Check-In Process & HOUSE INFORMATION

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Bula Bula!!!!!

We  want to say thank you for booking your Fiji vacation with us at Vale  Sekoula.  We are looking forward to your stay here on Taveuni Island.   You probably have already learned so much about our place and the  island of Taveuni from the websites, but we want to remind you to check  out our FAQ page. If you have any questions that are not answered there, feel free to  message us in the apps anytime. As a new visitor to our home and the  island, we are including the following check-in instructions and house  rules to provide you and your family helpful pointers for your comfort  and safety:  

1)  UPON ARRIVAL by plane, our caretakers Vinna or Robert will meet you at  the Matei runway.  The house is just a 2 minute walk down the road,  directly across the street from the airport on the ocean.  If you have a  lot of luggage or scuba gear, we can arrange for a taxi to take care of  that for you just give us a notice before arriving.  We should already  have your flight date and times. If there is anything our caretaker has  missed or you need anything at all, please reach out so we can help  solve any issues that might arise.  We are here to help make your  vacation the best possible.  Everyone on the Island knows Vale Sekoula  House. It is known as The Christmas Tree of Fiji and it's in the front  yard. It is bright red Oct-Dec.

2)  CARETAKERS  Vinna and Robert, live just down the road, they are at your  service to help with anything you need. Upon arrival, they will show  you the house and hand you the keys. They will give you a tour of the  house as well as their contact info when you arrive.

3)  CHECK-IN AND CHECK-OUT- Normal check-in time is 4pm, and normal checkout time is 11am. Times can vary based on your flight times. We  can be flexible if we don't have guests on the same day. We can help  accommodate your schedule to keep you comfortable and stress free!   Please  let us know your flight arrival and departure if you have not already.

We can also hold your luggage at the house if your flight time is before or after the check-in or check-out times. Many of our guests hang out at our local restaurants on the water as well as enjoying the beach when waiting for check-in or check-out time. 

4)  NO OUTSIDE GUESTS- We do not allow outside guests to stay, visit or  swim at the house. Only the registered number of guests may stay, visit  or swim at Vale Sekoula. Unless special permission has been give, all extra guests over the amount of the registered number of  guests will be  charged $200FJ per person per day. 

5) GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY-

-Quiet Hours- 10pm-8am. Please turn off all music and lower your voices during quiet hours. City of Matei "Good Neighbor Policy"

-Do not exceed number of registered guests

-No amplified music 24/7, no music to be heard beyond the property 24/7

-Noisy outdoor activities prohibited after 10pm

-Fines,  The minimum fine for violating the rules stated previously is a $500FJ  per violation. Eviction- Unruly guests who blatantly disregard the  rules will be evicted without a refund.

6)  HOUSE ELECTRICAL POWER is 240volts (the same as Australia and New  Zealand).  If you are visiting from the USA, we should have enough  converters to meet your needs.  The power for our home is supplied by  solar with batteries and a generator.  If you leave the house during the  day, please turn off all lights and fans to help us to conserve  resources.  And while at the house, please only operate fans and lights  in rooms that are occupied.  There are also bedside fans for you to use  at night if you like. Be mindful of not running every appliance at the  same time. Example, don't run microwave, electric hot water kettle and  laundry at the same time. Power could go out. Please call Robert to  reset breakers if this happens. Here is a link to get familiar with Fiji  outlets. https://www.worldtravelplugadapter.com/fiji/. 

7) DRINKING WATER- You might ask if the tap water at the house safe to drink? 

Yes  and No. It is safe and treated, but when you are traveling, some  stomachs are not use to it and can have issues. We now offer 2 water  filter pitchers by Lifestraw located in our refrigerator. Lifestraw  pitchers are easy to use, just like a Brita filter, just keep filling them up at the tap and keep in frig. They eliminate any bacteria or contamination in the tap water.  For cooking, coffee or tea, you can  boil the water if you like in our quick electric water kettle. Our  family drinks the tap water and have not had an issue but the lifestraw pitcher give us confidence in drinking tap water. Also, please allow 2-3  minutes for the hot water to travel from one side of the house to the  other when turning on the bathroom showers. Hot water is also on Fiji Time!

