1. What is A BURE?

A bure is a thatched roof resort villa reflecting the style of a traditional Fijian village accommodation.

2. Are the accommodations primitive?

No, accommodations range from budget to luxury and 5-star with the amenities you would expect for a room costing anywhere from F$65.00 to F$500 twin share.

3. What is the weather like?

Fiji enjoys an ideal South Sea tropical climate and can get hot in the summer but seldom reaches above 35°C (96°F). Trade winds from the east southeast bring year long cooling breezes late afternoon and early evening.

4. When is the rainy season?

The season for our tropical rains is from December through February coinciding with our warmest summer months.

5. Is there air conditioning?

Yes, office buildings, banks, major retail outlets, boutiques, restaurants and major hotels offer air conditioning. Smaller mainland resorts and private island resorts offer either air conditioning or ceiling fans or a combination of both.

6.What clothing should I bring?

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.

7. What language do the locals speak?

Fiji is an English speaking country.

8.Is tipping required?

No. Actually, tipping is not encouraged in Fiji and it is left to the individual to determine whether to make a gratuity. In lieu of daily tipping, some resorts operate a staff Christmas fund where “tips” are shared.

9. Is the water safe to drink?

Yes, fresh water reticulated in Nadi, Suva, Lautoka and other major towns has been treated and is safe to drink from the tap. It tastes good too!

10. What documents do we need?

A valid passport for at least three months beyond the intended period of stay, plus a ticket for return or onward travel are required. Anyone travelling from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada, USA, Europe and many other countries is granted an entry visa on arrival for a stay of four months.

11. What “shots” do we need?

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.

12. Is FIJI safe?

Yes, Fiji has one of the world’s lowest crime rates, but prudence dictates that if carrying valuables, you check them in hotel/resort room safes or safe deposit boxes.

13. How long is the flight?

Coming west from Canada and Europe, you’ll stop in Los Angeles, and some flights out of Los Angeles and Canada stop in Honolulu. Air Pacific has four non-stops and Air New Zealand has one out of Los Angeles. Flight time from LA to Fiji is 10 hrs, Auckland to Fiji 3hrs, Sydney to Fiji 3hrs 50min.

14. Isn’t Fiji really expensive?

Actually, Fiji is not expensive, particularly for Americans and Europeans since the 1998 devaluation of the Fijian dollar. The following are selected items in Fijian dollars: full American buffet breakfast ($12.00-$18.00), lunch (up to $16.00), dinner (up to $35.00), bottle of wine ($20.00), bottle of beer ($3.50), and cocktails from $4.00 at hotels and resorts. At restaurants and pubs, dinner ranges from $6.00 to $20.00 and a glass of beer from $3.00 to $5.00.

15.What is the exchange rate of USD to FJD?

Approximately 2 Fiji dollars equals I US Dollar.

You’ve never partied until you’ve partied in Fiji where the locals really know how to get down. Fiji’s nightlife is a happening one and one eager night owls will love. All hotels in Fiji provide some kind of entertainment and activity at night but for those who want to venture out, pacific navigator provides details of Fiji’s hottest and hippest nightclubs and bars. Much of the nightlife is centered around the capital city Suva and the main tourist area - Nadi. Most clubs and bars open every night with the busy nights being Friday and Saturday. The action starts around 9.00pm and goes through until morning.

Island Nights In Nadi
The large hotels usually have something going on every night. This might be a special meal followed by a Fijian meke dance show. The large hotels also frequently have live entertainment in their bars during the cocktail hour. Check with any hotel activities desk to see what’s happening.

Unlike the fast, hip-swinging, suggestive dancing of Tahiti and the Cook Islands, Fijians follow the custom of the Samoas and Tonga, with gentle movements taking second place to the harmony of their voices. Only in the spear-waving war dances do you see much action. Nevertheless, taking in a meke is a popular way to spend at least one evening in Nadi.

The most popular watering hole here is The Bounty Bar & Restaurant, on the Queen’s Road in Martintar ([tel] 672 0840), which draws many expatriate residents to its sports TV and icy draft beer.

