The Pound is the official currency of the Falkland Islands. It is different from British sterling, but it is set at the same rate and one Falkland pound can be used for a British pound and so the two are interchangeable.
The Falklands pound can also be used in both South Georgia as well as the Sandwich Islands, which are within a reasonable proximity to the Falklands.
The Falklands pound is generally indicated by the symbol £ or by FK£, which denotes that it is Falklands currency, not British pounds.
The Falklands pound was introduced in 1833, after the British had invaded the Falkland Islands. Prior to this the Falklands had been occupied by Argentina and the peso was the currency in circulation. At this point in time the pound was not decimal, with each pound being divided into 20 shillings. Each shilling was then worth 12 pence. The system has since been decimalised, as per the British pound.
Coins in circulation are equivalent to that of the British pound, namely 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2.
Notes in circulation are £5, 10, 20 and 50.
The notes all contain a portrait of the Queen, as well as the Falklands' Coat of Arms.
If you are based in the UK, then getting hold of Falklands' pounds will not be too much of a problem, because you can use British pounds throughout the Falkland Islands. Both are set at the same value. So you could take British pounds with you and use them on the islands.
However, it is possible to use credit cards within Stanley, which is the main town on the islands. But if you intend travelling to some of the more remote islands, then you should check whether or not you will be able to use a credit card there. Some places can, but most will not accept credit cards.
One important point to remember when you are travelling to the Falklands, is that you may find it very difficult to exchange Falklands' money outside of the Falklands, so do not change over too much money and make sure that you have spent all your money prior to leaving the islands.
The Falkland Islands are actually made up from two main islands and then a few hundred very small islands, located in South Atlantic Ocean just off the coast of South America. The Falkland Islands are home to a whole variety of birds and different wildlife as well as some amazing people, which makes it an exceptionally different place to visit and you probably will not have been anywhere like this before.
One of the main aspects of the Falkland Islands is that they are extremely remote. Agriculture used to be the mainstay of the Falklands economy however, tourism is now are being encouraged and each year more and more people visit these very special and very isolated islands.
The Falklands Islands are extremely rural and although Stanley is often referred to as the town, in fact it has only around 2000 people. Many of the other settlements, may only have a single family living in them or a maximum of about 30 people.
This means that the pace life here is quite slow and you simply do not get that facilities, which would be available if you were to visit a major town or city. So if you are looking for vibrant nightlife and a city that never sleeps, then you will not be happy in the Falkland Islands. However, if you want to explore a set of tiny islands, almost cut adrift from civilisation and huddled together in the South Atlantic Ocean, then the Falklands could be your dream destination. Most people who do visit Falklands tend to come during the period from November to March, because travelling conditions are at their optimum, the weather will be favourable and the days relatively long.
The way of life on the Falklands can seem quite harsh at times, due to the isolation and the lack of facilities on the islands.
Stanley has a few hotels and some guesthouses and then at the budget end of the market, some bed and breakfasts. You can also camp in the Falklands, but this is dependent on the weather been relatively favourable. Some lodges are also available which have been specifically built for tourists. These are self-catering so you will need to buy supplies for your stay.
Overall, accommodation can be expensive and some of the hotels in Stanley are quite expensive, considering the accommodation provided. However, whatever kind of accommodation you choose to stay in, you are likely to be received with quite a warm greeting and very good hospitality. The people are almost universally friendly and will chat for hours.
Stanley has some good restaurants and it is possible to eat in the hotels, there are even some British type pubs, which offer a range of dishes, similar to those that you would find in a typical British pub. Prices are not cheap because everything has to be imported and to meet staffing costs. Sometimes prices do seem overly high, but then everything has to travel a long way to get here.
However, if you go to a pub, there are no taxes on alcohol so beer and other drinks are actually quite a reasonable price. Food is considerably higher. Even if you go self-catering, you will find that the cost of buying basic food provisions will be considerably higher than it is in a supermarket in the UK. Again, this is due to the fact everything must be imported.
One almost unique aspect of Falklands' life is that crime is virtually unheard of. Since people can only get in and out of the island via public-transport and having booked a ticket, it is not possible to simply steal something and then leave the island. This means that theft is almost unheard of. In addition, despite the fact that many of the settlements are geographically separate, this is a very close-knit community and people would not consider it right to steal from one another. This courtesy is also afforded to visitors. There is also no hassle from islanders, although you are expected to respect their land and ensure that you observe the Country Code that is in existence here.
The only real risk on the Falkland Islands actually comes from some of the animals. Sea lions and elephant seals in particular, may become aggressive if they are cornered and feel they cannot escape. There are also extremely defensive of their young and so if they have pups, then you should try to maintain a safe distance between you and not let the parents feel as if you are a threat.
Most of the activities in Falklands revolve around the animals and wildlife. Although Stanley is an interesting place to visit, after a couple of days you will have more or less 'done' Stanley, so you will likely wish to head off and explore.
One place that you shouldn't miss is Sea Lion Island, which is the most southern island of the Falklands and is some ten miles south of the main island.
The wildlife here is truly awesome. You can see (depending on when you visit) rock hopper penguins, gentoo penguins as well as the sea lions that have come ashore to breed. There is also a staggering array of birds to be seen.
Travel to Sea Lion Island is usually by means of the government's air service and you will have to arrange travel once in the Falklands.
There is a lodge on Sea Lion Island, that can offer a pleasant place to spend the night and it is even equipped with a small bar, which is unstaffed and you simply leave money for any drinks that you take. Meals can be provided or you can take food in. The cost is somewhat expensive during the peak season, but then this will probably be a once in a lifetime opportunity and the lodge does have all the conveniences that you could expect to find.
The island is around five miles long and it is an excellent place to go walking and simply immerse yourself in the wildlife and to some extent, the wilderness.
Goose Green became famous during the Falklands War (between Britain and Argentina, over who should control the Falklands), there is not much to do here, but there are some interesting sights, particularly for people who may have lost loved ones during the conflict.
The somewhat eerily named Carcass Island is a great favourite with birdwatchers, due to the fact that there are so many birds to be seen here. It is quite a spectacle in the breeding season! The birds are largely undisturbed by humans and so they do not treat them with the same levels of suspicion that birds who have got used to humans as predators would. If ever you wanted proof that mankind only shares this planet, but cannot control it, then Carcass Island is the place to come.
The Falkland Islands are a truly unique place to venture into. Here you will see how people survive in very isolated conditions, with no major hospitals or other facilities close by. It is also interesting to talk to the locals and to get to know them a little better. They are a very proud and independent group of people, yet they are all fiercely proud to be British and to retain their British identity.
They also live without many of the creature comforts that we often take for granted. For example, there are no large shopping centres, no designer boutiques, no high end beauty salons or spas and yet, people don't just manage here, they absolutely love their way of life and desperately wish to retain it.
It is an expensive place to visit, due to the flights involved and the fact that everything on the islands is quite expensive, due to importation costs. However, some, although by no means all, people find that a trip to the Falklands can really change how they view life and what is important in life. Any place that can evoke such philosophical soul searching is well worth a visit!