10 BEST Guesthouses in Nuku’alofa & Tongatapu 🏡 [2024]

1. NOA Guesthouse

One of the largest guesthouses in Nuku’alofa, NOA Guesthouse has something for every type of traveller on a budget. Choose from single/double rooms with shared bathroom facilities and “Family Rooms” which have one double and a single bed with an ensuite. Guests have access to a large communal kitchen and dining room, which makes self-catering a breeze. Paid services include breakfast, laundry, WiFi and airport transfers. You can also rent vehicles with the guesthouse, which works with Me Rentals, as featured in The Best Car Rentals in Tongatapu.

Check NOA Guesthouse out:

• NOA Guesthouse on Trip.com

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2. Winnie’s B&B

Stay a little out of town near the hospital at Winnie’s B&B, accessible via rental car or taxi. The long-established yet modernly renovated guesthouse features six units with sliding doors spilling onto a shared wraparound deck and out to an attractive garden. Choose from king or twin configurations with an ensuite. Some rooms have breakfast-making facilities, while others have full kitchenettes with continental breakfast included. What’s more, they are very well priced; offering better standards than your average guesthouse but more affordable than your average hotel. The common areas include a garden and barbecue area, while paid services include WiFi, TV and laundry. Check out more accommodation like this in the 10 Best Bed & Breakfasts in Tonga.

Check Winnie’s B&B out:

• Winnie’s B&B on Expedia

© Winnie's B&B

3. Backpackers Townhouse (Kapeta Backpackers)

A homely guesthouse for backpackers and travellers on a budget, Backpackers Townhouse (signposted at “Kapeta Backpackers” on the corner of Mateialona and Vahaakolo Roads) offers a couple of two-bed dorm rooms and four private single, twin/double rooms with shared bathroom facilities between two rooms. The guesthouse is an interesting place to stay with papaya and banana trees that you can help yourself to, while it’s also the site of True Vava’u where you can learn more about how your host makes tuitui (candlenut) oil. What’s more, the guesthouse is conveniently a short walk from the city centre. Full kitchen facilities, hot showers, electric fans and laundry services are all available. For more backpacker-style stays, check out 5 Best Backpacker Hostels in Nuku’alofa.

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4. Villa Ishadora

More like an upscale B&B, Villa Ishadora is a popular guesthouse for couples, families and groups of friends. Your hosts offer a superb complimentary breakfast each morning, while there is a bar/kitchen with drink facilities to help yourself to. Half of the rooms have ocean views, while you can also enjoy views with your breakfast from the upstairs terrace. Rooms come as king ensuites, queen rooms with separate private bathrooms, and twin queen ensuite rooms, some of which can be interconnected. Guests have access to free WiFi, as well as complimentary kayak hire – the only one available in Nuku’alofa!

Check Villa Ishadora out:

• Villa Ishadora on Booking.com
• Villa Ishadora on Trip.com
• Villa Ishadora on Expedia

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5. ‘Utu’one Bed & Breakfast

Wedged between Tui Mata Moana Market, the waterfront restaurants and St Mary’s Cathedral, ‘Utu’one Bed & Breakfast offers an alternative yet convenient location on Vuna Road. Although labelled “B&B”, rooms are reminiscent of a hotel with king beds, an ensuite bathroom with a hair dryer, hot drink-making facilities, a fridge, air-conditioning and a ceiling fan, plus all toiletries and towels are included. In short, they have everything you need and then some with free WiFi and breakfast served in the dining room by friendly local staff. There’s a communal kitchen if needed, as well as a restaurant on-site, Mi-Chefs, while there are a couple of “Standard Rooms” with shared bathroom facilities should you be on a tighter budget. For more hotel-style stays, check out the 20 Best Hotels in Nuku’alofa.

Check ‘Utu’one Bed & Breakfast out:

• ‘Utu’one Bed & Breakfast on Expedia

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6. Paradise First Hotel

A small local family-run hotel, Paradise First Hotel boasts a homely “guesthouse” ambience in its friendliness and decor. Each of the eight very spacious rooms is unique but all feature ensuites. Better yet, the four rooms on the top floor walk out onto a balcony. Your hosts also provide a complimentary breakfast from the kitchen, which is also available for guests should you want to do some self-catering. Other features include on-site secure parking and free WiFi. Find this hotel in the Bay of Manumataongo, five minutes’ drive from the city centre. A rental car is recommended, as listed in The Best Car Rentals in Tongatapu.

