Week trip to Tonga/Samoa

Im planning a week long trip to either Tonga or Samoa at the start of August.

My partner hits 30 and she wants tropical beaches etc

I know the south pacific isn't exactly a budget destination but we are hoping to do it as cheap as we can. Hence my question, which would work out the cheaper of the two destinations. Flights from Auckland, where we live, dont really have a massive price difference between the two destinations at the time we want to go. What would be a reasonable budget for a week in either?

Would a week be anywhere near enough to see anything in Tonga? I gather moving around there is slow paced if your lucky?

I'm sure recent travelers will reply to this, but since nobody has yet, I'll weigh in.

Before you pick your destination do a search for "wild dogs Samoa." I traveled to Samoa years ago (2003) and didn't have issues, but apparently they have become a major nuisance. If you travel to Samoa, keep in mind the weather is quite different between the north and south sides of the main island. In August, the south side of the island (which has the pretty beaches) gets lots of rain. The north side of the island is sunny and hot. There aren't pretty beaches around Apia, but there are plenty of things to do, like snorkeling and visiting nearby waterfalls.

With a week, you might spend 3-4 days on the main island, and then head to Savai'i.

There was a recent thread about Tonga vs Samoa:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2191101

Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga are the cheapest countries, but which of those three is the absolute cheapest is debatable.

For Samoa, if you're sharing a basic fale, 200 Tala total for 2 of you is probably reasonable. 1 Tala = 0.55 NZD. One week is not a bad length of time for Samoa, although you won't want to rely on buses...

If you are still looking for a suitable tropical island detination, you could also consider Rarotonga. Being a small island, with a very small population, but with really good infrastructure including transport options, and a number of beautiful beaches with wonderful swimming lagoons you would be hard pressed to find anywhere else that is so accessible.

Using Kiwi dollars as the currency helps to understand your budget if you are Kiwis. You can take food from NZ with you, as this will help your budget. Rarotonga is a very safe, clean, vibrant island with land and lagoon attractions including cruises, fishing tours, hiking trails, arts studios, museums, modern movie theatre, bars, cafes, island night shows, cultural performances, hire kayaks, hire scooters, scuba diving, free beaches, gardens, golf, tennis and historical sites. Lots to do and see in other words.

Rarotonga has a huge range of accommodation from guesthouses to hostels, holiday rental homes, beach-studios, motels, hotels, resorts, ultra-luxury boutique lodges. Accommodation starts at $18 per person/night. If you are on a budget but want to be completely self-contained go for a budget motel unit or similar at $40 p.n.- 7 days minimum stay (includes onsite swimming pool, and running hot water). Hire a scooter for $15 per day, or catch the local bus (excellent service) for $2.50 ride using a concession card. Eat cheaply at the market stalls, or burger bars/takeaways. Buy heaps of fresh fruit, fish and veg at the Saturday market or roadside stalls. Bring your own snacks, dairy and meat from NZ to supplement your budget. Spend time on the white-sandy beaches, browse the town and villages, shop at the supermarkets and liquor stores, socialise during happy hours. I think that you could aim for NZ$100.00 per day for 2 people by booking budget accomm, taking some foods from NZ, hiring a scooter or using the local bus service, eating fresh local produce and preparing meals at home, but with the odd splurge for a meal, taking duty-free with you, and doing your homework for the cheaper places for a cultural night out. One example is the island nights. Some cultural shows cost $100 per person. You could go into town instead, and spend $5 door entry to enjoy a very similar performance. Early August is the annual dance and drumming festival held at the Auditorium which will cost $10 entry per person, or catch a free show at the Saturday market.

Actually #2 - I've booked a budget fale for exactly 1/2 that 100tala/night for a couple including dinner bed breakfast 100tala is on the high side of medium

100 tala/night sounds about right for a fale, perhaps a little high. However, by the time you add in transportation (unless you're going to suffer on the buses), lunches, drinks, and the endless fees Samoans charge any time you leave the main highway, then 200/day becomes pretty realistic. If you're just going to hang around your fale all day and not do anything, then yes, you can get by on much less.

As a word of advice, make sure you take a printed confirmation with that rate you booked at. 3 out of 5 places I stayed tried to charge me more than the rate I reserved at, until I showed them the confirmation.