Accommodations with Cooking Facilities in Ha’apai
Any savvy traveller knows that the best way to save money on your vacation is to cook your own meals. Self-catering accommodation is available in Ha’apai, especially at the guesthouses in Pangai on Lifuka Island, where there is a market, bakery and several convenience stores to pick up supplies. We’ll go through all of your best options for being in charge of your own meals in this list of the best self-catering accommodations in Ha’apai! For more food tips, see The Food Guide to Ha’apai.
Note that Tonga is an ever-evolving country, especially when it comes to accommodation. With that in mind, some of the services accommodations provide are known to change without notice. If there is any information needing an update in the listings below, feel free to reach out!
1. Lindsay Guesthouse
The largest guesthouse in Ha’apai, Lindsay Guesthouse offers a truly local stay for unbeatable prices and a communal kitchen. Just a 10-minute walk from Pangai town centre and located on the same premises as the island’s bakery, it has a convenient location. Your hosts also offer complimentary airport transfers. Stay in one of the 12 rooms available, including single, double and triple rooms with cold-water shared bathroom facilities. Other options include a double and a triple (family) ensuite room. Outside of the rooms, guests can relax in the communal lounge or out on the spacious verandah and lawns. For those staying in an ensuite room, breakfast is included each day of stay, while lunch and dinner are also available to arrange. Note that the guesthouse only accepts cash. See more accommodations like this in our 5 Best Guesthouses in Ha’apai.
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2. Evaloni Guesthouse
For private cooking facilities choose Evaloni Guesthouse. The budget accommodation gives guests their own separate units with an ensuite bathroom and a small kitchenette – your home away from home set within a quintessential Tongan village with church choirs singing and dogs barking. There are seven basic units available, all kitted out with a double bed, a small kitchenette with a kettle, crockery and utensils, as well as a gas cooker but you may need to ask for gas. Otherwise, breakfast and dinner can be arranged. The ensuite showers are cold water only. Your hosts offer airport/wharf transfers, while the guesthouse is within walking distance of Pangai town centre. Although there are some units further down the road, note that check-in is at the “‘Evalonitua Guesthouse” sign.
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3. Diana Beach Resort
Enjoy tranquillity, culture and a beautiful beach setting at Diana Beach Resort (formerly Taiana’s Resort) on Uoleva Island. The resort has three Tongan-style fales which are simple but add to the island adventure! Each fale is lined with beautifully woven walls and contains a double bed, mosquito net, a box to put food in, and a bedside table with a solar lantern – think of it like beach glamping! Guests share a shower and toilet in a separate block, while there’s also a communal kitchen and dining room building where you can also charge your devices. Just be sure to bring all the food supplies you’ll need, as there are no stores on the island. Families can stay too thanks to the resort also offering a larger beach house. Backpackers have the option to camp on the grounds in one of the tents available if the other fales are occupied.
As for entertainment, well, you better enjoy snorkelling, lazying on the beach and whale swimming during the whale season! Breakfast and dinner are also available to order, so give your hosts notice. Airport/ferry transfers to the island are also offered (and mandatory to get to the resort) for a fee. See how Diana compares to the 10 Best Resorts in Ha’apai.
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4. Serenity Beaches Resort
A tranquil retreat on Uoleva Island, Serenity Beaches Resort is an idyllic choice in Ha’apai. Although most guests order meals for their stay, the kitchen is open for guest use if needed. Choose from unique open-air fales or fully-enclosed fales each nestled in a private section of forest and each with an outside garden bathroom. Either way, guests spend their time here doing yoga in the pavilion, dining on healthy meals made from fresh local ingredients, and making use of SUP boards, kayaks and snorkelling gear to explore the wonderful underwater world from beaches accessible from the front and back of the resort. The resort also operates whale swimming tours in the season, but your most frequent encounter with the whales will most likely be seeing them from the beach! We also list this accommodation in the 5 Most Romantic Honeymoon Accommodations in Ha’apai.
Check Serenity Beaches Resort out:
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5. Fifita Guesthouse
A long-established guesthouse in Ha’apai, Fifita Guesthouse is also located in Pangai. The accommodation was only partially open at the time of writing, so note that some facilities listed below may no longer be available. Choose from affordable double, twin and single rooms where guests share a bathroom with… hot showers! Those staying in the ensuite rooms will not have the same luxury, however, as the bathrooms have cold water. Nevertheless, rooms are kitted out with mosquito nets and fans (you will possibly need to ask for a fan) and breakfast is included in the price. Dinner is available to order, but note that the Mariner’s Cafe that used to be downstairs has closed. Kitchen facilities are available.
© TongaPocketGuide.com
More About Self-Catering Accommodations in Ha’apai
That’s it for our guide to self-catering accommodations in Ha’apai. For more tips for a self-sustaining holiday, take a look at the following:
- The Guide to Food Shopping in Tonga
- The Guide to Ha’apai on a Budget
- What is the Cost of Food in Tonga?
Finally, if you’re still looking for the perfect place to stay, start with our guide, Where to Stay in Ha’apai: The Best Ha’apai Accommodations.
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