Advice on Sun & Sand Trip on The Cheap!

would love to see as many islands in the South Pacific as possible

Why as many as possible? What exactly are you looking for?

just explore as many beautiful blue, warm water, white sand beaches in the South Pacific as we can

If that's all you seriously want, then why spend the money moving around the S Pacific? I have heard of people island hopping the Yasawa resort islands of Fiji and I sometimes wonder why. The islands, beaches, resorts etc aren't that different from each other. If the goal is to relax, the less you move the better.

Also, you're dealing with countries of the S Pacific. Each country is made up of several islands. It's a detail you want to keep in mind. Travel between islands within a country can be tricky enough, both time and money consuming. Travel between countries is no better.

Anyway, back to the as many as possible way of thinking. I suggest dumping the mind-set. Pick 2-3 countries for their cultural variety (beaches are beaches), and if you want to understand culture then stay somewhere for long enough to get an insight into how it works.

If all you want is a beach and relax time, then why bother with the different countries?

Practicalities:
For people on a RTW trip, Fiji is a very popular destination, partly because it is easy to slot into a Pacific itinerary, partly because it is a transport hub for the region. Fiji can also be quite inexpensive (relative to region). Stay away from the mid-upper holiday resorts used by the Aussies an NZers and you can have a decent backpacker view of the place. Many islands to choose from, variety of cultural and natural attractions.

Making a jump to a different country, Vanuatu comes to mind as easiest that also gives you some variety, can then be done as a so-called side-trip from the Fiji hub. Or, depending on your ticket, from Vanuatu to Australia (eg Brisbane) and link back into the International routes to SE Asia...

Fiji airways seems to do a roaring business between LA and Nadi for Americans travelling to the region and their prices are reasonable depending which days you travel. that said to get to the other islands in the Fiji group is not cheap and also to the other islands in the Pacific. If you are traveling in January you are looking at peak prices for all accommodation and air-fares so I would be coming at a time that does not clash with holidays

You definitely can't 'travel to all these islands' on a single trip and especially cheaply.
But to try and get to as many as possible with a realtively limiged budget, Fiji should certainly be your gateway.

Having said that, if all you want is beautiful beaches and blue water, your money would get you much more of these, plus other things, in SE Asia.

You also might want to have a look at the weather patterns for your time frame as Jan/Feb is the middle of the cyclone season in the south Pacific - last December Fiji was hit by Evan, causing much damage. Air travel in the SP has limited routes and tends to be expensive. One option you could look at for multiple island groups would be from LA to Tahiti, on to New Caledonia and then Vanuatu and from there to Fiji, then back to LA. With a limited budget you could have a look at doing a triangle route from Fiji to Vanuatu to New Caledonia and back to Fiji. Another smaller option would be LA to Tahiti and on to the Cook Islands(flights only on a couple of days weekly) - both Tahiti and the Cooks have other islands that you could explore.

" if all you want is beautiful beaches and blue water, your money would get you much more of these, plus other things, in SE Asia."

Quite agree-OP has stars in his eyes about the South Pacific-it's not for everyone.

Thanks for your advice guys. It's not that i'm looking to just relax, it's my dream to see as many pristine beaches as I can, so that's why I'm trying to get all over the place. I've done a lot of research into hopping on sailboats, and that actually seems like a possibility. Anyone have any experience doing this?

Edited by: ShoshiShine

If all you want to do is see pristine beaches, that's up to you. But it is still an expensive proposition to be country hopping (let alone island hopping in a country) around the S Pacific.

hopping on sailboats, and that actually seems like a possibility.

You really are starry-eyed, I'm afraid. It's a possibility in the same league as getting lifts on passing freighters, maybe worse. The yachties I've seen have a particular sailing season, generally. They follow a particular route, taking advantage of wind direction. It isn't an arbitrary island hop. There are specific ports/anchorages they aim for.

I suppose you could hang around the anchorages and determine whether anyone is willing to take on a passenger or two, in exchange for money or work. But my guess is that you'll need time and luck for this to work.

Sure, it's a possibility. Probability is another matter. You may be grasping at straws, and all for the sake of visiting pristine beaches? OK, I admit it's not my dream, so I don't have the motivation for it. But it seems like a very tedious and/or expensive way to see beaches.

"Thanks for your advice guys. It's not that i'm looking to just relax, it's my dream to see as many pristine beaches as I can, so that's why I'm trying to get all over the place. I've done a lot of research into hopping on sailboats, and that actually seems like a possibility. Anyone have any experience doing this?"

You'll find few sailboats in the SP tropics during cyclone season.

Also... most people first dream of tropical pristine beaches in the South Pacific. The dreams usually fade about as quickly as your cash and sunblock are used up. Then you'll retire to the shade and look for something cool to drink. Then, if you're lucky, you'll discover what the SP is all about. It's a combination of the people, the pace, the smells, the sounds and... the pristine hidden spots to enjoy quietly by you and your's.

It doesn't take a large number of pristine beaches to do this. Just the right ones.