Heading to Fiji in a Couple Weeks (Naviti Resort)

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  retiredfeline on 10/05/2016 - 00:17

  Credit cards are readily accepted at resorts. At supermarkets you may need some cash which you can get out of ATMs or a money changer. You will probably need to take local transport to get out of the resort to buy bottled water, cancelling some of the saving and eating up time. Closest mid size town seems to be Sigatoka. You won't find anything like the shopping choices you have here.

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    dazzza on 10/05/2016 - 00:35

    Thanks greenpossum, yeh heard out Sigatoka before, we are right down on the coral coast so a fair distance away from there. Hoping to find a smaller supermarket closer by :) Is it best to get the FijI $'s before going over there? At the Airport? Or over there ?

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      retiredfeline on 10/05/2016 - 00:59

      IIRC I got money out of an airport ATM there no problems. You'd get poorer rates here.

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        dazzza on 10/05/2016 - 22:01

        Shows how niave I am, just use your bank atm card to get money out in FJ$ over there? Just works like using an ATM here, they are linked worldwide ?

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        retiredfeline on 10/05/2016 - 22:29

        +1

        @dazzza: Yes but check with your issuer what charges there are. Use a debit card for this because with a credit card it's a cash advance which attracts interest right away. Citibank is the one liked by OzBargainers because no transaction fees charged by Citibank. Also some ATM cards for example issued by credit unions don't work overseas.

        There's a wiki page on cards, have a read.

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        dazzza on 17/05/2016 - 21:13

        Thanks greenpossum. So it is better to get the Fiji$ out in Fiji? We only have credit cards, no debit cards, so I assume we have to get money from one of those exchange booth thingies ?

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        retiredfeline on 17/05/2016 - 22:18

        @dazzza: Depending on your card it might still be worthwhile to predeposit enough money into it so that it doesn't become a cash advance even though you might still get charged for the withdrawal. It all depends on the particular card.

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        dazzza on 17/05/2016 - 22:48

        @greenpossum:

        Ta mate, might have to speak to my bank (CBA), we only ever lived on credit cards, but we do withdraw money using this card, so we might be able to do it.

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  mskeggs on 10/05/2016 - 08:02

  +1

  I stayed at the Hideaway resort down the road a few years ago with a similar package deal.
  Safe water was readily available from help yourself water coolers.
  We found 'island time' could be a bit slow in getting served drinks.
  Food was good, but the kids options were a bit chips, nuggets, spaghetti etc. rather than the seafood etc. on the main menu.
  With regard to alcohol, I was with other friends and family so we gave the bar a nudge a couple of nights. The included drinks were limited to beer, soft drinks and house spirits. At the Hideaway this did not include bourbon, so some duty free was consumed by those favouring that. And the other house spirits were pretty much paint thinner ;-)
  I would consider bringing some duty free if you have any specific preferences, as the non-included drinks were not inexpensive.
  Local beer was of the VB/New/XXXX standard.

  Sigatoka is a reasonable size country town. It had a few ATMs and supermarket or two of IGA size. There was also an ATM at one of the resorts between where we were and Sigatoka.
  We found prices for things like massages, beautician stuff etc. dramatically cheaper in Sigatoka. Similarly, getting a driver for the day to see some local sights was much cheaper than the hotel tour desk.

  We found Fiji a beautiful and friendly country, and a great destination for families that haven't travelled as much. Some of the people on our trip hadn't taken kids overseas before and they particularly found it easy, safe and enjoyable.
  You don't say how old your kids are, but if they are young, the kids clubs are good to keep them occupied while you take it easy.
  It is also worth considering getting a local baby sitter one or two nights if you want to have a nice dinner with your partner.

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    dazzza on 10/05/2016 - 22:07

    Thanks mskeggs for the detailed response. Have heard about "Fiji Time" !
    Might have to get some duty free by the sounds of it. Can you buy Aus spirits, ie Bundy duty free in Nadi, or best just to get in Aus before leaving?
    As you can tell we are not seasoned travellers, thus we picked Fiji as it seems laid back, friendly and carefree.
    Kids are 10 and 6.

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  GLO on 10/05/2016 - 08:46

  Most resorts will let you charge hotel expenses back to your room for you to settle on departure.

  Thats the easiest.

  Change A$200 into Fijian dollars for local markets and taxi/bus fares.

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    dazzza on 17/05/2016 - 21:14

    Thanks GLO, so change the AUS into Fiji $ at the airport the best value method ?

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  [Deactivated] on 10/05/2016 - 11:30

  +1

  We stayed at the naviti last year, you don't need much cash. Bottled water is provided so just use that. Not much to see and do except enjoy resort life. Maybe the snorkeling, kids well looked after. We prob only spent $200 aud in the five nights we were there

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    dazzza on 10/05/2016 - 22:09

    We got told bottled water isn't provided in the all inclusive deal, anyway no biggie. Yeh we are just intending on hanging around the resort 90% of the time, probably a day out on river cruise to a local town or something similar/

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  SirFlibbled on 10/05/2016 - 12:16

  Try to get out of the resort and try some local food. I was staying in Denauru so no advice on Coral Coast but we ended up finding a local place in town which did great local food for $6-7 a meal.

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  Brainwhacker on 11/05/2016 - 10:15

  Major credit cards accepted at most locations although as per OP above Sigatoka may be far away to buy bottled water; you might want to purchase some on the way to the resort during transfer from the supermarkets in Nadi;

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  simonpieman on 21/07/2016 - 11:49

  Hey Dazza, how was the holiday? I'm taking the family to the same resort in Sept…any tips? Cheers!

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    dazzza on 17/08/2016 - 22:33

    +1

    Hi mate, the resort is great value. If u have kids, the kids are well and truly catered for, you will hardly ever see them! The meals are not restaurant quality, but are fine to eat. They have different theme nights from different countries for dinner, ie Chinese, Mongolian, Indian etc. The Mongolian food was beautiful. If you don't want to eat at the main buffet/restaurant you can get a pizza, burger etc which once again are not top notch but perfectly good honest tucker. There are 2 other restaurants you can dine at which my wife and I did, they were also very good, but I think we had to pay for those. We drank the water there and none of us had any issues at all, didn't even buy any bottled water. Our accomodation was fine and spacious enough (oceanview) not that we spent much time in the room. Most of the time was spent around the pool, pool bar etc. The staff are fantastic there, Bill is a laugh a minute (he runs the activites etc).
    Overall we were very happy with the Resort.
    Fire anymore questions away :)