For live music, head to the main dining room and bar in the Fiji Mocambo Hotel ([tel] 672 2000), where one of Fiji’s top rock band plays for dancing after 9pm Tuesday to Saturday. The cafe at The West’s Motor Inn, on the Queen’s Road in Martintar ([tel] 672 0044), becomes a pleasant, gay-friendly piano bar from Monday to Saturday.

Island Nights In Suva
Fijian-style meke feast-and-dance nights are scarce in Suva. The Centra Suva, Victoria Parade ([tel] 330 1600), usually has one a week. Otherwise, nocturnal activities in Suva revolve around going to the movies and then hitting the bars — until the wee hours on Friday, the biggest night out.

Movies are a big deal here, especially the first-run flicks playing at Village 6 Cinemas, on Scott Street at Nubukalou Creek, a modern, American-style emporium with six screens and a large games arcade upstairs. Check the daily newspapers for what’s playing and show times. You can pig out on popcorn, candy, and soft drinks. Locals flock here on Sunday afternoon, when these plush, air-conditioned theaters offer a comfortable escape from Suva’s daytime heat and humidity.

After a nighttime movie, locals head for their favorite bars. Blues and jazz fans gravitate to Birdland, a basement pub at 6 Carnavon St., east of Loftus Street ([tel] 330 3833), which has live music Thursday to Saturday nights. A few doors down Carnavon Street, the waiters and bouncers wear cowboy hats and other Western garb at The Barn, where you can line dance to tunes by country-and-western bands ([tel] 330 7845). Trap’s Bar, 305 Victoria Parade, 2 blocks south of the Pizza Hut ([tel] 331 2922), is the most popular watering hole where you’re not likely to witness a fight. A band usually plays in the back room on weekends.

O’Reilly’s, on MacArthur Street just off Victoria Parade ([tel] 331 2968), is an Irish-style pub that serves Guinness stout and sports on TVs (as the bouncers on MacArthur Street will attest, it can get a bit rough, depending on who’s winning the rugby matches).

Victoria Parade has a number of loud discotheques frequented by the young, noisy crowd. Just walk along; you’ll hear them.

You’ll find a wide variety of food in Fiji, including French, Asian and Indian. The local food consists basically of pork, chicken, fish, vegetables and fruit. We also liked the local version of Indian cuisine. Attend a lovo (Fijian feast), which offers roast pig, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and dozens of other dishes. Among the local specialties are kokoda (raw fish marinated in vinegar and served with coconut milk), dhal (a thick and spicy lentil soup from India), fish in lolo (coconut cream) and a variety of curries. The private island resorts usually serve Western-style food.

Yaqona, or kava, Fiji’s national drink, is part of a ritual. It’s made from a mixture of pulverized dry roots of a pepper plant, soaked in water - it looks like muddy water. For the ritual, everyone sits cross-legged on mats, with the master of ceremonies facing a wooden bowl (a tanoa) filled with yaqona. The master of ceremonies dips a coconut shell (the bilo) into the liquid and passes it to the guest of honor, who drinks the entire cupful in one gulp. The bilo is then refilled and passed to the next person. The ritual continues until everyone has had a drink. Yaqona is a mild narcotic, but you would need to drink a lot to get much of an effect. (Those who drink a lot of it on a regular basis may get dry, flaky skin.) Mostly it will leave your tongue with a numb, tingling sensation.

Shop for cameras, watches, perfumes and other duty-free items, as well as a wide variety of local goods - pottery, tapa (bark) cloth, recordings of local music, coral, wood carvings, Fijian grass skirts and silver jewelry. Don’t buy turtle-shell or whalebone products: They will be confiscated by customs officials when you return home. Note as well that many duty-free prices may not be as low as those at discount stores at home.

Shopping Hours: Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm and Saturday 8 am-1 pm

Suva

Suva, Fiji’s capital, is on the southeastern coast of the big island of Viti Levu. While Nadi, in the west of this island, is the tourism centre of the country, Suva is interesting as the country’s political and administrative centre, as well as its major port. Suva and its surrounds are home to half of Fiji’s urban population, and it is one of the South Pacific’s largest and most sophisticated cities, housing the University of the South Pacific, the fascinating Fiji Museum and many interesting colonial-era buildings. It’s a multicultural city with many mosques, temples, churches and cultural centres. The Roman Catholic Cathedral (1902) is one of the city’s most prominent landmarks.

