Travelling OS, advice please.....

It's been 11 years since I last flew OS, that was just before Sept 11, so things have changed dramatically since then.

I am going to Fiji and am right with customs, clothing, etc, etc once I get there.

I am travelling Air Pacific, and have been searching their website for baggage rules, etc, but there is nothing on there other than weight allowances. Are the rules for liquids, etc the same for all airlines and if so, where do I find that kind of info? I've also looked on smart traveller but need to go back there for a deeper look.

Do people lock their bags these days, and if so with what - don't customs need to be able to get into it anyway?

Last time I travelled I used international phone cards - do they still have these?
What do you use for money - cash, credit card? My mum suggested one of those pre loaded visas, but I'm not sure.....
Can I do internet banking OS - gosh there wasn't internet when I last went OS! Wellllll, there was, but it wasn't common.

Help!!

As far as checked baggage, you don't need to worry about liquid restrictions. The rule of 100ml is for carry on. The rules as far as what you can/can not carry apply to the country/countries themselves, not the airlines. Here's a link where you can find info re liquids, aerosoles and gels,plus there's other info about restrictions for what you can carry on board http://travelsecure.infrastructure.g...nal/index.aspx

Some people do lock their bags, or get them vacuum sealed shut in plastic at the airport, but personally I don't see the point. If someone wants in your bag, they'll get in your bag. They'll be smart enough to break the lock and then replace it so it's really only something that is done for your own piece of mind.

As far as staying in contact, we made sure we turned off international roaming to avoid being slugged with huge fees, and then bought a pre paid sim card when we got OS and just used that. We took cash out each day or two, just enough to last us for the next day or two. Where we could we used CC aswell. A friend is currently in the states and she uses a travel credit card (with ANZ I believe but I think all banks have them now) which she uses like an atm/cc. The only reason she does it is because it stays locked at the exchange rate when you put money on the card so she could start putting money on it 6 months ago and then not have to worry about the $$ plummeting while she was over there. This isn't something you should have to worry about going to Fiji though. If you can get onto the internet, you can certainly do internet banking.

I lock my bag. It stops opportunistic theft. I've had friends who have lost stuff from luggage (including dirty underwear :o ) so I would prefer that the underwear sniffing baggage handlers go to the easier bag. You can buy TSA locks from the luggage shops so customs won't cut through your lock if they decide to have a sticky beak (it's mainly the US customs who seem to cut locks, Australian customs just asks you to open it).

The liquid allowances are same for all international flight. They don't include your sealed duty free bags but if you unseal them you will lose them.

I've used a pre-loaded visas and it was great because I could use it at ATM's to withdraw in the local currencies. You will need some cash for when you arrive so you don't have to change money at the airport to pay for your taxi/bus/train/donkey.

Re internet banking..... be very careful about what computers you use to access anything. You have no way of knowing how vigilant the owner is with security and the last thing you want is to give someone access to your bank accounts. If you have a smart phone I would think it would be safer to download your bank's app and use that although data can be very expensive when your phone is roaming.

I don't have a smart phone - perhaps I should look at that before I go. My mobile is not old, but is outdated and doesn't do much! The MMS on it has never worked and telstra can't fix it either! And just lately, if you bump it a bit hard, it turns itself off.
So pre paid SIMS - tell me a little more there, how do they work, where do you normally get them from - airport or elsewhere?
Do you reckon internet access would be safe at a pretty high star hotel?

ETA thanks for that link, very helpful.

there is an ATM at the airport in Nadi just as you come out of customs. many folks just line up there and get some cash out. I would always take a bit of cash for in hand (just for emergency stuff...ie if you need a taxi for whatever reason or want to stop off for a snack somewhere at the airport if you need to wait for the transfer...my 'safe' amount is $100). i am assuming though that you will be going straight to a hotel? they usually have ATMs (but best to check on their website). Many hotels there do have some sort of internet but be warned as it can be realllly slow and the humidity does tend to do weird things with the keys lol. In all honesty i dont think you will need to use it that much. we use our normal debit or credit card for getting cash out and for purchases etc. if you are mainly staying at the hotel they can bill everything pretty much to your room and you just pay at the end with your card.

as for luggage, seriously Fiji customs are pretty easy :) i would lock my bag just like Onyx said for the opportunistic thief but also JIC the zip does become caught and might unzip (has happened to me in the past!).

as for phones there is a store right outside customs where you get the vodaphone pre paid sim. i would go that option.

HTH! have a great time!!!!

Thanks ladies for your advice - I've a question about vitamins. Most of the info in the link refers to carry on items. There is nothing I can see about medicines in baggage. In specific vitamins that don't have pharmacy labels. I take fish oil, calcium, etc every day and buy them in big containers for price. So I wouldn't want to take a 1000 tub of fish oil with me, but I think they would have issue with a container of unidentifiable pills regardless of if it were in carry on or main luggage.