Villa Apartments (Westside) in Tonga

SD › Tonga Hotels › Villa Apartments (Westside) Review
Updated: January 6, 2021

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Villa Apartments (Westside) – Better than a hotel: modern, spacious, and ideal for longer stays and families.

Not to be confused with the ‘eastside’ version, this hotel stands tall along the western esplanade about a kilometer from downtown. It looks simple from the outside, with nothing remotely Tongan, but it serves a purpose, and does it well: studios with kitchenettes, and one and two-bedroom self-contained apartments designed for longer stays (but available for short trips, too). Bedrooms in the apartments are sparsely-furnished, but the living rooms are bright and airy. All kitchens are well-equipped, some with proper ovens, while all have microwaves, and the bathrooms are large enough for chairs. Apartments with two bedrooms also feature balconies facing the ocean, while others to the side on the ground floor open out to a delightful patio area.

Villa Apartments (Westside) – The Basics

  • Location: Along the western end of Vuna Road, the esplanade, in the capital, Nuku’alofa, on the main island. About 1 km from the town center and 40 minutes from the airport.
  • Guests: Mostly for long-term stays, whether business people or families.
  • 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: Apartments facing the ocean have good sea views; others face the lawn.
  • Wi-Fi: Available throughout for free.
  • Parking: Plenty of onsite parking.
  • How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
  • Phone: (676) 25720
  • Email: villamac@kalianet.to
  • Website: https://tongavilla.com

Villa Apartments (Westside) – Amenities

  • Pool, Spa & Fitness Center: Not expected or provided in this sort of apartment complex in Tonga.
  • Private Pools/Jacuzzis: Not expected or provided.

Villa Apartments (Westside) – Food and Drink

  • Restaurant & Bar: Not expected or provided.
  • Breakfast: Not provided as guests are expected to make their own using the kitchens/kitchenettes.
  • Room Service: Not provided or expected.

Villa Apartments (Westside) – Rooms

  • Room Types: Apartment with 1 or 2 bedrooms • Studio Apartment
  • Smoking Rooms: Smoking is not allowed in the rooms, but allowed on the balconies/patios and in the gardens.
  • Best Room: The 2 Bedroom Apartment on the second floor offers superior views from a private balcony packed with outdoor furniture. It also features a wonderful kitchen.

Villa Apartments (Westside) – What’s Nearby?

Best Nearby Restaurants & Bars

  • Little Italy Restaurant – Understandably popular for all sorts of Italian food, steaks, and seafood. Also, an extensive wine list and exquisite desserts. The closest to the apartments, about 300m further along the esplanade from town.
  • Seaview Lodge Restaurant – For sea views, a romantic setting, and haute cuisine with a Polynesian flare. Also open for breakfast, and reservations recommended in the evenings. About 500m along the esplanade towards town.
  • Friends Café – Very popular, if only for the free Wi-Fi. Claims to have the ‘best coffee in town’, but also delicious meals. Easy to find along the main street, Taufa’ahau Road.
  • Reload Bar Tonga – Virtually the only bar in town, along the main street, Taufa’ahau Road. Happy hours, locally-brewed beers, DJs, and adequate meals.
  • Enjoy Café – Friendly, with street-side tables, coffee, cakes, all-day breakfast and substantial meals. On Railway Road, one block south of the main street, Taufa’ahau Road.

Nearby Market or Grocery

    There is nothing close, so walk (1 km) to the town center, where there are supermarkets, a produce market, and 2 handicraft markets.

Local Transport

    Shared ‘taxis’ (actually minibuses) pick up passengers along the esplanade for a negotiable fare.

Villa Apartments (Westside) – What’s Nearby?

The hotel is located on the eastern esplanade.

The apartments are in a fairly nondescript building along the eastern esplanade of the capital.

The apartments have a beautiful European-style design.

The apartments feature a European-style design and layout.

Beach is patchy and unsuitable for walking or swimming.

The beach across the road is not good for swimming or even walking – just like the rest of the area.

Seaside walkway spans between the town center and western suburbs.

A seaside walkway passes the villas, joining the town center with the western suburbs.

Ground floor apartments have patios by the gardens.

Apartments on the ground floor don’t offer sea views, instead opening out to a patio alongside the gardens.

1- and 2-bedroom apartments are on 2 floors.

The apartments are on two floors, and contain one or two bedrooms.

Bedrooms are spacious but bland.

The bedrooms are spacious but the décor is fairly bland.

Colourful lounge rooms are bright and airy.

More appealing are the bright and airy lounge rooms, which have splashes of colour.

Stylish lounge rooms have smallish windows.

The lounge rooms are stylish, although some lack natural light because of the smallish windows.

All apartments have full kitchens.

Each apartment has a fully-equipped kitchen.

Ground floor apartments have spacious tiled patios.

All ground-floor apartments open out to a tiled patio of outdoor furniture.

Pigs roam freely on the esplanade.

The esplanade is sometimes shared with a pig or two.

Little Italy restaurant is popular for its extensive wine and dessert choices.

The closest place to eat and drink is the Little Italy Restaurant and Bar, about 300m up the esplanade. It also offers an extensive wine list and tasty desserts.

Little Italy restaurant has a vibrant decor.

The décor in the Little Italy Restaurant is a little garish but interesting.

Enjoy Cafe near the hotel serves excellent meals.

Probably the best place to eat in the town center is the Enjoy Café, one block from the main street. It serves coffee, light lunches and substantial meals throughout the day and evening.

Colonial-era setting of the pleasant Friends Café.

Very popular is the Friends Café, set inside a colonial-era building along the main street.

Friends Café is popular for its free Wi-Fi and meals.

Friends Café is always busy for the free Wi-Fi as much as the tasty array of meals.

Reload Bar is the best in town.

While the sign says it’s ‘probably the best bar in Tonga’, Reload is certainly the best in town.

Tourist love hanging out at Reload Bar.

Along the main street opposite the Friends Café, Reload is always popular with tourists and expats.

Nuku’alofa city center is within walking distance of the hotel.

The hotel is about 1 km from the center of Nuku’alofa, the surprisingly low-key capital of Tonga.

Langafonua Handicraft Centre offers good souvenir shopping options.

Alongside the Friends Café, the Langafonua Handicraft Centre offers an impressive range of carvings and other souvenirs.

Talamahu Market has decent options for souvenir shopping.

Between the eastern esplanade and main street, the Talamahu Market has a small collection of souvenir stalls.

Talamahu Market is also popular for fresh produce.

The Talamahu Market is better known for the fresh produce on sale.

Nuku’alofa is the capital yet it is very small.

The capital, Nuku’alofa, is surprisingly small – barely a few streets.

Tonga businesses are well-prepared for cyclones.

Many businesses in the town center are well-prepared for possible damage during a cyclone warning.

City center has the best eateries.

The best range of places to eat and drink is in the center of the town.

Largest church in the capital is Basilica of Saint Antony of Padua.

Along the main street the Basilica of Saint Antony of Padua is the largest of several religious buildings in the capital.

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