8 weeks: Vanuatu, Cook Islands and what else? (+ urgent airfare question)

I have 8 weeks (Dec-Jan) and I've decided I definitely want to go to Vanuatu and the Cook Islands. Is this too much time to split between these two? Should I add Samoa/Fiji/Solomon Islands or something else to get a good mix of experience?

I love: hiking, good snorkling, beautiful beaches, beautiful nature (waterfalls etc), budget accom with an atmosphere, villages, markets
I don't love quite as much: large hotel complexes, loud tourist families, drunk 19-yr old backpackers, garbage on the beach

I am a 33 year old solo lady that's fairly well travelled.

Also: do air passes still exist? I can't seem to find any detailed or up to date info on them. Is it better to just by one way tickets? Do you REALLY have to book all of these before arriving in the South Pacific or can you play it by ear and get them 1-2 weeks before you want to travel?

I leave next week (short notice trip...) so I would appreicate all the help I can get.

THANKS A MILLION!

one way tickets cost nearly as much as round trip....and yes the immigration of each country wants proof you are moving onward..
Francophone Vanuatu sounds great, but expensive. I'd avoid Samoa at all costs. Fiji perhaps the cheapest?
Solomons is hard travel.

it's generally cheaper when you purchase tickets 2 months or more in advance..

bon voyage

Unfortunately, the former Polynesian Airlines island-hopper air passes no longer exist. If you havn't already resolved airfares, an RTW with an airline alliance partnership like Air New Zealand and its star alliance partnership might be the best way to go. Certainly if you want to reach the Cook Islands from New Zealand, Air NZ has daily flights from Auckland. Pacific Blue (Virgin) has a regular schedule, while there is a direct Air NZ service from Sydney to Rarotonga once a week. Air Tahiti flies return between Papeete and Raro once a week currently.

Have you already booked accomm on Rarotonga? For budget accomm, try Rarotonga Backpackers in Arorangi (stand alone s/c villas on the beachfront), or Are Mango in Muri. If you prefer less people on the same property, a private unit like Mama Ru's villas in Vaimaanga where there is better snorkelling, or Aroa Beachside Inn which is situated on a beautiful beach, with onsite bar and cafe would be a great choice to meet fellow-minded guests. Kiikii Motel is another good choice due to its convenient location to town and the PunangaNui market, and range of affordable accommodation onsite and also their small villa located in Muri. Cook Islands immigration requires the name of your first night's accommodation on Rarotonga. After them knowing this, you are free to move from one accomm to another property as you please.

I think you'll find that the Cook Islands has a strong environmental policy regarding waste management and beach litter. It's reputed to be the cleanest small island nation in the Sth Pacific. Public buses offer a great service for a small destination - buy a 10 trip concession ticket. best snorkelling sites are Tikioki marine reserve, and Aroa marine reserve (adjcent to the Rarotongan Resort). if you can stretch the budget to Aitutaki, do this! The lagoon scenery is out of this world. I highly recommend Amuri Guest-house, Matriki Beach-huts and also Paradise Cove lodges - on Aitutaki. Buy your Aitutaki package deal on Rarotonga for best prices. I highly recommend an island-hopper pass to visit Atiu and Aitutaki islands - very good deal including domestic airfares, transfers and accommodation. Visit Island Hopper Vacations on Rarotonga, or enquire at Air Rarotonga sales office located at Rarotonga airport.

Enjoy your trip.

Vanuatu and the Cooks are not a great combination as they are a long distance apart and you will have to fly between them via NZ.
Unless you are sure you need the Cooks, fellow-Polynesian Tonga would be MUCH cheaper to combine with Vanuatu, and would allow a stopover in Fiji as well.
I didn't like Samoa either.
The Solomons would be easy to combine with Vanuatu but are culturally similar (if less traditional). Another Melanesian country I liked a lot and which is easy to combine with Vanuatu is New Caledonia, only a short flight away.

Unless you are a US citizen, Air Pacific's Bula Pass could possibly still get you to both countries if you fly to Fiji on Air Pacific first from AU, NZ or maybe Hong Kong.
Even without the pass, air Pacific offers good value oneway fares at fixed prices (called Bula Fares, but don't confuse them with the Bula Pass!) making Fiji the best hub for the South Pacific.

Even in the most popular countries, big hotels and heavy tourism is concentrated on a few main islands/regions, making it easy to get away from the "crowds" if you really want to.

Thank you SO MUCH! I appreciate all your insightful advice. So...

Cooks: I think I do have my heart set on this, as I've always had a fascination with Rarotonga/Cooks, just one of those places I've always imagined. I'm from Sweden and SP is literally on the opposite side of the globe for us, so I think when I'm "in the area" (I know it's stil far) I think I should make a stop...

Tonga: is it really great? What can I get there that I can't get in Vanuatu or The Cooks? Somehow when I research it, I don't get that excited about it, don't know why. But you may be able to convince me.

New Caledonia: seems lovely - but isn't it super expensive? I can't spend more than US$100/day incl everything, but would prefer to spend less, preferably $US50-75.

Fiji: maybe this is my best bet as it is such a good hub for flights too?

American Samoa: is what I REALLY would love to do, but it just seems so hard to get to and there's no activity in the forum here which I guess means that not a lot of people make it out there (which doesn't automatically put me off, but I guess it's because it's too darn hard and expensive to get there, and THAT puts me off...).

