Before You Book

PREPARING TO GO TO FIJI

CAPITAL

Suva

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

English, Fijian & Fiji Hindi

RELIGION

Fiji is a mixed society religiously with most people being Christian (64.4% of the population in the 2007 census) but with sizable Hindu (27.9% of the population in the same census) and Muslim (6.3% of the population also in the same census) minorities. Religion tends to split along ethnic lines with most indigenous Fijians being Christian and most Fijians of Asian descent being either Hindu or Muslim.

ELECTRICITY

The current in Fiji is 240 volts AC 50Hz with three-pin power points – the same as in Australia and New Zealand. Leading hotels and resorts offer universal outlets for 240v or 110v appliances, or 110V adapters. Many island resorts generate their own electricity, and sometimes when the generators kick in and out, the bedside digital clocks will reset back to 12:00am.

PASSPORTS AND VISAS

A valid passport is required by all nationals. All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Please ensure that passport/s are valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the intended date of return and contain between 2-6 blank “Visa” pages. You should have at least two free pages in your passport. Please access the Travel & Visa Requirements Section on the top of this page for the latest visa entry requirements for the country/ies you are visiting. Passports are required; in addition, travelers are also advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is the sole responsibility of the traveler.

Currency information:

Fijian Dollar (FJD; symbol F$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of F$100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2. Coins are in denominations of F$1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Credit cards:

International cards are welcomed by most hotels, restaurants, shops, car rental companies and tour operators.

American Express, Diners Club, Mastercard and Visa are accepted at a number of establishments and can be used in resorts on most island.

ATM:

Major international cards are accepted at ATMs, which can be found in Nadi, Suva and Savusavu, and although they are cropping up throughout the rest of the islands, these cannot always be relied upon.

The first place you can change money and get money is the airport when you arrive. There is an ATM on the left just as you leave Customs. ATM’s however can only be relied upon towns and cities, and big resorts.

Banking hours:

Normal banking hours are from 9:30am to 3:00pm Monday to Thursday and to 4:00pm on Friday. All banks are closed on public holidays.

ANZ operates a 24-hour service at Nadi International Airport’s Arrival Concourse. Bank of Hawaii offers Automated Teller (ATM) services in Suva, Nadi, Lautoka. ANZ offers ATM services in Suva, Nausori, Nadi, Nadi Airport, Lautoka, and Labasa, while National Bank and Westpac offer EFTPOS services in Suva, Nausori, Sigatoka, Nadi, and Lautoka. The central bank and bank of issue is the Reserve Bank of Fiji, and The National Bank is a government owned commercial bank.

Currency restriction:

There are no restrictions on the import of local and foreign currency, provided it is declared upon arrival when the sum is the equivalent of FJ$10,000 or more. The export of local currency is limited to F$500 in cash. When exporting foreign currency, you will need an approval from the Reserve Bank of Fiji when the sum exceeds the equivalent of FJ$5,000.

Currency exchange:

Exchange facilities are available at the airport, at trading banks, at private exchange offices and at most hotel.

CLOTHING

Many Fijians still dress very traditionally, though some of the younger generations do dress in more of a modern style as well. The clothing the Fijian people wear is lighter and more casual rather than formal and elaborate, also because of the islands’ warm and tropical climate.

Though the Fijian people are quite easy-going, it is also important to show respect toward them. While you can wear bikinis and other more revealing clothing within the premises of hotels and resorts, you should cover up more when you are outside of these places to avoid offending the residents. Both men and women should not wear shorts, and women should be careful not to show their shoulders and arms. If you need to cover up, you can wear a light jacket or sarong.

It is especially important to dress modestly when you are invited into a Fijian village. While in the village, you should also take off your hat, since wearing one is an insult to the chief. You should also leave your shoes outside of the door when entering a home. Keep in mind that it is offensive to touch the heads of both adults and children as well.

Fiji has a beautiful tropical climate, so you should pack light clothing. Lightweight long pants and long-sleeved shirts, as well as a hat, are especially recommend, for both modesty reasons and to protect yourself from diseases you can be exposed to through insect bites. A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen can protect you from the harmful effects of UV sun rays, too. The evenings can get cool due to Fiji’s trade winds, so bring a light jacket a sarong.

COMMUNICATION & EMAIL

Telephone

National Emergency is 112

National Enquiries is 118

International Enquiries is 171

Pre-paid Calls is 172

Customer Service (Fiji): 11 22 33

Directory inquiries (Fiji): 011

EMERGENCIES: 911

Police (Fiji): 917

Telecom Fiji Limited (TFL) is the sole provider of local and national (trunk) telephony services and owns the only public switched telephone network in Fiji. They are part of the HGE consortium which also has the local ISP, connect.com.

Most hotels have direct dialing facilities. For inbound calls, the international IDD country code for Fiji is 679 and there are no area codes. Outbound international calls from Fiji use a dial out code of 05 followed by the country code and telephone number for the number being dialed.

