Anyone Travelling to Fiji in Dec 2021

JunkCap on 08/11/2021 - 23:27

We have booked ourselves a nice holiday in Fiji for 5 nights at Radisson Blu for 2 Adults and 2 Kids (under 12 :)). The package with flights are reasonable, come to around $575 per day inclusive of breakfast lunch and dinner.

The unexpected expense we see is the PCR cost !$300 before leaving for 2 adults and around ~$600 for rapid tests and PCR tests after arrival and departure from Fiji…

Any one else travelling during this time? its very exciting.. looking for any advice/considerations before we travel

Travel Fiji Oceania

Comments

  • KaTst3R on 08/11/2021 - 23:38
    +4

    Just make sure your credit cards have a nice limit because plane ticket and hotels are cheap but everything else in Fiji is expensive AF. At least meals are covered so that cost you dont have to worry about.

  • iNeed2Pee on 09/11/2021 - 00:20

    Truman has been trying to book a flight to Fiji for a while now!

    • fantombloo on 09/11/2021 - 00:38

      They could have just said there was a pandemic - no need for all the other tactics.

  • holdenmg on 09/11/2021 - 02:51

    Hi,

    You might like the thread formerly known as https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/657371 (October, 2021)

    In it, I mentioned that Rapid lateral flow Covid tests might be (a cheaper) alternative put in place, but obviously you are subject to whatever is the approved test at the time.

    As far as I know it isn't yet.

    • JunkCap on 09/11/2021 - 22:00
      +1

      Wow, lotsa people have said no to such a trip!!! thanks for sharing the link

  • BOGOF on 09/11/2021 - 08:07

    Don't forget to add on the mandatory travel insurance that specifically covers Covid-19. Note that credit card insurance does not cover any losses or claims caused by epidemics or pandemics. I have also struggled to find Australian Insurers that specifically covers Covid-19.

    Travellers entering Fiji must have medical travel insurance, with international coverage that covers COVID-19 before travelling.

    • xeion on 09/11/2021 - 09:55
      +1

      Have you had a look at Medibank for international travel insurance? They say "as long as those travel destinations are not subject to a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning on the Smartraveller website at the time you enter the country".

      I am waiting to hear back from them in regards to issuing an insurance certificate and if they cover my travel.

      • BOGOF on 09/11/2021 - 10:10
        +1

        Just checked it. Yes they do now cover for medical & cancellation due to Covid-19. It appears they added it from 29th September.

    • JunkCap on 09/11/2021 - 22:02

      yeah sure.. it was close to $500 for the 4 of us.. it was through the package.. a company called XCover, very specific for Covid-19 including any additional time to stay etc.,

  • bobokingdom on 09/11/2021 - 09:14

    I think the kids also need to be tested before/during/after the trip? So the cost of tests will be 2x of what you estimated?

    • JunkCap on 09/11/2021 - 22:07

      Check this out https://www.fiji.travel/faq

      Yes. You will need to provide documented proof of a negative RT-PCR test no more than 3 days prior to travel for all travellers 12 years and above.

      And then when you come back to AU, refer to https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavir…

      What travel restrictions apply to children in relation to vaccination?
      All children aged under 12 years, as demonstrated by their passport, count as fully vaccinated for travel purposes.

      A class exemption will apply to Australians aged 12–17, who are travelling with fully vaccinated parents/guardians, arriving in New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory who do not meet the criteria for fully vaccinated.

      This age group will be required to undertake a PCR test within 24 hours of arrival into Australia and will need to quarantine at home for 7 days. A second test will be required on day 5 prior to completion of quarantine. This age group may attend school after completing the 7 days of quarantine. However, they will not be allowed to visit other high-risk settings such as disability facilities, aged care facilities and hospitals until 14 days after arrival.

      I have also checked VIC Covid-19 permit system

  • tallkid123 on 09/11/2021 - 09:33

    Wife and I were thinking about it a few days ago but decided not to at this stage.

    Due to everyone's insightful comments above.

    • tallkid123 on 09/11/2021 - 12:36

      I've always found it kinda funny that people go to my ancestral homeland to relax/chill/do nothing.

      • tallkid123 on 09/11/2021 - 18:41
        -1

        Except the downvoter who probably can't afford to go to Fiji in the first place.

  • CowKingthe4th on 09/11/2021 - 09:52
    +2

    Scomo probably

  • GG57 on 09/11/2021 - 10:09
    +2

    My advice would be to embrace the laid-back style of Fiji and chill out.
    The people of Fiji have suffered from the impacts of COVID; I'm sure they will be glad to see business back up and running, but be nice. Not everything may go smoothly.

    • RDY4ME on 09/11/2021 - 11:02
      +4

      We were in Fiji in December 2019.

      It amazes me the amount of people who go to any island nation like this (Vanuatu, Fiji, New Caledonia etc) and think time runs like normal. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the break that you have paid for. Cocktail takes 20 minutes to be delivered to your pool-side chair; all part of the experience.

      We were having dinner one night at the resort and each night the resort's mini band would come and serenade each table individually; they were lovely. One couple who had already complained about how long it took for their entrees to be served called the waitress over to their table.

      "Its been 15 minutes and we STILL haven't had our entrees. And how come that couple (pointed at us) were serenaded before we were?"

      They then called the manager over and made the same complaint. Each time they were told to just relax and wait. They were not having it and kept raising their voices.

      Anyway, my point is go to Fiji and just chill out. You don't get that opportunity to step away from the rat race often.

  • [Deactivated] on 09/11/2021 - 10:25
    -2

    Enjoy staying in Fiji for a possible 6 months

    • brendanm on 09/11/2021 - 12:18
      +2

      Would be preferable to staying here for 6 months.

  • Islund on 09/11/2021 - 10:32
    +2

    I am travelling on the 4th of December. The hotel (Hilton which is down the road from Radisson) told me around $35 for tests on arrival.

    Transfers to the hotel from the airport are around $60 AUD for a car - assume that would be the same back to the airport.

    Take cash if you can - get it converted at one of the currency converters here.

    Take chocolates - the house maids etc will be your best friends for life; a cadbury block is $10 there and that is like half a day's wages for them.

    Bring back kava - each adult is allowed 4kg; will cost you around AUD$50 per kg, you can sell it on any of the Fiji FB groups in Australia for at least AUD$200. That is the cost of your holiday right there.

    • bitesized on 09/11/2021 - 11:52

      Is Kava widely available to buy in Fiji (near the hotels) etc.? And which FB groups have had good success rates to sell?

      • Islund on 09/11/2021 - 16:50

        Nadi Market is but half an hour away by car - get to eat real mangoes, buy real kava; an experience in itself

    • brendanm on 09/11/2021 - 12:19

      I would suggest hiring a car vs getting hotel transfers, we got to see far more being able to drive around.

      • Islund on 09/11/2021 - 16:52

        cheaper to hire a cab for the day - unobtrusive and will save so much more time. Said chocalte to said house maid will have her finding you a goo dcab driver at local rates.

    • JunkCap on 09/11/2021 - 22:09

      WOW that sounds really good. Can you let us know how you go! we will take some chocolates :)

  • macrocephalic on 09/11/2021 - 12:52
    +2

    We thought about travelling the first half of next year, but we have two kids (under 5) and we don't want to travel with them until they're either vaccinated or exposed to covid19. I know it's not supposed to be too serious for kids, but even just having sick kids while you're on holiday sucks.

  • PeelThis on 24/02/2023 - 15:36

    Sorry, old post but how did you go at Radison Blu?
    We've booked there for April and looking forward to it.
    Any general pointers or recommendations? Cheers!

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