Where to go in the South Pacific

We are looking toward late Oct 07 to late Nov for traveling to the South Pacific.

We are budget minded and we’re totally into snorkeling, diving and great beaches
So we are seeking info from well traveled visitors to this area.

Out of all the destinations Tahiti, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Cook islands or and any other Islands,
has been a favorite for travelers. I know this is a very general but I was hoping to get some information to start.
Also welcomed are places I shouldn’t go for safety reasons.

Totally grateful for any feed back

Derek

I would start by reading the FAQ and the previous posts in this branch.

I agree with #1

The Pacific is huge - many thousands of square miles - read up, narrow it down for us, come back with some more specific questions.

How long going for? "Budget minded...............what is your budget?? Likes? Dislikes?

We’re going for 4 weeks late Oct to Nov. We were in Bali & Lombok last year. We kept moving every couple of days during that trip. Now were thinking that we want to be able to stay still.
Find some fantastic locations that are not overly priced. Live on a beach, swim and snorkel every day. Married couple, not partiers, but we’re social. I’ve been reading a lot about Fiji due to Tahiti being more expensive. But then I caught some info on Vanuatu and then there are the Cook Islands. And then Somoa but there’s been some violent out-breaks there.

I have been to Thailand Costa Rica and Belize and as a Cruse Ship Musician all through the Caribbean and Mexico. Some general comparisons to some of these destinations to get a mental picture. I do like mountainous regions such as the lime stone peaks of S Thailand.
To summarize: The South Pacific is known for being tropical and exotic, which is why we want to go there. So to start how does the S P compare?

Thanks
Derek

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>And then Somoa but there’s been some violent out-breaks there. <hr></blockquote>

Oh yes, that TERRIBLE Samoa Civil War... Stay away tourists! Country is in chaos! Danger for everyone!
Babies will be stolen! Backpackers made into a kava-like drink! Seniors and package tourists left to dessicate high in the coconuts!

;) Things that make you go "Hmmm..."

Really?

As posted by #3-"And then Somoa but there’s been some violent out-breaks there. "

I think Derek means Tonga specifically the destruction of much of downtown of Nuku'lofa.

Derek-there's a well worn tourist track in Fiji get on it and you'll be right.

Just be sure to take a lot more money than you think you'll need nowhere in the South Pacific is truly cheap anymore.

You won't find the cheap beachfront bargains of SE Asia in the SP.
Pick a couple of coutnries and check out the FAQ's at the top of this branch.
But you are correct, Fiji is among the cheapest, Fr. Polynesia among the most expensive. But Fiji is still probably double or triple SE Asia.

As above - Fiji would offer the experience most similar (also pricewise) to Asia.
Followed by Samoa and Tonga, I think.

I prefer Vanuatu to those, but it's much more expensive and rather undeveloped.
Also largely untouristed, so not really "social".

I struggled with the same problem, and here's how I resolved it.

I ended up with Fiji. A minor but not unimportant reason was that it was easier to work into a RTW ticket. This did have a curious advantage, in that I met a fair number of longer-term travelers in Fiji who were there for exactly the same reason. So I found a small but dispersed traveler's circuit there (not the FeeGee Experience circuit).

Cost was a consideration. All else being equal in terms of "things to do and see for a first-timer in the south pacific" it was the least expensive island group. To price compare: I had to pay attention to my spending to keep it at about 25-28 EUROs a day average. I ordinarily stayed in guesthouses in towns etc. and three times in budget level 'resorts' with a meal plan. That 'average' over two months also covered a couple of internal flights, a couple of dives, etc. In comparison I could easily live to the same standard (or better) with much less effort in SE Asia for 20 EUROs per day...or 15 EUROs a day in India!

The swing factor was that Fiji is relatively large as far as South Pacific nations are concerned and there was a lot of variety in activities, landscapes etc., such as jungle hikes, snorkeling, diving, a surprisingly varied local culture (eg indigenous Fijians, Indo-Fijians, various other ethnic groups) in smaller settlements and various larger towns and 'urban' areas (Levuka, Labasa, Lautoka, Suva, etc), some remnants of colonial history...

After the fact (I didn't know this beforehand) I'd have to recommend the character of the people in terms of openness and friendliness (the 'land of smiles' didn't come close by comparison). I don't know if this is something special about Fiji ... I expect not, but it was still a bonus.

For the record, Vanuatu was second on my list and Solomons third (part of a bigger plan to move on to PNG) ... considering what it is that I look for in a destination. Also after the fact, I think I might have had a more difficult time there -- difficult in the sense of not getting the most out of the places due to ignorance on my part. Fiji was probably an easier introduction. Now that I have the Fiji learning experience behind me, I think I'll be able to appreciate those places better.

Also, after hanging around this site for a year, Tonga has slipped onto my list...