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at the end of may, first time, for 2 weeks with my daughter of 12 years old, i am getting to nadi at 11pm and i need a place to go for the night and then move on. Any suggestions? we want to travel on a budjet maybe getting bungalows? not sure! thanx for the help
Silvana
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Robert F. Kay on -
There is a teller machine at the airport but you'll want to use your US bank card and then withdraw Fiji dollars. There's a real human bank teller too! Don't worry! You'll be able to exchange Yankee Dollars for Fijian currency.
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Edge on -
Rob answered your first question - we always use our American bank's ATM card to withdraw Fiji dollars. And the departure tax in Fiji is included in your ticket price (it used to be separate but isn't anymore).
I assume you are flying the Continental flight from HNL to NAN. We did that recently and it's a great flight (even met Rob on the plane!) When you are at the airport to leave Nadi, be sure you are in the Continental line for check-in. There are several other flights with people checking in at the same time and the lines aren't always spread out and easy to understand. We saw several people who were waiting in the wrong lines and had to go to the back of the correct line when they figured it out.
Cindy
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Permalink Reply by silvana alfonso on -
thanx, i just was inquiring because bank machine over charge with fees when using banks from another country, this is why i thought to bring cash and helpfuly the live teller will be open around midnight, not sure if they may be closed, ciao
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Permalink Reply by silvana alfonso on
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thanx for the tip, every detail counts!!! I know how it is and if you guys ever plan to go to italy let me know since that's where i am from, ciao
Cindy Edge said:Rob answered your first question - we always use our American bank's ATM card to withdraw Fiji dollars. And the departure tax in Fiji is included in your ticket price (it used to be separate but isn't anymore).
I assume you are flying the Continental flight from HNL to NAN. We did that recently and it's a great flight (even met Rob on the plane!) When you are at the airport to leave Nadi, be sure you are in the Continental line for check-in. There are several other flights with people checking in at the same time and the lines aren't always spread out and easy to understand. We saw several people who were waiting in the wrong lines and had to go to the back of the correct line when they figured it out.
Cindy
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Edge on
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Since we never use the live tellers, I can't say if they are open but you are probably right and they wouldn't be. I do believe the currency exchange kiosk is open but really - since we mostly use credit cards while traveling, the amount of money you are exchanging is minimal and we find the ATM to be just fine.
silvana alfonso said:thanx, i just was inquiring because bank machine over charge with fees when using banks from another country, this is why i thought to bring cash and helpfuly the live teller will be open around midnight, not sure if they may be closed, ciao
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Permalink Reply by silvana alfonso on
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how much should i change for night? i can go to the bank in the morning, i understand the change is about 1/2 value for a dollar.
Cindy Edge said:Since we never use the live tellers, I can't say if they are open but you are probably right and they wouldn't be. I do believe the currency exchange kiosk is open but really - since we mostly use credit cards while traveling, the amount of money you are exchanging is minimal and we find the ATM to be just fine.
silvana alfonso said:thanx, i just was inquiring because bank machine over charge with fees when using banks from another country, this is why i thought to bring cash and helpfuly the live teller will be open around midnight, not sure if they may be closed, ciao
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Edge on
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Silvana - I would withdraw all you need for your whole trip at once since the banks charge a fee for each ATM withdrawal - you get a better deal if withdrawing only once. I can't tell you how much you will need as it depends on where you go, what you do, whether they take a credit card, etc.
If you are certain that you want to exchange the money at a bank, why not do it in Hawaii? We've done that in Seattle. We gave the bank some advance notice that we wanted a certain amount of a currency and they got it in for us. That way you won't spend your precious vacation time chasing down Fiji dollars.
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Permalink Reply by silvana alfonso on
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that's a great idea there is an exchange store at ala moana i will ask them, thanx
Cindy Edge said:Silvana - I would withdraw all you need for your whole trip at once since the banks charge a fee for each ATM withdrawal - you get a better deal if withdrawing only once. I can't tell you how much you will need as it depends on where you go, what you do, whether they take a credit card, etc.
If you are certain that you want to exchange the money at a bank, why not do it in Hawaii? We've done that in Seattle. We gave the bank some advance notice that we wanted a certain amount of a currency and they got it in for us. That way you won't spend your precious vacation time chasing down Fiji dollars.
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Permalink Reply by Marilyn Marsh on -
Hi Silvana
I've just picked up on this thread - have you decided on your accommodation yet? I agree Raffles is a good choice & convenient. We have also stayed overnight at Bluewater Lodge, which is a small place and has backpacker rooms, they picked us up from the airport and provided breakfast, included in the bed cost. I can provide contact details if you are interested. Cheaper than Raffles, and if you are heading out the next morning you won't really have time to use the Raffles pool. The bus which picks up to take you to the Yasawa Flyer leaves Raffles at 7.30am, if that is where you are heading first. Octopus is one of my favourite places - also greatly recommended, and they now have a 'sister'resort opened last Christmas, Blue Lagoon Beach Resort, a bit further up the Yasawas, smaller, great beach & good contact with the local village. Check the blog I wrote about it on this site before it opened, it has had some really great reviews since opening.