8)  GENERATORS- Most homes and hotels in Fiji run generators a few hours a  day. Our home generator is a good distance from the house, so you probably won't hear it.

9)  KAYAKING and PADDLEBOARDS are available at the house and free to use.  Please be careful launching the kayaks from the deck/stairs, if its wet,  it is slippery!!!!! Please do not drag kayaks. Be careful of the fin on the paddleboards as they can break easy, only use in water no less then knee deep.

Robert can  launch them for you if you like. Only launch them into the ocean during higher tides. Don't leave kayaks on the shore, they may float away. Only use  the kayaks between 2 hours before high tide and no later then 2 hours after high tide. This is to avoid getting stuck out on the shallow reef.  The water is shallow in many places on lower tide and there is risk  damaging the bottom of the kayaks on rocks and hurting the coral, the  reefs or your feet.  

Example: If high tide for today is at 9am, only  kayak between 7am to 11am. This is 2 hours before and after high tide!  See daily Tide Chart- https://www.seatemperatu.re/oceania/fiji/taveuni-island/tides.html

WARNING!  Do not paddle out on windy days, it can be hard to get back to the  house. Please take a life jacket and use it.  There are a few islands to  visit offshore, Famous Honeymoon Island, the 3rd island, has a beach on  the right side with amazing snorkeling on both sides of this island.  (25 min paddle) If you don't want to paddle, You can hire the boat with  Vinna and Robert to pick you up and drop you off.  Approx. $60+FJ  dollars round trip up to 6 people.  Vinna will even pack you a picnic  lunch with advance notice. Approx $10-$15FJ per person. Ask Vinna the  menu options the day before! Please keep an eye on the weather and the  currents!  You can check wind and tide times on website links in the  guest book located on the kitchen counter. Please be aware of the high and low tide times for each day. The paddleboards should be used by those who have experience.  Kayaks are locked up, Robert will show you the lock combo.
 

10) SNORKEL GEAR is available at  the house and free to use. Located in the the black bins you will find snorkels/fins/masks. We only offer a few sets and the fit is not always guaranteed. You might consider bringing your own or rent for the week at The Dive Resort down the road. Life Jackets are in the living room cabinet. When finished with the snorkel/masks please  rinse in the fresh-water outdoor shower by  the pool and allow them to air-dry before putting them away. Our  favorite spot to snorkel is the 3rd & 4th island. Takes 25-30  minutes to paddle. Pull kayaks up on the beach at island number 3!  Be careful not  to let your kayak drift away and do not drag kayak on the rocks. Snorkel the entire island, but keep an eye  on the currents and wind. Reef Shoes are nice to have, but old sneakers  can work good for hiking  around rocky shorelines. Snorkel visibility  is not good from the backyard, snorkel is the best further out closer to the islands you see in the distance. You can also hire Robert to take you by boat.

11)  LOCAL TRANSPORTATION is best using a taxi. We use Aloha Taveuni Taxi. or Vinna and Robert our caretakers will use their vehicle for 2-4 guests. The Taxi  service is very convenient.  Most likely, Robert, Vinna, Aggie, Samir or Joe  will be your dedicated driver or guide.  They know everything to do and everywhere to go. They will assist in getting you out to all the  waterfalls and sites, as well as shopping and restaurants.  Taxi drivers  also give you great information about the area. They usually wait for you to shop or hike. We normally text or call them when finished at any  restaurant. Here are some approx rates to prepare you: 

Approx rates for a Family of 2-4 people.    5-8 people plan approx $20FJ more. 

-Round Trip from the house to Tramonto's Restaurant- $15 FJ 

-Round Trip 1/2 day Shopping Trip- $100 FJ

-Round Trip 1/2 day Bouma Falls- $140 FJ

-Round Trip  from house to The Dive Cafe- $15 FJ

-Round Trip 1/2 day Shopping and WaterSlides- $120 FJ

-Round Tip Full Day Levena Coastal Walk- $180 FJ

Total $570 FJ  or roughly $285 US Dollars. This was our Taxi Fees for the week.

Prices subject to change based on current gas prices.  

If you are group of 4 or less our caretakers will arrange your rides.

For groups of 5 or more Aloha Taxi Service has the Van.

