How to Find Luxury Hotels in Tuvalu

Tuvalu is a small country consisting of a group of islands in the South Pacific. Fongafale is the country's capital and Funafuti, one of its islets, is its center of commerce. Read on to learn how to find luxury accommodations in Tuvalu.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access
• Passport
• Visa

Choose Luxury Accommodations

1. Make the room reservation process fast and easy. Book your accommodations online through the South Pacific Tourism Organisation Web site. See the Resources section below for a link. You can also call them by dialing 011 ([phone].
2. Choose accommodations in Funafuti at the only hotel in Tuvalu, Vaiaku Lagi Hotel. For relatively inexpensive prices, you can enjoy luxury offerings such as good views of the lagoon from every air-conditioned room, business facilities for company workshops and even a dance floor for late night fun. The hotel does not have a Web site, but you can call 011 ([phone].
3. Sail to Tuvalu on a private ship. Since accommodations are so limited, docking in the Nukufetau or Funafuti lagoons and sleeping on board a private yacht is a wise move.
4. Forgo luxury and stay in a Funafuti motel or lodge. These accommodations are much cheaper than those offered by the nation's only hotel.
5. Make reservations at a Funafuti guest house. Breakfast is included, and many of these accommodations offer luxury amenities such as swimming pools and beach front rooms.
6. Stay in accommodations in the village of Vaiaku. Enjoy staying in a traditional "fale," a small bungalow, and experience the luxury of exotic food and constant pampering in a warm, friendly environment.

Prepare for Your Hotel Stay

7. Be aware that visas are required of all visitors. Note that when applying for your visa you must already have your ticket. Applicants must send a copy of their ticket along with the visa application form. Note also that visitors are required to already have their departure ticket upon arrival in Tuvalu.
8. Fly into the Tuvalu's airport, Funafuti International Airport, in Fongafele. You can get direct flights from Fiji. You can also arrive by boat.
9. Take a ferry between the eight islands of Tuvalu.

Know Your Destination

10. Learn a new language. In addition to English, the Tuvaluans speak Tuvaluan, Samoan and Kribati. English is used more for government and business purposes.
11. Change your currency. Tuvalu uses the Australian dollar.
12. Know the culture. According to Tuvalu culture, each person is responsible for improving the community. Every family is assigned a specific task to perform including fishing, building and defending the community. The skills for each task are passed from father to son, generation to generation.

Visit Local Attractions

13. Go swimming or snorkeling off the island of Fualopa.
14. Visit archaeological sites on the islets of Nanumea and Nukufetau to see plane wrecks from World War II.
15. Visit the Philatelic Bureau to see a collection of valuable stamps.

Tips & Warnings

• Online booking allows you to reserve rooms in a fast and easy manner. Simply submit your request via the booking Web site.
• 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.
• There is one main road in Funafuti, which also serves as the runway for the airport. Listen for a siren while on this road. It is an alert to make way for a landing.

Who Can Help: