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Plan Early.  Book your travel plans early as you can.

Cheapest Flights.  Ask your travel agent what is the cheapest flight.  Do not allow them to just ask "the days" you would like to fly.  We suggest that you only book your travel plans based on "Date of Travel" if that is the only way you can manage.  The cheapest flight might be only a couple of days away from your travel plans and you might save hundreds of dollars.  Plan in advance with work schedules, vacation, and leave-of-absence requests.  

Best Travel Days.  Travel on Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday from USA.

Travel Options.  You allowed plenty of time and arrived at your domestic airport with hours to spare?  Ask the airline if you can fly on the next available flight so that you can get to the international airport and check your baggage.  Then you might have time to shop, relax, have a quiet and romantic dinner before your flight.  This might save you if the flight you were originally supposed to be on is delayed or cancelled.

On the Plane.  The airlines recirculate air on the plane rather than heat it due to the costs involved.  Only a portion, the percentage depends on each airline, is fresh air from the outside.  Remember the air temperature outside the plane at 35,000 feet is colder than -40 degrees.  A great deal of energy is wasted heating this air in order to make you comfortable.  Bring warm clothes to change into or put on to keep warm.  We like to wear comfortable clothes while traveling such as pants ( Dockers ®) for both men and women and then change into (sweat pants)/(warm-ups) or jogging clothes just before boarding the airplane.  Do not wear tight restrictive clothing on the plane.  You have to sit for approximately 10-14 hours in a very small seat area and you need to be comfortable and warm.  We like to bring an extra pair of socks.

Where to sit on the plane.  In the center section (four seats wide), if the flight is not full, so that you can lay down a little.  If the plane is going to be mostly full, then sit on the side with 3 seats.  Window seat is the best, "See Plan Early", take the pillow from home, "See Pillow Below", and place the pillow vertically up against the window side wall and lean against it.  The larger pillow will cradle your head and will be held in place with your shoulder.  The pillow from home will stay that way for hours and will not fall out as will the much smaller airline pillows.

Pillow.   We even bring our own pillow.  Rolled tight with an in old pillow case sure makes the flight more enjoyable.  Bring another pillow case for return flight.  We have been offered up to US$50 dollars for our pillow.

Day Room.  Are you arriving in Nadi (pronounced as Nandi) in the very early hours of the morning?  Are you going to travel later in the day?   Don't sit around the airport for more than a couple of hours.  You have already been sitting on the airplane.  Contact one of the many local hotels and ask for a what is called a "day" room.  You will get a room to shower in, nap and hold your bags while you have breakfast.  The rate should be half of what a normal room would cost.

Carry-on-Luggage, see Air Lines.  The rules for flying anywhere now have been tightened up especially in the regards of carry-on-luggage.  For your safety and others, as well as everyone's travel enjoyment, please bring only what is allowed.  That means the proper size bag that weighs the correct amount.  Don't bring a camera bag, video camera bag, garment bag, large purse, duty-free packages, etc... as well as your one piece of allowed carry-on-luggage.

Carry-on-Luggage items.  This should include a change of clothes, including underwear, socks, and bathing suit.  This will help when you have to sit on the plane for longs hours or if the luggage is lost or delayed.  Also an one gallon zip-lock bag that contains shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant.  We do not bring toiletry bags as they add extra weight.  Also it does rain in Fiji quite a bit so protect your clothes, cameras, film, etc. from moisture by using plastic bags. 

Checked Luggage, see Air Lines.  The rules for flying anywhere now have been tightened up in the regards of checked luggage too.

Luggage Tags.  Get luggage tabs and attach securely.  The tag should give your name, but not your home or apartment address, telephone number etc.  Thieves can and do use the information obtained from your luggage to rob you while you are away.

Luggage Locks.  Obtain and use luggage locks to secure your bag.  It will not stop a determined thief, but it will deter an opportunistic one.  Note: Locks are almost totally banned at all airports that service Fiji from the mainland of the United States.  The luggage will be opened by security and inspected, and if there is a lock on the bag it will be cut off.  Put the lock on the bag after you clear Fijian Customs or leave it at home.

Cash.  Do not carry large amounts of cash.  Use plastic or travelers checks or an AAA Stored Value card ®   See AAA Global Currency™ .  This is a prepaid Visa card that carries a dollar amount that you determine and you set up beforehand.  As you use it, the amount you spend is deducted from the card balance.  When your funds get low on your AAA EveryDay Funds card or AAA Global Currency card, it's easy to reload again and again.  There are no applications required or banking relationships established to purchase the AAA Stored Value cards.   The AAA Global Currency card allows you to pay like a local traveling abroad, not like a tourist.  24-Hour cash access at more than 556,000 ATMs worldwide and at more than 600,000 merchant locations that display the Interlink symbol.  Favorable foreign exchange markup rates.  If your card is lost or stolen, your funds are secure.  Order a second card for uninterrupted access to your funds.

Cash.  Do not carry large amounts of cash.  You notice that we have repeated ourselves, this is from events that you do not want to experience.  American Express® is another alternative as they also have what they call a TravelFunds® Card.  This prepaid, reload able card is a smart substitute to carrying cash or debit cards while traveling.  Losing a credit or debit card when away from home can be a real problem.  The American Express® TravelFunds® Card gets lost or stolen; you don't have to worry about your funds in you bank back home.  It's prepaid and not linked to any of your bank accounts.  This allows you to carry a very small amount of actual cash.  If you lose your cash it could mean the end of your vacation.  If your TravelFunds® Card goes missing, your available funds at that time of loss or theft will be refunded, wherever you are, usually within 24 hours.  American Express® TravelFunds® Card is accepted at millions of places worldwide that also welcomes the American Express® Card, which includes most ATMs.  As we said the TravelFunds® Card is re-loadable.  Add more funds to your card at anytime from anywhere by simply calling 1-888-412-6945 from within the United States and +1-801-945-9450 (collect) from outside of the United States.  Note:  There is a limit as to the amount you can load on the cards.  Your card must start with a minimum load of $300 and a maximum of $2750, which is also the maximum you may load on your Card(s) during any 14-day period. You can order up to 4 cards (to share with family members) at a time. Their total combined value cannot exceed $2750. There is a $14.95 issuance fee per Card.

Tipping in Fiji:  Tipping, including restaurant waiters is not customary in Fiji.  While staying at a resort or hotel and if you enjoyed the staff’s service, you may contribute to the Staff Appreciation Fund, sometimes called the Christmas Fund.

Passport.  Don't have a Passport?  Apply for one at least 3 months before traveling.  You have a passport but have not looked at it in years?  Passports should be obtained and checked before making travel plans.  Be advised that in the USA you must make an appointment at the US Passport Office, do not just show up thinking that they will give you a new passport or renew an old one.  They do provide a service where you can get a passport in less than a week, if you make an appointment, state your travel plans, have two (2) passport photographs and a completed form.  The form can be downloaded off the website or obtained from a US Post Office.  The cost of a passport is US$40.00.  To expedite the process add US$35.00.

Passport.  Make a copy of your passport, and carry it separately, so that if your passport is lost or stolen you can obtain a replacement more easily.  You should also make copies of your medical card, dental card, drivers license, and medical prescriptions.

Eyeglasses / Sunglasses.  Bring an extra pair of prescription glasses and sunglasses when you travel.  There is nothing worst than not being to see after breaking or losing yours.

Medicine.  Bring your medicine when you travel.  If you have a copy of the medical prescription you can more easily obtain more.  Are you allergic to foods, medicine or insect bites?  Medic Alert ® tags or bracelet is a good suggestion.

Telephone Numbers.  Bring a list of important telephone numbers, including family, friends, lawyer, doctor, medical or dental offices, insurance both medical and dental.  Even a neighbors telephone number is helpful, they can check on your home or apartment when you are gone.

Clothes to wear.  Wear the appropriate clothes while traveling.  Shorts or a dress are alright, but it does get cold on the plane, and those airline blankets are not made for warmth.  Carry a windbreaker or sweatshirt or long sleeve shirt and extra socks.  Bring a pair of comfortable shoes.  When traveling you might have to walk a mile or so between gates, Chicago, Dallas / Fort Worth, and Los Angeles to name a few.  Even San Francisco has movable sidewalks that breakdown every now and then, you may have to get from a domestic airline to an international carrier with all that heavy luggage.  Bring a comfortable pair of shoes to walk in and then change when you get to your destination.

