Which islands do you recommend the most ?

Hi,

Which of the pacific islands would you recommend the most ?
A place with postcard perfect beaches, sunny weather and warm clear waters.
We would like a place which also caters to budget travellers and backpackers as we don't intend to stay at resorts or very expensive hotels.

Thanks.

I'd have to disagree with Rarotonga - I visited last May, and it was nice (Aitutaki was more beautiful, but quite expensive to get flights there), but I'd say Fiji was a lot better.

In terms of value for money, Fiji was definitely cheaper, and you got a lot more for your money, plus there are tons more options. When you land in Nadi in Fiji, there's loads of cheap hostels to stay in, but the best bet is to hop over to the Yasawa/Mamanuca islands (easy to organise - check out the Yasawa Flyer or South Sea Cruises), where there are loads of backpacker resorts in amazing tropical island settings. I stayed at the Blue Lagoon Resort in the northern Yasawas, which was a bit more expensive than the rest, but by far the best place I stayed in the whole of the South Pacific. I went at the end of April, and it was perfect sunshine every day I was at the resort (a week) and lovely and warm. Plus, there's loads of little trips you can do from most resorts, including to the Sawa-i-Lau caves, snorkelling and scuba diving.

Or, if you don't mind it being a bit more basic, head over to Western Samoa, where it's as cheap as, if not cheaper, than Fiji, and they've got a couple of beautiful beaches, some nice waterfalls and an amazingly warm lagoon surrounding the islands. It's less backpacker-y, so it takes a bit longer to get around, but it was well worth it in my opinion, although you might get bored if you're there for more than a week.

Hope that helped, feel free to ask any more questions!

Ive visited Rarotonga approx 100 times if not more. It certainly has much going for it, and the beaches around Titikaveka, Vaimaanga, Aroa and Muri are outstanding! The swimming and snorkelling off any of the southern beaches are good,with prolific fishlife found within the marine reserves. Accessibility to any of these beches from accommodation anywhere around Rarotonga is easy - no need to pay for a sea transfer, or an island hop pass. Sociable nightlife at the bars and cultural shows in Avarua. Hire scooters are a very cheap transport option.

The backpackers and budget accommodation are centred around the beachfrontages, which is a huge bonus in terms of scenery and amenity value. Vara's in Muri, Are Mango in Muri, Rarotonga Backpackers in Arorangi and Aroko Bungalows are all located on the lagoon. Other good budget options are Ariana Bungalows with its pool, and Tiare Village with its pool all remain popular spots due to their proximity to town. Self-catering on Rarotonga makes for a very affordable stay with the main supermarkets and liquor stores catering to a wide market. The Saturday market is popular with its cheap eats and fresh fruits and veg.

As a Polynesian destination, Rarotonga is a good choice for many reasons!

Been to Yasawas, Samoa and the Cooks Islands.... I say, based on the OP description, it's Cook Islands hands down.

That's fair enough - admittedly I didn't get the best impression of Rarotonga when I was there, as it was the very last island I visited in a 2 month trip through the South Pacific; the weather wasn't the best and I was still recovering slightly from Dengue fever. So I'd love to go back another time so I can appreciate it a bit more.

I just found that staying in the Yasawas felt more like you were on your own desert island, so it was a lot more like the stereotypical tropical paradise, as opposed to staying on any of the bigger, main islands such as Rarotonga, or Viti Levu in Fiji. But then that does have the downside that there isn't much to do other than laze on the beach or do the activities that the resort offers (which I loved), but I suppose if you want a bit more, then going somewhere like Rarotonga would be a good choice.