Fiji, Palua or Vanuatu How to get there?

In Bangkok now but seems quite difficult to get to any of these places - all go through NZ or Aus. Are there any direct flights (or flights w/ a stopover in the area) flying out of Bangkok? Maybe out of Singapore? or Manilla? or somewhere a little less far than NZ or Australia? What about frieghter or sailing (have experience) so if anyone knows the easiest way to get to the S. Pacific from Bangkok w/out spending tons of cash let me know. Thanks!

The typical way to get to Palau is through Manila on the Continental Micronesia flight, with a connection in Guam. The flights are quite pricey. I have heard of a flight from Taiwan, but have no idea what airline it is or whether it still exists.

ETA: Just checked Air Pacific's website--they have a flight from Hong Kong that appears to run 2x a week to Fiji. From Fiji, you could connect to Vanuatu.

Edited by: tilos

Have a look at Korean Air - if I recall they fly out of Singapore to both Fiji and Guam(from there you can get to Palau with Contiental).

Thanks. Continental really harges a lot from Manilla (US$650/-) tp Palau - seems like a lot. Checking w/ Korea. Will update this info.

You could probably get a flight to Brisbane and connect to Vanuatu or Fiji on Pacific Blue. Otherwise, you can get to Honiara (Solomon Islands) from Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea), and you can get to Port Moresby from various Asian ports. There is one flight a week to Fiji via Vanuatu, from Honiara.
I think the Brisbane option is probably the cheapest.

http://www.visit-palau.com/gettingthere/airlines.html

Asiana (sp?) has been going for a while and is the most likely one to compete with Continental. I know nothing about the charter flights listed. But you can sometimes find a discounted ticket from Bangkok to Koror- or sometimes you can get a cheap ticket to Honolulu with a stop in Palau. You sometimes have to be very creative but sometimes you can find good fares. Not often, but sometimes.

I've flown and fly Asiana a lot (BKK - LAX) aren't bad. Maybe can collect some mileage. Thanks all for the help - keep them comming in and if we find a good deal i'll be sure to post it for others. after all, you are the ones helping me! J

No babu- you have to take me if I find you a great price! (don't I wish!) Good luck- the islands are wonderful but hard to get to which keeps the hordes away.

sorry waldos - i would if i could - but its looking like i may have to fly home to usa (hawaii) and go from there. i m glad it's remote - as u said keeps away the hordes. cheers - J

Oh well- always worth a try (here is where emoticons come in handy). Best of luck finding your way into the islands.

Also consider how you are going to LEAVE the South Pacific. Where is your next destination after Fiji? South America? Indonesia? Australia/New Zealand? If your next destination requires a stopover in Brisbane or Auckland, you might want to go there now and purchase a round trip flight from there to your destination in the South Pacific. This will be cheaper than multiple one way flights (from Hong Kong to Fiji to Vanuatu back to Fiji and then to ??? a destination that will probably require a stop in Oz or NZ anyway). Does that make sense?

Babu- let me be sure I understand- you are in Thailand and home is in Hawaii and you want to go to some of the islands, perhaps Palau. And you are not considering going to Hawaii and then back to the islands.And then where- back to Thailand or ??? From Manila you should be able to get a rt ticket to Hawaii with stops in Palau. yap, the other FSM islands. And tickets RT from Manila (and perhaps also Bangkok) are often or even usually cheaper than only to the islands. But I may not understand your possible plans at all, just thought I might check.

OK, guess what i am writing is kinda confusing Waldos. My original home is Los Angeles, CA. However I have lived and worked in India for the last 18 years - so I have not lived in USA for a long time. I am currently in Thailand and would like to go to Palau from here, Bangkok. Now I starting to get confused (joking). seriously, in BKK now would like to go to South Pacific from here just trying to find the most economical rate. Thanks for your replies. J