Fiji Travel Information
Fiji Airlines, Fiji Weather, Fiji Visas

Fiji Map

 

GETTING TO FIJI:

Air New Zealand and Air Pacific, fly to Fiji nonstop from Los Angeles. The flight is only about 10 1/2 hours.

Passports are required for travel and must be valid for three (3) months after travel.

Most international flights arrive in Nadi before dawn. You clear customs and if you are traveling to a outer island resort, Sunflower and Air Fiji both have flights that will leave within a few hours to get you to your destination with ease.

At the Nadi International airport there are shower facilities, a café with fresh brewed Fijian coffee and my favorite tradition, Toasted Cheese sandwiches.

Fiji lies just across the International dateline, so you will "lose" a day going, but get that back on your return.

FIJIAN LANGUAGE:

English is the official language, along with Fijian and Hindi.

English is spoken everywhere, but you will quickly being saying Bula (hello) and Vinaka (thank you) with ease.

 

FIJI WEATHER, CLIMATE and CLOTHING:

Fiji lies south of the equator, so seasons are the reverse of those in the Northern Hemisphere.

Temperatures average about 75 in the winter ( May through October), 80 in summer (November through April).

Dress in cool, comfortable and casual. Bathing suits and shorts are fine at the beach, but be respectful when visiting villages, cover your arms and legs with a sulus (sarong), suitable for all occasions.

If you plan to trek, bring sturdy walking shoes. Reef walkers or Aqua shoes are an excellent idea for wading. Good sunscreen is a must.

FIJI CURRENCY:

Currency is the Fijian dollar, which is currently worth (when this was written) about 55 cents US.

Tipping to individuals is not customary. Instead, most hotels and resorts encourage donations to the staff Christmas fund, which is distributed to employees around the holidays.

IMMIGRATION - CUSTOMS REQUIREMENTS:

A valid passport and a ticket for onward travel is required by all persons visiting Fiji. The passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the intended period of stay.

A departure tax of $20 Fijian dollars per person will be collected prior to your return departure from the international Airport in Nadi. Make sure that you save enough money to take care of this fee.

Visitors are allowed duty free concessions of: 500 cigarettes or 500 grams of cigars, or 500 grams of tobacco, or all three but not exceeding 500 grams together. Two litres of liquor or four litres of wine or four litres of beer. Up to $400 per passenger of any duty assessed goods.

ELECTRICITY:

240 volts, 50 cycles AC is standard throughout Fiji.

Many hotels have 110 outlets for shavers, some have 240 Volt hair dryers in the rooms, when traveling to the outer islands it is recommended to bring your own converter.

FOOD:

Fijian cuisine includes seafood, beef, pork, chicken and root vegetables (dalo and tapioca) and fresh fruits and vegetables. Many resorts offer meals cooked in the traditional underground “lovo”. Fijian cuisine also has Indian and Chinese influences as well as many others.

Water in Fiji is generally treated and usually is safe to drink in urban areas and at hotels and resorts, it is a good idea to ask the resort where you are staying about the water and if it's safe to drink it. Bottled water is readily available as well.

MEDICAL SERVICES:

Fiji is free of malaria and rabies.

There are local hospitals in Suva, Sigatoka, Lautoka, Nadi and Taveuni; most small towns and built up areas have local government run clinics. Some private medical services are available.