The bank branch at the airport is open to meet all flights for money change.
Marilyn
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Permalink Reply by silvana alfonso on
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hi Marylin, yes i would love the contact of the place you stayed in nadi, sounds great and yes i will leave the next morning so it will just for 1 night, i guess i will have to arrange the ride to yasawas the same night of my arrival, so you are saying that at 11.30 midnight the airport bank will be able to change my cash into fiji money? if that's the case i just will bring some cash with me, easy. I will go to octopus first and then i can check out the other spot! thanx for the help ciao
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Permalink Reply by Marilyn Marsh on
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Hi Silvana
The email address is bluewaterfiji@connect.com
I find that sometimes they do not reply straight away, particularly if the owner is away for a day or two, so try to contact them soon. They have good staff and are very friendly. We had an ensuite room which cost FJ$98 for the 2 of us, included breakfast & airport pickup. They also have dorm rooms (only 3 beds in each) which are cheaper, with shared facilities. Very clean, with a small swimming pool. If arriving late you won't have dinner there but we found the food to be very good - you might want to use them again on your way out of the country.
Have you booked yet for Octopus? - they are often almost full so best to do that asap. They have bungalows (picture on their website) which may suit for you & your daughter but you would have to share a queen-size bed - they share the dorm facilities - really a bedroom-size room, fan cooled, with small verandah on the front. At Blue Lagoon they have Lodge rooms, similarly share the dorm facilities, & you can ask for 2 single beds in those. If you are considering both those resorts can I suggest you think about going to BL first, then Octopus. You would go on the Yasawa Flyer to the furthest stop, then transfer back to Octopus (also Yasawa Flyer). If you were to do that Blue Lagoon will organise the boat for you also, their email contact is on their website. We have been going to Octopus for many years but will go first to Blue Lagoon this year, & then on to Octopus. Great snorkelling at both
Yes, change your money as you come into the country. The bank branch is just outside the Arrival doors. You can charge all your stay, including extras such as bar tab, activities to your credit card at both the above places (and boat if they organise it for you). So you won't need a great deal of cash out there, just some for souvenirs at the village shell market.
Marilyn :)
silvana alfonso said:hi Marylin, yes i would love the contact of the place you stayed in nadi, sounds great and yes i will leave the next morning so it will just for 1 night, i guess i will have to arrange the ride to yasawas the same night of my arrival, so you are saying that at 11.30 midnight the airport bank will be able to change my cash into fiji money? if that's the case i just will bring some cash with me, easy. I will go to octopus first and then i can check out the other spot! thanx for the help ciao
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Permalink Reply by silvana alfonso on
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hi Marylin, i just emailed bluewaterfiji and this is the response i got:
Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently:
bluewaterfiji@connect.com
Technical details of permanent failure:
Google tried to deliver your message, but it was rejected by the recipient domain. We recommend contacting the other email provider for further information about the cause of this error. The error that the other server returned was: 503 503 This mail server requires authentication when attempting to send to a non-local e-mail address. Please check your mail client settings or contact your administrator to verify that the domain or address is defined for this server. (state 14).
do you have any other way to contact them? thanx Silvana
Marilyn Marsh said:Hi Silvana
The email address is bluewaterfiji@connect.com
I find that sometimes they do not reply straight away, particularly if the owner is away for a day or two, so try to contact them soon. They have good staff and are very friendly. We had an ensuite room which cost FJ$98 for the 2 of us, included breakfast & airport pickup. They also have dorm rooms (only 3 beds in each) which are cheaper, with shared facilities. Very clean, with a small swimming pool. If arriving late you won't have dinner there but we found the food to be very good - you might want to use them again on your way out of the country.
Have you booked yet for Octopus? - they are often almost full so best to do that asap. They have bungalows (picture on their website) which may suit for you & your daughter but you would have to share a queen-size bed - they share the dorm facilities - really a bedroom-size room, fan cooled, with small verandah on the front. At Blue Lagoon they have Lodge rooms, similarly share the dorm facilities, & you can ask for 2 single beds in those. If you are considering both those resorts can I suggest you think about going to BL first, then Octopus. You would go on the Yasawa Flyer to the furthest stop, then transfer back to Octopus (also Yasawa Flyer). If you were to do that Blue Lagoon will organise the boat for you also, their email contact is on their website. We have been going to Octopus for many years but will go first to Blue Lagoon this year, & then on to Octopus. Great snorkelling at both
Yes, change your money as you come into the country. The bank branch is just outside the Arrival doors. You can charge all your stay, including extras such as bar tab, activities to your credit card at both the above places (and boat if they organise it for you). So you won't need a great deal of cash out there, just some for souvenirs at the village shell market.
Marilyn :)
silvana alfonso said:hi Marylin, yes i would love the contact of the place you stayed in nadi, sounds great and yes i will leave the next morning so it will just for 1 night, i guess i will have to arrange the ride to yasawas the same night of my arrival, so you are saying that at 11.30 midnight the airport bank will be able to change my cash into fiji money? if that's the case i just will bring some cash with me, easy. I will go to octopus first and then i can check out the other spot! thanx for the help ciao
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