Our budget in the South Pacific - enough?

Ok after some million pages and threads I've read about travelling in the South Pacific, I THINK i have figured it out; How much money I need and where to go.

I'm aiming for Fiji, Samoa, Tokelau, Niue and the Cook Islands (Rarotonga-Aitutaki-Atiu)..

For accommodation, I have figured a sum of about 20-30 euros - roughly 55 Australian, or 40 USD. We would be going for a double, if we can for that money, and dorm if there isn't any doubles available to that price range.

For food, I guess the price of food is a bit more expensive than - for example, Australia or Finland - so 10-15 euros should be enough to cover foods for 2 people.

And now - Am I right or am I wrong? Books tell me I am right, but do you travellers think differently?

-J

There's more to 'budget'+ than just food and accommodation, there's transportation-never cheap in the S Pacific and +extras

So for doing nothing but sitting on a beach Yes that's enough.

No organised snorkeling trips, no guided kayaking, no fishing and certainly no diving.

Walking is free but no guided walks.

I think you are right.
In fact your budget is not even the barest minimum (nor should it be), and you have wisely picked some of the cheapest countries in the region.

While transport costs should certaionly be added to that, I myself am also quite happy without organized kayaking/snorkelling/fishing/whatever tours.

i was just now in french polynesia , and there this budget is not enough for 2 people,
but i dont know if its in cook , niue .... better.
internet for example is very expensive in FP about 9 euro per hour

I think French Polynesia is rated as the most expensive destination in the South Pacific (followed by New Caledonia). Fiji and Samoa are the two cheapest (they can be cheaper than Western Europe for sure), while in Tokelau and Niue internal transport costs are basically nil. Even the Cooks are a fair bit cheaper than FP by all accounts.

jvainio : IMO, It's pointless traveling from Finland to the islands you mentioned with such a low budget, there far less expensive destinations in south east Asia that you might like

Well, I wanted to go to Fiji, not just to the cheapest place possible on the planet, and so adjusted my 'budget level' budget accordingly. Your cost evaluation is OK: it can be done with a bit of room to spare (again, just speaking for Fiji). I also do not need to pay someone to guide me through snorkelling or hiking excursions or whatever - so no extra expenses there. Had my own goggles and snorkel. So, main costs were accom and food, with transport third. Bus transport and short ferry rides never amounted to much of my budget. That said, I did on one occasion take a guided hike (Epi's tour out of Levuka, Ovalau island). Averaged over 2 months I was even able to add in a dive and two inter-island flights and stay in budget.

Obviously, some places are more expensive than others, the Yasawas for example will be more expensive for a certain level of facilities than other parts of Fiji. "Resorts" even the backpacker sort, will be more expensive that guesthouses in villages and towns. Whenever possible I made use of markets for breakfast and lunch meals, and restaurants in towns for evening meals. Resorts on small islands will almost invariably have a meal plan, as eating at the resort usually the only option anyway. You can always balance a more expensive resort stay with time in a local town or village, and the overall costs balance out.

Some things to consider:

*I see some places in Samoa have dramatically raised prices... Some of the more popular places that were once considered backpackers are trying to move upscale and have become poor value considering you are still in a thatch fale.

*The NZ dollar (which is what is used in the Cooks and Niue) has been devalued so much in the past months that these islands are a real bargain for anyone coming from Europe.

*I am not sure if I understand... Are you planning on visiting ALL of these countries on one shot? If you are planning go to all of the countries you listed, you will have an extreme transportation cost betwixt these islands and will also need VAST amounts of time, patience and open-mindedness.

*Eating out is not that cheap in the Cooks, Niue or Samoa... Unless you stick to the market in Apia or some of the places where locals take their noon meals (which are often hard to find)... And these places are usually not open for the evening meal. Any eating establishment in Samoa that is geared for travellers or for well-to-do Samoans is just as expensive as here in Canada. I never found anywhere "really cheap" to eat at all in Rarotonga or Aitutaki anywhere inc. the markets... At least twice to three times more than, let's say, Samoa. Same same for Niue.... Do try to self cater if you can in the Cooks and Niue... This is actually quite easy to do there in budget or mid-range accommodation as many places follow the Kiwi tradition of self-contained accommodation... This is more difficult to do this in Samoa as a rule. You will find all imported foodstuffs in all of the islands very expensive compared to home.... Try to eat as much local food as possible for best value and also experience. Remember in Samoa, that at most of the beach fales at least 2 meals are usually included with your accommodation... and sometimes 3 which can represent good value.

*Sitting on the beach and snorkelling off shore for days and days at places where you get stuck at because you don't have the cash to move around or transportation options vaporize may cause some concern..... unless you are happy to be stuck somewhere. Research Tokelau and Niue VERY carefully... You may end up there ALOT longer than you had planned... Esp. Tokelau as you will be coming and going on the fortnightly ship from Apia... If the weather gets bad, ship breaks down, etc. you could possibly have a month or more stay there. There is no airport there as you probably know already so if something goes awry... You're stuck.

It sounds like quite an adventure... have fun.

When you really want to go to Tokelau, this will have to be the center point of your whole trip. You can hardly plan anything after that stage of the journey - as you do not have the slightest idea when you will really leave from Samoa and when you will be back there. Delays of up to three weeks on the published schedule are not uncommon. So estimate at least one month time for Tokelau (just in case). And a bit more money in your budget - in case you get stuck there.

What is your time frame anyway? How much more than the minimum of at least 3 months?

Hmm, come to think of it, I may not have eaten at a place spcifically catering to tourists in Fiji or Samoa even once. I ate a lot from the markets, and though deep-fried turkey-tails dripping with oil in Samoa did get a bit dull quite quickly, in Fiji Indian presence ensured some healthier budget options, too.
Well, let's face it: if someone wants to see the South Pacific on a limited budget, some conveniences have to be sacrificed! But unless you are the sort of person who feels miserable without Western food and the like, it can certainly be done. Even in expensive New Caledonia self-catering could be done relatively cheaply - and resulted in better food than that dished up in most English-speaking Pacific nations! ;-)

This gives you an idea what might happen when you include Tokelau in your itinerary.

Oh shit!

I hope they open the route again soon!

Not likely. We had a first confirmed flu case here in Samoa (an Australian tourist) and the authorities expect more to come. So I cannot imagine that they re-open the passenger connection towards Tokelau anytime soon (and especially not for tourists)