Our final Bula time.

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drron

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Tomorrow we head off to Fiji bto spend Christmas with our grandkids.We though have 8 days there before they arrive.
QF J awards MCY-SYD-NAN-BNE.The direct flight wasn't available from BNE-NAN when we booked.Mrsdrron is most upset that an award booked through QF doesn't have the QF codeshare so we have to slum it in the Jlounge in SYD.The last time we were there was 20 years ago.Oh the humility.
The reason this will be our last trip is because the Fiji government in all their wisdom thinks that imposing a tourist tax of 25% plus an additional tax of 4% on CC charges won't have an effect.checking our hotels last wek ans saw you can stiull book in Fiji for Christmas.

First we are staying at the Intercontinental.Booked through Virtuoso and at booking a confirmed upgrade to a Club suite with plunge pool.Probably because bookings were light.After 3 nights here we transfer to the Marriott Momi Bay for 4 nights.And then on to the Sheraton Denarau.We first stayed there a month after it opened in 1987 and stayed 2-3 times a year when we lived in the Hunter Valley.Always August to escape the westerlies,Christmas Holidays and occasionally another visit if a good sale.We got to love the Fijians.

So pick up tomorrow is at 0500.Taking our quota of alcohol to escape some of the taxes-4 litres each!Should be a good rest until the grandkids arrive.
 
Enjoy the trip! Hopefully avoiding the 38 degree weather we're having :oops:
 
Tomorrow we head off to Fiji bto spend Christmas with our grandkids.We though have 8 days there before they arrive.
QF J awards MCY-SYD-NAN-BNE.The direct flight wasn't available from BNE-NAN when we booked.Mrsdrron is most upset that an award booked through QF doesn't have the QF codeshare so we have to slum it in the Jlounge in SYD.The last time we were there was 20 years ago_Oh the humility.
The reason this will be our last trip is because the Fiji government in all their wisdom thinks that imposing a tourist tax of 25% plus an additional tax of 4% on CC charges won't have an effect.checking our hotels last wek ans saw you can stiull book in Fiji for Christmas.

First we are staying at the Intercontinental.Booked through Virtuoso and at booking a confirmed upgrade to a Club suite with plunge pool.Probably because bookings were light.After 3 nights here we transfer to the Marriott Momi Bay for 4 nights.And then on to the Sheraton Denarau.We first stayed there a month after it opened in 1987 and stayed 2-3 times a year when we lived in the Hunter Valley.Always August to escape the westerlies,Christmas Holidays and occasionally another visit if a good sale.We got to love the Fijians.

So pick up tomorrow is at 0500.Taking our quota of alcohol to escape some of the taxes-4 litres each!Should be a good rest until the grandkids arrive.
Enjoy.
This tax - is that 25% on accommodation? Idiotic if so.
 
25% tax on lodging,restaurants tours etc.They may have to rethink as the inevitable fall off in tourist numbers continue.

Nothing yet organised for Christmas.enough really having it with our grandkids.
Stoopid then. Too many other options these days.
 
25% tax on lodging,restaurants tours etc.They may have to rethink as the inevitable fall off in tourist numbers continue ...
WOW. 25%. I don’t recall what it was on my holiday in 2011, probably because it was not over the top.

There are a lot of great places to holiday for far less than that surcharge, and still good value.
 
Stoopid then. Too many other options these days.

I don't begrudge small developing nations making some tax revenue from inbound tourists. It works its way down to the local community through government services such as hospitals, education. If we can afford to travel to a developing nation for a holiday, I think it's reasonable to make a contribution to public services.

What I find a lot more objectionable is the large western hotel chains applying mysterious "resort fees" and the like.
 
I don't begrudge small developing nations making some tax revenue from inbound tourists. It works its way down to the local community through government services such as hospitals, education. If we can afford to travel to a developing nation for a holiday, I think it's reasonable to make a contribution to public services.

What I find a lot more objectionable is the large western hotel chains applying mysterious "resort fees" and the like.
But 25% will impact on whether people go there at all. Less tourism hurts the local economy. Anyway we shouldn't hijack this thread any further.
 
