GENERAL INFORMATION
- Country Quickfacts
- Things to know before you go
- Arrival Guide
- Fiji's Islands at a Glance
- History of Fiji
- Fiji Accommodation
- Romance, Weddings etc
GREAT VALUE VACATIONS
FIJI CRUISES
- Blue Lagoon Cruise,3, 4 & 7 days
- Captain Cook Cruises, 3, 4 & 7 nights
ISLANDSESCAPES IDEAS
STAYS OF DISTINCTION
STOPOVER TRAVEL IDEAS
- Fiji Stopover, 4 days
- Fiji Island Resort, 5 days
- Northern Islands, 5 days
EXTENSION IDEAS
FIREWALKING
The origin of Fire Walking is legendary. A warrior about to kill an eel paused when it spoke to him. The eel (who was really a spirit god) offered the warrior and his descendants power over fire if he would spare his life. The warrior agreed to the deal.
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Fiji
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Health
The 1989 census counted 727,104 people as citizens of Fiji, with a life expectancy of 63 years. Heart disease, cancer and accidents take a toll comparable to that in the developed nations. There is no malaria or cholera in Fiji. The most common illnesses are influenza, dengue fever and a low-grade staph infection. The drinking water is safe in all cities.
Clothing
Dress for locals and visitors is cool, casual and modest. Forego neckties for open-necked cotton shirts and long trousers. Women should not burden themselves with high fashion. It would be lost on the locals and out of place among savvy visitors who leave all that behind.
Cotton dresses, t-shirts, slacks, bermudas (but not short shorts), swim suits, sandals and jellies for the surf are all that's required. Everyone should set aside approximately $25 for a week's resort wear. That will purchase three "sulus", a wondrously comfortable unisex wrap - suitable as a bathrobe or as black-tie.
Credit Cards
Major credit cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants, shops and by car rental agencies and tour operators. American Express, Diners Club, Visa, Master Card and ICB have representative offices.
Electricity
240 volts, 50 cycles; most hotels have 110-volt converters.
Fiji Holidays
These include Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. In addition there are the birthdays of the Queen and Mohammed, (Prince Charles' birthday has been cancelled in Fiji) plus Fiji Day (October 10th), Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, and Constitution Day. Ratu Sakuna Day is not a national holiday, but don't tell that to the Fijians who still honour their George Washington with affection and enthusiasm.
Shopping
Fiji has developed as major duty-free shopping center. Electrical and sports equipment/appliances, jewelry and porcelain, cameras, perfumes and cosmetics are just some of the products available at greatly reduced prices, though urban Americans may find their local discount stores competitive.
Sports
Rugby, soccer and cricket are Fiji's main team sports. There are first-class facilities for golf and tennis including John Newcombe's South Pacific Tennis Ranch. Visitor sports, most of which emanate from hotels or resorts, range from scuba diving and snorkeling to horseriding, windsurfing, water-skiing, sport-fishing and sailing.
Entertainment
Hotels and resorts provide nightly entertainment for visitors, usually cabaret. Visitors can attend Fijian entertainment such as a lovo feast or a meke, a demonstration of traditional songs and dances, or a dramatic fire-walking display. These activities usually follow the requisite "yaqona" ceremony.
Telephone FINTEL
(Fiji International Telecommunications LTD.) connects Fiji via satellite with a worldwide system; AT&T provides direct dial, telex, data and facsimile circuits. A call from Suva to North America is $7.80 for the first three minutes, $2.70 per-minute thereafter. (Hotels surcharge.) Please note that these rates are to be used as a guideline only and are not guaranteed. Ask before you call.
Postal Services
From a Viti Levu resort or post office, it will usually reach North American within three days. Thereafter, it is in the hands of the Gods. Do visit Fiji's Post Offices for lovely displays of local and regional stamps.
Education
Fiji is the center of learning for South Pacific nations. Education is free and universal through eighth grade. Initially bi-lingual, Fijian or Hindi and English, the four upper classes are conducted in English. There are approximately 675 primary schools and 150 secondary schools staffed primarily by graduates of Fiji's four teacher-training colleges.
Crowning its system is the University of the South Pacific, established in 1968 in Suva, with its four schools of Agriculture, Education, Natural Resources and Social and Economic Development. Affiliated with the USP is the Fiji School of Medicine (est. 1885) and two campuses of the Fiji School of Nursing.
Fiji Institute of Technology covers Engineering, Business Administration and Hotel and Catering service. Pacific Theological College is an advanced learning center under the auspices of Fiji's Protestant Churches.
TOURIST VAT REFUND
Tourists who make a purchase of $500 or more while in Fiji will now receive Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds upon their departure. To qualify a tourist must: Spend FJ$500 (VAT inclusive) or more in any of the registered VAT refund outlets on the same day, Take the goods out of Fiji within two months from the date of purchase, Present the goods for inspection along with the Refunds Form, original tax invoice, passport and international boarding pass to a Customs Officer at the Tourist VAT Refund Inspection Counter.
