How to Choose the Best Holiday Home in Tonga for You

Advice on Choosing a Holiday Home in Tonga

Staying in a holiday home in Tonga ensures ultimate privacy and the ability to enjoy your holiday on your terms. Although Tonga is not a destination full of holiday homes, there are some hidden gems to be found in and around the country’s hotspots. We go over some advice on choosing a holiday home in Tonga in the guide below.

And what do holiday homes in Tonga look like? Take a look at the 20 Best Holiday Homes in Tonga to get a good idea.

5 Things You Need to Know About Staying in a Holiday Home in Tonga

Book your holiday home as soon as possible for the whale season (July-October) which is the high season in Tonga, as holiday homes are limited and get booked up quickly
Many of the holiday homes in Vava’u and Tongatapu are located out of town so consider hiring a vehicle for your stay
All of Tonga’s holiday homes have some sort of self-catering facilities but don’t expect any food or teas/coffees to be left in the house for you
Holiday homes in Tonga tend to have a set rate for the night, so the more people you travel with the cheaper the accommodation will be per person
Accommodation standards are a little lower than what you might be used to, as Tonga is a developing country.

How to Pick the Best Holiday Home in Tonga for You

How Many Does the Holiday Home Sleep and What is the Cost?

Tonga’s holiday homes are a mix of apartment and family home-style accommodations in that they have bedrooms, a bathroom and an open-plan kitchen, lounge and dining area. Some holiday homes have private decks, walkways and a jetty with access to the beach/water. However, one of the major differences is how many people the holiday home sleeps, as well as the price.

What is the Cost of Holiday Homes in Tonga?

The pricing for holiday homes in Tonga is generally a standard price for renting out the entire house per night. This means that the more people you have staying there, the more you split the cost (except for, you know, families who have to pay for everyone regardless).

A factor that determines the price tends to be the number of rooms the property has, as well as the overall “standard” of the holiday home. For example, hosts of a holiday home that is stylishly furnished and decorated with love will probably charge more than a holiday home kitted out with the basics.

Another factor that determines the price is the location. Holiday homes in Vava’u have an average price that is higher than on Tongatapu and ‘Eua.

Prices for holiday homes range from TOP$230 to $360 in ‘Eua, from TOP$450 to $730 in Tongatapu and from TOP$550 to $1,020 in Vava’u.

How Many People Holiday Homes Sleep in Tonga

In Tonga, holiday homes range from one to four bedrooms, making them suitable for couples up to a couple of families holidaying together. While choosing a holiday home that sleeps the number of people you’re travelling with, make sure that everyone gets as much space as they desire. For instance, some holiday homes will sleep four people but there may be only one bedroom and two single beds in the lounge. If you want more space, stay in a holiday home with more bedrooms.

Accommodation Standards in Tonga

It’s important to set a few expectations straight before checking into your holiday home in Tonga. Tonga is a developing country with a younger tourism industry and, in turn, less expertise than some of the more developed tourist hubs of the South Pacific. Some holiday homes can be pretty basic, and not all of your usual facilities are provided, such as towels, toiletries, tea/coffee or even hot water. Tonga is more basic, so it is best to keep an open mind (and bring a travel towel).

Where is the Holiday Home Located and How to Get There?

Holiday homes are mostly found in Tongatapu and Vava’u, while holiday home-style apartments and units are also available on the island of ‘Eua. Of course, you will want to find a holiday home in the island group that appeals the most to you, so compare island groups in The Best Islands to Visit in Tonga or the following guides:

How to Get There

Once you have decided which island group you want to visit, you then need to consider the location of the holiday home, what’s nearby and how you are going to get there. Some holiday home hosts offer airport transfers, while others require you to be fully self-sufficient including making your own way to the holiday home. For more information about getting around, see the following articles for advice:

While some holiday homes are a short walk from stores and restaurants in Nuku’alofa (Tongatapu) and Neiafu (Vava’u), most are a short drive away from essential shops, services and attractions that you might want to visit, so a car rental is likely to be essential to explore the island – see The Guide to Renting a Car in Tonga for advice.

Now that you know the major differences, here is a compilation of holiday homes based on location:

Where to Stay in Tongatapu and 10 Best Holiday Homes on Tongatapu
Where to Stay on ‘Eua
Where to Stay in Vava’u and 5 Best Holiday Homes in Vava’u.

And if that’s too specific, start from scratch using Where to Stay in Tonga and the 20 Best Holiday Homes in Tonga.

What’s Included in Your Stay?

Some holiday homes in Tonga offer more than just a roof over your head. From the type of self-catering facilities available to tours provided by the host, many things make holiday homes quite different from each other in Tonga.

Self-Catering Facilities

Every holiday home in Tonga has some sort of self-catering facilities. However, not all of them have a full kitchen with a dishwasher and an oven! With that in mind, be sure to check what the kitchen facilities include, especially if you intend to cook your own meals each night. Oh, and if you are, you might want to check out The Guide to Food Shopping & Supermarkets in Tonga.

Typically Included Facilities

These are the facilities that are almost always included in your holiday home in Tonga:

Car parking (if on an island with roads)
Fans
Insect-screened windows or mosquito nets
Garden
Basic kitchen including a stove, sink, fridge, kettle, cooking utensils, cutlery and crockery
Beds with linen provided
Bathroom with a shower, toilet and sink
Fully furnished lounge and dining area.

Additional Services and Facilities

Some, but not all, of Tonga’s holiday homes include additional services. Take a look at the services and facilities below and pick the ones you require to keep in mind when comparing holiday homes:

Additional kitchen facilities, such as an oven, toastie grill, toaster, rice cooker, etc.
Hot water (usually solar-heated)
Towels
Ocean views or a lookout
WiFi
Air conditioning
Outside deck or verandah
Tea and coffee
Toiletries
Iron
Portacot
Washing machine
In-house tours or cultural activities for guests
Kayaks
Car rental (for a fee)
Airport transfers.

Robin (Lopini) C.

This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of Tonga Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before settling in the South Pacific, so he knows a thing or two about planning the perfect trip in this corner of the world. Robin works and consults regularly with the Ministry of Tourism of Tonga. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides and is a regular host of webinars with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.

Contact Robin via our contact page