tips
Author
Robin C.
This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of Fiji Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before settling in the South Pacific, so he knows a thing or two about planning the perfect trip in this corner of the world. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides and is a regular host of webinars with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.