This is a rather long page chock full of info. Just as a preview we cover currency conversion, banks & banking, credit cards, cash, traveler's checks, relative cost of living, taxes, ATM machines, customs (duties) and business hours.
Currency
The currency used in Fiji is the Fiji dollar. Notes come in denominations of F$1, F$2, F$5, F$10, F$20 and F$50. Coins are in amounts of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents and one dollar. Despite Fiji's withdrawal from the Commonwealth, QE II's countenance shines brightly from Fijian currency. Traditions die hard.
Always carry plenty of small change, especially small bills (which are called `notes' here). Why? It never ceases to amaze me how often taxis seem to be short of the proper change and expect you to make up the difference. The same scenario might occur when bargaining for an item at a craft market.
You will find that travelers' checks are readily cashed in any Fiji bank and in most hotels and duty-free shops.
What type Currency Should I Bring With Me?
When traveling to Fiji it's best to bring a minimal amount of cash. There is no point in bringing massive amounts of cash with you and I've found travelers checks to be the best way to go. One can always cash them at a bank or at a hotel and if they are lost or stolen you can always get your money back. Naturally you will want to take your credit card with you for hotel stays or big ticket items. Many restaurants, merchants and virtually all larger hotels will honor credit cards. It's not necessary to get Fijian currency prior to travel. One can exchange money at Nadi International Airport as soon as you land.
Recent Exchange Rates
To find an up to the minute exchange rate click here.
The Cost of Living
Inevitably one will ask how expensive Fiji is relative to other destinations or even to your home town. We have compiled a list of everyday purchases to give you an idea of how much things cost. All prices will be denominated in Fiji dollars.
· Taxi ride from Nadi Airport to Nadi Town $12
· Car Rental per day ( unlimited mileage) $100
· Bottle of (Fiji Bitter) Beer in hotel $3
· Draft beer in local bar $2
· Cocktail $8-12
· Small bottle of coca cola $1
· Loaf of whole meal bread from bakery 1.19 cents
· Bottle of decent Australian or N.Z.wine $25
· Dinner for two at Chinese Restaurant $F18 - 30
· Dinner for two at curry house $15 - 20
· Dinner for two public market stall $F6 - 10
· Roti Snack at Bus Stop (pumpkin curry ) $1
· Taxi ride from Nadi Airport to Nadi Town $12
· Bus Fare to go 10 km F$1.00
· Admission Price for Movie $2.00- 4.00
· Long distance call to North America $2.57/per minute
· Internet ISP cost $9/ per hour
· 1 bunch of bananas $2-3
· 1 pile of mangoes (6) $1.00
· Fruit Loaf purchased at Hot Bread Shop $1.30 cents
· Locally made Bula Shirt $30-40
· Sulu (sarong) $10 - $20
Consumer Taxes
Though longtime visitors may feel reassured that the Queen's visage still graces 
Fiji currency, they may not be so happy to discover that there is a 12.5% `value added tax' (VAT) on most transactions. This includes car rentals, meals, rooms and other major (and minor) items. Visitors, however, should not feel persecuted. The new tariffs are also tacked onto goods and services that apply to locals.
Credit Cards
Major credit cards are accepted in Fiji at many shops, restaurants, car-rental agencies and most hotels. The other advantage is that plastic offers protection for damaged or stolen goods and in a pinch, you can get cash advances but you will be charged a fee and will pay interest on the advance at your credit card rate.
Use your credit card or an ATM machine for a good exchange rate.
Credit cards or ATM machines usually provide a much better rate than banks. Purchases made with plastic or ATMs converted at the Interbank rate. The currency conversion usually takes place a few days after the purchase. This is the wholesale rate banks charge each other on large currency transactions. This rate can be one to four per cent better than the reate you'll likely to receive anywhere else. Note that you'll be stuck with a conversion fee equal to one per cent of the purchase price when you use plastic. There are representatives in Fiji for three of the major credit cards:
Diners Club
5th Flr ANZ House, Victoria Parade, Suva (tel 300 552, 301 312)
MasterCard
LICI Building, Butt St, Suva (tel 301 821)
Banks
Fiji has six banking groups, most of which have head offices in Suva and other branches around the country. They are:
- Australia & New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ)
- Bank of Baroda
- Colonial National Bank
- Bank of Habib
- Merchant Bank of Fiji
Banks open Monday to Thursday from 10 am to 3 pm; to 4 pm on Friday. ANZ has a 24-hour currency-exchange service at Nadi International Airport.
Traveler's Financial Checklist:
- Plan your budget ahead of time.
- If you bring plastic, find out about built-in extras such as discounts on rental cars, driving insurance, etc.
- Don't forget your credit, card ATM/cash card and telephone number of your financial institution and credit card issuer in case of emergency.
- Make sure your credit card will not expire during travel period.
- Photocopy the contents of your wallet, important documents and account numbers. Bring one copy with you and leave one with a trusted friend or family member.
Customs/Duties
You may bring the following items into Fiji duty free: 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco; one liter of liquor or two liters of wine or two liters of beer; and other durable goods not exceeding F$30 per passenger. Meat, dairy products, plants, seeds and flowers are prohibited from being brought in without necessary licences from the Ministry of Agriculture.
BUSINESS HOURS & HOLIDAYS
Government and business offices are open five days a week. The usual hours are from 8 am to 4.30 pm (4 pm on Fridays), with at least an hour for lunch between 1 and 2 pm.
Most shops and commercial outlets (including the public markets) are open five days a week and Saturday mornings which is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the week. After 10 pm virtually all restaurants begin closing down, even in Suva, so eat early. For those craving food in the wee hours there are a few takeaways open but these are not easy to find. If you really are starving its best to ask the taxi driver where to go - they know these things.
A few shops are open on Sundays (and holidays). However, Sunday morning service stations are often open and sometimes sell cigarettes and other `essentials'. Bakeries may be open at certain hours on Sundays and in major towns a chemist (pharmacy) is also open. In most towns the Hot Bread Kitchens are open on Sunday mornings and sell bread and other baked goods. Licensed restaurants are open from noon until 2 pm and from 7 to 10 pm.
`Fiji time' does not necessarily coincide with the split-second punctuality you may be used to back home. Social and even business appointments tend to be later than scheduled, so if someone is late in appearing, don't fret. Late arrivals and even no-shows are endemic to this part of the world. This can be very frustrating to the uninitiated, but there is nothing that can be done except to adopt the same behavior. However, this is changing to a degree. Some businesses and government offices in Fiji are actually beginning to expect `Western' punctuality.
Visitors should note that Sundays are very quiet in Fiji. The `desecularization' of Sundays is probably the most visible change from the old Fiji to the post-coup era. Once the clock strikes midnight on Saturday, most commercial activities (with the exception of restaurants) are shut down. There is, however, public transport and taxi services. Whereas immediately after the coup 10 years ago) all Sunday activities (except going to church) were forbidden, Fijians now are permitted to visit the beach, or play golf, tennis or any other similar recreational activity.