tonga and samoa... how long???

Hello,
my boyfriend and I want to warm our bones from Nz winter and go to Samoa and Tonga islands...
we don't really know how many days to spend there (we want to relax but not be bored)..
for which i have read in both island there are no scooters.. is it right???
of course cheap budget ... but we want definitely do some kayak, snorkeling, scubadiving...
can you give me a raf idea of the time we could spend over there?
we went to the cook islands for 3 weeks and i think it was a little bit too much for 2 islands...
(even if they are extremily beautiful!!!)
thanks a lot !!!
romina

For Tonga--I think they just started renting scooters on Tongatapu, and on Vavau. I wouldn't spend more than two or three days on Tongatapu. On Vavau, maybe a few more, but you'd really need to get to an offshore islet to get good beaches. Ha'apai has the best beaches.

The inhabited islands of (western) Samoa, 2 biggish and 2 tiny, are all close together and could in theory be seen in a week or even less time. Quite how long you will want to stay is entirely dependent on how you'll like the place.

OTOH Tonga has many more islands, and they are a lot more spread out.
I believe you couldn't possibly see all inhabited ones in a full month, and just getting a taste of the 3 major archipelagoes there might easily require 2-3 weeks, especially if travelling between them by sea.

to laszlo/raro

thanks man, I really appreciate ! I don't know what we gonna do (I'm in Nz to save money right now!!!)
but 1 thing : I read the story about samoan kids/dogs/theft??? do you know if it's still going on?
Certainly in the Cook Islands no one will have these problems (except it may be if you don't lock your scooyer).. by the way my boyfriend left wallet and ipod on the flight and we got them back ... they are so honest over there!!!! I guarantee in Europe it'll never happen!!!!
That's paradise!!!!
Do you recon 10 days tonga and 10 days western Samoa will be ok ? thinking about upolu + savaii and tongatapu and vavau....
thanks a million guys!!!!
have a good day
cia'

There is only one flight per week between Tonga and Samoa and that fact alone might already determine very much how long you can spend either in Tonga or Samoa. In general I agree with #2 that one week might be enough to have a good look at Samoa. A bit more time in Tonga might be convenient because you will have to get away from Tongatapu to Vava'u or Hapai'i to be able to do what you have in mind.

Forget about those dogs/theft/whatever rants. They are quite outdated by now at least. But be advised to get all normal precautions regarding these issues, right as you would do at home. Make sure that you put the same amount of caution towards fellow travelers.

Apparently there was a stray-dog eradication campaign in Apia last year.
I am not aware of a similar one against thievery, so keep your valuables on you AT ALL TIMES!

10 days should be enough for those places.

thank a lot guys...
i'm already there with my mind!!!!!
ciao
romina

ok, I finally booked the flights... now I know eveerything about what we gonna do...
but I still haev 2 little things to sort out :
1-try to find seipepa accomdation or hidden garden e-mailo or number...actually are they open???
2-should we go to hapaii or to vavau after tongatapu?
if you can help me with this,, it would be awesome!!!!
thanks
romina

I actually called seipepa this morning and it officially closed... they told me taht hidden garden is not,,,i will try that one!
fingers cross :))

Vavau is a lot bigger, with a bit more to see and do. More hills, coves, exploring, shop and more restaurants.. Nice big lagoon, but most good beaches are on the little islets. Scuba on Vavau, not sure about Ha'apai. They also recently got some scooters on Vavau, from what I understand. Fun exploring out of the way villages, etc. But Haapai probably has better beaches that are easier to get to.

So, if you want to really be on a semi-deserted island, probably Ha'apai, If you like hills and more town things, restaurants, go to Vavau.