TRAVEL
TIPS
| Driving |
U.S
Driving Permit accepted |
| Currency |
(FJD)
Fijian Dollar |
| Electrical |
240 Volts |
| Telephones |
Country
Code 679, Suva 32+5D |
Time:
GMT + 12.
Electricity:
240 volts AC, 50Hz. Larger hotels also have 110-volt razor sockets.
Telephone:
IDD is available. Country code: 679. Outgoing code: 05. International
calls can be made from hotels via an operator, or from the Fiji
International Telecommunications (FINTEL) office at 158 Victoria
Parade in Suva.
Climate:
Tropical. Southeast trade winds from May to October bring dry
weather. The rainy season is from December to April.
Required
clothing: Lightweight for summer, rainwear for the wet
season.
Shopping:
Favourite buys are filigree jewellery, woodcarvings (such as kava
bowls) and polished coconut shells, sea shells, woven work (such
as mats, coasters, hats, fans and trays), tapa cloth and pearls.
Bargaining is not a rule in shops. Some shopkeepers will give
a discount with large purchases. Duty-free items are available
and include cameras, televisions, watches, binoculars, clocks,
lighters, hi-fi equipment, pewter, crystal and porcelain. Shopping
hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1700, Sat 0800-1300 (some shops have half-day
closing on Wednesday and are open later on Friday).
Tips
about visiting villages: The Fiji Visitors Bureau has
the following advice for travellers visiting Fijian villages:
visitors should be aware that they cannot just stroll into a village,
which would be an intrusion of privacy. It is customary to purchase
a bundle of unpounded yaqona (kava) – the traditional sevusevu
(gift) – before visiting. When approaching the village,
visitors should not enter immediately but wait nearby until someone
comes to greet them and ask the purpose of their visit. They will
then be taken to the Chief or Turaga Ni Koro (Headman), to whom
the kava should be offered. Visitors who are accepted by the Chief
will be assigned a guide and host. Once inside the village, please
also note the following: visitors should dress modestly and not
wear shorts or hats and women should not have their shoulders
bare; shoes should always be taken off when entering someone’s
house or any other village building; visitors should speak softly
and not raise their voices too much as this may be interpreted
as expressing anger; visitors should show respect but be cautious
about praise as Fijians will feel obliged to make a gift of an
object if visitors show too much liking for it; Fijians will always,
out of custom, ask visitors to stay or eat with them, but if one
has already been invited, new invitations should be politely declined
and possibly arranged for a later date; visitors who spend a night
in the village should reward their host with a useful gift of
similar value for each member of the party; it is not recommended
to give money.
Tipping:
Small tips only for special services.
Currency:
Fijian Dollar (F$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of
F$50, 20, 10, 5 and 2. Coins are in denominations of F$1, and
50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.
Currency
exchange: Exchange facilities are available at the airport,
at trading banks and at most hotels. ATMs may not accept foreign
credit cards.
Credit
& debit cards: MasterCard, American Express, Diners
Club and Visa are accepted at a number of establishments. Check
with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant
acceptability and other services which may be available.
