Micronesia (Northern Marianes [Saipan])
Visitors Info
Getting There & Away
Travellers from Asia have the best air access to the Northern Marianas. There are direct flights between Saipan and Tokyo, Hong Kong and Taipei. Travellers from North America will have to connect in Guam. Travellers from Europe will likely connect at one of the four Asian gateways. There is no departure tax.

Although there are occasional inter-island boats within the Marianas, it's rare to find any sort of passenger vessel going to the islands from other countries, save for the occasional private yacht.
Getting Around
A car is the best way to get around Saipan, which has a good road system and light traffic, though you can expect to see bumper-to-bumper traffic on busy Beach Rd. There are rental agencies at the airport and in a few of the larger hotels. A car is also the best way to get around Tinian or Rota, though roads are far less extensive on the smaller islands than on Saipan. Still, you can get to the main sights without too much trouble, though you'll want a high-clearance truck or 4WD for the more out-of-the-way spots. There are agencies at the airport and in San Jose on Tinian and at the airport and Songsong Village on Rota. Your home driving license is good for up to 30 days, but it's a good idea to bring an International Driver's License if your regular one isn't in English. Driving is on the right-hand side.

There's no public bus system on Saipan, though there are shuttle buses running between the major towns. Taxis are metered and privately owned. They're clearly marked and easy to find at the airport and the larger hotels.

Travelling between islands means flying, and Saipan is the hub. There are several daily flights between Saipan and Tinian and between Rota and Saipan or Guam. Saipan airport is at the southern end of the island, just north of San Jose on Tinian; Rota's airport is in the north-eastern half of the island.

When to go
The best time to visit the Northern Marianas is during the dry months of December to March. That's also the high season, and prices will be higher. If you want to attend one of the commonwealth's religious festivals, check the Events section above for where and when they're held. It may be wise to avoid going during traditional Japanese holiday seasons, when most of the mid- and top-end hotels get solidly booked up. These include Christmas through the first week of January, Golden Week (the last week of April and the first week of May) and Obon (August). If you do go at one of these times, be sure to book well in advance and be prepared to stay in more obscure accommodations. It's also difficult to get flights during the Christmas season, as many far-flung islanders return home during the holidays. See also next weeks weather forcast for Saipan.

Money & Costs
You can travel rather comfortably in the Northern Marianas, staying at the top-end lodges and eating at the best restaurants, for US$250 to $350 a day or more, depending on whether you hopscotch from island to island in chartered planes and boats and rack up a lot of dive fees. Moderate travel will run closer to US$100 to $150 a day, though you can get by for less if you pick your accommodations with care and do a little self-catering. Budget travellers can squeak by for around US$60 a day if they stick to inexpensive accommodations and use their feet to get around as much as possible.

The US dollar is the official currency in the Northern Marianas (as it is throughout Micronesia) and is the only practical currency to carry. Except in the most remote islands, US dollar travellers' cheques are accepted everywhere. You'll rarely have to wait in a bank line to change them, since most hotels, restaurants and larger stores accept them as cash. There are commercial banks on Saipan, Rota and Tinian. On the other islands, you should bring enough cash to get you through your stay. Major credit cards (especially MasterCard and Visa) are accepted at most hotels, large restaurants, car rental agencies and dive shops on Saipan, and at car rental agencies on Rota.

A tip of 10% to 15% is expected in the Northern Marianas. There's a 10% hotel tax but no sales tax. Bargaining isn't common.

Meals
  • Budget: US$5-10
  • Mid-range: US$10-15
  • Top-end: US$15 and upwards

Factsheet
  • Visas: All visitors need visas, good for up to three months, and proof of onward travel.
  • Health risks: Heat stroke
  • Time: GMT/UTC plus 2 hours
  • Electricity: 220/240V, 50Hz
  • Weights & measures: Imperial
  • Holidays, Festivals & Events: Most villages have an annual fiesta in honor of their patron saint. Rota and Tinian each have one fiesta, while Saipan has six: in San Vicente in early April, in San Antonio in mid-June, at Mt Carmel Cathedral in Chalan Kanoa in mid-July, in San Roque in mid-August, in Tanapag in early October and in Koblerville in late October. Tinian's fiesta is held during the last weekend in April or the first weekend in May in honor of San Jose, the island's patron saint. The largest and most popular fiesta in the Northern Marianas, however, is held on Rota on either the first or second weekend in October. The celebration, which honors San Francisco de Borja, includes a luau-like feast of Chamorro food, religious processions, music and dancing. Visitors are welcome at these annual festivals, but accommodation can be pretty hard to find while they're going on (especially during Rota's celebration).

    Other than that, most events and festivals are held on Saipan. There's a half-marathon and a 10km fun run in late January. The Kintetsu Buffaloes, a pro baseball team from Japan, has it spring training during the first two weeks of February. The annual Micronesian Open Boardsailing Regatta and the Saipan Laguna Regatta are international windsurfing and Hobie Cat competitions held at Micro Beach in mid-February. Serious masochists swim, bike and run nearly 50 miles (80km) during the Tagaman Triathalon, held in mid-May.

    The week-long Liberation Day Festival celebrates the American liberation of the islands and ends on 4 July, US Independence Day. Festivities include a beauty pageant, nightly entertainment, games and food booths. A fishing tournament is held in August, during the marlin season, and there's a 5 mile (8km) run up Mt Tagpochau on Thanksgiving in late November.

    There's a fun run on Rota in late June and on Tinian in late September. Each island also hosts a cliff fishing competition, one on Labor Day weekend in early September (Rota) and the other in early November (Tinian).