Booking in advance?

Hi all,
My husband and I are planning a trip to Tonga arriving 11:30pm on Thursday 27th September, and leaving just over two weeks later on the Saturday (13th Oct I think). I was planning on booking that first night, a flight out to Vava'u the next day and a couple of nights accomodation on Vava'u (thinking of the Adventure Backpackers). I would like to spend most of the time on Vava'u and Ha'apai Islands with the last 3-4 days on Tongatapu. So my questions are:

1) Flights: can I book these last minute so as to be flexible on how much time we spend on each island group? Or would I be better to book all the flights and then try changing them if we really want to?

2) Will we be alright at that time of year only having a couple of nights booked? (I know September is peak season, so am hoping October may be slightly quieter... but still have whales).

3) In my copy of the 2000 moon south pacific handbook there is mention of Popao Village Eco Resort which sounds really nice (bucket showers, no electricity... but beautiful location). Does this still exist? I haven't found any mention of it in the searches I've done.

Thanks for any help! I've enjoyed reading all the posts and am getting very excited about the trip!

Hi- I think the website below has the most extensive lisiting of accomodation in Tonga - so if they're not listed there I'm not sure if they are still in business. Not sure about flight bookings, but I'm sure amaile will know. I think you should be right with only booking a few nights accomodation. The only exception I would make is if you particularly want to stay in a place which only has a few rooms - in which case I would book ahead, just so as not to miss out. Good Luck

tonga holiday website

"the last 3-4 days on Tongatapu"

After being on Vava'u and Ha'ap'i Tongatapu is going to be something of a letdown-make it a day and that's plenty.
The island is flat dusty unattractive and often smells like a garbage fire.

BTW-you can book your flights last minute but it's a poor idea- no matter what the flight will be changed/canceled/leave early/leave late you name it they will screw it up-flights in the place are a shambles so be prepared.

Peau is back in business soon but don't expect any change.

Getting from Vava'u to Ha'ap'i might mean returning to Tongatapu and flying back to Ha'api.

Popao was sold to a young Canadian couple who were there for a short time and then abandoned the place.

Thank you.

I think I will book the flights in advance, just to be safe. The reason for leaving Tongatapu until last was in case there are delays etc with the flights.. don't want to miss the flight home. So yes, I'm prepared for things to not run smoothly.

Hi,

Air Peau can take you TBU/VAV/HPA/TBU route, while Airlines Tonga doesn't fly between VAV/HPA. Also Air Peau allows 20kg luggage if you are coming from overseas. Check their open-date ticket policy. I think that you need to decide the date of your first flight (TBU/VAV), but the onward tickets can be bought and issued without fixed dates.

I strongly recommend you to be back to TBU a couple of days before your international departure. There were several people stuck in VAV last week and missed their flights out of Tonga.

Adventure Backpackers is very popular during whale watching season. I advise you to book in advance.

I agree with #2 about limiting time in Nuku'alofa, if you can get out the day you arrive - great! As Amaile suggests - being there early for your flight will give you time to see the basics such as Market (heaps of souveniers) and Cultural Centre, not sure I'd recommend an around-the-island trip as you'll spend most of the day on dusty roads with a few widespread (admittedly interesting) sights that - unless you have done your homework - your driver might miss and then probably won't know much about! If you are not island-ed out, you could catch the ferry to either Pangaimotu (day trip + meal or affordable enough to stay overnight) or Fafa (not inexpensive, day trip). SMALL local boats leave for other nearby (and rarely visited by tourists) islands, getting there is OK but be sure you can get back same day......

Neiafu (Vava'u) and Pangai (Lifuka, main island of Ha'apai) are totally different and a great contrast.

Neiafu has things to do - the main attraction being whale watching and you will be there mid-season, so might need to book, prices last year were a standard 150 pa'anga, some allow you to be in the water with the whales. Many places to eat out and small choice of accommodation but again, with such a short time available, you MUST know what you want to do and how to do it. There is no nice beach to swim from, for that you really need to get out to the islands, not easy without access to a boat. You can hire a small one from Coconut suitable only to get you to closest areas, ask around at Mermaid Bar on waterfront and perhaps tee up something on a sail boat; sometimes locals put on Island Feasts with water transport. Have a look at the local market for a few souveniers (fresh vanilla beans) and better basket ware than in Nuku'alofa.

