What Does Fiji Time Mean? (& What You Need to Know About It)

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How Will Fiji Time Affect Your Trip to Fiji

Fiji Time is an effect that is felt by both visitors and the locals. It certainly took us aback when we first visited Fiji, but now we’ve learned to embrace it and even enjoy it! However, to people coming from the hustle and bustle of the busy Western world, Fiji Time can feel a little annoying at first. If you like schedules, plans and set itineraries, then you might find it a little hard to adjust to Fiji Time. On the other hand, the locals (and visitors once they get used to it), see Fiji Time as living life: not rushing it.

So, how will Fiji Time affect your trip? Here are some ways:

Organising a Time to Do Something

If you organise a time to meet with a local, be picked up in a taxi or do an activity with a local (rather than at a resort), expect to meet later than planned. It could be anywhere between 10 minutes to an hour.

In resorts, however, you won’t have to wait too long, as activities and entertainment tend to stick a little better to a schedule. (Even then, most of the times stated in resort entertainment schedules is a ballpark figure). Regardless, for resort activities like island excursions, we suggest you be ready on time.

It’s likely that the only time you will need to be “on time” during your Fiji holiday is for your outward flight. Locals understand the urgency of this, but be sure to emphasise the time you need to arrive at the airport.

When You Ask How Long Something Will Take

Ask a local how long an activity will take or how long it will take to get to a destination, and it is likely that you will be met with a blank face before they give you a wildly inaccurate time. Hey, they try, but let’s be honest, it’s a question they don’t often need to think about. All you can do is take their answer with a pinch of salt and ask yourself if time even matters anyway.

The Time it Takes to Do Things

Not long after you arrive in Fiji, you will notice how people do things just a little bit slower here. You’ll see that people walk down the street at a laid-back pace, and, hell, the top speed limit in Fiji is 80 kph (50 mph), which most people don’t want to reach anyway. This sometimes means that the check-out at the supermarket might run slower than you’re used to, or even checking out of your hotel might take longer than expected (but to be fair, that only happens when the hotel is busy).

Tours with Itineraries Might Change

Some of us like to see an itinerary with the time and order of what activities are done and when. However, with Fiji Time, some things are subject to change! The reason isn’t always due to things not running on time, but schedules often change depending on the ever-changing weather in Fiji. There’s usually a good reason why itineraries change, so the best thing you can do is rip up that itinerary, sit back and enjoy the surprises throughout the day. You’re still likely to have a jam-packed day of fun while still hitting all the highlights of the tour (just not necessarily in the order and time planned). Speaking of tours, check out the 10 Best Sightseeing Tours in Fiji for plenty of excellent tours with loose itineraries!

© FijiPocketGuide.com

How to Embrace Fiji Time

It’s true; Fiji Time is likely to have one of two effects on you:

• Annoyed that things aren’t moving fast enough and running on time, or
• Relaxed – you are on holiday anyway; things will happen when they happen.

Personally, we know which feeling we’d rather have. It’s best to just go with the flow, drink a little bit of kava, and accept that things work a little differently in Fiji. That’s what travelling is all about, right? Experiencing something different and escaping the norms from back home. While you might not want to live your whole life in Fiji Time, enjoy it while it lasts. And you never know; you might find yourself wanting to come back for more.