Favorite countries in Oceania- pick two

So I am going to have the opportunity to visit two different countries in the Pacific next year. I'm using miles so it will be the "Oceania" region - American Samoa, Cook Islands, Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Palau, Tonga, Vanuatu, Western Samoa.

I will spend 2-3 weeks in total between two locations. My caveats- crazy cheap budget. I know a little hack through using a cashback site to save money, so mostly I am looking for dorm beds under $20-30 if possible, the lower the better. If higher I can deal with it but not preferred certainly. Or a place that has a good CS community. It will be 2nd half of April to beginning of May which I think is ok weatherwise, yes? But still off-season in some places from what I understand. I will likely bring a certain portion of my own food and alcohol as well to save money.

My plans recently changed to include this so I am trying to get some research. Backpackers + oceania = not a huge amount of info or budget stuff, though it could be worse.

I have spent a day on Guam before and while it was fine, don't know that's where I want to stay. My first couple thoughts include Vanuatu, Fiji, Palau (this last seems really expensive). I guess I'm more interested in culture and lying on the beach than doing more adventure things like diving. Anyone have thoughts in general?

Of the countries on your list, Vanuatu and New Caledonia are my favourites.
However, that's not based on the availability of dorm beds and CS hosts so we obviously have different criteria to pick destinations.

Vanuatu and New Caledonia are my favourites

Hello Laszlo, I am not surprised by Vanuatu being a favourite of yours, but I am curious about why you chose New Caledonia. Is it just because of the list limit? You seem to like the countries/places the further west they are ..

I kind of summarized the reasons here:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/2e789/cb9/

Melanesian countries are my favourites, with the Solomons being an exception.

OK, thanks. The 'other hand' arguments have been what kept NC lower in my priorities. But the 'Mediterranean Melanesia' description gives me a good idea what the appeal would be.

I enjoy budget travel in the pacific and I find that unfortunately some of the best places to visit you need to get to outer islands by either a slow boat or expensive local flight.
if you dont want to spend money on flights or time on a slow boat then you are often limited to the main island you fly in to.
Also you may find your flights will only go main hubs - like Fiji or maybe rarotonga, depending where you fly from.

Samoa is an easy contry to travel on a budget but you may not get a cheap flight into it- I have flown into American samoa cheaply from the US then taken a relatively cheap local flight to Western samoa. you generally fly into Faleolo wich is less than $20 by taxi to the ferry to Savaii.The ferry is les than $10 - but sometimes you fly to Fagalii which is close to Apia where you have a lot of cheap guest house and buses to the south coast where you can stay in cheap fales on the beach
On Savaii or Upolu you can stay catch buses for less than $5 to any where on the island. You can rent your own 'fale' at quite a few beaches that include breakfast & dinner for between $30-$50
If you prefer a bit more comfort a private room in a guest house around Samoa ranges from $30- $50 breakfast normally included.- not mainly places have dorms.
American Samoa is more expensive ( and more westernised) Rarotonga (the main island in the Cook Islands ) is also very westernised so less of a cultural experience but there are plenty of backpackers on rarotonga $20-$50 per night all have kitchens and supplies in supermarkets are plentiful , the local bus is cheap and easy. Raro tonga is only 32 kms in diameter so not a lot to see but flights and very accessible.
Fiji flights are accessible into the main island - Viti Levu, unfortunately this wont show you the best that Fiji has to offer- you need to go out to the islands for this, there is a small enclave by a not very impressive beach by the airport called New Town beach where budget travellers stay when they get to Fiji, hostels are competitive and you can get dorms for about $20 in a complex with a pool and cheap drinks, meals etc
have a look at the samoa tourism website samoa.travel and budgetaccommodationsamoa. Maybe check out rarotonga backpackers , on Rarotonga- it would probably be my pick for a beach, value price and meet other travellers . i havent been to Tonga ( as yet ) but there is a budget place by the beach on , Tongatapu, Tonga that looks -good something village.
The tonga tourism website is quite good too.
But to keep your prices down you need to look at how the flights will work, where you will fly to cheaply and if you want to spend money on flights from there or not.
That might influence your choices

Well, shiver me timbers...this all almost took a really lousy turn with the redemption of my United Airlines miles and the airlines not opening up availability, but anyway I managed to snag flights to New Caledonia and back from Fiji. I will travel between the countries via Vanuatu which really sounds like the most exciting place.

I found out there is a girl who graduated my (very small) school who lived in Noumea for a year or two so hoping for a contact there for a CS or something. It looks like the most expensive place.

For $400 out of pocket and 25,000 miles, I'm hella excited!