Tonga — Shopping
Shopping
Special purchases are hand-decorated and woven tapa cloth, woven floor coverings, Ta'ovala pandanus mats, woven pandanus baskets, 'Ali Baba' laundry baskets, polished coconut-shell goblets and ashtrays, model outrigger canoes, ornaments, brooches, earrings, rings and silver-inlaid knives. Tongan stamps and coins are collectors' items; complete sets are on sale at the philatelic section of the Tongan Treasury. There are duty-free shops on Tongatapu and Vava'u. A government tax of 5% is added to all bills for goods and services.
Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1700, Sat 0800-1200.
Currency
Pa'anga (TOP) = 100 seniti. Notes are in denominations of TOP50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 seniti.
Currency Exchange
Foreign exchange is available at banks and at major hotels.
Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs
Limited use of both Diners Club and Visa.
Travelers Checks
Accepted at banks and at some hotels and tourist shops. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler's checks in Australian Dollars or Pounds Sterling.
Currency Restrictions
There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency.
Banking Hours
Mon-Fri 0900-1600, Sat 0830-1130.
Exchange Rate
| 1.00 GBP = 2.77 TOP |
| 1.00 USD = 1.72 TOP |
| 1.00 EUR = 2.43 TOP |
| Currency conversion rates as of 19 July 2011 |