EMAIL: SAMIR AND AGGIE from Aloha Tours- alohataveuni@gmail.com 

Call: +679 9028375.  +679 9732547

tell them you are guests at Vale Sekoula.

12)  GROCERIES & COFFEE-  Our kitchen does have a drip coffee pot and a small expresso machine. If you are a coffee lover, we suggest bringing your  own coffee!  The locals don't really drink it and the stores do not  carry ground coffee or coffee beans. Only Instant coffee.

You can get coffee and Lattes at most restaurants. Our Kitchen does have a  coffee bean grinder. We do like morning coffee at The Dive Cafe or order  a latte to go at coconut grove 2 doors down.

There are food items available for purchase at our nearby convenience stores.   Satish convenience store is very small but a 5 minute walk.  There is  the Sun City grocery store just a little further down the road and has  most items to meet your needs. Sun City is a 12-15 minute walk. (make a  left when exiting our gate) Larger grocery stores are 20 minute taxi  drive into the main town. All these markets including Satish and Sun City take credit cards, but they do charge 3-5%fee.  Our property does grow fruit such as Pineapples, coconuts, Papaya and Mango's grow each season, Do not pick without  asking Vinna which ones are ready to harvest. She can pick a few for you  that are ready for you to enjoy. If you crave a certain fruit ask Vinna  and she can normally get you some down the road. 

13)  FIJI MONEY- Taveuni takes Fiji dollars. Some places will take credit  card but may charge a 3% fee. Don't rely on credit cards. We recommend  exchanging money into Fiji dollars at Nadi airport. You can get Fiji  dollars at our Bank in Somosomo on Taveuni, 20 minute taxi ride. Check  bank hours.  Here is a current exchange rate website:

https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=USD&To=FJD

We have had guests run out of Fiji money towards the end of their stay and it can be so inconvenient to take a taxi to the bank on your last day. As your host, I can send money to Vinna or Roberts phone on your behalf and just charge your credit card on my end thru the airbnb or vrbo app. 

Vale Sekoula does offer one in-room safe for your convenience, just like hotels offer. Always Lockup the house when leaving. Vale Sekoula is a safe community, but there is a lot of people in this world and we don't want any of your items stolen during your vacation. A house key is provided during check-in! 

14)  HOME COOKED MEALS by our caretaker are amazing! If you prefer not to go out to restaurants, Vinna prepares some mouth watering dishes. Here is a list of some of her favorites. Fish, beef and chicken are usually on the menu. Fish coconda is done in coconut milk. Chicken can be roosted or with coconut milk and peanut butter or Indian style curry. Beef with veggies. Meatballs, Samosas, Chicken wraps/soft Tacos, Fish Tacos. Lamb with Potatoes and red sauce! French Fries, Mashed Potatoes, Salads, Beef Burgers, Peanut Butter n Jelly, Tuna sandwiches, most Breakfast items and amazing Banana Bread.

All Vinna's Breakfast, Lunch and Dinners can be provided with advanced notice. 

Meals range from $15-30FJ per person.

Reserve 24 hours in-advance with Vinna

You can also grab take-out meals next door at Coconut Grove! Call ahead!

The Refrigerator is not stocked with any items upon arrival.  If you need Vinna to help do a little shopping for your arrival, she can stock a few items for your convenience such as Eggs, Milk, Butter, Bread, Soda or even Banana Bread! Just reimburse her upon arrival. 

15)  LOCAL RESTAURANTS are available nearby.  The Dive Café and Coconut  Grove have great food, as well as Tramonto's which has an amazing sunset  view! (Go at Sunset) 

 We recommend  you make reservations the day before for your meals at Tramontos and  Coconut Grove. Use our phone in the kitchen to call local places.  One  of my favorite things to do if you like to walk in the mornings, is to  head out the front gate, turn right. walk 15-20 minutes to The Dive Cafe  for Coffee or Latte or breakfast, Get a taxi back if you like! The  views are the best! Coconut Grove is a 2 minute walk 3 doors down, make a  left when you leave our gate. They can also do take-out!  Tramonto's is  a 20-25 minute walk.  or call the taxi! 

Tramono's and The Dive Cafe are the best for sunsets! Maravu Taveuni Lodge has good food as well. 15-20 min walk. Other options further away include Nakia Fiji Resort, Kai Time, Paradise Taveuni. Always call for reservations!

