Expat Advice: Moving to Sigatoka Valley , Fiji
What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?
Sigatoka Valley
Name three things that you wish you had brought and three you wish you had left at home.
3 things I wish I had brought: more Coffee, Stronger insect repellent & quality chocolate (4th thing would be my hairdresser !)
3 things I could have left at home were half my suitcase, shoes and makeup - no need
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What advice would you give someone preparing to move to your area about the actual move, choosing a neighborhood and finding a home?
Like everywhere be careful with giving away too much information. We could have easily been taken advantage of many times. Once in Fiji there seems to be a "Coconut grapevine" and if you want something or to rent somewhere somebody always knows how to get it or to arrange it for you. Anything we wanted there was a person for it. Again be careful about prices charged. Unfortunately where we were living was very disadvantaged and while we were not wealthy we did do a lot for the village and hence everyone thought we were rich.
What type of housing do you live in? Is this typical for most expats in your area?
It was a kit home brought over from Australia. No expats in the area at all, we actually lived in a fijian village and were the only white people in the valley
How did you choose your neighborhood and find your home or apartment?
Luckily through a friend we got onto a Fijian couple and we rented their kit home on 2 acres - we could not find anything on the internet for the area we wanted to live which was around the Sigatoka area
Are your housing costs higher or lower than they were in your home country? What is the average cost of housing there?
Costs were lower. Our rent was good, markets provided our fruit and vegies. The real cost was buying red meat and getting good quality meat. Got to know our butcher who informed me Thursday was good meat day ! Laws dont allow us to buy housing in Fiji.
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guesthi im sorry but id like to correct your statement above about laws not allowing you buy property in fiji. My husband's an expatriate and so are all his friends and they all own their own properties and so do we here. His had his home and some of his friends for over 5-6 years. We have also rented out of villa a few times to make cash on it. But may be you were miss informed about this Fiji. Thats why to correct alot of expats here in fiji im creating a website which will give you all proper information including government details about laws & regulations for expats living in Fiji. joann Duea
guestHi there Sigatoka Valley, I saw your comments about Coffee, Insect repellant and quality chocolate... Words of wisdom: Local produced coffee is supposedly a quite high quality! otherwise you can buy products very close to e.g. Starbucks in a couple of Suva cafes Insect repellant, one of the best in the world (RID) can be bought in e.g. MHCC Suva (Pharmacy) Good chocolate (Belgian/Swiss stuff) can be purchased in Prouds... hope it helps.
guestbeg to differ about buying a house in Fiji I am buying on one of the islands next year
guesthi joanne duea, & guest, great info for me i am buying on Koro, your insect ,coffee, & choc very helpful, more please, Meat ?delicatessen in Suva,anything is a big help Montana
guestdear Guest any info for secret of surviving on Koro Island please
guestwhat department store in Fiji like Coles, woolworths, Target etc?montana
guestGreat info all! Carol- is that you?- (Montana) if it is "hello" we will meet some day my friend. I have been to Fiji two times and loved it! So far from Minnesota so will graduate my baby next year and then we'll see. If there are any Koro islanders on please jump on the thread. I have found the coffee to be of great quality and I love my morning cup Also- the insects did not seem to be a problem. Good luck to everybody who is there or 'Thinking of being there:) Barbara in Minnesota.
guesthi barb yep its me montana just read your report talk soon regards montana.
guestinsects on koro Must be a plant that one can plant around their house for the Mozzie,s otherwise the great Deet product is the best Try RID Montana
guestI thought there is some free hold land that ex pats can buy or lease native title land?
guestHey, you can definitely buy housing and land in Fiji! We own our freehold property in Korotogo just near Sigatoka - it is greatly under valued at $180,000 as we're right on a mangrove river which locals seem to think is a bad thing!-even tho we're just minutes paddle to the ocean. Yes, I really missed good quality meat, but Fiji Meats on the road to Denarau is great - and Wahley's of Suva deliver once a week to Sigatoka area. The standard of meat available in Sigatoka supermarkets has really improved since your original listing - and local lamb is delicious....though, when it comes to frozen chicken, I prefer NZ imports as less fat. Fiji does have great coffee - but it doesnt seem to be available on the local supermarket shelves. You can buy local coffee beans at Tappoo (packaged as a tourism commodity...overpriced and not much use if you don't have a grinder and espresso machine. Still, Tappoo has a nice cafe where they serve excellent coffee, there's also the new Cafe Coco on Sunset Strip in Korotogo and one of the best espresso I've had in Fiji was from my local hairdressing salon in Sigatoka, Z STUDIO ! They deserve a big plug for excellent services and special touches...they serve green tea as well and their air conditioned salon provides a serene escape in the heart of a hot and bustling Sigatoka Town.
A2ZBULASigatoka Valley is in the wopwops checkout www.fijifreeholdlandestates.com our Seashell Beach Estate is secured on the main track and close to Sigatoka Town,Hospital,schools Churchs,bus service at the gate great fishing rite in front of Seashell,great surfing a 30 minute walk along the beach what else would you like? Good luck AJ
