Choosing the perfect Resort in the 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.
Fiji Resorts
Best in the Pacific for choice, ideal for families, weddings and exploring
Cook Islands Resorts
Great holiday atmosphere with plenty of self catering if that's your thing
Vanuatu Resorts
A wonderful adventure destination with world class scuba diving
Tonga Resorts
Secluded boutique resorts for adventurous couples is its specialty
Samoa Resorts
Not as cheap as Asia but best value in the Pacific, especially its beach fales
American Samoa Resorts
For exploring tropical forests in protected National parks
Solomon Islands Resorts
Secluded beach retreats, forest huts and dive centres
New Caledonia Resorts
Sophisticated hotels, some night-life and great cuisine
Tahiti Resorts
Popular for honeymoons with over water bungalows the star attraction
South Pacific Resorts & Accommodation
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.
South Pacific Resorts Directory
Luxury Resorts
My Top Picks:
- Matangi Island
Private island resort in Fiji - Fafa Island Resort
Uninhabited Island in Tonga
Deluxe Resorts
My Top Picks:
- Aitutaki Village
Lagoon in Cook Islands - Drehu Resort
Seclusion in New Caledonia
Budget Resorts
My Top Picks:
- Long Beach Resort
Secluded retreat run by local Fijians - Aitutaki Beach Villas
Best value in the Cook islands
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.
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.