Sure. Just not an extra 25% to everything though. Everyone does their maths when making selections and Fiji isn’t exactly on the least expensive list to start with.

Even tax included, it's significantly cheaper than Tahiti, Hawaii etc, and way, way cheaper than Lord Howe or the Caribbean.

Check the current prices for a week in January in the Caymans! The Fijians are good people, and if these taxes help the government improve their local services then good on them.
 
Even tax included, it's significantly cheaper than Tahiti, Hawaii etc, and way, way cheaper than Lord Howe or the Caribbean ..
No more Bulla Bus for me, I'm afraid. Plenty of good spots in Mexico, away from bandits.
 
The 25% seems to be made up of:
9% VAT
6% Service Turnover Tax (STT) introduced in 2018.
10% Environment & Climate Adaptation Levy (ECAL) introduced in 2018.

Everyone pays the VAT. Most visitors will also pay the other two. Visitors can get a VAT refund on some purchases at approved retailers.

 
First we are staying at the Intercontinental.Booked through Virtuoso and at booking a confirmed upgrade to a Club suite with plunge pool.Probably because bookings were light.After 3 nights here we transfer to the Marriott Momi Bay for 4 nights. And then on to the Sheraton Denarau.

Nice hotels to stay at, that's for sure. I have lived in Fiji for a fair few years and stayed at Intercontinental and the Marriott when they opened. In my own opinion, Marriott does not have the greatest of beaches but the property itself is nice enough.

Enjoy! :)
 
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Looking forward to this TR.. we're heading there for the first time in March, with a ~3yo in tow
 
Plenty of good spots in Mexico, away from bandits.

Mexico has a coughulative 19% tax on tourist lodgings. Plus a hefty departure tax embedded in the air ticket.

I don’t begrudge this either - Mexico is not a wealthy country and has a bunch of challenges. Tourists should make a contribution.
 
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Are the grandkids old enough to do their own thing ?
 
There is also the 4% CC fee which seems mandatory at all places.This is charged on the tax as well so it all adds up to an extra 30% on the original price.Most places though display the price with tax added.But for example 6x 600ml bottles of Fiji water is $F24.
Now all well and good helping out developing countries but Fiji is competing with numerous other places in the Pacific and already they are loosing out.Still able to book for Christmas here at the IC and you can book virtually anywhere in January even though Aust and NZ school holidays.
 
Mexico has a coughulative 19% tax on tourist lodgings. Plus a hefty departure tax embedded in the air ticket.

I don’t begrudge this either - Mexico is not a wealthy country and has a bunch of challenges. Tourists should make a contribution.
Yes. And with paying for hotel rooms, restaurants, activities, taxis, etc, we are certainly making a contribution to the local economy, particularly employment.
 
So obviously this report won't be "live".i mean we are on Bula time!.
So back to Wednesday the day before our flights.I had only 5 days back at home after working in Tassie.I had a lot to do in the garden.I did however plan things so I wouldn't be rushed on the Wednesday-applying a wetting agent to the sandy bits of garden,ferilising the orchids,spraying the nut grass and an invasive kreeper along with some running repairs to the watering system.
I had basically finished when I spotted some weeds that should be removed in the top tier of our garden,bent down,lost my balance and my right hip came down on the wall of the next tier down-fortunately only just over a foot lower.But on the last trip my right hip had started giving me problems so now it complained after a very short distance walking.So more panadol and brufen added to the drug bag.

Thursday up at 0430.As usual hardly slept waiting for the alarm.0500 and our limo arrived to take us to MCY.Family of 5 checking in at the J desk.Dad in thongs,camo shorts and Bintang t shirt as well as checking in a surfboard.Fortunately the Y agent closest took the others of us in the J queue.Always nice agents at MCY and soon had our BPs all the way to NAN.
Then through security.I was obviously recognised because as soon as the agent doing the secondary checks saw me he put down his explosive wand,picked up the other and waited for me at the Xray machine.As i have said before I am nearly always randomly selected for secondary checking.This time I already had a smart response for him that sadly wasn't needed.I had decided to walk over and say-"my name is Random and i am here for my check." :)

Then the MCY lounge and a coffee.

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