Nadi Tourist Traps

Even when you're told not to be tricked into buying anything with a sappy story or roundabout phrasing, it may be more difficult than you think when the moment arises!

Upon walking into one shop, the owner tied a cheap little necklace around my neck saying it was a "gift." For the hospitality I was asked, upon leaving, to give a "donation" for the necklace. I handed one man a two dollar coin, but he refused to take it, simply saying "ten dollars." This was no donation. He refused to take my $2 and when I tried to leave requested the "gift" be returned... of course they tie them on so tight you can't take the necklaces off! I should have just ran out but when there is someone demanding $10 or to (impossibly) take an item off your neck, well, I had to pay the $10.

The moral is, saying "no" to pushy sellers may be harder here than you may think! If you don't plan on buying anything, it may be best not to travel with too much cash...it may be forced out of your wallet.

Watch out for the friedly locals in Suva and in Nadi that will try and befriend you and then sell you stuff. They are the sword sellings. They ask for your name, then they start carving your name in the swords. Then they "give" it to you, but then when you are holding it your hands , they demand money from you and tell you a sob story of a sick mother.
Even though you have your name in it, it doesn't mean you have to buy it.
Walk away and say that you never agreed to buying it.
If they follow you and force you to pay the money, say that you will report this incidence tot he tourist police and they might leave you at that point...

Unique Suggestions: If you want to buy stuff from the locals, whether it is from the market or from the sword sellings, be hard, beat them down to more than half of what they started, and then you might end up with a bargain.
Don't give in to their sob stories, half, if not all of them are not true.

Fun Alternatives: The best way to avoid the tourist trap is to travel with 2 or more people. Stay together , and always check with your travel friends the things that are being offered to you.
When travelling on the bus or taxi, check the prices and agree on a price before hopping in the taxi first before hopping in.
You can go to Nads handicraft store in Nadi, that offers good handicraft things at reasonable prices. They are open to give you a discount and the wages of their emplyees are not commision based, but they have normal wages and not like in Jack's handicraft where it is based on commision only, so there you have the emplyees "pounce" on you as soon as you enter the store.
Avoid Jack's handicraft and go to Nads handicraft, which is just accorss the road but more left.
The people are pleasant and not pushy at all.

After paying twice the regular fare for several taxi rides, we learned from locals what the general fare should be for known destinations... It is a good idea to ask your hotel personel what the rate should be in general or even have them call their contracted taxi cabs for ya.. and always negotiate beforehand how much you will be paying for the ride before you sit in the car... so BEWARE of taxi rip offs!!!

In Nadi, when recognized as a tourist wondering the busy streets by the locals, some people may approach you and offer to help you find your destination.. Often, they will insist on helping you even when you really don't need help.. Practice care since they may request money after helping you and actually walking with you to your destination.. Not all the locals are alike, in fact most are genuine people.. you always find some that try to take advantage of the tourists every where you go... If you don't need help looking for your destination and if the person insists on walking with you, nicely ask them to stop since you don't need assistance..