Mobile Phones:

Cell phones now outnumbered land line phones in Fiji. You can get roaming switched on your normal cell phone if you do it before arriving from your home cell phone company, and it works a treat. Be aware that it is not everywhere, especially if you head out to the beautiful outer islands. The country system is GSM 900 which is the same as Australia and New Zealand.

If you bring your own phone, you could also just either:

1. Rent a SIM card to slot into the phone for local use, only about F$1.99 a day (at airport).
2. Buy a prepaid sim card and top up with pre-pay cards.

Customer Services is 123, but be warned, they charge for this number!

Internet:

Fiji’s connection to the internet is good in some places, but patchy in some of the more remote islands or no service at all. There are wi-fi hot spots in various locations. Using skype and other services is quite viable provided the hotel/resort has a reasonable connection.

For visitors, most hotels have internet kiosks and there are a wide range of internet cafe’s. Wi-Fi internet services are getting popular in Suva, Nadi and Port Denarau. Fiji airports have full wi-fi service across the terminals. If travellers have a smartphone, iphone, laptop, or ipad with them, they can buy a prepay plan with Vodafone Fiji or with Digicel Fiji. Ensure the phone is “unlocked” from another carrier.

Internet charges vary depending on where you want to use the services. Be aware that Fiji is still expensive to offer internet services so don’t be surprised if there are rates such as $10/hour being touted.

Hotels – Free to $50/day

Backpacker Lodgings – around $10/hr

Internet Cafe’s – around $5/hr (usual full facilities)

Coffee Shops – Free to $10/hr

WEATHER & CLIMATE

More than 800 islands and islets comprise Fiji. The two main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu are volcanic in origin and have mountain ranges averaging 1300m (4000ft) above sea level. The main international airport is at Nadi (pronounced Nandi), on Viti Levu.

Good time to visit: April to November. Best months are June and July. (Cooler and less rain.)

April to November: Temperate season. Warm, humid, but tempered by cool southeast tradewinds. Average afternoon temperature, 27°C (80°F).

December to March: Wet season. Hot, humid. Cyclones may occur. Afternoon temperature, 29°C (86°F).

Sunshine throughout the year averages 7 hours per day.

Rain, when it occurs, usually comes late afternoon, and humidity increases.

Recreational activity: The season for yacht cruising is April to November.

Suva, Fiji: Altitude 6m (20ft)

 

MEAL COSTS

Food                                                                                            Cost

Meal for 2 people, mid-range restaurant, three-course                - FJ$ 60.00

McMeal at McDonalds (or equivalent combo meal)                      - FJ$ 15.00

Domestic Beer (1-pint draught)                                                - FJ$ 5.00

Imported Beer (11.2 oz small bottle)                                         - FJ$ 8.00

FOOD & DRINKS

Specialities:

• Kokoda (raw fish marinated in coconut cream and lime).
• Rourou (a taro leaf dish soaked in coconut cream).
• Tavioka (manioc or tapioca, often boiled, baked, or grated and cooked in coconut cream with sugar and mashed bananas).
• Duruka (an unusual asparagus-like vegetable in season during April and May).
• Lovo (a covered pit or underground oven used to cook meat, fish, and vegetables).

Regional drinks:

• Kava (traditionally prepared by virgins, who chewed the root of the pepper plant into a soft pulpy mass before adding water but nowadays the roots are pounded in a wooden bowl using a vertical metal rod usually operated by hand)
• Fiji Bitter (a beer brewed in Suva by Carlton Brewery).
• Booth’s Gin, Bounty Rum, Czarina Vodka and Regal Whisky (produced by South Pacific Distilleries, Lautoka).

SUGGESTED TIPPING SCALE

Tipping in Fiji is optional. It is neither customary now required, unlike in the U.S. where tipping is almost necessary. Fiji is a communal society and tips are shared. In all major Fiji resorts, you can see a “Staff Christmas Fund” box, and this is how guests can leave a tip for the entire staff. This is a fair way to say “thank you” to the whole staff, not just to the door man or the front desk employees.

Tips in Fiji are shared among all employees, even the ones who don’t directly interact with the guests. Tips are shared in restaurants as well. It is not common to leave a tip on the table, but rather in a shared staff fund should it be available.

Here is a funny story that illustrates it very well how misunderstandings can happen in Fiji if you tip a resort worker: A California woman stayed in a resort in Viti Levu, Fiji’s main island. She couldn’t believe that tipping isn’t required in Fiji, so she left tips in her room for the maid everyday. Toward the end of her stay, the maid had become very confused because she didn’t know why money was left for her everyday, so she gave the woman a potted plant. The maid figured that the woman was paying for something, so she’d better give her something.

Here are some guidelines that you may find helpful:

Service                                                                                    Tipping amount per/person

1 - Drivers per/ day                                                                     U$D 05.00 per person

2 - Guides per/day                                                                     U$D 08.00 – 10.00 per person

3 - Bellmen at hotels per/check in or check out                                U$D 01.00 per person

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES

As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for latest health information.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Your home country health plan may only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance; however, they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased. Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable.