Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# Damn Aeroplan! Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea
marle 18:02 UTC 09 Jul 2009 | My husband and I have been longing for a snorkling trip to a pacific island for some time now. We had decided on Palau before we realized that Aeroplan does not fly there. Now I'm officially in mourning re: the loss of a Palau-ian vacation. So I'm here looking for some help. I can fly to The Cook Islands, Fiji, Tonga, or French Poly on points. None of these places jump out more than the next, so I need help with some decision making. The one thing my husband and I like to do is snorkle. We both have can scuba dive, but we prefer to free dive/snorkle. Can someone make a suggestion, or help in the decision making process. HELP! PLEASE! |
smandkjc 22:32 UTC 09 Jul 2009 | Snorkeling is our main pleasure as well and we head to a Pacific Island every 2 months or so. Of your choices mentioned our preference would be one of the Mamanuca islands in Fiji. Most have good snorkeling from the beach, we are off to Amanuca resort in a couple of weeks. We were there a year ago and the resort was not great but the reef was, so that is why we will go again. It is relatively cheap and Air New Zealand has cheap helicopter flights out and back if you book the holiday through them. The flight out is great as it is the furthest island out and you fly over a lot of the other islands and if lucky get to stop on some as well if there are people to pick up and drop off. Snorkeling inside the reef at Rarotonga is not great, at Tonga and Tahiti you would need to go to one of the outer islands and it is easier to get to an island in Fiji which is why it is our first choice. Have snorkeled or stayed at all the main Mamanuca islands. | 1
newfie43 22:54 UTC 09 Jul 2009 | We are also avid snorkelers who finally got to do our dream trip to Palau in February because we collect Air Miles(which only got us to Manila unfortunately) - it is the most amazing place for snorkeling! We have not been to Tonga but have snorkeled at the other three places you are considering. I agree with smandkjc that Fiji is the best of them - and the Mamanuca's or Yasawa Islands are your best option - although we did not get to Tavenui(sp?) or Kadavu, which I have read is also great! That being said, we also enjoyed the snorkeling in FP, with Huahine and Bora Bora being our favorites. Good luck with your plans! | 2
smandkjc 01:15 UTC 10 Jul 2009 | Have been to Taveuni and stayed at Suzie's (now Paradise), It was good but prefer Amunuca, Navini, Matamanoa, Vomo, Castaway in the Mamanuca's. | 3
marle 18:01 UTC 10 Jul 2009 | OMG thanks everyone. So is it worth moving from island to island, considering I have 10 days? Should I just sit on one island? | 4
smandkjc 21:36 UTC 10 Jul 2009 | We used to do a couple of islands each trip but now just stay on one usually for 10 to 14 days. Always find something to fill our days. You always loose a day traveling and settling in to another resort. | 5
marle 05:55 UTC 11 Jul 2009 | Yeah I kinda feel like being lazy too. Maybe split my time between 2 islands....maybe. | 6
raro 01:09 UTC 13 Jul 2009 | I'd pick one country and then two islands in that country. In Fiji you'd need to head NW to the Mamanucas or Yasawas. Tonga is not real good for snorkeling except maube in Ha'apai group, and the offshore islands at Vavau. In the Cooks, the lagoon at Rarotonga is good and safe for snorkleing, and then go to Aitutaki for several days. In Fr. Polynesia the mian island is not that great, but Bora Bora is very good, Moorea has some decent spots as well. | 7
marle 03:19 UTC 13 Jul 2009 | Yeah I can decided on which two island on Fiji. I'm even waivering on Mamanucas or Yasawas!!!! I think I'm going to have to spend some quality time with a guide book. THanks again everyone. | 8