samoa, tonga, fiji in mid summer 2008

my boyfriend who is more of a mid range (cost) traveler and me, a devoted backpacker (cheap) are planning to spend 2 weeks exploring samoa, tonga and fiji in late july/early august.

i want to stay in fales but wonder about safety. we also want to kayak in Tonga for a couple days and spend a couple days in Fiji.

Timewise is this feasible? What does a fale cost? where would you recommend a very in lovecouple to stay?

thanks for all your help. been to australia twice but never this corner of the world.

When I stayed in fales in Tonga, they happened to be modernized in the sense that they had locks on doors, windows, and sturdy. Given that there might/are traditional fales that are more modest, my experiences weren't dodgy.
Since you're traveling with your boyfriend, (yay on being very in love), I recommend you go to Ha'apai and stay at Matafonua Lodge in Foa. They have awesome fales, is on an unpopulated beautiful beach, and totally fosters that "romantic" feel. They have kayaks to rent, bring snorkel gear, cause that water rocks!!!! Doesn't break the budget either at approx. $130NZ a night. Their food is a bit over priced though, westernized (place is owned by kiwis) and you kinda have no choice but to buy their stuff. All in all, this place is awesome. Ha'apai in itself is the quietest out of the three islands and is waaaay laid back, and has the best beaches. After being in all three island groups, best beach awards go to Ha'apai.

For the same feel in Tongatapu, stay at the Blue Banana Resort. It's between $130-$160AUD depending on which fale you stay in, and for my partner and I, definately worth it. We had the 'Maui' fale which had a kitchen, and after a grocery shopping trip prior to being dropped off at the resort, we were set for a weekend of paradise right on the beach and our own fale. The 'Maui' is the more expensive of the two, but seriously, there's nothing like waking up seeing the most perfect water and beach and knowing there's no one around to bug you.

Google both these places and you'll have no sweat.

It's remarakable.

Go you, wish I could be there again!

P.S - Understanding that you're a devoted backpacker, it's hard to find a 'standard' backpacking service. I was set on doing that when i first got there, but I realized that you either get bare minimum, or semi-western standard...that's it. There's no in between or above and if you're with your boyfriend, it would be within your best interest to splurge a bit more for atmosphere reasons.

thanks. i'm checking out your recommendations. it also turns out that i'll be in tonga for the coronation of the king so i'm trying to figure out getting for Foa to a spot in wherever that may be as i figure i may as well get to see something this significant culture wise.

I just realised that you said in the original post that you would be travelling in mid-summer and live in the Northern hemisphere. Of course, it is mid-winter then, south of the equator, which means cooler and dryer for most of the tropical islands.