Practical Information for visiting Fiji Islands

The currency is the Fijian dollar (FJD).

Cards are accepted at resorts, hotels, tour operators and larger shops in Nadi, Suva and Denarau. Cash is essential on the smaller islands and in villages, where there are often no card facilities and no ATMs at all — draw what you need before leaving the main island, and take more than you expect, since island resorts may add costs.

ATMs are available in the towns and at the airport. Exchange at banks or the airport rather than at hotels.

A value added tax and a service turnover tax apply and are often added to resort bills rather than included, so check whether a quoted rate is inclusive.

Tipping is not traditional and not expected. Many resorts run a shared staff Christmas fund instead, which is a better way to give than tipping individuals.

Coverage for mobile networks is good on Viti Levu and Vanua Levu and around the main resort areas from Vodafone Fiji and Digicel, with 4G in the towns. It thins considerably in the outer islands and the interior, and some smaller islands have little or none.

Local SIMs are cheap and easy to buy at Nadi airport with a passport, and are much better value than roaming.

Wi-Fi is available at most resorts, often satellite-based, sometimes charged, and frequently slow. Some island properties offer none at all, deliberately, and say so.

Power on the smaller islands may run on a generator for part of the day only. Bring a power bank, and download maps and reading before you leave the main island.

Fiji is a safe and welcoming country, and serious crime against visitors is uncommon. The hazards are mostly natural, and the health system is the real risk multiplier.

Cyclones between November and April are the main risk to a trip, though they may occur at other times. Follow resort and official instructions; they are well practised. Cyclone Winston in 2016 affected hundreds of thousands of people.

The sea. There are dangerous rip tides along the reefs and river estuaries. Unless you have reliable local knowledge, swim from beaches with lifeguards on duty and follow the flag warning system, respect the areas reserved for swimming, and ask resort staff or residents about hazards and dangerous species. Do not snorkel alone or across a reef pass, and avoid the coast when the forecast is poor.

Coral and marine life: cuts from coral infect readily in the tropics, and stonefish, cone shells, lionfish and sea snakes are all present. Wear reef shoes and touch nothing.

Petty theft occurs at lookouts, swimming holes, waterfalls and parks, at bus stations and airports, in hotel lobbies and at restaurants including outdoor seating. Armed robberies, burglaries, assaults and home invasions occur. Keep electronics out of sight, avoid signs of affluence, do not walk alone after dark, and treat Suva after dark with particular care.

Roads are unlit with pedestrians and animals on them, drinking and driving may occur at any time of day or night, and public buses are poorly maintained with severe accidents including buses catching fire. Avoid driving at night, keep to main roads, and use only yellow-plated taxis.

Kava is legal and fine in moderation, but a long session is more sedating than visitors expect, there is a potential risk of liver toxicity, and driving afterwards is an offence under a zero-tolerance policy.

Health care is severely limited. Facilities often lack services, medical supplies, drugs and equipment, and clinics and hospitals usually require payment in advance. There are hospitals in Suva, Lautoka and Nadi and private clinics in the tourist areas, but anything serious means evacuation to Australia or New Zealand, which is expensive. Insurance covering medical evacuation is essential, especially if you plan to dive.

Do not wait for an ambulance if it is serious. Emergency and ambulance services are very limited, response times are slow, and ambulances only provide transportation — they do not provide care. The advice for serious illness or injury is to take a taxi or a private vehicle to hospital instead.

Vaccinations: routine cover plus hepatitis A and typhoid; hepatitis B is recommended for all travellers. There is no malaria in Fiji.

Dengue is present with periodic outbreaks, and the mosquito bites by day, particularly around sunrise and sunset. Use repellent. Leptospirosis and typhoid occur after flooding, and swimming in fresh water — streams, lakes, canals — is a risk after heavy rain or flooding even when the water looks clean.

Kava is traditional and you will be offered it at ceremonies. Be aware of the potential risk of liver toxicity, quite apart from how sedating a long session is.

Diving: the nearest recompression chamber is in Suva. Check your insurance covers diving to the depths you intend — some policies require the dive instructor to hold specific qualifications — and leave a proper interval before flying.

Coral cuts and marine stings are the most common problem; clean cuts thoroughly and promptly, as they infect quickly.

Water: tap water is treated and generally safe in Suva, Nadi and the main towns, and should be regarded as unsafe on smaller islands and after heavy rain. Ask at your accommodation. Bring enough medication for your stay, keep it in its original container and carry a copy of your prescriptions in your hand luggage.

Sun is very strong; the UV index is extreme year round.

Village protocol matters. Do not enter a village uninvited. Bring kava root for sevusevu, go with someone who knows the form, and follow their lead.

In a village: remove your hat and sunglasses, take off your shoes before entering a house, do not touch anyone's head, keep your shoulders covered, and sit cross-legged on the floor rather than standing over seated people. Women should wear a sulu or skirt covering the knees.

Topless bathing and nudity in public are illegal. Cover your shoulders and knees in rural villages and during kava ceremonies. Swimwear is for the beach and the resort only; Fiji is modest and churchgoing, and Suva and the villages expect covered shoulders and knees.

Sunday is widely observed, with many businesses closed and village activity limited to church. Respect the quiet.

Accept kava when offered, even if only a small cup; refusing outright is discourteous. Clap once before, take it in one, clap three times after. Be aware of the potential risk of liver toxicity if you are drinking it often, and note that Fiji has a zero-tolerance policy for drinking and driving — which includes after a kava session.

Ask before photographing people or inside a village.

Drug offences carry serious penalties: convicted offenders can expect jail sentences or heavy fines. Customs restricts food, plants, weapons, pets, drugs, tobacco and alcohol, so check allowances before you fly.

Same-sex acts are not prohibited by Fijian law, but homosexuality is not socially tolerated — avoid public displays of affection. Gender-based violence occurs.

Emergency numbers: 911 for emergency assistance and 917 for emergency police services. Response is slower outside the main towns.

The ambulance is transport, not treatment. Emergency and ambulance services are very limited, response times are slow, and ambulances do not provide care. For serious illness or injury, consider taking a taxi or a private vehicle to hospital rather than waiting for an ambulance. Use a yellow-plated taxi.

Medical. Health care is severely limited and facilities often lack services, supplies, drugs and equipment; payment in advance is usually required. Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva is the main referral hospital, Lautoka Hospital serves the west, and private clinics operate in Nadi and Denarau. Serious cases go to Australia or New Zealand, so confirm your insurance covers evacuation.

Diving emergencies: the recompression chamber is in Suva, which can be hours from an outer island. Dive conservatively, and check whether your policy requires your instructor to hold particular qualifications.

Cyclone warnings are issued by the Fiji Meteorological Service and broadcast widely. The season runs November to April but storms can come at other times. Resorts have plans and shelters; follow them rather than improvising, and expect flights to stop before a storm arrives.

On small islands, your resort or village host is the first line of help, and boat evacuation may depend on the weather.