Travel Essentials

Fiji: What To Know Before You Go

Plugs: Type I, 240 V. Emergency: One number for everything 911. Tipping: Not expected; many resorts have a staff Christmas fund box instead of individual tips. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water outside main resorts and cities.

Open The Fiji Trip Kit

Plugs And Power

Type I, 240 V

Emergency Numbers

One number for everything

911

Tipping

Not expected; many resorts have a staff Christmas fund box instead of individual tips.

Water And Health

Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water outside main resorts and cities
Vaccines: Routine vaccines, hepatitis A, typhoid; hepatitis B for some travelers
Malaria: None; Fiji is malaria-free

Apps To Download Before You Go

M-PAiSA: Vodafone Fiji's mobile wallet, used for payments, bus fares and transfers across the islands.
MyCash: Digicel's mobile money service, another common way to pay locally.
WhatsApp: Resorts, tour operators and drivers all communicate by WhatsApp.
Fiji Airways: Domestic flights connect Nadi and Suva with the outer islands.
South Sea Cruises: Book the Yasawa Flyer and ferries to the Mamanuca and Yasawa islands.
Vodafone Fiji (eTransport): Buses require a prepaid eTransport card; the Vodafone app manages top-ups and your tourist SIM data.
Facebook Messenger: Many local businesses run bookings through Facebook pages.

Customs And Etiquette

Greetings. Fijians greet with a warm "Bula!" and a smile, often with a gentle handshake held a little longer than usual. Indo-Fijians may greet with palms together and "namaste". Greet elders and the chief first in villages.

Village visits. If visiting a village, a sevusevu ceremony (presenting kava root to the chief) is customary, usually arranged through a guide.

Dress and behavior in villages. Cover shoulders and knees, wear a sulu (sarong) if possible, remove hats and sunglasses, and take off shoes before entering a home.

Sunday observance. Villages are quiet on Sundays for church and rest; avoid unannounced visits that day.

Safety And Scams

Fiji is generally safe with low rates of violent crime against tourists; most issues are minor and opportunistic.

Pushy market/store tactics. Some shops in Nadi use high-pressure sales tactics or imply you can't leave without buying; politely walk away.

Overpriced tours from touts. Book excursions through your hotel or a reputable operator rather than street touts.

Women travelers. Generally safe for solo female travelers; some unwanted attention can occur, and modest dress in villages and towns helps reduce it.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

Legal · Mostly Safe

Same-sex activity was decriminalized in 2010, but there's no marriage recognition and the largely religious, conservative society means public displays of affection outside resorts are best avoided.

What Things Cost

Coffee (café)	FJD 7	$3.10
Local bus or metro ride	FJD 2	$0.90
Mid-range restaurant meal	FJD 45	$20
Hostel bed / budget room (night)	FJD 45	$20
Mid-range hotel (night)	FJD 340	$150
Daily budget, mid-range traveler	FJD 270	$120

2026-09

Best Time To Visit

May to October is the dry season with the best weather; November to April is cyclone season with higher humidity and rain risk.

Phrases

Basic English phrases · Basic Fijian phrases · Basic Bhojpuri phrases