Marshall Islands (South Pacific Islands)

Advantages: Pristine rainforest and beaches, amazing diving, welcoming locals
Disadvantages: Not for those who cannot make their own entertainment

...S & 171.5 W, in the South Pacific between New Zealand and Hawaii Time: GMT-12hours Neighbours: American Samoa, Fiji, Cook Islands, French Polynesia Language: Samoan, English People: Polynesian Currency: Samoan tala Getting there (from U.K.): Use Qantas/BA to Australia, then Polynesian Blue to Apia, or Air New Zealand from London to Apia via Los Angeles.... Read review

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Advantages: close to NZ and AUS
Disadvantages: very humid in summer months, only serviced by Air Pacific

...Fiji. A small pocket of paradise in the South Pacific, which is breathtaking to even the most seasoned world citizen. The first thing to strike you as you set foot for the first time on their soil is the Fijian people who have a calm, happy and down to earth nature about them. Fiji is a culturally diverse country although a good majority of the population is Indian and their cultural influences are ever present in the small town of Nadi (pronounced “nan-dee”), which is a short distance from the International airport. Nadi is a bustling little town bursting with people, arts and crafts and food at the markets, which are held on a regular basis. The main industry in Nadi is tourism where there are countless shops selling souvenirs and duty free goods. Shop owners are standing outside their stores ushering prospective customers inside... Read review

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Advantages: Pristine beaches, clear seas, tropical fish.
Disadvantages: Mosquitos, humidity, some negative male attention, nothing to do per se.

...American Samoa. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ American or Western Samoa, as I will refer to it here, is composed of a group of six islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand. Western Samoa is composed of two main islands (Savaii and Upolu), several smaller inhabited islands and a number of other uninhabited islets The islands are mostly coastal naturally although they don't boast beaches with which to compare to places such as The Cook Islands and Fiji. The islands re volcanic, they are rocky and rugged with steep mountainous interiors. The population is around 60,000 and this is gradually declining. I visited Western Samoa for about 8 days in between August and September 2000 while I was on a back packing trip (see my other review on New... Read review

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