The waterfront area is very interesting, and the Suva Municipal Market is a must-see for visitors for its exotic fruits and vegetables, kava, seafood, and spices. It has an exciting multicultural flavour, with vendors selling brightly coloured Indian sweets and savouries, and fruit drinks from glass tanks.

Mamanuca Group

The Mamanucas are a bunch of tiny islands just off the western coast of Viti Levu, and they are easily accessible by boat from Nadi, either as a day trip or to stay in one of the many flashy resorts or backpacker spots. The islands are popular with divers, snorkellers, surfers and people who just want to lay about on open stretches of white-sand beach. The lovely reefs and colourful fish make snorkelling around these islands a highlight for many travellers. Only a few of the islands, like Monu and Monuriki, have significant areas of native forest left. These places are home to many birds and reptiles.

Nadi

Fiji’s third-biggest town is set against a mountainous backdrop on the west coast of Viti Levu. The local economy of Nadi relies almost totally on tourism, and although it’s not the most attractive part of the country it is a good place to organise your travels around the Viti Levu island.

Nadi is also a good place to organise activities - anything from diving, golf, horse riding and rafting to joy-riding in a jet-boat or light plane. There is a plethora of tourist services from dirt-cheap accommodation and places to eat to luxury resorts like the Sheraton and the Regent. There’s a high proportion of Indo-Fijians in Nadi, mostly fourth-generation descendants of the indentured labourers brought to Fiji to work in the canefields.

The Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple at the southern end of the main street is interesting and visitors are welcome (but asked not to have consumed either alcohol or non-vegetarian food that day). There’s a good market offering the usual eclectic mix of Melanesian, Chinese and Indian produce. The main strip is littered with restaurants and shops selling clothes, souvenirs and duty-free goods.

Nausori Highlands

Due east from Nadi, in the interior of the Viti Levu island, are the fantastic landscapes and remote villages of the Nausori Highlands. The village of Navala is perhaps the most picturesque in all Fiji. While most Fijian villages now have a preference for prefab concrete and corrugated iron, almost all of Navala’s homes and buildings are traditional bure arranged around avenues with a central promenade leading down to a river.

They don’t get too many visitors here, and it’s customary to ask to see the village chief, and then ask him if it’s OK to hang around and take some photos. Sunday is not a good time to come as it’s the day of worship and for spending time with the family. Bukuya village is further west and it, too, is a worthwhile excursion. There’s simple accommodation available in the villages, but as you will most likely find yourself a guest in someone’s home, the best of manners are required.

Sigatoka

Sigatoka is a small town on the southern coast of Viti Levu, 61km (38mi) south of Nadi and 127km (79mi) west of Suva on the banks of Fiji’s second-largest river. It’s principally a farming community, but acts also as a service town for the Coral Coast resorts. There’s a produce market, a large mosque and a few cheap places to stay and eat. The most striking thing about the town is the sight of the weird fantasy-style mansion on the hill behind the town. Sigatoka is a good base for exploring the the huge Sigatoka sand dunes nearby, the southern coast, and the Sigatoka Valley. The Sigatoka Valley is a highly fertile strip containing almost 200 cultural and archaeological sites, including the Tavuni Hill Fort, a series of defensive earth works built by the Tongan cheif Maile Latemai in the 18th century. The valley is also home to some of Fiji’s best potters.

Land Activities

Adventure sports: The mangrove-lined tidal corridors can be explored on jet-boating trips, which depart every 15 minutes from Port Denauru, 7km (4 miles) from Nadi Town. Bamboo rafting (referred to locally as a ‘bilibili’ ride) is available along the streams and rivers.

Hiking: Fiji’s network of marked nature trails can be explored either individually or on organised guided walks. Activities such as birdwatching (as for example in the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park), ecotourism (studying the local fauna and flora) and swimming at the waterfalls are often combined with hiking tours. Visitors are reminded to respect local customs when passing through villages (see Social Conventions in the Social Profile section). The Lavena Coastal Walk starts at Lavena and follows the southeastern coastline of Taveuni, ending at the Wainabau Waterfalls; the Vidawa Forest Walk is a guided trip through the Bouma Forest Park. Marked trails (including wooden walkways and bridges) also exist in the Kula Eco Park, an area of coastal rainforest rich in wildlife (including fruit bats, parrots and marine turtles).

