Tanoa International Dateline Hotel in Tonga

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Updated: January 6, 2021

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Review of Tanoa International Dateline Hotel in Tonga

Tanoa International Dateline Hotel – Dependable, functional, convenient, and spacious.

The only resort and upmarket hotel in the capital is placed prominently along the esplanade close to downtown. Perennially popular with business people, and also catering to tourists, it provides a range of rooms from the lovely Ocean View Suites to motel-style accommodations which are pleasingly spacious and modern, with white tiled floors and dark wooden furnishings. Some rooms have angled windows for glimpses of the sea across the road – and windows are suitably soundproofed. The resort-style pool features a raised wooden deck and a separate splash area for the youngsters.

Tanoa International Dateline Hotel – The Basics

  • Location: On Vuna Road, the eastern part of the esplanade in the capital, Nuku’alofa, on the main island. About 750m to the town center and 40 minutes from the airport.
  • Guests: Primarily for business people, but as the only resort in the capital, and one of very few on the entire island, families and holidaymakers are reasonably well catered for.
  • Beach: It faces the sea but there is no beach anywhere in or around Nuku’alofa. The closest serviceable beach is at Ha’atafu on the far western tip, about 20 km away.
  • Views: Some rooms offer views of the sea, but the majority face inwards towards the gardens.
  • Wi-Fi: Available free in public areas, but there may be charges within the rooms. Check when booking.
  • Parking: Plenty of secure and free parking available at the back of the hotel.
  • How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
  • Phone: (676) 234 11
  • Email: dateline@tanoahotels.com
  • Website: tanoahotels.com

Tanoa International Dateline Hotel – Amenities

  • Pool: A decent size, with a tiny area for toddlers.
  • Spa: None.
  • Fitness Center: Surprisingly large and well-equipped.
  • Private Pools/Jacuzzis: Not expected or provided at this sort of hotel.

Tanoa International Dateline Hotel – Food and Drink

  • Restaurants & Bars: Tu’i Malila Restaurant – Cavernous and only open for breakfast • Fresh Bar and Grill – For light snacks and full meals, with seafood, curries, and imported steaks; popular among locals for the list of wines and yummy desserts • Taulanga’u Bar – Dominated by massive TVs showing nothing but sports, this huge and airy bar at the lobby serves coffee and cocktails.
  • Pool Bar – Undercover and spacious with light meals.
  • Breakfast: A hearty buffet breakfast is included in all rates.
  • Room Service: Available 24 hours.

Tanoa International Dateline Hotel – Rooms

  • Room Types: Superior Room • Superior Courtyard Room • Executive Room • Ocean View Room • Ocean View Suite • 1 Presidential Suite
  • Smoking Rooms: Surprisingly, smoking is permitted in some rooms, and also allowed on the balconies and in open areas of the hotel.
  • Best Room: The single Presidential Suite is very spacious, with contemporary décor. With a separate living area, corner kitchen, and full-length windows, it caters well for a family of 4.
  • For Families: An extra single bed can be included for a minimal extra charge and some rooms have connecting doors.

Tanoa International Dateline Hotel – What’s Nearby?

Best Nearby Restaurants & Bars

  • Emerald Chinese Restaurant – Virtually next door in the Emerald Hotel. Cavernous, authentic, and popular. Importantly, open on Sundays (when most of Tonga closes down). Takeaway available.
  • Friends Café – Very popular, if only for the Wi-Fi. Claims to have the ‘best coffee in town’, but also serves delicious meals. About 750m away, along the main street in downtown, Taufa’ahau Road.
  • Reload Bar Tonga – Virtually the only bar in town, along Taufa’ahau Road. Happy hours, locally-brewed beers, DJs, and adequate meals.
  • The Waterfront Café – Open all day for breakfast, barbecued ribs, Thai salad, and local specialties such as slow-cooked pork belly. In the Waterfront Lodge, 1 km further along the esplanade from town.
  • Enjoy Café – Friendly, with street-side tables. For cakes, coffee, all-day breakfast, and substantial meals. On Railway Road, one block south of Taufa’ahau Road.

Nearby Market or Grocery

    Several minimarts and supermarkets are dotted around the town center, and a couple of smaller ones are within 100m of the hotel along the esplanade.

Local Transport

    ‘Taxis’ (actually shared minibuses) ply the esplanade. Wave one down and negotiate a fare, but it’s just as easy to walk into town.

Tanoa International Dateline Hotel – The Hotel

The hotel is much nicer and large on the inside than it seems to be.

The hotel doesn’t look much from the outside, but is considerably nicer and larger than expected.

Breakfast is served at the Tu’i Malila Restaurant onsite.

The Tu’i Malila Restaurant in the hotel is open for breakfast only. Another decent restaurant serves lunch and dinner.

The hotel lacks good gardens and lawns.

One criticism of the Tanoa is the lack of gardens, lawns, and trees.

The pool bar is decent but surprisingly unpopular.

The Pool Bar at the hotel is often ignored by guests as a decent place to eat and drink.

Pool Bar serves decent fare through the day.

The Pool Bar offers drinks and light meals all day.

The hotel has a decent swimming pool but without any shade.

The hotel pool is the sort expected of a midrange island resort.

Taulanga’u Bar onsite is spacious and nice.

The hotel’s Taulanga’u Bar is spacious and comfortable, with international sports on several TVs.

Emerald Chinese Restaurant next door serves authentic dishes.

The Emerald Chinese Restaurant, in the hotel of the same name almost next to the Tanoa, serves authentic fare.

Enjoy Café downtown serves good coffees and meals.

Popular among those in the know, the Enjoy Café serves coffees, cakes, and light meals all day and in the evenings. It’s in the backstreets of downtown, about 800m from the hotel.

Waterside Café about a km away is very classy.

Particularly classy is the colonial-style Waterside Café in the lodge of the same name, about 1 km further along the esplanade.

The extremely popular Friends Café is within walking distance from the hotel.

Always popular is the Friends Café, along the main street in the town center, about 750m from the hotel.

Reload Bar in the town centre is very popular with tourists.

One of very few bars in the town center, and the best for tourists, is Reload, halfway along the main street.

Bus terminal opposite the hotel provides good connectivity.

Just across the road from the hotel is a bus terminal for services to eastern parts of the island (unlikely to be visited by tourists).

Esplanade opposite the hotel is very attractive.

The esplanade across from the hotel is more attractive than in other places.

Langafonua Handicraft Centre is popular for souvenir shopping.

The best place to check out and buy souvenirs is the Langafonua Handicraft Centre, alongside the Friends Café.

The handicraft centre features good collection of arts and carvings.

The selection of arts and carvings at the handicraft centre is impressive.

Hotel is within walking distance of the city centre.

The hotel is about 750m from the center of the capital, which is surprisingly small.

Nuku’alofa has very few eateries and shops.

The choice of places to eat, drink, and shop along the streets of Nuku’alofa, the capital, is limited.

Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua is the largest church in the town centre.

The largest of the many churches in the town center is the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, along the main street.

Talamahu Market in the town centre is popular for souvenir shopping.

Between the eastern esplanade and main street in the town center, the Talamahu Market has a few stalls selling souvenirs.

Talamahu Market has excellent choice for fresh produce.

The Talamahu Market is, however, more renowned for its fresh produce.

Capital exudes old-world charm through churches and trees.

Parts of the capital are charming, with century-old trees and churches.

The harbour features fish markets each morning.

About 1 km further along the esplanade is the harbor, with impromptu fish markets each morning.

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