16)  FIJI DANCERS AND MUSIC can be arranged to perform at the house!  Reservations are a must! Vinna will help you get this scheduled.  Ask  her about the price, which is very reasonable.  

17)  LOVO DINNERS for families are a fun way to enjoy an authentic Fijian  style feast.  Vinna can arrange this for you.  Check with her on  pricing.  There is also a great  Lovo dinner, dance and kava ceremony at The Dive Cafe  on Wednesday  evenings! Make reservations in-advance.

18) SWIMMING POOL is open 24 hours a day!  Use caution and supervise your children at all times because the pool has no safety gate. Additionally, use caution on the  pool steps.  The last step down is a longer drop than the others and it  will catch you by surprise!  We also have a great outdoor shower next to  the pool.  Please understand that our pool is the only one in Matei  area, local families and local kids are not permitted to swim in the  pool unless Vinna or Tony give written permission! Only the registered  paid guests can use the pool. 

Don't  forget to ask Vinna about booking a pool side massage, you will love  it. The tile can be slippery when wet. Quiet hours 10pm-8am!!!! Turn all  music off during quiet hours and keep voices down for the neighbors.

19)  LAUNDRY & HOUSE KEEPING is available with the washing machine in  the laundry room. Vinna can help and  will do your laundry if you ask.  Most of Fiji does not use dryers, so everything must be dried on the  clothesline.  It is normal to see towels or sheets on a clothes line in  Fiji.  Vinna stops by when you are on an adventure and will cleanup and  make your beds. She will wash anything you like. Please request daily house keeping with her when you arrive, she will also respect your privacy when needed, just let her know. Our front main driveway gate can be opened and closed easily by hand. At night we like to keep the gate shut and during the day we keep it opened for taxi drivers or Vinna and Robert to know we are home. You are free to shut it or keep it open as you see fit.

20)  HEAT AND SUN- Yes you are on a tropical island, please drink lots of  water and wear sunscreen.  Ceiling fans and floor fans work well at  night. Just remember to turn them off when you leave the room or leave  the house.  Reminder most homes on Taveuni do not have air conditioning.  We have a refreshing pool, fans and an ocean breeze. 

21)  BUGS?- Matei does not have too many, depending on your blood type we say! but  really only a few.  Insect repellent can be helpful for evenings/mornings or hiking in the jungle waterfall areas.  We like to  spray our legs and arms before we head out. To avoid bugs indoors, please close all doors around sunset time. Vinna can  also give you coils to burn on the back deck if sitting out in the  evenings. Vinna does keep some bug spray in the house, but if you run  low or run out, ask Vinna for more. We do offer bug nets for the beds,  but you probably won't need them, unless you leave the back doors open at night! If you want the bug net to sleep under, let Vinna and Robert  know, they can keep it up.

22)  LIZARDS AND OTHER CRITTERS are local residents in this tropical  

environment.  You may encounter some of them in and around the house.   It is possible you could see a spider, a Gecko Lizard or a roach. They are no harm, and nothing will bite. We ask to store all your food away (sealed) in the upper  kitchen cabinets or refrigerator to not attract them into the house.   Don’t leave any food items out on the patio or anywhere in the house.   If food is left out, or you leave dirty dishes, the ants or a mouse may show up. Use the food containers above the frig. Ask Robert or Vinna to spray if you see ants or a bug problem. We do have extra bug spray in the laundry room if needed. Sorry if you see some a few of these critters, this is a tropical island and Fiji has them.

23)  RAINFALL is usually a daily occurrence.  Sometimes there are sudden and  short-lived cloudbursts and frequently have steady rain showers.  We  have umbrellas available near the front entry for your convenience, to take with you on your adventure.  Sometimes we have wind and rain!  Please shut the glass windows on east side of the house to avoid wet  floors inside the house. (The east side windows are next to the dinning  table and kitchen stove wall as well as the garden bedroom). We also  provide a few walking sticks for your trip to The Lavena Coastal Walk!  Please return them when finished.

