Is a South Pacific Island holiday gonna cost me a helluva lot more than a Thailand or Vietnam holiday?

I'm an Australian looking to travelk again, but can only afford places where my dollar is strong... Have been to Thailand and Vietnam before but would like to go to Cook Islands, Samoa or Fiji or similar and not sure if I can afford it?

Where would you reccommend?

I guarantee it!

For example go to the French Polynesian islands. You probably need permission from your bank manager and a letter of credit to by a McD Happy meal!

Cook islands, Samoa and Fiji are not quite as expensive, but still far more expensive than Thailand. Consider this: can you buy a meal with a drink for a (US) dollar there? In Thailand you can.

The flight isn't really an issue either. Plenty of cheap flights to either the islands and to Thailand. the fight is longer to Thailand, but since more flight go there the price is lower. I guess that evens it out.

Of course I am biased as a long term resident, but I recommend Thailand!

Considering that your previous travels were to Thailand and Vietnam, you probably want to travel independently rather than go on an all inclusive packaged holiday. Yes, the Cook Islands, Samoa, and Fiji are more expensive than South East Asia but they're still cheaper than Australia. So your dollar is strong there. You'll need to chose one destination as island hopping between countries really is expensive. Fiji is probably your best bet as there's a huge choice of things to see and do. It will cost you a bit more but it will be a totally different experience.

If I were you I would start getting some price quotes from various travel agents. You could also probably get some cheap flights and consider staying in youth hostels????

I went to Australia and stopped off at Fiji. Fiji was paradise and only a 4 hour flight from Brisbane.

Have you considered doing a gap year type thing in order to perhaps go to fiji etc?

In my experience the South pacific is the most expensive area to holiday.

in the long run I would think yes it will cost you more but that depends on a number of factors, unless you happen to be on an all inclusive package, in saying that it really does depend on how much you spend which only you know your spending, ie do you buy souveniers, the odd drink or two, will you be eating out, day trips, will your accomadation be prepaid, and also how much more in all honesty to yourself how much unexpected purchases/shopping you are likely to do ie are you a compulsive shopper, lol (many people are but deny it to themselves) so you know what your expenditure is ?

all these should be factored into your disission ?

what ever you decide it sounds like your going to have a greta holiday

happy travels !