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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members
dont take home any natural "refugees"
by globetrott
Search your trousers, socks etc. before you go back to the ship : This is something special that happened to me or rather my trousers after some very intensive hikes on Ndravuni island: Take a look at my picture, there were hundreds of sticky plants or rather seeds of plants that took me a lot of work to clean them from my pants. It is SUCH and similar plants that you should not take to any other island when taking a cruise in that area, and especially when your cruise takes you back to Australia you might get into trouble, when the customs-authorities find such things attached to any of your trousers or shoes etc.
resist the various shopping temptations
by globetrott
In every port that we came to on our cruise through the Fiji islands I saw some of the most beautifull woodcarvings as well as rare, exotic sea-shells for sale in the souvenirshops. The only problem for me was the fact that I am not an expert about seashells and I dont know which ones might be considdered as "endangered species" and confiscated by any customs-controll in the entire world.The other problem was the fact that it is absolutely forbidden to take any beach-material or wooden products into Australia at the end of the cruise and the authorities there will also take a closer look at all things you are taking with you - so be prepared !AND dont trust any shop-owner who is talking about a special "export-certificate" etc. because what-ever might be allowed to be EXported from Fiji does not necessarily mean it is also allowed to be IMported into any other country !
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Taxi drivers - no mercy :)
by jason_cz
This applies to every tourist place in the world - but no harm to mention it again. I haven't noticed any taxi driver using meter, so ALWAYS agree on the price BEFORE the trip.Make sure the driver understands you - both amount and currency.I had experience with this Indian driver in Nadi, who agreed on 15 Fijian Dollars for the trip to Garden of the Sleeping Giant. It was actually him who offered the price and we accepted. First mistake, never accept the offered price :)He was very friendly, telling us (me and Gabi, my partner) about the places we crossed, offering to take us all the way to Lautoka, guide us there, take us to the lunch... We were very aware of the fact that if he waits for us in the Gardens, and than takes us further, it won't be cheap.Anyway, in the end he really took us to Lautoka where we asked the price - he said 80FJD. I was surprised while Gabi got angry, which...
Making Connections
by tribalover
We missed the last scheduled boat out to our island resort because the return of a several day cruise did not coincide with the last dispatch of the ferry. Watch out for varying return and departure times. Luckily, we anticipated that this might occur and arranged for a local boat-owner (our taxi driver's "cousin") to pick us up and take us out the twenty miles as night fell. He knew the island well and where it was but the hotel had given up on us and were quite surprised when we showed up with our feet wet from having to carry our bags thru the surf to the sand and entrance site. If this happens to you, bargain hard and don't put up with last-minute price hikes that are sure to come.
Food posioning
by navarrokl
If you stay at any Fijian owned resorts, make sure to stay away from the chicken!Since they don't keep their electricity on at most Fijian owned resorts it is hard for them to keep their food fresh, unless it's something they can get on the island.Your best bet is to just say you're vegetarian. You don't want to end up like my travel buddy and many others I met on the islands... sick in bed for 2/3 days!!!
Horseback Riding
by andreaarp
Do not take a horseback ride at the beach on the main island. I definately caution any female looking to do this. After taking the horseback ride with my friend, a staff member of the hostel that we were staying at, said that girls had been raped on horseback rides in the past back on the trails in the forest. If you do end up taking a horseback ride insist they stay on the beach where you are in the view of other travellers. However, I must warn the tour guide was very pushy and insisted that we go back into the trails. Nothing happened to us but the entire ride was very scary and the fact that the man was sitting on the horse with me and would not get off did not make for a very comfortable or enjoyable experience.
Sundays:)
by Ela_S
It's not a real warning or danger, but something you should be aware of. You will organize nothing on Sunday, because almost nobody works... There are no ships going anywhere and only a few buses, no tours, the travel agencies and shops are closed. Wherever you are on Sunday, you're stuck there for the whole day, so you should consider this while planning your trip.We got stuck twice... First time in Suva, after arriving. But we used this day to see the town and relax, hoping to arrange the ship to Taveuni on the next day. Bad luck. It was a public holiday and, again, no chance to organize anything. Fortunately, we managed to get a bus and go out of town to Colo-i-Suva to spend great afternoon swimming in the rainforest.Next Sunday we again ended up miscalculating. We should have learned from our previous experiences but time in Fiji has a bit different speed:) This time we ended up in...
Guide scam!
by TracyG
I have been told that whilst out shopping at local markets, you wil sometimes get people tagging onto you. It is best to tell them to go away, as if you do not, once you have finished shopping they can demand money from you for acting as a guide!!!!!
Snakes - deadly sea krait
by tna
Do keep a sharp eye out when walking around rocks in low tide or snorkelling around Fiji for the black-banded sea-snakes. They are extremely deadly - known as the 'three steps you're dead" type. The good news is that they are largely passive (won't go for you unless you *really* bother them) and most of them don't have fangs long enough to pierce your little finger.Still, keep an eye out for them. We ran into dozens of them near Caqelai at a place the locals call "snake island" -- fancy that!
Tropical storms
by kyoub
Be aware that there is a tropical storm season.We had been in Nadi for two nights when we were told that a cyclone was moving in our direction.We were moved away from the bay and into town.Cyclone Gavin came by with very strong winds, we had no electricity or water for two days.The t-shirts were for sale on the streets as soon as we were able to get out.
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