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Visitor Information
Getting Around
There are good transport connections in Fiji making internal
travel easy and relatively inexpensive. The fastest way to travel
between islands is by plane, and there are many domestic operators
servicing all of the island groups, but unless you've got no
time and heaps of money you're probably better off looking at
ferries and small local boats.
Ferries are inexpensive, frequent, reliable and very seaworthy,
and rubbing shoulders with the local people while travelling
between islands is a pleasant and interesting part of the Fiji
experience. Ferry routes connect most major coastal areas of
Viti Levu and Vanua Levu with all the major islands. You can
charter boats as well, or catch one of the smaller unscheduled
local boats between islands (although the latter are best avoided
in heavy seas).
The larger islands have good bus networks, and outside the towns
you can often just hail down a bus wherever you see one. Express
buses travel between major centres and local buses seem to stop
at every village they pass, but by either means bus travel in
Fiji is a pleasant way to meet local people and an effective
way to get around.
Most people in Fiji do not own a car, so taxis are plentiful
and fares are reasonable. For instance, FJ$2 will take you just
about anywhere in the average town or city. urban taxis have
meters, with a flag at $1.00 and $1.50 after 10.00pm. But you
will find smaller towns and rural area taxis use a fixed price
system and almost everyone can tell you the price to local destination.
For long trips, bargain with the driver. Often he'll reduce
the fare if you allow him to pick up other passengers going
the same way. Some taxis can also be hired by the day or half
day for a fixed price, often the equivalent of a rental car.
Visitors to Fiji may drive if in possession of a valid home
country driving license for the same class of vehicle. The maximum
speed limit in built-up areas is 50 km/h (30 mph) and on the
highways it is 80 km/h (50 mph). Driving is on the left side
of the road.
Rental cars are available at international airports and major
resorts, and are easily arranged from all hotels and motels.
There is good highway from Rakiraki on the north-eastern tip
of Viti Levu to Suva, via Tavua, Ba, Lautoka, Nadi and the Coral
Coast. Work is now in progress which will complete major sections
of the highway from Rakiraki to Suva via Korovou, allowing for
an easy circumnavigation of the island. Rental cars are also
available in Vanua Levu and some outer islands by arrangement.
Rental cars are available from Avis, Hertz and other major local
firms.
Banking
Fiji is well represented by banking groups. These include: The
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ), Bank of Baroda,
Habib Bank, Colonial National Bank, Westpac Banking Corporation
and Bank of Baroda and more.
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
Arrivals Concourse.
Dress
Dress is casual and informal throughout the islands. Visitors
should bring a light tropical wardrobe including golf shirts,
shortsleeve shirts, T-shirts, shorts and slacks for evenings.
For women, summer dresses and lightweight skirts, slacks and
blouses. The wraparound "sulu" (sarong) is Fiji’s
most distinctive form of dress for women and men.
Climate
When it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it's winter in
Fiji. But the average day temperatures are in the 70s-80s F/23-32
C year-round. Nights are usually in the 60s-70s F/15-27 C. Our
favorite time is June-October, when it's the driest. The rainiest
time is December-March: Rain falls nearly half the time. It
rains more on the east side near Suva than on the west side
(near Nadi). Take along a sweater any time of year, as nights
can be cool.
Time Zone
12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+12 GMT). Daylight Saving
Time is observed November-February. When it is 9am in Fiji,
it is: 9pm in London previous day, 10pm Frankfurt previous day,
4pm New York previous day, 1pm Los Angles previous day, 6am
Tokyo same day, 9am Auckland same day, 7am Sydney same day.
Electricity
The electrical current in Fiji is 240 volts AC 50 Hz. Fiji has
three pin power outlets identical to Australia and New Zealand.
If your applications are 110v check for a 110/240v switch; if
there is none you will need a voltage converter. Leading hotels
and resorts offer universal outlets for 240v or 110v shavers,
hair dryers, etc.
Water
Fresh water reticulated in Nadi, Suva, Lautoka and other major
towns has been treated and is safe to drink from the tap.
Health
Yellow fever and cholera vaccinations are only required if coming
from an infected area as designated by the World Health Organisation.
Fiji is free from malaria and other major tropical diseases
that are endemic to most tropical countries.
Dengue fever (Unlike the malaria mosquito, the Aedes aegypti
mosquito, which transmits the dengue virus, is most active during
the day and is found mainly in urban areas, in and around human
dwellings. Signs and symptoms of dengue fever include a sudden
onset of high fever, headache, joint and muscle pains, nausea
and vomiting. A rash of small red spots sometimes appears three
to four days after the onset of fever. Severe complications
do sometimes occur. You should seek medical attention as soon
as possible if you think you may be infected. A blood test can
indicate the possibility of dengue fever. There is no specific
treatment. Aspirin should be avoided, as it increases the risk
of haemorrhaging. There is no vaccine against dengue fever.
