Need to Know
Currency
Language
Visas
Money
Mobile Phones
Time
When to Go
High Season (Jun–Aug, Dec & Jan)
AMany islanders living abroad come home to visit family.
ABook flights well in advance.
AJune to August is dry; December and January are humid and wet. Cyclone season is November to April.
Shoulder (May, Sep)
ATrade winds lower the humidity and keep temperatures pleasant.
AFlights are cheaper and less likely to be booked.
ATravel with company but very few crowds.
Low Season (Feb–Apr, Oct & Nov)
AExpect hot temperatures and high humidity.
AScour the web for deals on resorts looking to fill empty rooms.
ADiving visibility can be reduced due to heavy rains.
Useful Websites
American Samoa Visitors Bureau (www.americansamoa.travel)
Cook Islands Tourism Authority (www.cookislands.travel)
Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com/pacific) Destination information, hotel bookings, traveller forums and more.
Pacific Islands Report (www.pireport.org) News from across the South Pacific.
Pacific Region Headquarters (www.prh.noaa.gov) Pacific weather.
Samoa Tourism Authority (www.samoa.travel)
Tonga tourism (www.thekingdomoftonga.com, www.tongaholiday.com)
Important Numbers
International country codes:
| Cook Islands | 682 |
| Samoa | 685 |
| American Samoa | 1-684 |
| Tonga | 676 |
Exchange Rates
| Cook Islands | NZ$1 | US$0.68 |
| Samoa | ST1 | US$0.37 |
| American Samoa | US$1 | US$1 |
| Tonga | T$1 | US$0.44 |
For current exchange rates see www.xe.com.
Daily Costs
Budget: less than US$100
AGuesthouse bed: US$15–50
ABasket of fruit at a local market: US$3-10
ABicycle rental per day: US$15-25
Midrange: US$100–400
ADouble room in a boutique hotel or small resort: US$100–250
AMain course in a local cafe: US$10–20
ASnorkelling or glass-bottom boat trip: US$30–60
Top end: more than US$400
ANight in an over-the-water bungalow: from US$500
ADinner at a restaurant with international chef: US$75–200
ATwo-tank scuba dive: US$150
Opening Hours
Following are some generalised opening hours – time is flexible in the Polynesian realm! In many places, everything closes on Sunday.
Banks 9.30am to 3pm or 4pm Monday to Friday.
Bars & Pubs 11am to midnight or later.
Cafes 7.30am to 8pm.
Post offices & government offices 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday.
Shops 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, to 1pm Saturday.
Arriving in Rarotonga, Samoa & Tonga
Rarotonga International Airport (Avarua, Cook Islands) Shuttle services and taxis to anywhere on the island; many hotels provide transfers.
Faleolo Airport ( GOOGLE MAP ; %21675; www.apia.airport-authority.com; West Coast Rd, Upolu) (Apia, Samoa) Taxis and shuttles into Apia (35km); many hotels provide transfers.
Tafuna International Airport (Tafuna, American Samoa) Buses and taxis into Pago Pago, 15km away.
Fua’amotu International Airport (Tongatapu, Tonga) Local taxis meet all flights, or organise a direct accommodation transfer into Nuku’alofa, 21km away.
Getting Around
Air The most efficient (and sometimes the only) way to island hop; flights can be expensive.
Car & motorcycle Hire available on large islands; in remote areas it’s usually not an option. Bring a current international driving permit and home driver’s licence. Drive on the left in Rarotonga, Samoa and Tonga, and on the right in American Samoa.
Ferry & boat Ferries ply short distances between main islands; cargo ships make longer hauls. Or if you’re lucky, hop on a yacht!