Fiji
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Travel Tips
Booking ahead: If you want to visit popular places book well ahead. Even 3 months prior to traveling we had problems. Booking is essential.
Food: If you like spicy Indian food you will find it in abundance in Suva, Nadi & the larger towns, there is also some Chinese food, plenty of fast food BUT genuine Fijian food is much harder to locate. The two hotels we stayed at had excellent cuisine available at reasonable prices but most resorts only cater with boring Western food. That appears to suit most people so we guess that is why the situation is like it is.
Water is fine to drink in places East of Sigatoka on the Coral Coast, is OK on Islands with high rainfalls but beware in other places. Bottled water at reasonable cost is readily available in stores & supermarkets. Note that this has ramifications for salads washed in the local water.
The sun: look out, it burns! You are in the tropics. Check you are not planning to go in the wet season. Note that the lush vegetation requires rain so be prepared for it with raincoats. In August we experienced 5 wet days out of the 24 but whether anyone experiences rain all depends upon whereabouts in Fiji they go. Rain is far more frequent in the East.
John Coulson, Australia (Sep 05)
Make sure you communicate directly with the resort you are going to and don't rely on travel agents to give you the correct lowdown. We were looking for a relaxing white sand beach and went to a Resort on Beqa which unfortunately has no beach and is strictly a dive resort. We recommend everyone buy booties with rubber soles (you can get them in sporting goods stores for under $20) so you don't cut your feet. Also, don't buy the turtle shells that the roadside vendors tell you are legal - they're not.
Tom Johnson, USA, (May 03)
In Sigatoka take the time to walk over the footbridge that goes over the Sigatoka River. It provides beautiful panoramas of the river valley and also provides access to a nice breeze that can get stifled among the Sigatokan buildings.
Brian Cruickshank, USA (Oct 02)
If you're going to a remote island, go into Nadi when you first arrive in Fiji and buy stingoes. Ouch on the 'sealice'. The snorkel trip was not the best way to learn about those invisible nasty buggers!
Travis Lopez, USA (June 02)
Moving About
There is a new ferry company called "Sulivan Shipping" serving Suva - Savusavu - Taveuni (19 hrs.) and back three times a week. Suva - Savusavu is 48 F$, Suva - Taveuni 53 F$ (economy, i.e. airplane seats and movie entertainment). The ferry of Sulivan looks much safer than that of Patterson (which is only 1 F$ less and 1 hr. slower). In Taveuni only at the new wharf south of Waiyevo will be stopped on now. The little ferry "MS Raja" from Taveuni to Vanua Levu is now 20 F$ to Savusavu or 25 F$ to Labasa. Very good trip! There is another ferry company serving the same route three times a week (monday, wednesday, friday) at the same time (9 a.m.) for the same prices (but the buses to savusavu and Labasa are worse). There is also a new - much faster and safer - ferry service from Suva to Kadavu once a week. Ask the locals about the exact times and the name of the ship.
Björn Schiffbauer, Germany (Oct 05)
There is a 80 km/h speed restriction in Fiji and most travel at or under that speed because of the windy roads and/or traffic conditions. There is a lot of wasted paint on double lines as few drivers observe them. Local buses are cheap and on the unsealed roads are more comfortable than the shorter wheelbase taxis. But they are â??air conditionedâ?? with no windows and let some dust in. Taxis are not too bad but air flight is VERY expensive, so budget carefully before going to some islands. Note also they restrict luggage weight although we had no difficulties. The boat rides to the closer islands can be choppy at times.
John Coulson, Australia (Sep 05)
A word of warning about the Nausuri Highlands Road. We tried to go along this road into the mountains as it is good for bird-watching, but we had to give up or risk grounding our hire car. We suspect the road has deteriorated badly in the past few years and it now requires a 4x4 or a car with a very high clearance. If you want to go up there - and the views are magnificent - we would recommend using a shared taxi or bus.
Liz Turner, UK (Apr 03)
Re the roads in Viti Levu, Fiji: the main ring road is paved and is in reasonably good condition. However, it is dotted with potholes. Some potholes are small but others are big enough to do serious damage to a car. Keep your eye on the road and be ready to avoid the potholes. Otherwise, you'll end up with a flat tyre.
In anticpation of this, when you pick up your rental car, make sure it has a spare. And then go one step further and actually poke the spare with your finger to make sure it's full of air. Then make sure you have a tyre iron in case you need to make a change on the side of the road; a spare full of air does you no good if you don't have the tools to change it!
If you do get a flat (and I know this from experience) it is very easy and inexpensive to get it fixed. Don't let the rental company do it or you'll pay several times the normal price. The rim will need to be pounded out and the tire will need to be reseated on the rim. Find a local tyre repair shop. Your hotel may be able to help you and any petrol station should be able to assist too. The cost should be no more than F$5 to fix the rim and re-inflate the tire.
