How to Find Cheap Hotels in Kiribati

Kiribati (pronounced kir-i-bas) is a loose collection of 33 atolls spread across thousands of miles in the Central Pacific ocean near the equator. Formerly known as the Gilbert Islands, Kiribati is now separated into three island groups: the Line Islands, the Phoenix Islands and the Gilbert Islands.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• A passport
• A computer with Internet access

Find Your Accommodations

1. To book accommodations, contact Kiribati National Tourism Office at 011 ([phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources, below). (If calling internationally but not from the United States or Canada, call 00 ([phone].)
2. Choose one of Kiribati's smaller hotels for your stay. Such accommodations are also cheap, costing as little as $40 per day.
3. Pick a mid-priced hotel from one of the major chains, which will only set you back around $100 per night.
4. Consider a bungalow or guesthouse for a more authentic Kiribati experience. These accommodations are cheap and cost as little as $20 to $40 a day.

Get to Kiribati

5. Fly in to either the airport in Tarawa or Christmas Island, depending upon where you want to stay. These are the only two locations that accept international flights.
6. Use small airplanes to fly between the major island chains in Kiribati. The fares are cheap, although availability can be limited.
7. Travel by boat to visit nearby islands. Since Kiribati is spread out over an area roughly the size of the continental United States, it is too time-consuming to travel by boat between the major island chains.
8. Utilize minivan shuttles to travel on the islands themselves.

Relax in Kiribati!

9. Check out some of the airplane wreckage in the Butaritari Lagoon in Tarawa, remnants from the decisive Battle of Tarawa during World War II.
10. Take a bus westward from South Tawara toward Betio for a striking view of the harbor.

Tips & Warnings

• Kiribati uses Australian dollars as its currency. It's wise to bring some of these along, since you will need to pay for your visa at the airport and there are no ATM machines.
• All phone numbers include the United States international prefix "011." When calling internationally outside the United States, substitute that "011" with "00." All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.
• Hepatitis is common in Kiribati, so it is wise to get vaccinated at least one month before arriving.
• While there is no malaria in Kiribati, there are definitely mosquitos, which are often aggressive and can cause dengue fever. Use insect repellent whenever possible.
• Beware of falling coconuts! Coconut palms are everywhere, and it's best to move away quickly whenever you hear the fronds rustle.
• Drink only bottled water while in Kiribati.
• Do not swim in South Tarawa Lagoon, which is used as a toilet by the natives.
• Beware of packs of wild dogs roaming on some of the islands. For this reason, it's a good idea to never travel alone in Kiribati.