9 Best Guesthouses in Vava'u - Tonga Pocket Guide

Last Updated: 26 January, 2026

The Best Guesthouses & B&Bs in Vava’u

Travelling on a budget or want to get a more “local” experience? The guesthouses in Vava’u are a great way to experience the islands while keeping costs to a minimum.

Guesthouses typically have private double, twin or triple rooms with either shared bathrooms or ensuites. Kitchen facilities are also the norm, making it easy to save money on meals during your stay.

Most guesthouses can be found either in or just outside of Neiafu, keeping you close to the action and the activities.

Check out some of our recommendations in the list below.

Note that Tonga is an ever-evolving country. With that, services and accommodations upgrade and change all of the time. While we try to keep our listings up to date, feel free to reach out if you find anything that needs updating.

1. Tongan Homestay

Tongan Homestay wraps genuine island hospitality around modern comfort and convenience.

This homestay offers private rooms with ensuite bathrooms, fans and all the essentials. The shared kitchen comes fully stocked with a fridge, kettle and kitchenware, ideal for self-catering travellers.

Unwind on the spacious veranda overlooking the garden or soak up the peaceful backyard forest setting that adds real island charm.

Free WiFi, air conditioning and private parking make settling in a breeze.

Book Tongan Homestay:

Tongan Homestay

2. Flying Annie Moa

A well-presented guesthouse with free breakfast, Flying Annie Moa is worth considering. Stay just a short walk from Neiafu town centre and close to the whale swimming operators, including its own.

The large guesthouse has a range of rooms on offer, from standard single rooms with shared bathroom facilities to double ensuite rooms.

Communal areas include a balcony where you can watch amazing sunsets, a lounge and a kitchen with fridges and drink-making facilities. Services include free WiFi and airport transfers.

Book Flying Annie Moa:

3. Port Wine Guest House

Four buildings of four different styles of accommodation await at the Port Wine Guest House. Choose from budget-friendly shared rooms with communal bathrooms, two-person rooms for couples seeking affordable privacy, private en suite rooms with full amenities or separate standalone villas offering maximum seclusion at the same rate as the en suite options.

The highlight of the stay is the breakfast (included/extra fee depending on your room) of fresh fruit from the garden, fresh bread, muffins, cinnamon rolls and more (the guesthouse also owns Potekis’ Place Bakery just down the road)!

Free WiFi is available, while airport transfers and laundry can be arranged for a fee.

What’s more, the Tongan-owned guesthouse is just a five-minute walk from town where you can pick up supplies to spruce up meals in the communal kitchens available.

In-house guests receive priority booking for the signature whale-watching tours, which depart early each morning during whale season – cash only.

The accommodation also offers retreat and conference services, as listed in the 5 Best Hotels for Conferences in Tonga.

4. Lesina Guesthouse

Directly at the wharf where many whale swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving trips depart, Lesina Guesthouse boasts a convenient location on the waterfront of Neiafu.

After a dip from the jetty, relax in one of the four oceanview rooms upstairs or six downstairs rooms, all with either an ensuite or a separate private bathroom with towels provided.

The property now features Starlink WiFi throughout, while guests also have access to a small communal kitchen with a microwave, fridge, toaster and kettle with hot drink supplies provided.

For families, there’s a separate guesthouse located a little further along the marina with three rooms that can accommodate up to nine guests (with each room sleeping up to three people). A laundry service is also available for a fee.

Note that access to the guesthouse is down a short but very steep driveway.

5. Oceanside Lodge

Offering two types of accommodation at this gorgeous hillside property on the edge of the Port of Refuge, Oceanside Lodge is sure to have something to suit.

In one house, stay in one of the four modernly furnished private double rooms with an ensuite, air-conditioning and access to a shared balcony and an air-conditioned lounge.

There’s also an older house with more spacious rooms, sleeping up to three across a double and a single bed with an ensuite bathroom and access to a balcony where you can soak in the harbour views.

Whatever you choose, a highlight of the stay is the included breakfast which changes every day between pancakes, eggs and toast with fresh fruit, and more. For all of your other needs, the accommodation is a five-minute walk from town.

6. Humpback Lodge

Better described as more of a boutique hotel than a guesthouse, Humpback Lodge is still worth mentioning for its wonderful Tongan hospitality.

Your host provides complimentary airport transfers, as well as transfers into town from its peaceful inlet location between Toula and Pangai villages.

All seven air-conditioned rooms feature ensuite bathrooms, with double rooms available in oceanview upstairs or garden-view downstairs configurations. The larger rooms can accommodate up to three people, making them ideal for families or groups travelling together.

Guests are treated to a complimentary continental breakfast each morning and can help themselves to hot drinks throughout the day at the upstairs minibar/kitchen. Otherwise, downstairs is a popular restaurant with a diverse menu and kava nights once a week.

See more like this in the 5 Best Hotels in Vava’u.

7. Beautiful Ofu Island Backpackers

For that island getaway experience, head to the Beautiful Ofu Island Backpackers!

Set on the sandy shores of Ofu Island, a short boat ride from Neiafu’s old harbour – Houmelei Wharf, the Beautiful Ofu Island Backpackers offers basic but ultra-affordable private fales (bungalows) with power outlets sourced by solar power and ensuite bathrooms with cold water.

Alternatively, backpackers can stay in one of the three rooms in the main house with a communal kitchen and bathroom facilities.

See more accommodations like this in the 10 Best Resorts in Vava’u.

8. Vava’u Lahi Backpackers

Although not your homeliest of guesthouses, Vava’u Lahi Backpackers provides a perfectly fine stay for travellers on a budget.

Stay in one of the 15 private twin or double rooms with three shared bathrooms and a very spacious communal kitchen and lounge area.

The backpackers is right on the waterfront with direct access to the small boat marina where most whale swimming tours depart, while the town centre is only moments away.

The budget accommodation is part of the Puataukanave Hotel next door, which also offers car rentals and whale swimming tours.

9. Pio’s Backpackers

Right in the heart of Neiafu, Pio’s Backpackers is a boutique locally-run guesthouse with just three guest rooms and a shared bathroom.

With a total capacity of nine guests, each of the three rooms is characterfully furnished with a double and single bed, accommodating up to three people per room, yet remains very basic reflecting some of the cheapest rates in Vava’u.

Guests are free to use the spacious and homely lounge, as well as the kitchen.

More About Guesthouses in Vava’u

That’s it for our list of the best guesthouses in Vava’u! For more styles of accommodation to choose from, take a look at the following:

Finally, if you’re still struggling to find the perfect place to stay, start from scratch with Where to Stay in Vava’u: The BEST Accommodations.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across Tonga and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Tonga Tourism Authority (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
Tonga Ministry of Tourism (FAQs about visiting Tonga - Updated [2025])
SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Revenue & Customs (Customs and immigration contacts - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Agriculture & Food, Forests and Fisheries (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Infrastructure (Land and aviation transport info - Updated [2025])
Tonga Meteorological Service (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2025])
Tonga Statistics Department (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2025])
Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for Tonga - Updated [2025])
Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for Tonga - Updated [2025])
Travel.State.Gov (U.S. travel advisory for Tonga - Updated [2025])

Our editorial standards: At Tonga Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

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.

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