Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# Accommodation in Munda Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Solomon Islands
k_webber20 08:45 UTC 20 Apr 2009 | My partner and I are both working at Helena Goldie Hospital as intern doctors in November. We both liked the idea of the Solomon islands as we thought it would be CHEAP and of course we thought we might be of some practical use in a poor, rural community. Problem is we had no idea how expensive accommodation would be! Why is it so expensive??? More importantly can anyone recommend some alternative options. Agnes Lodge is above and beyond what we were expecting to pay. Help please! |
surfingyogini 23:01 UTC 20 Apr 2009 | Hi there, my neighbour is just finishing off a rest house that should be finished by then... It it a huge big two storey place with a great deck out the front, ocean views, electricity and running water. Its in Dunde, which is in the other direction to the hospital, but I think she's planning on getting bikes for guests use. There is a leaf house near the hospital that some med students use, but there's no running water or electricity... and the last med student staying there got malaria (the net has heaps of holes!). Agnes is building some new backpacker accom, but I can't see it being affordable for a longer stay. Feel free to call me when you get into town, or email me before then if you'd like more info. Liz. | 1
surfingyogini 23:08 UTC 20 Apr 2009 | Oh, forgot to add that you'll be shocked if you're looking at a cheap place to visit. Almost everything, bar root vegies and greens, comes via boat and fuel is super expensive. Over Christmas it was almost AUD$5 a litre but now its a much more affordable $2.50 australia per litre. This makes getting around expensive too, and beers at the lodge (SolBrew) cost SD$20. About $4 aussie dollars. Rice is relatively cheap, but things like cheese (almost $10 aussie for 250g) and pasta really are luxury items. Other than the cost, its a beautiful, magical place. The diving and snorkeling are superb, the array of orchids and other flowers are amazing and there is so much to see everywhere you look (although the big croc off the Agnes jetty may be gone by then, I think RAMSI are coming to have it 'removed'). Look forward to meeting you in November! | 2
k_webber20 23:09 UTC 21 Apr 2009 | Great info, thanks Liz. The rest house sounds like a possible option. I'll check in with you later in the year for an update. Yeah, regardless of price we are still really excited about spending a month in such a beautiful country. Cheers, Kate. | 3