Travel Tips
There are now many ATM machines in Fiji. I was much relieved when the first thing I saw outside the customs exit at Nadi International was an ATM machine.
Andrew Mitchell, Australia (Dec 98)
No permit is necessary to visit Vanua Balavu which is approximately 200 miles east of Suva. Air Fiji flies here twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays; at present, the return fare is FJ$226. Shipping here is very haphazard; there is no regular service.
Vanua Balavu has no banking or credit card facilities; Fijian dollars are required for all transactions on the island. Also, travellers' cheques are totally useless as they cannot be cashed here.
Helene Tuwai, Fiji (Dec 98)
There is now an ANZ ATM machine at the Nadi Airport.
A word of advice for the traveller who, like me, wants a relaxing resort experience without spending too much extra money. Bring extra snacks and water (bottled) if you go to an isolated resort. Both of these things are ridiculously expensive on the islands.
David B Leventhal - USA (Jul 98)
Local buses are very cheap and a good way to see Fiji, as long as you don't mind taking a fairly long time to get to the next destination.
Medical care is free.
Andy Davis, UK (Dec 98)
Parents may wish to know that children (under 12, I think) can travel on local buses free of charge. By "local buses" I mean the ones without windows that are not express buses. Also, if travelling on long distance buses with children, it is best to sit up the front, as the men at the back often play music very loudly and smoke cigarettes.
Felette Dittmer, Australia (Dec 98)
I fell in love with the island of Leleuvia, a backpacker resort that has just the right number of backpackers (very few) as well as a great group of Fijians living and working on the island. I was so enchanted with Leleuvia - perfect crystal waters surrounding a tiny island you can walk around in 15 minutes, fresh fish caught and brought in for lunch and dinner every day, snorkel and dive trips, hours of glorious sunshine in paradise, volleyball in the afternoons and memorable nights under the stars, moon and swaying palms drinking kava and singing Fijian songs on the guitar. I made a point of going back there at the end of my trip, stayed a month the second time around and have truly left my heart there. ItÆs only a one and a half hour boat ride from Suva on the main island. ItÆs perfect for budget travellers passing through Fiji or die-hards who canÆt make themselves leave. The people there made me part of the Leleuvia æfamilyÆ and IÆll never forget that.
Kennerly Clay, USA (Apr 99)
If you wish to experience real village life and culture in Fiji, you should go to the Devokula Cultural Village near the old capital of Levuka on Ovalau island. Here you will find authentic bures and the best meke (traditional dancing and presentation) in all of the South Pacific. Also the location on the beach is great as it offers many activities: fishing, snorkelling, diving, swimming in pristine conditions and fabulous trekking. Devokula Village has been developed over the past eight years and is the co-operative effort of the Bolakula Youth Club which represents three villages. The village also educates the youth in the traditional ways of their elders. The chief is 87 years old - a great wise man indeed! If you wish to know more, you can contact the co-ordinator of the Devokula Village who is also the son of the chief:
Mr Jeremaia Tukutuku
PO Box 128
Levuka, Ovalau
Chris Souilivaert, Australia (Nov 98)
If you want an island which is not far from the mainland and where the snorkelling is great, Nananu-I-Ra is the place. It's situated north of Viti Levu. Take a boat (just a small eke) from Wellington wharf and within 10 minutes you will be there. We rented a house through a travel agent in Auckland but you can also call Sitiveni who is chief on the island. You can reach Sitiveni by phone: 694 566. He can help you with different kinds of accommodation. We found one of the most beautiful beaches ever: One Beach. The best way to go there is by boat (Sitiveni can help you with that as well). This is one of the last paradises with no houses, just unspoiled sand and crystal clear water. The snorkelling is fantastic with a visibility of over 30 metres. The reef is not big in square metres but the coral is huge and so beautiful.
Anna & Rolf Hedman, Sweden (Aug 98)
I would recommend the day trip to Daydream Island. I went alone and thought I'd just be dumped on this tiny island to snorkel and sunbathe alone. I didn't account for the Fijian's wonderful hospitality. I was entertained by them all day and had a great time. We were sung to over a great barbi lunch - as much beer as you like! Escorted on organised snorkelling trips so we could see the best coral. They treated us all like family members, then sang to us all the way home on the boat. They were enthusiastic and friendly all day. A wonderful day out.
Claire King - UK (Feb 98)
Bula! Bula!
Fiji is the BEST! I have been on this RTW tour for the last 3 months and I have found paradise at long last! Fiji may be lots of sun, sand and sea, but what really hits home is the Fijian people. These people are just amazingly friendly and genuine!! I've spent over three weeks doing the backpacker trail which is surprisingly affordable, clean and safe. I spent four nights staying in a village up in Taveuni Island and that really blew me away! Wow. These people are happy as they are! If anybody gets a chance to visit this paradise, make sure you visit and experience life in a Fijian village. I could go on about these fantastic islands but the down-side of being on-line from Fiji is the cost. So just a quick word to share with you all and the boys back home! It's Bati back from the dead! (Hey, guess what Bati means in Fijian? - WARRIOR! Awesome!) Hey fellas, check out the Fiji Visitors Bureau home-page - I bumped into it in Aussie at [www.BulaFiji.com]. It's the best source of Fiji travel info in case you are still trying to make up your minds.
Batista - The Thorntree (Jan 98)
Levuka is a town that should not be missed, now an old shanty town with lots of character. Plus an enthusiastic Fijian, Epi, takes tours of the jungle to the centre of an extinct volcano where his village is. It was the kind of experience one always hopes to have but can't have without the right guide. We had lunch at his humble dwelling in the village, met the chief and learned about the community. The tour was about F$15. Well worth it.
Andre Cutler - Australia (Dec 97)
In December 1997 I went to a beautiful Fijian village in the interior of Viti Levu called Nagelewai. You can take the bus there from the Suva bus station every day (except Sundays) at 1pm, and it takes about five hours through beautiful villages in the tropical forest. The chief will welcome you to the village and the people are friendly. There is a lot to do like swimming in the river, horse-riding, hiking, and visiting nearby villages.
Assaf Zvuloni - Israel (Dec 97)
Viti Levu, The Beach House, Coral Coast: warning about the rip. While we were in Fiji, two Korean visitors were swept out by a current west of the Beach House. Both of them drowned. Swimming and snorkelling are safe if you ask for advice about currents from the people who own the Beach House. They are very knowledgeable about the currents and very friendly.
Sean McQuaid & Deborah Szymanski - USA (Mar 98)
Snorkellers swimming alone may have the misfortune to encounter the bekawa, a parasitic fish about 8" long, black with a white stripe, and shaped rather like a shark. If you gain the attention of one of these you can try to frighten it off by slapping the water. If that doesn't work, swim to shore. Mine followed me into only a few inches of water. Apparently, they normally live on sharks and will not bother you if you are in the water with someone else. Mine stayed with me for at least 10 minutes before I abandoned my swim, so it did not attach immediately, but reputedly they can, and they leave a scar.
Gareth Harper - UK (Feb 98)
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