Fiji - Tonga - Samoa - Costs of Living, Exchange of EURO and dogs

Hi everyone,

after South Korea i want to travel to Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. For this reason i have 3 questions:

1) Is it possible and not too difficult to exchange Euros or do they exchange only US Dollar until now?
2) How are the costs of living apart from accomodation for thesse countries?
3) Are dogs dangerous in Fiji - Tonga - Samoa as it is written in the LP, or not? WHAT TO DO, if you meet one or a couple of stray dogs, who are agressive?

Thank you very much for your reply -

All the best
Manfred

1. What makes you think that the US-Dollar is of any major importance here in the region? New Zealand and Australian Dollar are a lot more common. Anyway, all three countries have stable and reliable own currencies and of course you can exchange Euro everywhere at the bank counter.

Regarding Samoa you pay in Samoan Tala only. You get the best exchange rates:
- for Euro in cash at the private exchange agencies, i.e. Western Union
- for Euro traveler cheques at the banks
The Samoan banks do not want Euro notes and only give you a very bad rate.

You can use ATMs as well with your credit card and your MAESTRO or CIRRUS bankcard. Ask your bank at home about their fees - usually the ATM exchange has quite good rates.

1. Costs of living depend on what you want. For Samoa again: If you choose local products you will most probably have substantially lower costs than in western and central Europe, especially in restaurants. If you prefer imported products instead of local ones, you pay the price for the transport, duties and so on. One example: a bottle of the good locally brewed beer (Vailima) costs you only half of what you pay for an imported branch (i.e. Steinlager from New Zealand). Fresh local bread goes for 30 percent of the price for imported bread.

2. Since years all post about dogs only say that there are no problems (anymore). Simple as that. But still the advice is: Do not try to touch any dog, especially do not try to feed them. Avoid walking around in housing areas after sunset without local company. If you really meet an aggressive dog, stand still and call for assistance. Well, but all this is not different from where you live ... Isn't it? Nothing special to think about anymore.

Have a good time!

The dogs will usually back-off if you even threaten to throw a stone. Often just bending down to pick one up does the trick.

Dogs were not bad in Tonga. But take Api's advice, bend over like you are picking up a rock and they will head away from you. Or, just carry a rock that they can see. Same goes for the Cooks, for those out there who may be heading there, although most dogs in the Cooks are pretty wimpy except on the back roads.

I bought a huge umbrella... Beat off the many dogs who came too close.. Other villians who neared and intimidated also got the brelly wrath.
Screaming "Alu!!!... Alu!!" often works as well.

Molesi's Hypermarket... Umbrellas... 20 Tala.

1. On Fiji, should be no problem with EUROs. For example, Australian bank branches in Suva etc will deal with it. With ATMs it is not an issue.

The more important issue is that it is very easy to get off the urban trail in Fiji and it can be a long way between banks and ATMs. So you should keep track of how much local currency you have and what your itinerary is (ie next time at exchange facility). Fiji's a safe place. I exchanged 200-300 EUROs at a time, or ATMed Fiji equivalent, covering up to 10 days between exchanges.

1. Situation for Fiji is same as described for Samoa. Stick to local facilities then daily life for a visitor at budget level could be around 30 EUROs a day (includes accom). Bit basic, though. When you start wanting foreign (imported) things then the price can shoot up fast.

2. I did not notice any issues with dogs on Fiji (not the way it's talked about on Samoa) -- I didn't even see too many for that matter. Advice about having a stick or rock still holds.

HELLO EVERYBODY,

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP - SOUNDS VERY GOOD FOR ME

ALL THE BEST
MANFRED