24)  DOMESTICATED ANIMALS  are “free range” in Fiji, so you may encounter a  friendly dog, a cat, and even a chicken.  Some animals just wander  around.  Our home does not have any animals, but one might show up!  The  neighbor dog could pay a visit. They are friendly and trained to not go  inside the house.  If you want her to stick around, keep petting her!  (do not feed them)

25)  SAFETY PRECAUTIONS for you to be aware of: The bathrooms and laundry  room floor are 1 inch lower than the main house floor.  Many floors are  done like this for draining reasons. So, as you walk into the bathrooms be prepared for the dip, and when exiting these rooms be careful not to  stub your toes or trip! Our floor mats do help. Fire extinguisher and  first aid kit are by the front door entrance.  BBQ is in the front of  the house. Please roll it out away from the house before cooking. Most  of our doors can slam shut by the wind, most interior doors we use the  rock door stoppers to avoid loud door slamming. Most exterior doors have  either back hooks to keep them open or rock door stoppers. During the  day we like to keep both double patio doors open for some very nice  airflow off the ocean. As mentioned before please lock the house up anytime you leave! 

26)  INTERNET AND TV are available.  There is a Smart TV  in the living  room.  Vinna will share the internet password with you and will show you  the TV remote.  We are in a rural setting, so be patient if the  internet or even your phone signal drops. It is a normal occurrence on  Taveuni.  Overall we have great internet. I recommend calling your cell  phone provider and telling them you will be in Fiji and would like to  know the plan they have so you don't have unexpected charges.

27) MUST DO- FISHING, DIVING, HIKING, TOURS and more...

During  your stay Vinna and Robert can arrange any activity you like.  If you  like adventure- Rock water slides, 30 minute Drive. Lavena Coastal walk  and waterfalls- 1 hour drive, then hike 1.5 hours on the coast to a swim  up to an amazing waterfall! Bring hiking stick! Request a boat ride back it is extra $, or hike another 1.5 hours back! Bouma Falls, 35 minute taxi drive, plan on swimming in the falls! First waterfall is an easy 10 minute beautiful hike. 2nd and 3rd waterfalls if your in good shape!!! Bouma falls and Lavena Coastal Walk cost a little money to visit, Around $50FJ  per person at Bouma Falls and $35FJ at Lavena. All money supports their local village.  Don't forget to  Snorkel or scuba dive rainbow reef and the famous white wall. Our  Favorite Dive Shops: The Salt Diver- www.saltdiverfiji.com

and Taveuni Ocean Sports- www.taveunioceansports.com. 

I  recommend a fishing adventure! Get picked up by boat from the backyard  and reel in a fish of a lifetime. We do offer a 6 passenger boat for hire with fishing gear. Talk with Robert and Vinna when you arrive.  Another great fishing boat is Makaira Sports Fishing- This is a much  larger boat to get you on some big off shore fish. Email them info@makairasportsfishing.com Tell them Tony from Vale Sekoula sent you! 

If  you like guided tours, Robert does great guided tours of any of the  falls and can include packed lunches, boat rides and snorkel tours.  

28)  RELAX and enjoy the views and the people!  Vinna and your tour guides  will ensure that you get the most out of your visit.  If you want to do  all the best and see all the best in Taveuni, just let them know and  they will do their best to fulfill that desire.  

29)  TIPPING- Guests always ask "do we tip and how much?". In Fiji, it is not expected to tip. Of course they love tips, so maybe tip those that provide a wonderful experience during your stay. Who you tip, and how much, is ultimately at your discretion, and should be based on the levels of service you receive. If you so desire, the caretakers probably work the hardest during your stay and a daily tip would bless them and their family.

30) CHECKOUT-  The day before you leave, let Vinna or Robert know your flight time. I also recommend walking over to the runway the morning of and let the  airport know your flight time and tell them you are staying at Vale Sekoula. Check-in is 1 hour before flight! If you purchased any meals, taxi rides or excursions please settle any outstanding payments with Vinna and Robert before you leave. Don't forget to leave the house keys! 

Vinna and Robert will be your hosts the duration of your vacation. They  will provide you with their phone numbers and they live just minutes  down the road. 

You can call from the house phone with anything you may need.

Vinna- Local #   804-9129

Robert- Local # 804-8063

PLEASE CLICK HERE - To confirm your have read the above information

and to confirm arrival and departure times. Thank you

Relax and enjoy your vacation at Vale Sekoula.
Tony and Katie