Samoa and Solomon: are out - you've confirmed my hesitations about those. Plus I guess it rains a ton in Samoa during Dec-Jan.

THANKS AGAIN and keep the advice coming... :)

PS. turou - thanks for all that Raro advice, I'll be sure to use it!

Don't reject Solomon Islands on the basis of a couple of brief comments above. I am a solo woman too, and have travelled extensively in Solomon Islands over the last 20 years. Travel, especially to Malaita and Western province, is becoming much easier, with better, faster boats, apart from planes.
With 8 weeks yyou will have plently of time to experience numerous cultures in either Vanuatu, Solomon Islands or both. Both are large, and culturally diverse compared to the smaller, Polynesian countries.
Solomon Islands is the only country in the Pacific which includes communities of Polnesian, Melanesian and Micronesian peopleAs far as travel is concerned, the Pacific hubs are either Nadi (Fiji) Auckland (New Zealand) for the Polynesian countries, and Brisbane (Australia) for Melanesia and parts of Micronesia.
You will need more time to do justice to the Melanesian countries than the Polynesian or Micronesian ones, due to their geographical size and diversity.

I've spent a lot of time in the Cook Islands. If you don't like crowds or the more touristy spots try visiting as many of the outlying islands as you can. They all share a Polynesian culture but each has its individual character, attractions, local color and politics.

Rarotonga has the most visitors and is more of a typical tropical destination with lots of shops, hotels, tours, souvenirs, etc.

Aitutaki has fewer visitors and fewer of the above attractions, etc. I enjoy a combination of tourist activities like a lagoon tour and lunch, a culture or island night or two and maybe a guide to show me a Marae or a good snorkeling or fishing spot. I also enjoy exploring on my own and mingling with the locals. Aitutaki fills the bill nicely for that kind of agenda.

After Raro & Aitutaki, Atiu is probably the third-most visited island. It has around five or six places to stay and several good guides to help you enjoy your visit. Highlights include cave tours, the Blue Hole and Coral Gardens, coffee plantation, bird watching and historical spots like the Marae where Capt. Cooks' officers almost made the menu as the main course for dinner.

On Mangaia a Swede named Jan and his wife operate the Ara Moana Bungalows. There's also Babe's place on the other side of the island. It's a relatively large island, compareable in size to Rarotonga and is also the oldest island in the Pacific. It has some spectacular caves and lots of exploration opportunities.

Mauke is a little smaller than Atiu and is known as the Garden Island and boasts the world's largest banyan tree. There are several freshwater grottos off the beaten path, a nice road around the perimeter that offers an 11km walk that is shaded except for the stretch by the airport. The locals are very friendly even by Cook Island standards.

Mitiaro is about the same size as Mauke and like Mauke, has about 150 inhabitants. It has a large freshwater lake in the interior and a gorgeous limestone cave with a freshwater grotto that stays cool year round..... a great place to cool off! Mitiaro is probably the least-developed as far as tourism goes and has just three or four places to stay. No restaurants so take some food and plan on dining with your host. There's a small grocery store with a limited food selection.

You should be able to find a place on any of the islands for $75 a night. My wife and I budget around NZ$100 a day for food for two.

Check Google Earth and LP for some trip reports for pics of these spots.

Fiji and the Cooks are quite different, mostly the people and the level of development.

Edited by: H2ooh

Edited by: H2ooh

OG, PNG also has all 3 Pacific races, an unlike in the Solomons (where the Micronesians were resettled from Kiribati by the British), all 3 are native there (Polynesians east of Boungainville, Micronesians in Wuvulu and Ata (?) north of Wewak in East Sepik province).
Including such resettlements, Fiji also has all three races (Micronesians on Rabi from Kiribati, Polynesians native to Rotuma, plus resettled on Kioa from Tuvalu).

Sofia,
Tonga is mostly interesting for the most traditional Polynesian culture remaining - you see grass-skirts even in the capital. Also very diverse geographically, but if it still doesn't appeal to you, there is no reason to push it.
I spent less in NC than in Vanuatu. Certainly doable on your budget, if you are careful.
Fiji - there's a reason why it's so popular. Cheap, easy, friendly and diverse.

As to Vanuatu, come north to Santo and there are lovely beaches at Port Orly (2 bungalows) and good snorkelling in many places (port orly, million dollar point , oyster island, aore resort - last two to visit for a day ,great combination of fish and coral).
Check out http://www.positiveearth.org/bungalows/ for information about cheap bungalows. no frills but lovely.
Try Pandanus on Malo
If you want something special fly north to Mota Lava and stay either at sunset bungalows though you will probably be on your own or Paradise Bungalows on Ra where you may be on your own then fly to Torres on Saturday and stay at kamilisa and fly back either Monday or Friday to Santo. you can of course do it the other way round.
If you want to trek into the high bush try Glen at Butterfly adventure tours 5660290
Of course there is also Malekula next door and Tanna down in the south
Air fares are expensive but international ticket holders have reductions,
Vanuatu is not cheap but it is varied and some interesting places to visit.
It rains all over the Pacific in December to March and you may even get a cyclone.

yes go onto Rarotongo but after a day or two on the island shoot off to Aitutaki. Just beautiful.