Comprehensive south pacific accommodation comparison charts helping you decide which island is best for your holidays.

CHOICE	Fiji	Cooks	Samoa	Tonga	Tahiti	Hawaii
Large Resort	good	average	poor	poor	superb	the best
Small Resorts	the best	superb	average	good	superb	poor
Island Resorts	the best	average	poor	superb	superb	poor
Overwater Bungalow	poor	average	average	poor	the best	poor
Traditional Resorts	superb	average	the best	average	poor	poor
Backpack Resorts	the best	good	average	average	poor	avearge
Self Catering	average	the best	poor	poor	good	superb
Bed & Breakfast	average	good	average	poor	superb	the best
Holiday Homes	average	the best	poor	poor	average	superb

overwater

beach resort

beach bure, fiji

beach fale, samoa

Select the following links for accommodation listings:

Holiday Resorts our rankings - select destination for more info
1 Fiji	2 Cook Is	3 Tahiti	4 Hawaii	5 Tonga	6 Samoa

The South Pacific specialises in small intimate and independently managed resorts. Only in Tahiti and Hawaii, and to a lesser extent Fiji will you find large international hotel chains with rooms in a single building block. More common are individual bungalows or villas. Most hotels are obliged to sell only at the full rate (the rack rate) and don't offer Internet or direct booking specials - for the best deals try a south pacific travel specialist. Late minute specials are seldom offered.

Traditional Bungalows our rankings - select destination for more info
1 Samoa	2 Fiji	3 Tahiti	4 Tonga	5 Cook Is	6 Hawaii

The traditional house in the South Pacific is a single room wooden structure building lashed together with coconut string with walls woven from bamboo and a high thatch roof. Ascetic to look at and cool to sleep in, these traditional buildings are often replicated for resort bungalows - some are simple shacks and some are the most beautifully decorated and luxurious bungalows in the world. In the sheltered lagoons of Tahiti, these thatch bungalows are raised upon stilts to sit right over the lagoons.

Thatch bungalows are called bure in Fiji, fale in Tonga and Samoa, fare in Tahiti.

Self Catering Bungalows / B&B's our rankings - select destination for more info
1 Cook Is	2 Hawaii	3 Fiji	4 Samoa	5 Tonga	6 Tahiti

Self catering vacations in the South Pacific are most popular in the Cook Islands and Hawaii. In Fiji there are a few self catering motels and apartments, mostly around Nadi and Suva on the main island of Viti Levu where grocery shops are common and well stocked. On the outer islands, groceries can sometimes be limited so it is wise to stock up from the towns.

In the Cook Islands, Rarotonga has a handful of small motels and inns with self contained bungalows and units. Rarotonga is a small compact island and shops are scattered around the main circular road usually within walking distance from the motels. There are several lodges on the outer island of Aitutaki with self-contained kitchens and again, the island being small, village shops are usually within walking distance. Groceries in the Cook Islands can be expensive.

In Hawaii, there is a complete range of apartments and condominiums on all the islands - some are very large - in excess of 200 units and double as a resort with multi swimming pool complexes, restaurants, bars and entertainment. There's also a good variety of smaller condominiums as well as small inns with kitchenettes. Groceries in Hawaii are readily available and inexpensive.

Holiday Homes our rankings - select destination for more info
1 Cook Is	2 Hawaii	3 Fiji	4 Samoa	5 Tonga	6 Tahiti

South Pacific vacation rentals or holiday homes are an excellent and affordable way to stay in the Cook Islands, particularly on Rarotonga which is a small island and easy to get about. Lots of independent restaurants and shops can be found around Rarotonga making this a good choice for those who like their freedom or for large families.

Hawaii has the most extensive selection of vacation homes with many American families renting out their second homes around the islands. Some are very luxurious and others quite basic and economical.

There are a few small villa complexes in Fiji but few vacation homes. Rental Homes on Samoa and Tonga are hard to find, unless you go through a long-term rental agent when you arrive.

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Recommended Websites: South Pacific Pictures fiji pictures ; cook islands pictures ; samoa pictures ; tonga pictures ; tahiti pictures ; hawaii pictures