Fiji; every beach bum’s nirvana.
Located in the South Pacific, Fiji is a tropical paradise that is pure heaven. To us, Fiji is as exotic as it gets.
It’s a thousand miles from anywhere filled with waterfalls, rainforests, and white sandy beaches.
It’s a place where you are greeted with huge smiles and welcoming words. As you enter any establishment, hotel, or restaurant, people will yell Bula Vinaka and offer up Kava to welcome you.
If you want a winter escape, Fiji is the place to be.
So turn off your brain, sit back and relax, this Fiji travel guide will help you plan your next vacation.
Table of contents
Table of Contents
Fast Facts about Fiji
- Fijian power voltage is 240 V 50 Hz; Power sockets I
- The Fijian currency is the Fijian Dollar (FJD) and is around 2 FJD for 1 USD
- Things are much cheaper on the main island, so if you plan on heading out to the outer islands, make sure to bring as much as possible, including water, snacks and alcohol.
- The municipal water in Suva, Nadi and other large towns is potable but avoid drinking water elsewhere. Buy bottled water or boil the water before you drink it.
- There has been a recent increase in confirmed cases of Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika virus infection in many Pacific Islands including Fiji. All these diseases are spread by the bite of an infected mosquito so make sure to protect yourself!
- Be prepared to adopt Fiji time! Fijians are never in a hurry as everything goes a little slowly here. So take a deep breath and go with the flow.
- You can get a local sim card from
Things to See and Do in Fiji
- Go on a White Water adventure in Fiji – for an out of this world experience in Fiji, you really cannot miss the white water rafting adventure with Rivers Fiji.
- Go Paintballing – you hear right! Go on a paintballing adventure at Sonaisali Island Resort Fiji
- Jet Boat the Sigatoka river – For a special day in Fiji, the Sigatoka Jet Boat Safari is highly recommended. With thrills and spills, culture and education it is the most well rounded trip on the main island.
- Zipline! – The only canopy zip line in the South Pacific, Zip Fiji’s zip lines were developed with the same technology as the lines that we have all heard so much about in Costa Rica.
- Take part in a Kava Ceremony – When visiting any village in Fiji it is customary to present a gift of Yaqona (Kava root) to present to the executive head of the village. It is an elaborate ceremony that takes a little bit of knowledge before taking part.
- Explore the main island of Viti Levu – do it all, from visiting a secluded beach, to white water rafting or explore the Oho caves.
- Hike the Headhunter Caves – When visiting Fiji, you can learn a great deal about its history by taking a tour to the Oho Caves.
Fiji Travel Guides
Budgeting
Accommodation
Budget: Fiji has a variety of hostels for about 15-50 Fijian Dollars per night. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool, dorm-style rooms, storage lockers, outdoor hammocks, and sometimes group activities like bonfires and volleyball.
Mid-Range: Mid-range hotels and resorts will cost around 200-435 Fijian Dollars per night. Many of these hotels are right on the beach and come with complimentary breakfast, an outdoor pool, a hotel restaurant and bar, room service, rooms with terraces and coffee makers, and a spa.
High-End: For five-star hotels and resorts, expect to pay around 450-1,900 Fijian Dollars per night. Take in the best with multiple fine dining options, private suites or villas, outdoor pools with a poolside bar, a hot tub, spa services, and 24/7 room service.
- Check out our favorite booking platforms Booking.com, Tripadvisor and VRBO for the best deals on accommodation.
Food
The cuisine in Fiji favors coconut, fruit and vegetables, fish, sea grapes, breadfruit, chicken, and taro. A popular dish is Kokoda (fish marinated with citrus juice, usually served in a clamshell). Many dishes contain taro leaves, which is like a kind of spinach.
When in a bakery or café, look for coconut bread or cassava cake (sticky rice) for a treat, or head to a market to browse through Fiji’s many fruits (including papaya, coconut, pineapples, and melons). For an average restaurant, a meal will cost around 10 Fijian Dollars, while a high-class place might charge up to 60 Fijian Dollars.
The Best Ways to Get Around Fiji
Getting to Fiji:
Flights: Nadi International Airport is the main airport and is located 6 miles from Nadi. Another airport is the Nausori International Airport, located about 14 miles from Suva, Fiji’s capital. You can check for the best flights to Fiji on Skyscanner.
Transportation:
Train: Fiji has one or two trains, but they are mostly for touring the main island and include numerous stops.
Buses: Buses are a good way to get around and travel frequently throughout cities and towns. Buses come in two types: local and express. An express bus will cost around 8 Fijian Dollars, while a local bus starts at 2 Fijian Dollars.
Taxis: Taxis are another good way to get around. When traveling through the capital city of Suva, most trips will only cost around 5 Fijian Dollars.
Ferries: Ferries are the best way to travel from the main island to the smaller islands, though note that they only run a few times a day, so make sure to check the schedule and plan ahead if you need to get somewhere by a certain time.
