Safety Tips in Tonga

Airlines Tonga, Tongas locally owned airline, is no longer operating. They are still selling tickets through agents etc, and many travellers are still turning up in Tonga to find out they have no flights, and lost thier hard earned cash. There is an excellent service in Tonga operated by Chathams Pacific, a NZ owned and operated company, chathamspacific.com which provide a reliable service.

IN Tongatapu everything shuts down on Sunday . Its difficult to get a cab too . We had to walk quite a ways from our hotel to go to dinner as there were no cabs . Tourism is a new idea here!!. Even our hotel offered no service on Sunday! Most restaurants are closed. The International Dateline Hotel is open!!

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When walking on the beaches of Toga be a aware there is lots of sharp coral . Sometimes its hard to see as its buried in the white sand . I got a nasty cut that took weeks to heal. Best to wear sandels.

There's not too much to be 'warned' about in Tonga, but here's few...
1) The Molokau (centipede). These are about 10 inces long & can seriusly sting! Check you shoes in the morning, and your sheets before you go to bed.
2) Namu (Mosqitos). No need to get pycho, just use some bug spray, (especially on your feet).
3) Kona Tongan (the drunk guys). Especially you girls, they're usually harmless, but just watch-out is all.

My friends and I were bitten all over our backs and legs by local island fleas, and spent 2 weeks scratching our skin till it bled! Get some insect repellant and don't forget to use it! Watch out for the water too!

The mosquitoes of Tonga are the most vicious I've ever encountered. Never before have I had such big bites! And gee do they itch! The other amazing thing about them is that often they don't start itching or come up as lumps until a few days later! Take a good repellent.

Road signs are either non existant or really confusing in Tongatapu . Luckily its a tiny island so if you keep following the water you'll get there.