Fiji or French Polynesia?
The practical differences, drawn from our own write-ups rather than from a brochure. We are not going to tell you which is better - they are different trips. What follows is what actually changes between them.
Places written up here 52 48
UNESCO listings among them 1 11
Cost level Mid-range Very high
Busiest month in our write-ups May July
Currency Fijian dollar (FJD) CFP franc (XPF)
Plugs and voltage I - 240 V C, E - 220 V
Everyday languages English, Fijian, Fiji Hindi French, Tahitian
Driving side left hand side right hand side
Region Melanesia Polynesia
Capital Suva Papeetē
Fiji
Bula! shouted with full joy is the national anthem in one word; village protocol is real.
What we have written up
- Beqa Island and Lagoon island
- Biausevu Waterfall waterfall
- Cloudbreak dive site
- Colo-i-Suva Forest Park forest
- Coral Coast coast
- Denarau Island resort town
Worth knowing before you go
- Cards work at resorts; cash for villages and markets
- Tipping is not customary - communal staff funds exist at resorts instead
- Island transfers by boat and small plane need weather slack
French Polynesia
Easygoing and generous, with a firm Sunday pause; life slows for church, family and the sea.
What we have written up
- Anaa atoll
- Anaho Bay bay
- Arahoho Blowhole blowhole
- Blue Lagoon of Rangiroa lagoon
- Bora Bora island
- Faaroa River river
All 48 places in French Polynesia →
Worth knowing before you go
- Tipping is not customary and not expected - service is included
- Carry Pacific francs to the outer islands - many atolls have no bank or ATM
- Papeete's waterfront roulottes food trucks are the best-value dinner in an expensive country
Counts describe this site, not the countries: "places written up here" means how many pages we have finished, and it keeps growing. Currency, plugs and languages are practical facts and change rarely; check anything visa-related with the relevant official source before you book.