Located about two-thirds of the distance between New Zealand and Hawaii, Fiji is a highly developed island nation with abundant natural resources, scenes of extraordinary beauty, and a great range of five-star resorts and hotels. The city of Nadi is the main portal to the rest of Fiji, which consists of 330 distinct, named islands – 110 of these are permanently inhabited.
Fiji has one of the most developed economies of the island nations in its proximity, making it an ideal place for expat industry and resource exploitation. This, in turn, fueled the country's growth as a tourist destination, with honeymoons being particularly popular.
While most of Fiji's islands are kept in their pristine natural condition, the capital city of Suva offers a colonial-style urban environment with shopping malls, restaurants, museums, and numerous high-capacity multipurpose venues – from the 1,000-seat Civic Auditorium to the 30,000-seat ANZ National Stadium.
Culturally, the island nation is indebted to its significant ethnic Indian minority. This can be seen in the abundance of Indian restaurants to prominent regular concert performances by Indian Bollywood superstars. The city also has a vibrant nightlife punctuated by late-night bars, clubs, and food-stalls situated in safe, well-policed areas.
The climate is expectedly hot year-round – the tropical climate and island geography gives Fiji a very predictable weather profile. January, February, and March are the rainiest months of the year, with each month averaging 15 days of rain while the rest of the year remains only relatively humid.
Flights to Fiji from International Destinations
While the capital city of Fiji is Suva, all of the island nation's international travel occurs in the city of Nadi, on the other side of the island. Nadi is a small city that mostly operates as a junction point for travel throughout the rest of Fiji – it is here that you'll find ferries, boats, and planes taking you to the Fiji's remotest hideaway islands.
While Nadi doesn't have the commercial appeal of Suva, it does have its own share of shops and restaurants. In Fijian culture, it is perfectly acceptable to approach strangers and entice them into your place of business, so be prepared for the locals to try to get you to spend your tourist money buying whatever they have to offer. Most of these instances are respectful, and it is worth pointing out that Nadi is the safest town in Fiji – there is very little risk of pickpocketing or other crime.
The Nadi International Airport serves more than 95% of Fijian international flights, with Fiji Airways operating regular flights to Los Angeles, Melbourne, Brisbane, Christchurch, Honolulu, Singapore, and a variety of other regional metropolises.
We are happy to help you book a flight to Fiji from any of the destinations and more – just use our user-friendly online booking engine. Once you find a flight you like, we can offer you discounted rates on airfare, hotels, car rentals, and anything else you may need for your holiday. BYOjet provides 24-hour customer service and is ready to help at a moment's notice.
Getting Around Fiji
Fiji offers visitors a wide variety of public transport options, including two types of taxis. "Private taxis" are the type that most travelers will be familiar with, while "share taxis" gather multiple people going to the same destination, much like the way a shuttle bus does. Since many tourists travel to the same intercity destinations, it makes sense to pick up as many as possible.
Taxis are very cheap by international standards, but you should be wary of taxi drivers who negotiate prices instead of using the taxi meter – the meter price is always lower than the price the driver quotes when you get in the car. Also, be aware that taxis have their hometown printed on the front bumper – if you catch one traveling back home, it cannot charge more than the bus fare equivalent for the ride.
You'll find that Suva and Nadi both have relatively traffic-free roadways, but the traffic infrastructure between cities and towns in Fiji can be dangerous. Most embassies advise their citizens not to rent cars or travel on their own by road in Fiji – pot holes, washouts, and crumbling bridges are a common sight throughout the mountainous countryside, and these are occasionally accident sites for unwary drivers.
When traveling between cities, it's best to use a bus or a ferry. Most towns on the island will have multiple boats traveling to other destinations within Fiji. South Sea Cruises is one of the largest, operating daily ferries to the Mamanuca Island resorts located just off the main island.
Another popular way to get around in Fiji is by bicycle. If you are fit enough to feel comfortable traversing mountain roads on a BMX-style bicycle, you can easily make your way across the Fijian islands on two wheels – just be sure to carry spares and supplies, as you'll only find bike shops in the main tourist cities.
Getting to and leaving the airport
Nadi International Airport (NAN) is located on the western side of Viti Levu Island, just minutes away from the popular tourist and holiday destination of Denarau. Taxi is one common method of getting around the island. Taxis are individually owned and fares are charged at a metered rate. There are also seven car rental agencies available. Offices are located in the Arrivals area. Some resorts and hotels provide free shuttle and boat transfers to/from the airport. This should be arranged with the hotel or resort before arrival.
Nadi (Fiji) Airport Facilities & Services
If you need to spend a few hours at Nadi International Airport, consider checking into the Fiji Airways Lounge. A day-long guest pass costs $75 Fijian dollars and gives you access to an extensive beverage and snack bar as well as a television lounge and Internet cafe. Air New Zealand also operates a lounge for its members. It includes a kid's zone and a self-service buffet.