Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# What kind of currency do I bring? Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Fiji
dreamer19 03:05 UTC 17 Jun 2011 | I will be off shore on small islands for 3 weeks. When I land at the Nadi airport, should I buy a lot of Fijian dollars? Or will most places (even northern Yasawas) accept my credit cards? Or should I have Australian dollars? I am American, are USD ever used? Thanks. |
Laszlo 03:39 UTC 17 Jun 2011 | Get Fiji dollars. AUD or USD or even cards may well be accepted in the bigger resorts (you can ask in advance to see if yours fall into this category), but the local currency is accepted everywhere. | 1
Taimarilyn 04:07 UTC 17 Jun 2011 | Have you decided which resorts in the Yasawas? Some are quite small but because they have foreign management will take Credit cards for payment. Those under strictly local management will most likely want Fiji $$ - foreign $$ are not accepted anywhere. | 2
peter_n_margaret 20:05 UTC 17 Jun 2011 | Some shops in the Nadi area will accept US$, AUD$ or NZ$, as will some resorts, but the exchange rate they offer is often poor. You can get F$ from ATMs at ANZ or WestPac banks. Maximum F$900 per withdrawal, but you can make at least 2 or 3 one after the other on the same day. There is a F$9 fee imposed. Cheers, Peter | 3
mandja 08:27 UTC 18 Jun 2011 | I always get FJD from the ANZ ATM at the airport, but also take a Visa card and AMEX with me | 4
peter_n_margaret 21:34 UTC 18 Jun 2011 | My last ATM withdrawal netted F$1.782 per AUD$1 after all fees and charges (3 weeks ago). By using a credit card I am getting about F$1.826 nett per AUD$1 (2 weeks ago), (when the vendor adds no premium which may vary from zero to 5%). These rates are better that the cash exchange rates available locally. The airport is relatively expensive for changing cash, but probably better than a resort. Cheers, Peter | 5
tasmani2011 16:38 UTC 22 Jun 2011 | AUD and USD are accepted at almost all that places there. Major outlets, hotels and resorts will accept all major card types like master,maestro, cirrus, visa... There wont be problem with the currency as you can find some exchange points as well there. | 6
kellermaggi 21:27 UTC 23 Jun 2011 | Hi there - I know the main portion of question has been answered but I wanted to share a little info from my Blue Moon guide re: a couple of other places where you can change money. Money Exchange (tel 670-3366 M-F 0700-1700, Sat 0800-1600) between the ANZ and Morris Hedstrom, changes cash and traveler's checks "without commission and a rate comparable to banks (and without the line)." There is also a Western Union store on Main Street near the Big Bear (whatever that may be). You may also wish to simply do cash withdrawals from your ATM which can be a good bet. I mention the two offices above because even ATMs can malfunction or, heaven forbid, run out of cash! That has happened to me so my advice is to bring a little cash to change in an office in the event of a problem. Avoid changing your $$ at a hotel. Enjoy your trip - my fiance and I are meeting up in Fiji next month for his birthday and I am looking forward to my first Fiji trip! regards, maggi | 7
kellermaggi 21:44 UTC 23 Jun 2011 | Sorry - I need to expand - the places I mentioned are in Nadi. I must have left mhy brains behind in New Zealand! Regards, Maggi | 8