How to Find Hotels in Tuvalu

Really want to get away from it all? Then there's no finer place to visit than the tiny island nation of Tuvalu. This gorgeous and secluded South Pacific island nation consists of less than a dozen tiny atolls and is the one of the smallest countries in the world today.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Credit card
• Hotel reservation
• Passport
• Computer
• Plane tickets
• Map
• Rental car

Know Your Destination

1. Slow down, relax and enjoy Tuvalu. The pace of life here is slow and makes a vacation in Tuvalu rejuvenating and invigorating.
2. Expect hot and wet days. The average daily temperature is somewhere around 80 degrees F year-round and rainfall is very heavy. Heaviest rainfall occurs during the Northern Hemisphere's winter.
3. Speak English and most people will understand you. Other languages spoken here include Tuvaluan and a dialect known as Kiribati.

Organize Transportation

4. Expect difficulty traveling to Tuvalu. The major airport was not even paved until 1995! Air Fiji, the only major carrier that serves Tuvalu, or small charter flights from neighboring island countries, are the only way to arrive.
5. Ride a bike. There are few automobiles in Tuvalu and even fewer paved roads. Locals travel by bicycle or occasionally by bus.
6. Take a ferry between islands or hire a local pilot to fly you between destinations.

Choose Your Lodging

7. To book accommodations, contact Government of Tuvalu at 011 ([phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources below).
8. Look for accommodations in Tuvalu's capital city, Funafuti. With a population of more than 4,000 people, this is the easiest place to find a hotel. In fact, it's the only place to find a hotel; there is only a single hotel in all of Tuvalu.
9. Expect simple, comfortable accommodations. There are no high-end major resorts here. Its remoteness and lack of industry keep Tuvalu off the tourist radar. In fact, only about 1,000 people a year are fortunate enough to visit this tiny island nation.
10. Look for a small beach bungalow or other out-of-the-way accommodations in Tuvalu where you can sit back and relax without ever encountering another person.

Be Familiar With Local Information

11. Enjoy the spectacle of Polynesian dance during local festivals.
12. Be prepared for small-town entertainment and activities, not major nightlife. Life moves slowly here and simple, community entertainment and activities are the norm.

Tips & Warnings

• Save at least $15 U.S. for your exit charge upon leaving Tuvalu.
• Be aware that accommodations in Funafuti may be easier to locate, but the tiny island has the highest population density in Tuvalu.
• All phone numbers include the United States international prefix "011." When calling internationally outside the United States, substitute that "011" with "00." All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.