Yesawas in Fiji v. Tong

Hi All,

Solo female traveler taking one month (July) to escape. I'm considering Tonga or the Yesawas. Can anyone provide advice comparing the two? Is Tonga really difficult for a woman because of the Sabbath? Are there fewer backpackers in Tonga? Which is cheaper? Has beautiful beaches? Surfing in any of them?

Would love to hear your thoughts,

Sandy

The Yasawas has it all. There are many surf spots in the yasawas. It is very affordable. If you check out Awesome Adventures Fiji on the net you'll get some good info. That's the company that does the transfers out in the uppermost islands of the yasawa group of islands. You will be able to island hop if you want. This gives you the opportunity to spend a few nights/one night at a different island. Awesome has a boat that does the Wana Taki cruise...you can stay on the boat or on the island and during the day it stays moored in the bay and you can canoe out to uninhabited islands. All the beaches are beautiful in the Yasawas. It is not busy or touristy, you will definitely find the escape you are looking for. By the way, I wouldnt go to Tonga, there's a volcano out near Tongatapu that has been spewing ash and smoke for the past 2 weeks so by july it shud be ready to RUMBLE!! .....plus tsunami warnings were issued for the area becos of it. Definitely Fiji!

Hey ally,

thanks so much for your reply! one last question - are the yesawa's filled with honeymooners? this is something i clearly want to avoid.... :)

sandy

also, even if tonga is about to blow, have you ever visited? is it worth it? what about samoa?

Hi Sandy -
You and I like to do the same things, but I don't surf. I've been to all three of your destinations more than once - 30 year old female traveling alone on first visit - beginning in the '80's and ever since. I have never been to Fiji when someone (presumed male) wasn't scratching at my window at the middle of the night (say 2AM). This only happened when I was alone in a hotel room. I've been there 3 or 4 times and it certainly wouldn't keep me from going back, but i would want a lock on my door and people around.
I didn't adore Tonga either time I went there, and if you go definitiely stay out of Nukualofa for any time at all. I think the volcano is fascinating and it wouldn't deter me necessarily. I don't know why I didn't love Tonga more - I got to swim with a whale in Vavau. I think alot of anywhere you travel depends on whom you meet- esp when travelling solo. Hapaii is my next stop there, but that IS where the volcano ash could be a problem. Yes, i did see fewer backpackers in Tonga than elsewhere and the Sabbath was a problem.

I'd go to Samoa if you want a beautiful beach, you pack light, and if you don't mind a bathroom down the way - The accommodations are airy (to put it mildly) fale's. There is a particular surfing beach where you could spend part of your stay. You could travel to Upolu, Savaii, and lesser visited Monono. If you are interested I have tons of links i've been viewing that I can recommend. Samoa is not expensive. Also, Upolu is LUSH with foliage and has a fun waterfall. Most beach fale stays include meals. there are tons of posts in TT from people your age who go there a lot.
oh yeah - if you end up in fiji on the mainland - stay at cloud break rather than on tavarua (or whatever the surfing island is called...) if it's still there it was cheaper by a lot and they take the boat out to the break daily. or next door is a place with dorm or hotel accom and pool.
you'll have a ball!
I'm leaving in May for the Cooks & Samoa and will share my research. The Cooks have always been my favourite and I have been there many times.

you are a gem of a resource! when random men were tapping at your window at night in fiji, were you on the yesawa islands? have you ever stayed in one of the dorm hostels on these islands? thats what I was planning on doing for my three weeks there....just want to make sure it would be a safe move solo.

Upolo sounds amazing as well. How much time would you recommend on Samoa? Is a week sufficient?

Cheers,

Sandy

First off it should help when you are searching online : it's yAsawa. (not yesewa)
Nope, I haven't been to the Yasawas. I've always heard it was the loveliest area of fiji. i always found that the snorkeling i did in certain parts of fiji (monono lailiai in particular) was better than the great barrier reef. it used to be that when a lady would shake hands w/ a fiji man he would tickle his palm w/ his finger which meant "i want to make nookie" if you get my drift... i always laughed it off and perhaps i should have been more solemn or negative.

if you were in a dorm you wouldn't have a problem i don't think. or it wouldn't worry you if you did!
i don't know how much time you need on samoa - i guess we all just take what we can get, but a week would be fine on upolu. or 1 week on Savaii- known for the beaches, not much to do besides beach and i don't recall too much talk about surfing. on Upolu check out litia sini fales and Taufua fales. Tanu Beach Fales looks good on Savaii.
You'll find TONS of info on this forum. I also liked the look/sound of Sunset View Fales on Manono Island. Do a search on virtual tourist. i don't remember if tripadvisor had budget info, but i'd for sure look there, too. Do you have David Stanleys blog site? He occasionally has good info on fiji.
Does Air Poly (Poynesian Airlines) have a pacific pass where you can spend a couple weeks in fiji and a couple weeks in samoa or is that too expensive? I don't know where you hail from but Air NZ offers more than one destination. in closing, Samoa is definitely a worthy destination. Do not neglect to read the sociological information before you go.

There's a lot more to Fiji than the over priced tourist track to the Yasawas.

With the exception of Turtle Island, the Yasawas, are NOT full of honemooners....but backpackers

I'd pick Fiji over Tonga. The main island of Tonga is not that nice, and it costs a bit to fly to Haapai or Vavau. You'll meet a lot of people traveling around Fiji.