Checking luggage through.  Check with the airline or travel agent regarding checking your straight through to your destination

Moving Luggage.  This is a hot and difficult job.  You packed it now you have to move it.  Use a cart whenever possible, you are going on vacation, not looking for a chiropractic convention.  Short of money or just cheap, most major airports have free luggage carts inside the customs and immigration areas, though, once outside these areas you will have to pay.  Look for abandon carts next to arrival areas where luggage is placed into vehicles.

Music.  Bringing a walkman or CD player?   Bring extra batteries too.

Sun.  Bring a hat, sunglasses, sun block to protect from the damage that the sun can cause.  If you have not been outside in a while, limit your exposure between the hours of 10-3 each day.  Remember too the sun can reflect off the water so protect yourself.

Scuba or snorkeling.  Going to go swimming or diving?  Bring your own face mask and snorkel.  I hate to think where the mask or snorkel mouth piece was last.  Remember, you can be very badly sun burned while snorkeling without being aware, as the water will cool your legs, neck. head and back.  Wear sun block, wet suit and limit your exposure between 10-3.

Sun Sensitive.  Remember that you can be very badly burned by the tropical sun and the glare off the water.  Protect your eyes with UV sun glasses and protect your skin with UV blocking clothes.  We prefer Coolibar ®  UV blocking products as they have been endorsed by the Skin Cancer Foundation’s for sun protective clothing, sun hats and sun protective swimwear.  Most of their clothes, hats and swimwear provide excellent UV protection, rated at Ultraviolet Protection Factor greater than 50. 

Itemization.  What to bring and how to keep track of it?  As you are probably aware the airlines are under increased competition to make a profit.  Flight schedules can be delayed or cancelled.  Baggage can be damaged, misrouted or lost.  Emergencies happen and maintenance needs to be performed.  Get to the airport at least 3 hours before your international flight.  Do not forget to allow plenty of time for traffic getting to the airport for your domestic flight too.  We suggest that you lay out everything that you are thinking of taking with you.  Determine by the length of stay, type of vacation, etc. what you really need to take.  Do not start packing and just keeping adding to the bag.  Have a plan and stick to it.  We always recommend making a list of everything and even what bag it went into.  When you are "family traveling", keeping track of what bag the clothes for the 4-year old went into may seem foolish when you are sitting quietly at home, but when you get to the airport and he/she has an accident, is crying; finding an extra pair of underwear and pants in all those bags is not fun. 

Just Remember the "Cardinal Rule of Luggage Packing": That rule states that "Articles when packed in a bag at home, and opened before the final destination, will not physically fit back into the same bag."

Electricity:  The electricity available in all parts of Fiji is 230V, 50Hz.  Adapters should be purchased prior to traveling.

Visas: Entry visas for Fiji are automatically granted upon your arrival and completion of a Fijian Immigration & Customs Form.  This allows you to stay up to four (4) months to most Nationals.  These include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Finland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States of America.  All other nationals must apply for a visa before their departure at their nearest Fiji Embassy.  Visas may be extended for an additional two months for a fee of F$82.50 thus allowing you to stay for a maximum total of six (6) months.  All visa extensions must be made in person with an application to the Department of Immigration in either Nadi, Suva or Lautoka.  You must show an onward ticket for each person and sufficient funds of at least F$50 per person per day.

Arrival in Nadi (Nandi).  Upon arrival in Fiji, you will exit the plane with your carry on luggage.  Walk along the elevated walkway to immigration.  The first queue is for "Transit Only", out of the country.  The second queue is for Fiji residents, flight crew and immediate transit.  The next 3 queues are for visitors only.  You will show the immigration officer the Fijian Immigration & Customs Form and your passport.

Fijian Immigration & Custom Form.   Please note: Everyone arriving in Fiji must present a completed form, so please fill out the forms for the children too.

Exiting Airport.  After you passport is stamped, exit through the doors and then down the stairs to baggage claim, Duty Free and Customs areas.  Luggage carts are available free of charge.  Collect the baggage, buy your duty free items then proceed to customs.  Exit through either the "Something to Declare" or "Nothing to Declare" queues.  After exiting the customs area, you will see the ANZ bank on your left and on your right is ground transportation.  Tour Operators and car rentals agencies are straight ahead.

Wearing A Sarong or Sulu.  Purchase a Sarong or Sulu at one of the many Duty Free shops in Nadi, Suva or Lautoka.  Jack's Handicrafts © is a good place to start.  Wearing a Sarong or Sulu.