Check Paradise First Hotel out:

• Paradise First Hotel on Expedia

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7. Toni’s Guesthouses & Apartments

Toni has a few guesthouses across Nuku’alofa, which can be very confusing to find/make sure you’re going to correct one – so we’ll make this listing a long one to make it as clear as possible. What’s more, the guesthouses are not the most central (rent a car). Nevertheless, travellers looking for an ultra-affordable stay will certainly find a place to call home at one of Toni’s Guesthouses or Apartments, starting with welcome refreshments.

The “Green House” has 2-3-bed backpacker dorm rooms with shared bathrooms and the “Yellow House” has double and twin rooms with some ensuite options. What’s known as the “Family House” is actually two self-contained units within. All of the above are located on the same estate in Tofoa. Meanwhile, “Toni’s Apartments” on Hihifo Road, Puke are two more guesthouses with four guest rooms each.

Unless otherwise stated, all houses are on a shared basis and are well equipped with a kitchen, a cool lounge and a seating area under a verandah – all kept to a clean and presentable standard. Although a little out of town, Toni and Leni offer island day tours.

Check Toni’s Guesthouses out:

• Toni’s Guesthouses on HostelWorld

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8. Tonga Holiday Villa, Tonga Cottage, Siale Tonga & Paea’s Guesthouse

Another guesthouse ensemble in Nuku’alofa, all within the same estate in Popua on the eastern side of town, Tonga Cottages offers a variety of private rooms with shared facilities across three colonial-style houses (or you can rent out entire villas).

Tonga Cottage is your hotel-style double/triple suite with simplistically modern decor and basic ensuite bathrooms (at least with hot water). Also in the same building is Siale Tonga, a private suite with an in-room sofa. Next up is the fabulous colonial villa with a striking red roof and manicured gardens, Tonga Holiday Villa. Choose from double/twin rooms with shared bathrooms and a double ensuite, while small families can squeeze into the “Family Room” with a double and single bed.

Finally, Paea’s Guesthouse is your most basic but homely room, set in the house of your hosts with a private entrance. All guests have access to shared kitchens. Prepay WiFi and airport/wharf transfers are available. What’s more, they offer two island tours – as listed in The Best Guided Tours of Tongatapu.

Check Tonga Cottage & Holiday Villa out:

• Tonga Holiday Villa on Booking.com
• Tonga Holiday Villa on Expedia
• Tonga Cottage Double Room on Booking.com
• Tonga Cottage Triple Room on Booking.com
• Tonga Cottage Entire Place on Booking.com
• Siale Tonga on Booking.com
• Paea’s Guesthouse on Booking.com

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9. Dayspring Lodge

With free breakfast, free WiFi and super affordable guest rooms, you can hardly do wrong with Dayspring Lodge if you’re on a budget. Dayspring is located in Tofoa village on the southern outskirts of Nuku’alofa, which makes for a good central base for exploring Tongatapu. The basic but comfortable guesthouse offers double and single rooms (six in total), sharing three bathrooms between guests. The lodge has a beautiful garden with fruit trees galore, many of which are used to produce your breakfast each morning. Check out more accommodations like this in the 10 Best Budget Accommodations in Nuku’alofa.

Check Dayspring Lodge out:

• Dayspring Lodge on Booking.com
• Dayspring Lodge on Trip.com
• Dayspring Lodge on Expedia

© Dayspring Lodge

10. Lose Lodge

Enjoy a stay with true Tongan hospitality at Lose Lodge “lose” being the Tongan pronunciation of “rose”. Most guests have their own space of either single/twin or double rooms with an ensuite, although two rooms have shared bathrooms. Alternatively, “Family” rooms are available which are fully self-contained studios with one double and single bed, plus a kitchen and bathroom. Rooms surround a shared patio and a picturesque city-centre garden to enjoy. Facilities at the lodge include modems should you want to sort out your own internet, activity bookings, free lifts into town (although you are surrounded by some good eateries, which your hosts are happy to recommend) and a liquor store on-site. Find Lose Lodge on Fatafehi Road, just a short stroll from the city centre. For more stays with kitchen facilities, check out the 10 Best Self-catering Accommodations in Nuku’alofa.

© TongaPocketGuide.com