Our South Pacific Vacation Packages (and customized travel) feature accommodations that reflect the culture and flavor of the land that you are exploring, whenever possible. Our hospitality partners are not limited to traditional hotels, but often include boutique hotels, charming country inns and even farmstays! Many of those establishments are family owned and managed, which we believe creates a more personalized experience for you. Occasionally there are situations, in which the best choices are with hotels that are part of a large chain. However, each individual hotel is chosen based on its own quality and because we believe that it is the best local choice for your trip, in that price category.

You will notice that our hotels are designated as Category 3, Category 4, or Category 5. This classification is generally analogous to the more commonly used "star" system, but less confusing. Different countries have different procedures for designating a hotel as "3-star" or "5-star", and a 3-star hotel in Tahiti can be more expensive than a 4-star lodge in Australia or on the South Island of New Zealand. Furthermore, a junior suite at a 4-star hotel can be more expensive than a "superior" room at the 5-star hotel across the street. More importantly to us, in some countries, boutique hotels and country inns are not rated in a "star" system even though, for the price, boutiques and country inns can be among the very best places to stay, and be great values.

If we classify a type of room at a particular hotel as "Category 5", it means simply that during high season those rooms would cost more than $320 per night if you paid the rack rate (retail price.) (Of course, on our tours and packages, you are not paying rack prices.) "Category 4" rooms have a high season rack price between @ $175 and $320, and Category 3 rooms are normally between $100 - $175. (Tahiti is marginally more expensive than New Zealand and Australia.) Although you can pay less for rooms in some areas, we have chosen not to risk our reputation by endorsing accommodations in that price range. However, "silver level" motel rooms can be provided upon request. (This is sometimes appropriate for clients who wish to see much more on a fast schedule, and will thus be spending very little time in their rooms other than sleeping.)

Read unbiased opinions about hotels and vacations at TripAdvisor.