Choosing the perfect Resort in the South Pacific Islands

resort in south pacific islands

With year-round balmy climate it's always a good time to visit the South pacific if you want the sun. It's no wonder then that these beautiful South Pacific Islands are hugely popular with Australian and New Zealand holiday-makers, particularly in their cooler winter months (Jun-Sep). Fittingly, there are plenty of beautiful accommodations to choose from, some aimed at families, others for couples or a honeymoon, and some specifically for niche markets such as scuba diving, surfing or for an intimate South Pacific beach wedding.

Boasting some of the most glamorous holiday destinations in the world, South Pacific resorts often play host to the worlds rich and famous. Boutique resorts alongside beautiful secluded beaches are the norm here. Some are aimed specifically at the honeymoon market whilst others focus more special interests such as scuba diving, surfing or game fishing. Contrasting to this glamour is the other side of South Pacific tourism, catering to Australian and New Zealand families, the wedding market or those looking simply looking for for an affordable beach holiday away from more commercial holiday centres in southeast Asia.

The following South Pacific accommodations are our very favourite places to stay for an all round holiday, but if you are seeking something a little more selective we recommend you navigate to the specific destination or price category for greater choice.

a small island resort in fiji

Fiji Resorts

Best in the Pacific for choice, ideal for families, weddings and exploring

tribal bungalows in vanuatu

Vanuatu Resorts

A wonderful adventure destination with world class scuba diving

view from an island resort in tonga

Tonga Resorts

Secluded boutique resorts for adventurous couples is its specialty

beach fale accommodation in samoa

Samoa Resorts

Not as cheap as Asia but best value in the Pacific, especially its beach fales

small island in bora bora lagoon

Tahiti Resorts

Popular for honeymoons with over water bungalows the star attraction

South Pacific Resorts & Accommodation

picture of beach holiday in fiji islands

Staying in a traditional style bungalow is common in the South Pacific, whether a basic beach hut or luxurious villa. These traditional houses have coconut thatch roofs with high ceilings and exposed wooden beams, often bound together using coconut sinew, and with airy open plan living best suited for the tropical climate. In Polynesia these bungalows are known as fares or fales whilst in Fiji they are called bures, and even some of the larger hotels offer bungalow accommodation in preference to stuffy cement rooms.

I've visited over 400 resorts in the South Pacific islands from the most luxurious private island retreat to locally owned holiday homes and tribal huts. All hotel reviews you read throughout this website have been written independently to ensure an unbiased portrayal of each property.

If you're unsure which island destination is right for you, have a look at our tips and advice from our South Pacific holiday chart which will help you select a destination depending on you interests.

islands south pacific islands

Almost all South Pacific resorts are located alongside a secluded beach or populating an otherwise uninhabited island. There are only a few commercial developments where resorts sit side by side and even here no hotel room rises above the surrounding coconut trees. Most South Pacific accommodation is in an open plan bungalow tucked under the shade of a coconut tree and literally steps to the beach-front, although larger resorts tend to have standard cement wall air-conditioned hotel rooms, often with balconies boasting ocean views.

International hotel chains are well represented in Fiji and Tahiti but the majority of accommodation you'll find in our promotions are more likely to be a boutique resort or a collection of stylish or rustic beach huts owned by locals. Resort ambiances tend to be very casual with sulus (wrap around sarongs) worn by both guests and staff. Dining is very casual too and few dress up more than a smart shirt or blouse.

The hospitality of the South Pacific people is legendary and you'll encounter plenty of interaction with your hosts. Staff gardening during the day can be seen sitting around a kava bowl at night in the hotel foyer welcoming guests to join in some conversation. You're likely to see the local maid making up your room performing in a traditional dance performance at night, and you'll probably soon find out that Joe the Boatman is also Joe the Barman. The downside of this casual ambience is that sometimes professionalism in times of need can be wanting, time-keeping on the whole is very slow and attention to detail is often lacking. But this is the South Pacific and if you slow down you'll soon realise that these nuisances don't really matter.