Nuku'Alofa accommodation

Any thoughts on the International Dateline Hotel? Vuna Road, I believe.

it's one of the hotels I am considering.

It was terrible 10 years ago when we stayed there and worse now according to our host at Heilala Holiday Lodge.
If you want to stay in Nukualofa itself our son stayed at the Waterfront Lodge along the road from the International Dateline and thought it was OK.
Heilala Holiday Lodge was very good.

Ok, thanks. I'll look up Heilala.

The Dateline is always good for a laugh-sometimes sad sometime hysterical.

Ok, thanks @hardnosethehighway

Any other decent places?

Depends on budget of course but I stay at Nanisi's place - you get a self catering A frame house for about $100/night short term, much cheaper long term. It is behind the royal palace and about 3 mins walk to the centre of town.

There's not much value to be had in Nukualofa for accommodation, but this is the best value I could find.

Heilala is outstanding beach front fales - new n with great hosts. Stayed there a couple of years ago just after they opened n hope to stay there again in September. Can highly recommend it:-)

OK, thanks.

The Dateline wasn't a terrific hotel even back in 1996; interesting but already getting a bad name of sorts. The Heilala was much better, again in 1996. I preferred the old Beach House, but it was in the closing-down stage back then.

Ok, thanks.

Heilala is way out of town, though.

"Heilala is way out of town...."

You don't want to be in town or even close.

Heilala isn't THAT far out of town, an easy bus ride. Nothing wrong with Nuku'alofa either, if you go to Tonga you may as well experience Tonga.

hardnoseonthehighway....You don't want to be in town or even close.

Not even for a first visit? for a day?

"Not even for a first visit? for a day?"

It's a grotty little place with no particular attractions and mediocre food- even the fish market is sad.

OK The F&C was decent

I have one night to spend on the way out. Any suggestions with a little scenery? preferably the water. I already have a weekend booked at Heilala on the way in. I can stand 200-300TOP for a double.

If you aren't too fussy about accommodation, this might be be good for one night:

Pangaimotu Island although I don't know how often the little shuttle ferry runs, so maybe it'd be best just to take a day trip to the place.

It really is a tiny island, the swimming is okay, and it makes for an enjoyable day trip, which might be better if you only have one night. I went on a Sunday when there is always the chance that the ferry will not run, as mostly everything closes down on Sundays, but it was running that particular Sunday. Maybe things have changed since then and there might even be more transportation available.

#15 yes the ferry runs to Pangiamotu 3x each sunday as that's one of their busiest days with expats heading over for lunch & a swim.

Another nice place to stay for a night is Whitesands, about 200TOP/night. It is a 15 minutes drive out of Nukualofa and you get nice modern clean bungalow with fridge, microwave etc. No restaurant but they do evening meals - so take your own snacks/beers etc.