Visitors Info

Micronesia (Guam)

Visitors Info

Getting There & Away
About 6km (4mi) north-east of downtown Agana, the newly expanded Won Pat international airport serves six air carriers and provides more than 100 flights per week to Hawaii and the US mainland, East Asia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand. Apra Harbor is the only point of entry for Guam. Yachties should contact the Yacht Club at Apra Harbor. Getting Around
The public transport system consists of small vans that crawl around the island in confusing patterns at irregular intervals. Taxis are willing and able enough, but be warned that drivers often overcharge. Renting a car is not a bad idea, but expect to pay dearly for the luxury. Bikes can be hired from hotels and shops in Tumon Bay. If you opt for walking you'll soon find that the entire population thinks you're an escaped lunatic.

When to go
Go to Guam whenever the boss gives you time off. The temperature hovers around a balmy 81°F (27°C) all year, so don't worry about the weather. If it's a little more humid between July and November, at least you're never far from a cooling dip in the ocean. The only time you should really avoid Guam is during Japanese holiday seasons: Christmas, Golden Week (the last week of April and the first week of May), and Obon, in August. See also next weeks weather forcast for Guam. Money & Costs
A recent building boom has left Guam with many new hotel rooms, but most of these places are very much aimed at the over-stuffed wallet. At the cheapest end of things, you're still looking at US$40-50 a night for a half-way decent bed. There are camping grounds on Guam and permits are cheap, so if you're prepared to rough it you could do Guam on as little as US$15 per day if you're happy subsisting on shellfish - getting from your tent to one of the downtown fast-food joints is bound to be tricky. Hagatña's public market is a fun place to get a cheap local meal and kiosks sell fixed-plate lunches for around $5. The Bank of Guam and the Bank of Hawaii are the island's biggest dosh emporiums and combined they have about 20 branches around Guam. Foreign currencies are exchanged only at the Tumon and Hagatña branches of the Bank of Guam. Major credit cards are widely accepted and there are Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) in the larger towns. There's not much in the way of bargaining in Guam, mainly because most of your shopping will be done in western-style malls. A tip of around 10-15% is expected in Guam's restaurants. Meals Budget: US$3-10 Mid-range: US$10-20 Top-end: US$20 and upwards Factsheet:
Visas: US citizens don't need a visa to visit Guam, or any other Micronesian islands. Anyone else (except Canadians and those travelling on a visa waiver) must obtain a US visa in advance. Under Guam's visa waiver programme, citizens of certain countries may enter Guam for up to 15 days for business or pleasure without a US visa. Those countries include Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Great Britain. Health risks: Sunburn, fungal infections, and gut trouble Time: GMT/UTC plus 10 hours Electricity:120V Weights & measures: Imperial Holidays & Festivals: Guam's grandest holiday celebrations happen on July 21 - Liberation Day, when the entire population seems to hit the streets for a parade, followed by fireworks in the evening. Also in July is the island carnival at Y'pao Beach Park. From April all the way through to October the villages of southern Guam hold their yearly fiestas, which turn sleepy hollows into wild 'block parties', food and beer is on the house, and everybody's welcome. One of the best known of these is the three-day Malojloj Fiesta, starting May 16, in the historic town of Inarajan.