Water Activities

Scuba-diving and Snorkelling

On Viti Levu, the best dive sites are found on the Coral Coast and Pacific Harbour (both on the western side), where the well-known Beqa Lagoon, the crater of an extinct volcano that measures 16km (10 miles) across, is often frequented by groups. About 12km (7 miles) off the Viti Levu coast, Vatulele is known for its red prawns, regarded as sacred by local people. Northwest of Viti Levu, divers may head to the Yasawa and Mamanuca island groups; to the south lies Kadavua, where the Astrolabe, Namalata, Solo and Tavuki reefs are located. Vanua Levua and Taveuni are particularly good for land-based diving, and ecologically-minded operators have buoyed dozens of sites to prevent damage from anchors.

The best sites around these islands include the Somosomo Straits (home to the Great White Wall, one of Fiji’s most famous dive sites) and the Rainbow Reef (where over 20 dive sites can be found). Live-aboard dive tours are available to the more remote islands, such as Ngau, which has no resorts and where the local chief has to grant permission to dive in the waters. Many hotels and resorts also offer opportunities to go sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing, canoeing, kayaking, parasailing, and game fishing.

Surfing

Surfing is a popular activity and surfers have a seemingly endless choice of locations to choose from. The famous ‘Cloud Breaker’ (6-metre wave) was found offshore at Tavarua, attracting surfers from around the world. Fiji’s waves typically break on coral reefs. Most of the well-known spots are on or near Viti Levu and can often only be reached by boat. Tavarua Island is another favourite surfing spot. There are several surf camps, notably on Beqa and Yanuca islands. Visitors should note that there are dangerous rip tides along the reefs, and should take appropriate precautions.

INTERNATIONAL AIR SERVICES TO FIJI

Nadi International Airport is the gateway to Fiji and the biggest airport facility in the region. Nadi Airport (NAN) provides daily services for a range of airlines including Air Pacific, QANTAS, Air New Zealand, Royal Tongan Airlines, Polynesian, Air Caledonie, Air Vanuatu, Solomon Airlines, Air Nauru, Sunflower Airlines, Air Fiji. The airport is a 15-minute drive to town.

Nausori Airport (SUV) in Suva is Fiji’s second International Airport. Situated 30 minutes’ drive from Suva City, this facility is used by Boeing 737 services from Auckland and Sydney and domestic carriers servicing the Fiji Islands.

Domestic Air Services

Domestic Airports are situated throughout the Fiji Islands providing visitors with convenient access to the whole of Fiji.

INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURE TAX

A Departure tax of F$20 is applicable for all travelers departing the country on International flights. This tax is payable at the airport prior to immigration processing.

Visitor permits good for stays of up to 4 months are issued upon arrival to citizens of the United States; all Commonwealth countries; most European, South American, and South Pacific island nations; and Mexico, Japan, Israel, Pakistan, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, and Turkey. You must have a passport valid for 3 months beyond your visit, onward or return airline tickets, and enough money or proof of finances to support you during your stay.

Citizens of all other countries must apply for visas in advance from the Fiji embassies or consulates. In the United States, contact the Embassy of Fiji, 2233 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 240, NW, Washington, D.C. 20007 (tel. 202/337-8320; fax 202/337-1996; www.fijiembassy.org. Other Fiji embassies or high commissions are in Ottawa, Canada; Canberra, Australia; Wellington, New Zealand; London, England; Brussels, Belgium; Tokyo, Japan; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Hong Kong, China; and Tel-Aviv, Israel. Check your local phone book.

Persons wishing to remain longer than 4 months must apply for extensions from the Immigration Department, whose primary offices are at the Nadi International Airport terminal and in the Labour Department building on Victoria Parade in downtown Suva

Vaccinations are not required unless you have been in a yellow fever or cholera area shortly before arriving in Fiji.

Customs allowances are 500 cigarettes; 2 liters of liquor, beer, or wine; and F$400 (US$240) worth of other goods in addition to personal belongings. Pornography is prohibited. Firearms and nonprescription narcotic drugs are strictly prohibited and subject to heavy fines and jail terms. Pets will be quarantined. Any fresh fruits and vegetables must be declared and are subject to inspection and fumigation.