Visiting Fiji for business or leisure? Read our guide about who to tip in Fiji, when to tip - and how much to hand over. Then avoid any tipping missteps with our handy tip calculator.
Please be advised that in line with our current internal policy, we won’t be able to process transactions made in Fiji and you won’t be able to use Wise products there.
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Do you tip in Fiji?
Tipping in Fiji is not expected. Instead, a service charge will normally be added to your bill. The service charge will usually be declared on the menu if you’re in a cafe or restaurant, for example, and is paid directly to the company rather than to an individual member of staff.
Not all sectors will add a service charge as standard, but you’ll be able to see if one has been added by looking at your bill.
Even if it’s not customary to tip in Fiji, a little extra is always appreciated as a thank you for exceptional service. Read on to find out how to tip in Fiji across different sectors.
Tipping in Fiji in restaurants & bars
Plan to tip around 10-15% in Fijan restaurants. However, the exact tip amount when eating out in Fiji depends on the place, occasion, and order size. It’s customary to give your waiter or waitress a slightly higher tip than you would a bartender, as they are likely sharing their tip with the kitchen staff.
In bars and cafes in Fiji you can round the bill to the next significant amount, or leave a small tip each time you order a drink. If you are in a fancy cocktail bar, where cocktail making is a craft - or have a particularly skilled barista make your cappuccino - you might wish to splash out and leave a bigger tip.
Suggested tip:
100 Fijan dollars meal = suggested tip of 10 or 15 Fijan dollars
10 Fijan dollars for a drink = suggested tip of 1-2 Fijan dollars
Tipping in hotels in Fiji
If you’re staying in a hotel in Fiji it’s standard practise to tip between 10-20%. In top end hotels with high service levels you’ll likely want to tip a range of staff, such as maids, bellboys, valets and front desk employees.
Who you tip, and how much, is ultimately at your discretion, and should be based on the levels of service you receive. To help you figure out how to budget and approach hotel tipping, check out our handy cheat sheet for tipping in Fijan hotels.
| Hotel staff | Suggested Tip | Reasons to tip |
|---|---|---|
House-keeping | 5-10 FJD | Housekeepers and maids are among the hardest working hotel staff. It’s common to say thanks for great service with a small daily tip. |
Luggage attendants / Porters | 1 FJD / per bag | When you arrive at your hotel in Fiji you’ll probably need help getting your bags to your room. It’s customary to give a small tip to porters so don’t forget to have some small change when checking in! |
Concierge/ Receptionist | 10-15 FJD | If the hotel concierge during your stay in Fiji offers exceptional service, you may want to tip. Tips aren’t needed if reception staff simply helped ordering a cab or booking dinner reservations. |
Valets | 5-10 FJD / each time | If you’re driving, pay a small tip every time a valet retrieves your car from the hotel parking lot. |
Tipping taxi drivers in Fiji
It’s common to tip 10% in Fiji for a longer journey, and if you were helped with your luggage. For short journeys the easiest option is to round up the bill to the nearest significant amount in Fijan dollars. Don’t forget, if you’re using local taxis rather than a ride-hailing service such as Uber, you’ll need to agree on the fare before your journey.
Suggested tip:
50 Fijan dollars taxi bill = 5 Fijan dollars tip for a longer journey
7.50 Fijan dollars taxi bill = 0.50 Fijan dollars tip for a short journey
Tipping tour guides in Fiji
Your tour guide can make or break your experience when travelling - so when you find a great guide in Fiji do tip them the standard 10%. Tips are equally welcome whether you’re taking a private, multi-day, or walking tour.
If you join a free tour in Fiji it’s worth tipping too. Tours like these often operate on a ‘pay what you like’ basis. Your tips may be the only income your guide makes.
Sometimes you may be asked to leave a TripAdvisor review if you enjoyed your experience instead of tipping. This might help guides earn commission - and help other travellers have their own great experience in future.
Tipping at a spa in Fiji
If you need a massage to unwind after your adventures in Fiji it is appropriate to leave a small tip to the therapist. Budget around 10-15% of the treatment price.
That means that for a massage costing you 100 Fijan dollars, you might consider leaving a tip of 10 Fijan dollars if the service was average, or as you’d expect - or say thanks with a 15% tip if the therapist provided an outstanding treatment.
Suggested tip:
100 Fijan dollars massage bill = 10 Fijan dollars tip to masseuse for a standard treatment
100 Fijan dollars massage bill = 15 Fijan dollars tip to masseuse for an outstanding treatment
Tips for tipping in Fiji
- Whenever you tip during your trip to Fiji it is important to use the local currency, that is - Fijan dollars. Otherwise you’ll leave your service providers with cash they can’t use without paying high fees on currency exchange. Prepare some small change in the local currency before leaving the airport if you can, to tip drivers and hotel porters.
Tip in the local currency
- Tipping is a great way to acknowledge and reward great service. If the service charge is not already added to your bill, then tipping is at your discretion - but will always be appreciated. The staff working in restaurants and hotels in Fiji often have tough jobs for lower end wages - think twice before canceling any gratuity tip request on their payment terminals.
