Fiji $7 banknote

[JeffH]

I refuse to use private ATMs that charge a transaction fee. I have a credit card from one bank and a debit card from another and Bank ATMs in Australia mostly  don't charge fees even if card is from another bank.

In Fiji all ATMs charge a fee, FJ$10 or $15 to withdraw cash, and that includes the local banks and the ones that also are big in Australia and new Zealand. All merchants have a card surcharge, typically 3% or 3.2% which is what the banks charge. Then many cards from overseas have very poor exchange rates or charge a fee to use there!
For me cards are plan B for Fiji. Plan A is to take Aussie notes and exchange at the airport when arriving. Unlike most international airports exchange booths aren't a ripoff* and there are two that give as good a rate as you will get anywhere.
* As long as you don't use the official Westpac ones that the airport recommends.

[gweidion]

When I was in South Korea (Busan specifically) on our Japan trip, I asked at a tourist information centre which bank I could pick up some won for spending locally. Surprisingly they suggested trying a local money exchanger, there were plenty around, for the best rate. I was walking and spotted a money exchange sign that indicated there was an office upstairs.
Very small steep concrete stairs. This was after crossing a rusty metal ramp. I was getting dubious. Part the way up the stairs an old woman calls out from behind me downstairs "You want money exchange?" She was actually the exchanger. Led to a room that looked like it wasn't an office but not quite accommodation, it had a kids toilet in the corner, she proceeded to ask how much I was after. I think I traded about $50 US for 74000 odd won, while sitting on the floor.
It actually was much better than the bank rate at the time. She had a huge purse stuffed with wads of won.
Then she gave us instructions and took us part way to get to the local park. Nice lady but it still seemed strange.
It takes all kinds.
Had no trouble spending some of the money so as far as I know it wasn't counterfeit.

Jeff, is it not worth taking Fijian cash from here before you go?

[JeffH]

Jeff, is it not worth taking Fijian cash from here before you go?

Any I have left I keep and take next time. I can buy here, S•Money usually gives the best rate but delivery fee is an extra cost. For someone in Sydney or Melbourne picking up at one of their branches saves the fee so that makes it a good rate compared to buying it at your local bank branch.
FJD$1,400 cost now is;
S•Money pickup $1,023
S•Money delivered $1,044
Nadi Airport $987*
Global Exchange, which has the Sydney Airport concession $1,083 but only if you pre-order online to pick up. Their rate just to front up at a booth at the airport is typically about 10% worse.

I am happy to save more than 5% when I don't even have to go out of my way.

I also have a Wise debit card which offers an excellent exchange rate and fee free for withdrawals up to a monthly limit of AUD$350 (and even over that the fee is less than 1%). I can load the card online from my bank account while I am in Fiji, if needs be.
My foreign exchange fee free credit card gives full Mastercard rate. The rate today is very competetive but it usually takes a couple of days for the transaction to be processed so you can never be sure what rate you will get.
 
*The Nadi airport rate is with No1 Currency who have exchange offices all over Fiji so easy to get a top up if I am, for example, going into Suva. They also operate in Australia but pick up only and no locations anywhere near me. Their cost to buy in Australia now is $1,038.
Western Union has a booth at Nadi Airport too and virtually the same rate as No1.
Westpac has two booths at arrivals area but their rate is way worse. I have seen people lining up to get cash at Westpac next to the luggage collection while waiting for their cases. Then ten minutes later smacking their forehead when they see the rate 20 metres down the way ~10% better!

[gweidion]

Thanks for that info. If I ever find myself going to Fiji I'll know where to pick up the currency from.

[Tanecoins]

Thanks for the info about Fijian cash, if I ever want to go, those fees are steep!

Won't be spending any of my Fijian collection notes, I paid way too much for them - I mean my $100 note from 2007/12 - With the queen cost me NZ$150, but it was uncirculated - then again I picked up a 1980 (Ricthie/Barnes) $20 of the 1980s series for $24 from the same shop too!

It was the same in Samoa too, you buy your Tala in New Zealand, as they charge like 20% exchange fee in Samoa and Kiwi airports have MoneyXchange and Forex and they pay sh!t rates too, mainly as 90% of our Samoans send money back to Samoa using Western Union and Moneygram and they rip them off hardcore. Finally with Island notes, its good to buy here as you get fresh notes - although always big ones like $50 and $100. The locals use $20 and less and they are usually tatty as all get up, as most are still paper, which lasts a hot minute in the tropics.

Cook Islands was easiest Island for cash, as they use our dollar, and merely a baggie full of $50 notes did the trick!

[JeffH]

When I used to buy Fiji notes here before going it was common to get a full run of consectutive serial numbers.