There are occasional outbreaks of Dengue fever in Fiji. Avoid
mosquito bites (especially during epidemics)
Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques
All major credit cards and debit cards are available in FIJI
provided that they have the CIRRUS sign imprinted on the front
part of the card. Please double check with your preferred bank
whether it is possible to use DEBIT CARDS in FIJI. However,
all major credit cards are usable in FIJI.
Travelers Cheques are the safest way to carry money into FIJI
and can be exchanged at any bank or foreign exchange outlet.
Furthermore, most hotels, resorts, restaurants, shops, rental
car agencies and other major business outlets facilitate this
service.
Tipping
No tipping is required. At some resorts, guests can make contributions
to the Christmas fund, which is shared by the employees at the
end of the year.
Tips for visiting villages
You will find some villages more traditional than others, especially
those distant from towns and urban centres. Remember, Fijians
are not judgmental of other people and will rarely express a
negative opinion. However, you will find that the more you respect
their customs, the warmer your village welcome will be.
- Dress
modestly. Don't wear shorts, and women must not wear halter
tops and shoulders bare.
- Do
not wear hats. They are interpreted as a sign of disrespect.
- Always
remove your shoes before entering any house or other building.
- Stay
with your assigned host. If other villagers ask you to eat
or accompany them, politely note that you are with your host
and would be honoured to visit with them at some other time.
Remember, Fijians will, out of customs, always ask you to
eat with them or share whatever they have.
- Speak
softly. Raised voices are interpreted as expressing anger.
- Show
respect, but be cautious with praise. If you show too much
liking for an object, then the Fijians will feel obliged to
give it to you as a gift, whether they can afford to or not.
- If
you spend a night in the village, reward your host with a
useful gift of similar value for each member of your party.
It is not recommended that you stay in a village which is
in the habit of accommodating paying visitors. If you feel
obliged to pay more, then ask your host what he or she might
like and purchase it for them. A bundle of groceries is graciously
appreciated by large Fijian families.
Communications
Most hotels have direct dialling facilities. Check with the
operator for long distance and international charges, which
may also be found in the telephone directory. Please note that
the international country IDD code for Fiji is 679. There are
no area codes. Thus, when dialling any part of Fiji from overseas
the procedure would be: access code (679) plus the Fiji subscriber
number.
Vodafone
Fiji Limited, a subsidiary of Telecom Fiji Ltd, operates
a GSM digital mobile communication service. It has roaming agreements
with Australian (GSM) operators namely Telstra, OPTUS and Vodafone
Pty, and New Zealand operator - BellSouth plus UK operator Vodafone
Ltd UK.
Postal Services
Post offices are open 8am to 4pm Monday through Friday except
in Suva where it closes at 4:30pm.
Fiji Visitors Bureau
HEAD OFFICE - FIJI
Fiji Visitors Bureau
Thomson Street
PO Box 92
Suva
Tel: (679) 3302433
Fax: (679) 3300970/3302751
E-mail: infodesk@fijifvb.gov.fj
NADI AIRPORT
Fiji Visitors Bureau
Arrivals Concourse
PO Box 9217
Nadi Airport
Tel: (679) 6722433
Fax: (679) 6720141
Toll free #: 0800-6721721
E-mail: fvbnadi@is.com.fj
Note: this office is open extended hours and meets all international
flights
AUSTRALIA
Fiji Visitors Bureau
Level 12, St Martin's Tower
31 Market Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 92643399
Fax: (02) 92643060
E-mail: fijiau@ozemail.com.au
NEW
ZEALAND
Fiji Visitors Bureau
5th Flr 48 High Street
PO Box 1179
Auckland
Tel: (09) 3732133/134
Fax: (09) 3094720
E-mail: office@fijinz.co.nz
UNITED
STATES
The Americas
Fiji Visitors Bureau
5777 West Century Boulevard
Suite 220 Los Angeles
CA 90045
Tel: (310) 568-1616
Fax: (310) 670-2318
Toll Free #: 1-800 YEA FIJI (1-800-932-3454)
E-mail: fiji@primenet.com
CANADA
Fiji Visitors Bureau
Tollfree: 1-800 YEA FIJI (1-800-932-3454)
E-mail: fiji@primenet.com
AAPAN
Fiji Visitors Bureau
Noa Bldg (14th Flr)
3-5, 2 Chome Azabudai
Minato-Ku Tokyo 106
Tel: (03) 3587-2038
Fax: (03) 3587-2563
E-mail: fijijp@red.an.egg.or.jp
KOREA
Fiji Visitors Bureau
Rm 808 Paiknam Building
188- 3 I-ka
Ulchiro Chung-ku
100-191 Seoul
Tel: 82 (2) 773-8559
Fax: 82 (2) 752-6921
E-mail: fijikr@hotmail.com
TAIWAN
R.O.C.
Fiji Trade & Tourism Representative Office in R.O.C.
Suite 3212, 32nd Fl, ITB Building
333 Keelung Rd., Sec 1
Taipei
Tel: (886-2) 2757-9596
Fax: (886-2) 2757-9597
E-mail: joyce@fijittro.org.tw
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