When driving, watch your speed. This is for four reasons: one, people (especially children) walk on the road and you need to able to get around them. Two, there are speed bumps in just about all the towns. Hit one when you're going fast and your car will get quite a jolt. Three, it's just polite. And four, the police do have radar detectors. If you get caught, the fines can be serious: $F100 for speeding through a village. Driving at night can be tricky. There are no streetlights, so be especially careful at night. Cows, people and goats can wander onto the street.
Brian Cruickshank, USA (Oct 02)
Getting to and from Lavena Falls can be tricky (but well worth it!), as the last (and only) return bus leaves at 2pm, which means you may have to rush to catch it - not something you want to do in that climate! Another option is to hire a taxi, the driver will pick you up from your accomodation at a prearranged time and take you to the beginning of the walk - no doubt stopping to point out places of interest along the way, be prepared with your camera! The driver will then either wait for you to return, or come back at a prearranged time. All this costs F$60-65, which is good value considering the distance travelled and the state of the roads.
Sara Hatton & John Radford, New Zealand (Feb 02)
Scams & Warnings
A guy with dreadlocks hangs about in Nadi town centre and hassles tourists to go to his place for a "traditional Fijian ceremony". He then takes them down a back alley to a shop and gives them lots of kava (which can disorientate you if you're not used to it). Then he puts the hard sell on them and many leave the place buying a lot of goods that they don't want because they feel pressured to and unsafe. All the people in my hotel had this happen to them and me and my sister were approached and he only backed off when we informed him we had a lot of family in Fiji.
Helen Thompson, UK (Oct 05)
Sword sellers are still quite common especially in Suva and Nadi. At least three of the people I was travelling with were (separately) approached by sword sellers, and one of my friends was scammed by one (and now has a wooden mask with her name carved in it to prove it).
Melody Hiew, Australia (Feb 05)
Don't buy laptops from the wharf in Suva! There are people around telling you that you can buy a brand new laptop at the wharf for 500 dollars. Sometimes they say that they want to steal the thing for you and the other story is that things are ordered by people who can't afford to pay the money for the duty and it can be sold 'under the table' cheaply. You will never get a laptop or anything else for your money. You will only lose your money and if you are really lucky you might buy some rubbish in nice parcel paper. This really happens; I know 3 people who were cheated by these guys.
Ernst Dietrich, Germany (Dec 01)
I would like to claim the world record for shortest time in Suva before buying a mask and swords. I arrived at Fiji's Nadi airport at 5:00 am and was supposed to meet my charity agent in Suva. I got a bus and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the Queen's Road before missing Suva bus station (how??!!) and eventually getting off outside a hotel to be met by a friendly Fijian. He asked me who I was and I just assumed he was my charity agent. I returned my name and was presented with my 'gift'. F$20.00 later and I was the proud owner of a mask and swords. It took all of two minutes in Suva! My advice is ignore anyone who asks you where you are from. Just return the "bula" and carry on walking. Never give your name! Nevertheless, sword sellers have decreased in Suva now and are a very small annoyance at most.
Stuart.J.Bulloch, UK (June 01)
Gems, Highlights & Attractions
Lautoka: For sports lovers a saturday trip to Albert Park is a must-do! Lautoka is a sports city and Albert Park is often crowded when fooball or rugby matches are on. The architecture of the stadium is very interesting!
Björn Schiffbauer, Germany (Oct 05)
I went to two local rugby matches on Saturday (ask locals about fixtures). Games really hard fought, atmosphere electric, great range of cheap local snacks (like barbequed meat, curry in roti) and drinks. Many locals, not very many tourists. Take a towel to sit on spiky grass. Fantastic day out, celebrations in the evening!
Alexandra Miller, UK (Aug 03)
Yarns, Fables & Anecdotes
Fijian guys look like pretty tough guys-almost like Maori fighters- but once they laugh, you've got a different view because of that supersonic laugh- so hilarious!!
Martine De Flander, Belgium (Nov 05)
If you are invited to someone's home for a meal, accept; it will be a memory you'll never forget. I had the good fortune to have a meal with both an indigineous family and an IndoFijian family. The differences are distinct. The Fijian family may cook a lovo for you, which is a meal of cassava, taro, chicken and other vegetables cooked in a hole in the ground, covered with banana leaves and coconut husks. You will eat on the ground on a mat. You eat with your fingers. But before that, you will take part in the kava welcoming ceremony - truly an experience. At an IndoFijian home, you will eat what seems to be traditional Indian fare - curry chicken, etc. You will eat at a table, but with your fingers.
Brian Cruickshank, USA (Oct 02)
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