Scooters: Zip around Fiji on a scooter. Prices average between 35-40 Fijian Dollars per day.
Car Rental: To rent a car, you must be at least 21 years old and have had a driver’s license for two years. Prices start at 121 Fijian Dollars per day for drivers 25 and older. Check for prices and availability here.
Uber: Uber is not available.
When to go To Fiji
- he best time to visit Fiji is from July to September. You’ll have the best weather at that time and not have to worry about tropical storms. Another option is May and June when the weather is still warm but there are fewer crowds.
Where to Stay in Fiji
- The Pearl was by far our favourite accommodation in Fiji. It is a gateway to the islands for beautiful day trips to secluded islands. It is geared to couples and has superb amenities. Do the couples massage.
- Sonaisali Resort was wonderful too. We definitely would have spent a few more days here.
- Outrigger Fiji iWe stayed at this beautiful resort and the spa day was to die for. It is a bit more geared to families, but it is a good option with fantastic rooms and ammenities.
Ramada Suites by Wyndham Wailoaloa Beach Fiji: Stay right on the beach at this great hotel in Nadi. Besides being right on Wailoaloa Beach, the hotel also comes with a swimming pool, a hotel restaurant, a fitness center, and a spa. Nadi International Airport is nearby, and the hotel provides a shuttle.
Quest Suva: Stay at this great four-star hotel in downtown Suva. Just a mile from Fiji Museum and Thurston Gardens, the rooms come with DVD players and kitchenettes and breakfast is provided free of charge. The hotel will also shop for your groceries for you.
First Landing Beach Resort and Villas: Stay right next to the beach at this affordable resort. Head to Nalamu Beach, swim in the hotel’s pools (indoor and outdoor), relax in the hot tub, enjoy complimentary kayaks and snorkel equipment, dine in the hotel restaurant, and more. Your choice of rooms include cottages with verandas, studios with 1-3 bedrooms, and villas with a private pool.
Check out our favorite booking platforms Booking.com, Tripadvisor and VRBO for the best deals on accommodation.
What to Pack for Fiji
Fiji has a warm tropical climate all year round.
The best months for holidaying in regards to Fiji weather is late March through to early December.
The wet season is normally from November to April; although rare, cyclones do, at times, hit the area during the wet season.
- Reef shoes. Most islands are surrounded by coral and reefs. Sandy shallows also have sinkholes that will suck off flimsy footwear, like flip flops. Make sure to have some well-fitted and sturdy reef shoes and remember to always walk where the locals walk!
- Snorkel, mask, and underwater camera. Fiji is a tropical paradise with uncounted underwater wonders. Avoid the fees and the possibility of not being able to rent snorkel gear by bringing your own well-fitted gear.
- Swimming suits (plural!) – Fiji is all about frolicking under the sun, lazing at the beach or diving headfirst in its turquoise waters. Make sure to bring more than one swimsuit as no one likes putting on a damp suit!
- A tropical wardrobe. This should include—for both men and women—shorts, T-shirts, breathable rain gear, a warm jacket or fleece, sturdy footwear, and a wrap.
- The protection basics – Travellers should stock up on the essentials: sunblock, mosquito/insect repellant containing DEET or a pyrethroid insecticide, sunglasses and a hat.
- We always pack a sarong, especially in the tropics. Check why here.
See our packing tips: packing list for smart travel.
Fiji Travel Guide: Best Booking Resources
Whenever we travel to we make sure to start with these companies. We have tried a lot of different ones over the years and all of these have consistently proven to be the best when it comes to offering great prices.
We have used every one of these personally and continue to do so.
- Booking.com: This is our go site to when comparing prices for accommodation. It usually has the cheapest prices, especially in Europe and we love their interface. Not to mention you get free cancellation and you are guaranteed the best price.
- Trip Advisor: What we like about Trip Advisor is that we can look at all the reviews and then book our accommodation. TripAdvisor is where we go when we want to compare prices with multiple accommodation providers.
- VRBO: is the main search engine we use when we are looking for a home or apartment rental. It can sometimes be cheaper than hotels and it is the best way to stay in areas that offer a more local feel.
- Hostelworld: With one of the largest databases of hostels in the world, Hostelworld is the go-to site when you are looking for budget accommodation.
- Skyscanner: This is the first place we check for flights. It consistently comes back with the cheapest and best options. It allows us to compare a lot of airlines to get the best price.
- Rome 2 Rio: If you want to see how to get somewhere by plane, train, bus, ferry or car Rome2Rio lays it all out for you as well as related costs.I love how they show it all to you on a Google Map and it works offline.
- Get Your Guide: For all your day trip and city guide needs, we use Get Your Guide. It has the world’s largest collection of things to do with more than 30,000 activities in 7500 destinations.
- World Nomads Insurance: When traveling to Italy you should always have travel insurance. We have found the best bang for your buck is by far World Nomads.
Fiji Travel Guide: Related Articles
To browse all our articles and guides about Fiji click here.