Pangai has limited accommodation so again - book, Fifita Guesthouse is central and adjoins only eating place, Mariner's Cafe. It is nice for wandering (no souveniers available) or hire a bike (Mariner's Cafe again). Pangai has shallow water swimming walking distance from 'town' (or join the kids jumping into the harbour after school) and access to the lovely beach north at Houmale’eia Beach (take water and snacks) on adjoining Foa island (too far to bike, infrequent bus or taxi out). If you have time, organise a night on 'Uoleva or 'Uiha (Tonga Visitors Bureau will help), it will be the highlight of your trip, at least do a day trip - life in the Ha'apai is all about catching boats.

And, yes, expect the unexpected with internal flights. Arriving once, mine was postponed from morning until late afternoon (local funeral party needed it). On return the route was changed from Ha'apai-Nuku'alofa to go via Vava'u PLUS I was handed a baby to care for en route. Yeah!

Oh Angela - how funny to find a baby was part of your inflight service. Only in Tonga. Got me thinking though - I wonder if I could try handing my kids over to another passenger to look after on my next flight....ha ha - no chance.

OP - don't be too discouraged about a few days on Tongatapu - we spent 7 weeks there and in some ways enjoyed it more then Vava'u. I was on a work assignment - so it is a bit different to just a short holiday. But none the less we're looking forward to going back for a month later this year. You'll enjoy much better choice and quality of food/restaurants on tongatapu - plus it's cheaper. Also it's nice to hire a car and just drive around and explore the island - certainly not as attractive landscape as Vavau but there are some reasonable beaches. We stayed at Otuhaka for a weekend and also Hatafu for a week - both very nice (Otukaka has nice location and beachfront restaurant but the service, food and general "vibe" are not as good as hatafu).

You're right to allow a couple of days before your flight home - when coming back from Vava'u we were lucky get on our flight - quite a few people were "bumped" and had to wait til the next day.

Thanks for all the great information here....i'm concerned about a couple of things.

my friend and i fly back from Vava'u on a Saturday evening...there is no flight service on Sundays and he has to leave on monday...are you saying there's a good chance we won't make the flight? And if so, does anyone know if they will then fly on Sunday or if we are stuck for monday? we already know the monday flight is sold out!...and this is for September.

Also, beach situation on Vava'u...are there no good hang out and get a suntan beaches on Vava'u? The pictures make it look awesome. I'd be so surprised. We are staying at Adventure Backpackers, is the beach there decent?

I'm on Vava'u for 11 days...are there cool day trips to take someplace?

thanks!

You have to constantly monitor the situation-chances are that there'll only be only one flight out and that it'll leave in the morning.

There is no beach anywhere near Adventure Backpackers-it's smack dab in the middle of Neiafu and miles from any beach.

It's easy to rent scooters from Curt down the street and make your way to local beaches of which there are a few but none are anything special.

The folks who own Adventure Backpackers also own an upscale resort with a nice beach maybe they'll sell you a day pass you can always ask.

There's a Bulletin Board in the hostel with all kinds of info about day trips ask the Staff which operations are currently operating.

Renting a skiff from the cyber cafe/laundromat place is a fun way to see out-of-the-way places.

Rental Scooter in front of Adventure Backpackers

Rental Skiff on local beach

If you rent a scooter or car, head down and out past the Tongan Beach Resort, over a couple of causeways, to the end of the road at Talehau (sp?). It's a tiny little village, with a tiny park on the beach. Not the greatest swimming, but a quiet place for a few hours.
But as Copperspoon said, there are not really any good beaches one can get to on the main or connected islands in Vavau. You need to rent a boat for the day.

I doubt there will ever be a Sunday flight at any time in the near future in Tonga, to or from anywhere. And yes, exact flight times are not even known until the morning of the flight! If it is originally scheduled for 1pm, for example it may depart at 10am! So, phone at 7 or 8am the day of your flight.