Organize your stay Fiji
Covid-19 : current situation Fiji
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, entry and travel restrictions may apply Fiji. Remember to visit the site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you leave for the latest information
Money Fiji
The currency is the Fijian dollar. In this guide, we use the following reference for the Fijian dollar: F$.
Banknotes are in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. Coins are 5 centimes, 10 centimes, 20 centimes, 50 centimes, 1 and 2 dollars.
The exchange rate in March 2024 was as follows: €1 = F$2.44; F$1 = €0.41.
Card payments are subject to a surcharge of between 3 and 4.5%. We therefore advise you to withdraw cash from the counters at Nadi international airport on arrival. There is also an exchange office at the airport. Whether it's better to convert euros into Fijian dollars, or to withdraw cash directly, will very often depend on the terms and conditions of your bank card abroad. Some banks no longer charge any fees for withdrawals abroad. In our experience, when withdrawing, it's best to refuse the exchange rate proposed on the counter screen (you're asking to "pay" in Fijian dollars and not according to the exchange rate proposed by the local bank).
Other currencies are sometimes used as a reference for prices by resorts and travel agencies, so be careful! Prices are often quoted in Australian, US or New Zealand dollars, due to the large number of tourists from these 3 countries. To clarify, however, it is not customary to pay in currencies other than Fijian dollars, except perhaps in certain luxury resorts .
Budget & Tips Fiji
Top-of-the-range services are commonplace in Fiji. Resorts often have a price range from a minimum of 200 euros per night to an average of 400 or 500 euros. This may include meals on some islands. If you're staying at a resort, you should be aware that everything will generally be more expensive locally, especially meals. For the most luxurious services, the budget will even be in the thousands of euros per night, as is the case for private islands with only one very selective resort on the island. The activities offered by local travel agencies quickly add up to a hefty budget.
For those on a smaller budget, you'll need to alternate between youth hostels and homestays, with prices ranging from 25 to 60 euros per night. In some places, cheap accommodation is hard to come by. When it comes to eating out, it's much easier to find a good deal, even for a few Fijian dollars. Bus travel will save you money on your activity budget.
For an intermediate budget, you'll need to spend between 80 and 150 euros a night, going to local but good-quality restaurants, and alternating between organized tours and sightseeing on your own.
Passport and visas Fiji
Entry into the country: French passport holders can stay in Fiji for 4 months on a tourist visa (no prior formalities required). For business trips, the authorized duration is 3 weeks, renewable through the immigration authorities (cost of renewal: just under 100 F$). The passport must be valid for another 6 months from the date of expiry of the visa issued (ideally 1 year to cover the 4 months and 6 months). The official Fiji immigration website is www.immigration.gov.fj - [email protected].
The French Embassy is located in Suva (Pacific House, Butt Street +679 331 0527 - [email protected]). Don't expect a house as the name suggests, the embassy is actually located on one of the floors of the building. Opening hours are Monday to Thursday 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5:30pm, and Friday 9am to 12:30pm. The Consulate General of France in Sydney, Australia, is responsible for all administrative formalities for French residents of Fiji.
The France Diplomatie website contains interesting information about the country: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs/conseils-par-pays-destination/iles-fidji/
Driver's license Fiji
To drive in Fiji, agencies generally require drivers to be 21 years old (sometimes even 25) and have an International Driving Permit (to be ordered several months before departure). Most agencies also require the driver to have 2 years' driving experience. Some agencies will only accept a French driver's license if you have not received your international license in time, but please check this beforehand.
Mandatory vaccination Fiji
We recommend that travelers keep up to date with their mandatory vaccinations. In addition to these vaccines, we recommend vaccination against hepatitis A. This vaccine is mandatory for children born on or after January1, 2018. For long stays or in very basic conditions, we advise you to check with your GP whether vaccinations against hepatitis B and typhoid are necessary. There is no malaria in Fiji (although there are many mosquitoes), so no treatment is necessary.
Security Fiji
Fiji is a generally safe destination, and there are no particularly high-risk or inadvisable areas in the country. However, it is generally advisable to take a cab in the evening, especially in the larger towns (Suva and Nadi). For women traveling alone, normal vigilance is sufficient. You may be approached with a little insistence, and we recommend that you indicate that you are married, even if you are not.
Time difference Fiji
The time difference with France is 10h during our summer time period (end of March to end of October) and then 11h during our winter time period.
Spoken languages Fiji
English is one of the country's official languages, so you'll have no problem communicating in it. The other official languages are Fijian and Fijian Hindi. It's extremely rare for anyone other than Fijian nationals to speak French in Fiji.
Communication Fiji
Telephone and Internet coverage is pretty good in Fiji, although this is obviously less the case in more remote areas. The two main operators are Vodafone and Digicel. We advise you to buy a local sim card so you can access mobile data on the spot at no extra cost. For your information, power cuts are fairly frequent in Fiji (especially in the evenings), so Internet access will also be affected.
Electricity and measurements Fiji
Voltage in Fiji is 240 V (different from 230 V in France).
You'll need an adapter for Fiji, as the plugs are type I. This is the same adapter as for Australia, New Zealand and China.
Measurements are in kilometers and kilograms.
Degrees are displayed in Celsius.
Luggage Fiji
Don't forget to take mosquito repellent, a good quantity of sun cream (ideally mineral so as not to damage the corals) and an adapter for your electronic devices. Otherwise, you can travel fairly light - it's always warm in Fiji, so you won't need anything warm, just a little wool for the evenings or in places where the air conditioning is very strong. On the other hand, it can be useful to take rain gear, especially if you're traveling to places other than Nadi, Yasawas and Mamanucas, where the weather remains dry in principle.
