Sandy Beach Resort

Swimming with whales was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, though the time actually in the water was brief. We spent hours on the boat before finding whales, then had turns in groups of four per boat. Each turn lasted no more than about ten minutes. The trip is worth booking ahead, since boats take only eight people and, as far as I could tell, there was one departure a day with three boats. Guests also add trips spontaneously, and visitors from Australia and the USA fill the bungalows and snorkeling spots quickly. The date you reserve may change, so treat it as tentative. Sandy Beach Resort is a lovely place to relax, but it costs top Euros, and we thought the snorkeling trips were a bit overpriced. The meals could be better for the nightly rate. Some dishes were good, but most lacked flavor and inspiration, especially at dinner. The vegetarian choices weren’t very enjoyable and often seemed lower quality. My wife, who is vegetarian, always feels it’s unfair to pay the same as meat eaters when the vegetarian dishes mostly use cheaper ingredients like rice. The Ramen one night was hard to eat because of too much Soy Sauce and didn’t resemble the Japanese dish. The resort sits on the northern spit of Foa island, as does its sister property, Matafonua Lodge, which is even better placed for snorkeling: you can reach the lagoon and channel directly, both good at high tide. Sandy Beach instead has a wide, brilliant-white beach in front of spacious bungalows with their own beach access. The bungalows were great, clean, and roomy, with a steady breeze for ventilation. A huge mosquito-netted window looks from the bed toward the ocean and porch. There’s room for belongings and drying towels, and the porch has two loungers and a small table for reading or a sundowner. Guests eat, drink, and talk in the communal area. From the main deck you can see whales breaching offshore, and binoculars are available to look closer. Meals are shared at big tables, so expect to mingle with other travelers rather than have a private candlelit dinner. Breakfast and dinner are included; lunch costs extra. Breakfast is continental, with extra dishes such as eggs or pancakes available at no charge. Dinner is a set three-course meal with vegetarian choices, and everyone gathers at 7 pm to eat and talk about the day. The staff were friendly and tried to connect personally.

The booking process was smooth from the start, and when we landed in Ha‘apai, someone was already there to meet us at the airport. We especially loved the delicious dinners and got to swim with whales twice. We enjoyed our stay enough to add two more nights. Peta was so warm and welcoming!

We loved staying at Sandy Beach Resort in Tonga. Our Fela sat right on the beach, with a private path to the water, in a secluded setting with untouched sand that felt like our own little corner of paradise. There was great snorkeling among beautiful coral and lots of fish, including a friendly leopard shark. Darren, Nina, and their daughter Lilly made us feel at home, and Darren’s cooking was incredible, especially the seafood. Each night had something to enjoy. We’ve already booked another stay for whale season next year. Can’t wait to return, and I’d recommend it for an adventurous tropical getaway.

A lovely spot for switching off and enjoying island life. There isn’t much to do here, though that seems more like a Ha'apai limitation. Plan activities before you arrive: when we asked about diving, we were told it wasn’t available, apparently because there’s only one dive guide on the island. They also didn’t know who arranged island tours. Cocktail ingredients had run out, too. Whale watching season legally starts on 15 July. The food was excellent, with two or three choices for starters, mains, and dessert. They made an effort to provide my wife with one vegan dish. Wine was very reasonably priced, and staff were friendly. The property is beautiful, with private beach access. Snorkel equipment and bikes are available, and bikes are useful if you want to explore other parts of the island because the ride into town is quite long. Kite surfing seemed popular. There’s no AC in the rooms, but I didn’t think it was really needed; the temperature was comfortable in July. Internet is only available in the restaurant area, though Starlink made it much better than at the other Tonga properties where we stayed. You can drink the tap water, which we hadn’t found elsewhere in Tonga. There were hardly any other tourists around.