Fiji

Fill in the arrival card handed out on the plane truthfully. Fiji's biosecurity law is strict: declare all food, including instant noodles, dry snacks, sweets and infant formula. Prohibited items can be dropped in the amnesty bins in arrivals without penalty; undeclared items bring fines.

Only official yellow taxis work from the airport. Denarau is 20–30 minutes away, ~FJ$35–40, with a surcharge between 21:00 and 6:00. Agree the price before getting in. Most resorts offer pre-booked transfers.

For Mamanuca and Yasawa resorts, catamarans (South Sea Cruises, Malolo Cat, Yasawa Flyer) leave Port Denarau in the morning, and most include a coach from the airport hotels to the port. If you land early, you can head to the islands the same day.

Vodafone Fiji and Digicel counters in arrivals are open 24 hours. A Vodafone tourist SIM costs from ~FJ$35 for a 10-day plan; register with your passport. Staff sometimes say tourist plans are sold out and offer pricier ones, so ask for the price.

Tip: Coverage is weak in the Yasawas and on remote islands; don't count on resort Wi-Fi.

If your phone supports eSIM, install an international one such as Airalo before you leave and it works as soon as you land. If you need lots of data, a local SIM is cheaper.

Taxis are the easiest way around Nadi and Denarau; if there's no meter, agree the price first. For the Coral Coast, Navala or Sabeto, hiring a car with a driver for the day is easiest with children — ask your resort.

Cheap public buses run from Nadi town to Denarau, Lautoka and the Coral Coast; an express bus to Suva takes ~4 hours. Pay the driver in cash or by card, so carry small notes.

South Sea Cruises and Malolo Cat serve the Mamanucas; the Yasawa Flyer serves the Yasawas — all from Port Denarau. A Malolo Cat one-way ticket is ~FJ$121 after a 5% rise in September 2026. Trips can be cancelled in rough seas.

Resorts, big shops and tour companies take cards. Markets, taxis, village fees and the Sabeto mud pool need cash — use ANZ, BSP or Westpac ATMs in Nadi town or at the airport.

From 1 September 2026 Fiji charges a 5% Tourism Services Tax (TST) on hotel bookings made from that date and on resort food, drinks and services. It is separate from the 12.5% VAT. Check whether your booking price includes it.

On island resorts, food and drink cost several times town prices and there's little chance to buy elsewhere. A booking with a meal plan, or water and snacks from a Nadi supermarket, saves money.

Tip: Tipping isn't expected in Fiji; resorts have a shared staff 'Christmas fund' box instead.

Kokoda — raw fish cured in lime juice and coconut milk; lovo — meat and taro cooked on hot stones in an earth oven; Indo-Fijian curries with roti. Resorts hold a weekly lovo night with fire dancing.

A full meal at a Nadi curry house — rice, dhal, vegetables, a meat curry and roti — costs FJ$8–15. Nadi's municipal market sells cheap fruit, vegetables and kava root. Tap water is drinkable at most resorts, but drink bottled water on the islands.

Tip: Kava (yaqona) is Fiji's traditional drink and numbs the tongue slightly; go easy the first time.

Ambulance 911, police 917, fire 910 — free from any Fijian phone. At a resort, tell reception first and they will arrange a doctor and transport.

The tropical sun is fierce — reef-safe sunscreen and a long-sleeved rash vest. Don't stand on coral (cuts infect easily) and don't swim alone where there are currents. Use mosquito repellent against dengue.

Cyclones and floods occur from November to April. Follow Fiji Meteorological Service warnings and resort instructions; flights and catamarans may stop, so leave a spare day in your plans.

Enter a village with a guide and present kava root (yaqona) to the chief in a sevusevu ceremony. Take off your hat, cover shoulders and knees (a sulu or sarong) and remove shoes before entering a house. Never touch anyone's head — it is considered rude.

Outside resorts, don't walk around towns or villages in swimwear. Sunday is a day of worship — villages are quiet and some services close. At the Hindu temple remove shoes and wear modest clothing.

Fijians are very friendly: 'Bula!' (hello) and 'Vinaka' (thank you) earn a smile. 'Fiji time' means everything is relaxed and unhurried — be patient.

Download Viti Levu in Google Maps for offline use — coverage is weak on the islands. Top up data in the MyVodafone app; resorts, drivers and tour companies use WhatsApp.

Use the Fiji Airways app for online check-in and schedule changes. The Fiji Meteorological Service site issues the official cyclone warnings.

Fiji Airways flights to Hong Kong and Tokyo usually leave at night. Coming back from an island, move to the mainland (Denarau or Nadi) the day before your flight in case the catamaran is cancelled. Arrive early for an international flight.

Fiji's departure tax is already included in your ticket — nothing to pay at the airport. If you buy kava root, shells or wooden carvings, check customs rules for Mongolia (and transit countries); exporting coral and turtle shell is banned.