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# New Caledonia on a budget - Possible or Not? Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / New Caledonia
jvainio 14:39 UTC 19 Nov 2008 | Anyone been in New Caledonia with a tight budget? (and what was it if you've been in) Maybe thinking of getting there, buying the airpass from Air Caledonie and visiting the outer islands. Camping would be the way to go, right? But camping in the rain, in the pacific - would it be any good or not, that's another thing.. and we couldn't leave us stuff unattended without the fear of those getting stolen, so that would be a serious limiter for doing stuff. Probably the answer will be "no can do" - but i still want to make sure. -J |
mandja 21:39 UTC 19 Nov 2008 | NC on a budget is certainly doable.Whilst not as cheap as , say Asia, NC cab done. Camping sites are in most places worth visiting and usually attached to a place with facilities.I would assume that they can help with toring valuables.Here are 28 campsites in the "Southern region" http://www.office-tourisme.nc/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=83&Itemid=178&choixSecteur=6&commune=-1&ok=Search&lang=en Food can be purchased from markets and supermarkets | 1
mandja 03:24 UTC 20 Nov 2008 | Just had another thought - what is your budget for accom? In noumea there is Youth Hostel and in various parts of the country youll find Gites - which are lower priced rooms | 2
jvainio 05:49 UTC 20 Nov 2008 | We're a couple and the budget for accommodation would be about 20 euros per day, if that gets us anywhere - for what i've read, some places do have low prices as that, but most don't. Also, there is no interisland boat transfers and you HAVE to fly everywhere? -J | 3
mandja 06:11 UTC 20 Nov 2008 | There is indeed an inter-island ferry . It is a large and comfortable Catamaran called the Betico. The cost of the Betico is typically about 1/3rd the price of flights and they offer 1st and second class setas (Id go for the 2nd class as the difference in quality is minimal) Look here for details - http://resa.betico.nc/resa1.php 20 Euros per day for accom will easily buy camping, for you both but youll need 50eu or more for bungalows. so stick to camping. | 4
Laszlo 06:29 UTC 20 Nov 2008 | I was there on a budget of ca. 30 USD/day, which is compareable to yours. You will need to like camping for the most part (though the hostel in Noumea or Kanak homestays are cheap too), do some hitching around Grande Terre (easy and safe) and self-cater, eating lots of baguettes! If that suits you, it is worth it for sure. See the New Caledonia link in my signo line for more. | 5
jvainio 03:53 UTC 21 Nov 2008 | Mandja: Thanks for replying! Laszlo: I checked your signature links, very helpful, thanks... But i didn't get much info about Ouvea from your links.. Anyhow, it seems i should go to get french classes before going into the area, as all the guidebooks tell that almost nobody speaks english.. This is probably sad but true? (and PS, i find it partially funny that although the kanak people have been struggling for independence and are a suppressed culture, they choose to speak the oppressors language, french - why wouldn't they just speak their own and give a ** about the french, i cannot know the reason..) -J | 6
mandja 04:08 UTC 21 Nov 2008 | The kanaks in fact do speak their own language - certainly away from Noumea, and to a lesser extent within Noumea too. They are forced to learn/speak French when dealing with Government and French whites, plus I suspect, at school.The major problem, as noted by "virtualoceania.net" is that -"There are an estimated 27 Kanak languages coexist in New Caledonia, but after being actively discouraged - or at least ignored - by the French, there is no single unifying Kanak language" As for Ouvea, try searching for Ouvea on TT - youll find some good tips given by regular TTer "Fernsie". | 7
olsma227 10:01 UTC 21 Nov 2008 | Hey there. You can definitely travel within Nouvelle Caledonie on a relatively tight budget. I'm actually over here at the moment for six weeks and it is definitely possible. I'm working on a budget of around 30 nz dollars per day or 1600 pacific francs. I'm getting around on a bike here which naturally makes things a bit cheaper. I'm camping mostly and this costs around 1000f per night although generally ends up being proportionally cheaper if you have more than one person - i'm travelling alone. Food at the supermarket is generally slightly more than twice the price of food in New Zealand. I'm not sure where you're from but wherever you will find food expensive. The cheap things to buy are baguettes which are price controlled and cost less than 100 francs, good cheese which is cheap compared with anglo-saxon countries, and cider which is remarkably cheap here. To get to any of the Loyaute Islands you can either take the plane which is hideously expensive, you can take the Betico at about 15200f return, or, if you want to make it a bit cheaper, there is a cargo/passenger ship called the Havana which goes there once a week and costs only 12000 return or 6000 one way. Also, things here can be made cheaper by camping in municipal camping areas, which are free, where possible. I strongly advise you not to try to buy a tent, or anything if you can help it, here. You will end up with a crappy tent for an extortionate price. Bring whatever you can with you - especially expensive little things like batteries. Finally, before you come to a country, I don't really see how you have the right to pass judgement of any sort on the population that lives here. If you want to go to school and get any sort of education here, French is the only language you can be taught in. Also, if someone here has to do anything remotely official, French is the only language. The other person who responded to your comment was quite right in saying that yes, the 50 or more Kanak languages are spoken thorughout New Caledonia - particularly on the East Coast and the Loyaute Islands. If you go into Kanak areas such as the Loyaute Islands with attitudes such as you displayed in your message, I bid you Bonne Chance! In defencce of French too, I hardly think it a "sad" fact that an area of the World hasn't yet succumbed to English. | 8
Laszlo 05:50 UTC 22 Nov 2008 | I speak virtually no French but got by in New Caledonia fine. Staff at tourist offices, airlines, the hostel etc. do speak English, though the average person on the street certainly does not. Local French are more likely to speak some English than the Kanaks. I would say do take a French phrasebook and you will be fine - though of course you will not get to communicate much with most people you meet. If that is a priority, either do learn French or choose another country. | 9
dhannes 22:18 UTC 03 Jan 2009 | Can someone please let me know the categories of tickets? i,e, what does BB mean, I assume it is between a child and an adult? Is eco 2nd class? Thanks Dave Passagers Prix Nombre Nou Loy AS Adulte Conf 8000F Nou Loy AS Adulte Eco 7160F Nou Loy AS Adulte VIP 10290F Nou Loy AS BB Conf 2035F Nou Loy AS BB Eco 1805F Nou Loy AS BB VIP 2215F Nou Loy AS Enf Conf 4545F Nouméa Loy AS Enf Eco 4045F Nou Loy AS Enf VIP 7675F Nou Loy AS -12 mois 0F | 10