So help me decide if will it be Tonga, Vanuatu or New Caledonia (or somewhere else).

[Berries]

Interested to know why Fiji is off the list given the variety such a large place can offer. I can only compare it with Raro and I won't write my thoughts on that shit hole. Let's just say the x-ray department is underfunded.

[neels]

Interested to know why Fiji is off the list given the variety such a large place can offer

Would agree with this, went to Fiji for a family wedding and stayed in Denarua, very nice 5 star resort with a remarkably cheap shopping centre, restaurants etc a $5 taxi ride away, so best of both worlds. You can even get the local bus with the driver using both of it's working gears into Nadi to see how the locals really live.

[Oakie]

Interested to know why Fiji is off the list given the variety such a large place can offer. I can only compare it with Raro and I won't write my thoughts on that shit hole. Let's just say the x-ray department is underfunded.

Originally it was the shit that went down there with coups and stuff that made it an absolute 'no'. My position has softened a little I must admit, but still wouldn't be happy living it up in a resort while the locals still don't have all the freedoms we take for granted. Locals in poverty on the other side of the fence from a resort is also something that would leave me feeling guilty.

[skippa1]

Samoa or Raro.

raro would be my first choice......beautiful beaches, good food, prices ok, plenty of freedom to ride the scoot.........i dont go on holiday to get an xray
Crud beaches on Nuie, Fiji over rated and you really need to go to the outer islands for the best experience (then eating is limited to resort)Tonga will give you the pacific islands as an islander lives......Tahiti and New Cal expensive, Norfolk like NZ in the summer

[Berries]

..i dont go on holiday to get an xray

Neither do I but a good samaritan episode left me with my face fractured in three places and permanent nerve damage. Whilst perhaps a one off and just a case of wrong place wrong time I saw another side of Raro after that which showed me quite clearly how they care about the tourist dollar and not the actual tourist.

[tri boy]

My thoughts. (from past experience),
Fly into Fiji at dusk.
Transfer from airport to Denarau Isld. (pick a resort, theres heaps)
Stay one night.
Early morning fast ferry to Mana Isld.
Relax, and take in a sailing day trip out to an outer island and visit a proper Fijian island with the locals. (small markets, kava ceremony with the island elders, sail back to Mana)
Relax, snorkle, eat, drink.
After sevral days, fast ferry back to Denarau.
Do a twilight cruise.
Stay a night.
Fly home.

Forget about local strife and unemployment, without tourism they would be well fucked, so really your helping them.
Win, win

Young kid at work got a honeymoon package for the French connection. Rated it highly. Can get details if you want.