| holidayer7809:24 UTC08 Nov 2007 | Hello.
I'm off to Tonga in a couple of weeks, but just for 7 days. Spending the first night in Tongatapu then thinking of flying up to Ha'apai for the next 4 then back to Tongatapu again before flying home. A couple of questions...
Do you think this is do-able, timewise?
Seems from threads that Matafonua is best bet for accommodation in Ha'apai?
How do i organise domestic flights, must i do it in advance?
Good place to stay in Tongatapu?
Any tips would be very greatly appreciated! Starting to get a little nervous at my lack of planning...
Thanks so much! Will be sure to post report on my return...
Nikki
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| aoo12:08 UTC13 Nov 2007 | Hi Nikki,
If you can get to Ha'apai, do. Just be aware the flights are unreliable/often delayed. You could book in Nuku'alofa at the travel agents on the main street, the quote we got there was TOP$280 return per person.
The best place to stay in Nuku-alofa (capital) is Nerima Lodge. It's clean, comfy, personal, great staff (owned by a Japanese lady) and you get chilled drinking water, coffee and internet use included in your room rate. We stayed a couple of places in Nuku'alofa and this is the only place we would recommend - everywhere else was a rip off or grotty or both.
Seven days could be pushing it, esp. if flights get cancelled due to waether, a funeral or whatever. Might be worth going to Eua instead - 2.5 hours by ferry from Nuku'alofa. It's a sleepy island with pretty beaches and rainforest walks, but not much snorkelling, and you can only really swim when the tide is high (lagoon style beaches, inside a reef) If you do go there, I recommend the Deep Resort - it has a gorgeous beach and they do great tours for only TOP$35 per person.
DON'T go to Hideaway Resort on Eua - it's run down and has no beach and the staff are so unfriendly, it's like they don't want you there (although apparently the manager is very friendly, but we never met him).
You get a better cultural experience at Deep Resort as the locals all use the beach and Tim and Carolynn, two Kiwis who manage the place, are part of the village life and encourage the guests to be too. Carolynn is half Tongan.
Just be aware if you go to Eua that you'll be pretty much stuck having to order your meals at your accommodation (TOP$20 for dinner, less for lunch, but it adds up if you stay a few nights...depends on your budget, really). Deep Resort includes a nice breakfast if you are staying in your own room, but not if you're in a shared fale (dorm) - then you have to pay extra. We asked to use the kitchen at the Deep Resort and did our own cooking for dinner, to save money. There's a bakery, markets and little kiosks in Eua and you can get noodles, canned fish, bread, buns, fruit, veg, crackers, biscuits...
Take a good book. Or two. Tongan life is sloooooow : )
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| jay_dee08:30 UTC14 Nov 2007 | Yes try and get to Ha'apai and if you can book ahead you should try and do that to. I agree with Aoo about it being tight and because flights are so unreliable, it can sometimes be difficult to book on a flight with only a day or two notice.
What's you budget for accommodation? There's a few nice places to stay in Nuku'alofa. If you're on a tight budget then Nerima or Heilala holiday lodge are the best. But if you want to spend a bit more money there are a couple or other nice places too.
If it turns out you can't/don't go to Ha'apai, then Ha'atafu surf camp on the west coast of Tongatapu is an excellent option.
Good luck
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| holidayer7811:10 UTC14 Nov 2007 | Thanks so much! My first time using this site, wasn't sure i'd get any feedback...But really helpful. I've just booked flights to Ha'apai with Rising Sun Travel in Tonga, TOP288 return. And booked into Matafonua Lodge, about TOP150 per night, looks nice and apparently the beach and restaurant are great. I've booked risky flights, out the morning after we arrive and back the night before we leave, so fingers crossed no national emergencies!
As for Nuku'alofa, both of you have recommended Nerima, so i'm going to get onto that now. Can't thank you enough - will post a report when back at end of Nov! Cheers x
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| raro11:23 UTC14 Nov 2007 | If it seems like the airline schedules are getting a bit shaky---as often happens---you might want to head back to Tongatapu a day earlier, if there is a flight. If everything is running efficiently (unusual, but possible!), then the last flight back the day before would be OK.
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| mate00719:30 UTC20 Nov 2007 | Hi All,
Looking @ the replies I think that you will think twice about coming to Tonga.Be positive and go with the accomodations that was recommended for Tonga and Ha'apai before but for the Airline Tickets you should let Teta Tours worry about that for you because........
a) They are the GSA and Majority Shareholder of Airlines Tonga , meaning when the flights are fully booked who gets first priority - Teta Tour Clients.
So it's simple - email tetatour@kalianet.to and they will do the worrying for you .
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