How to Find Cheap Hotels in Papua New Guinea

Research is the key to finding cheap accommodations in Papua New Guinea, and while more lodging opportunities have become available recently, it is still very important for travelers to look into the regions and specifics of non-international accommodations in larger cities. While Papua New Guinea is a fascinating area alive with culture, it also can be quite volatile.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Contact information for the American Embassy in Papua New Guinea
• Computer with Internet access

Choose Your Papua New Guinea Accommodations

1. Call the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority's office in Los Angeles for more information about accommodations in Papua New Guinea at 011 ([phone] or visit the Authority's Web site (see Resources below).

2. Determine which part of Papua New Guinea appeals to you, keeping in mind most hotels are located in major cities, such as Port Moresby. Guesthouses and bungalow lodging are more common in areas such as Alotau and the Southern Highlands.

3. Consider your security and ease when booking accommodations. Finding guesthouses to rent requires significantly more research than booking international hotels, mid-size hotels and cruise lines.

4. Decide if a locally run guesthouse, a backpackers' bungalow, a mid-range hotel or an international hotel is right for you. International hotels tend to be the safest, but are rarely cheap.

Discover Points of Interest in Papua New Guinea

5. Walk through Varirata National Park, enjoying lookout views of the south coast and Port Moresby. The park's jungle setting is a strong contrast to the major city in close proximity.

6. Hike to the summit of Mount Wilhelm. From the peak of Papua New Guinea's highest mountain, the north and south coasts are visible when the weather is clear.

Tips & Warnings

• Take advantage of the free shuttle transfers from the airport to your hotel. Keep in mind that locals use these transfers as well, which can be a bit of a culture shock at first.
• The American Embassy in Port Moresby is a good resource in your travel preparation and a good contact to have while visiting.
• Travel from July through September for the best vacation weather. Because tourism in Papua New Guinea is not a booming industry, traveling during the off-season is not likely to save you money.
• Phone numbers include the United States international prefix "011." When calling internationally from outside the United States, check which international dialing prefix to use. All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.
• Heed the no-go zone at Paguna Mine in Bouganville.
• Look into the political climate and crime rate at the time you intend to travel. Papua New Guinea can be extremely dangerous for tourists if great care is not taken in preparing for travel.
• Many areas may be off limits to travelers, oftentimes the areas providing cheap accommodations.