Fiji homestays and village stays: a guide for guests
Facts checked 2026-10-21
A homestay puts you in a Fijian home or village as a guest of the family, not a hotel. You share meals, Sunday church and village life. This guide explains the two stay types on TaleiFiji Marketplace, the village customs Tourism Fiji asks visitors to follow, and how your booking and payment are protected.
Homestay or village stay?
On TaleiFiji Marketplace, accommodation sellers choose a stay type. A Homestay is a room in a family's home. A Village Stay is hosted by a village or community, usually in a family home or a bure inside the village.
Every seller applies with documents before going live. A village or community host sends a confirmation letter from the District or Provincial Office. Other hosts send their business registration and FRCS TIN letter.
Village customs to follow
These come from Tourism Fiji's own etiquette guide. Customs differ from village to village, so ask your host what applies where you stay.
- Bring sevusevu: a small bundle or packet of powdered kava, presented to the village chief to ask permission to enter.
- Cover your shoulders and legs. A long skirt or dress, or knee-length shorts with a T-shirt, works; a sulu (sarong) is fine.
- Take off your hat and sunglasses in the village, and carry your bag in your hand.
- Ask before taking photos or entering a home, and take your shoes off before going inside any building.
- Do not touch anyone's head: in many villages it is disrespectful.
- Speak softly.
- At meals you sit cross-legged on a mat. Wait for the masu (prayer) before eating, and thank your hosts afterwards.
- Sundays are sacred. Most village tours do not run on Sunday; in a homestay, keep your best clothes for church.
How your booking is protected
When you book and pay on TaleiFiji, your payment is held in escrow. The host is paid only after your stay, not when you pay.
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 48 hours before your booking starts (no cancellation fee; third-party processing fee at cost). Less than 48 hours or a no-show: no refund.
If something goes wrong, tell us within 48 hours after check-out. While a problem is open, the money stays held.
Some listings are partner listings marked "Book on partner site". Those are booked and paid on the partner's own website, so TaleiFiji's escrow and cancellation rules do not cover them.
Questions guests ask
Do I pay the host directly?
No. For bookings paid on TaleiFiji, you pay TaleiFiji and the money is held in escrow until after your stay. Partner listings ("Book on partner site") are paid on the partner's website instead.
What should I bring to a village?
Tourism Fiji suggests a small bundle or packet of powdered kava for the sevusevu, and clothes that cover your shoulders and legs. A sulu (sarong) is useful.
Can I cancel?
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before your booking starts (no cancellation fee; third-party processing fee at cost). Less than 48 hours or a no-show: no refund.
What if something goes wrong during my stay?
Contact us as soon as you can, and within 48 hours after check-out at the latest. The payment stays held while we look into it. Our complaints page explains each step.
Do you host guests?
Is your spare room or village bure empty more nights than you would like?
Every empty night is income that does not come back. Guests looking for a real Fijian stay cannot book you if they cannot find you.
If you host guests in your home or village, listing takes about 15 minutes, or send us your photos on WhatsApp and we list it for you. Bookings are paid into your own account after each stay.
List it yourself now, or WhatsApp us your photos first: which suits you?