Tonga and Samoa - Need help on month to go ! Thanks

Hi all, I'm stuck in a bit of a predicament, I've got a round the world ticket that I'm on and and am currently in Aus, my ticket runs out in January 2009 and I have flights booked to New Zealand Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. I need to work in Aus for as long as possible to earn more money so was thinking of putting my flights back to December and January. Only thing is I've read that the cyclone season in Tonga and Samoa is on those months and the wet season is in October and November onwards. If I had my flights before these months then it would cut short my trip. Could anyone please tell me how bad the wet season is there and what the chances are of a cyclone actually hitting? Would the rainy season ruin my time on a tropical paradise island? Thanks all!! Dan

I think Tonga is lovely during the wet season as the winds die down and the sea is lovely and calm. Samoa could be hot and sticky, but not to the point of it spoiling your trip. As for cyclones - chances are you won't get one - bad ones hit every few years on average, but then again you might get two in one season. There is probably a good chance you would encounter a bad storm. It would be an awful thing to experience (a cyclone) but generally you get some warning (enough to seek cover anyway).

I wouldn't worry about cyclones, they are actually pretty rare for any particular place. It is cyclone season in the South Pacific, but that's an area about 5000 miles x 2000 miles, so the odds of hitting your island are very tiny---although possible. Probably once every five or ten or 15 years for most places. and most are not direct hits, just a lot of rain and wind like a big storm.

The biggest thing you'll notice from about Dec on is the humidity. Tonga was pretty badin December, I was glad I had air-con. If you can't afford air-con, make sure your place has a ceiling fan, it helps.

But I would let that change your schedule, it could get humid even in early Nov.

Rain comes for an hour or two, then is clear, then maybe again later in the day etc., at least that is a typical rainy day. But lots of days have no rain.

So, I'd just keep to your plan, take a cheap travel poncho, and you're all OK.

OK Cool, thanks very much for your advice, big help in trying to work out what to do in my mind! Thanks again