Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# Travel info update for Solomon Islands Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Solomon Islands
atravelist 06:57 UTC 10 Mar 2010 | Just back from the Solomon Islands and I loved it, but the prices and transport info from the pathetic SI section of the LP guidebook and even the info given by the Visitor Bureau in Honiara is off by a big margin. So here comes an update based on my experience. Transport by boat Both the Pelican Express and Solomon Express were under repair and not working. The only other options are slow boats, charter boats and planes. The Seghe – Munda trip with slow boat costed 140 S$. There is a shuttle service between Mund and Gizo run by Go West Tour. The trip costs 190 S$ and goes Monday and Friday, and Wednesday if there are six people or more. There is a new boat service between Honiara and Auki, Malaita, called 360 Discovery. It runs close to every day and costs 220 S$ ow. Ticket can be bought in the Yamaha store in Honiara (next to Lime Lounge). Transport by plane Air tickets are expensive and, surprisingly, the plane are often full or overbooked. So don't count on showing up a day before and get a ticket. Some prices are: Honiara – Seghe: 1054 S$ ow. Honiara – Munda: 1198 S$ ow. Honiara – Gizo: 1312 S$ ow. Accommodation Honiara Chester Rest House 200 S$/room, but was totally full weeks ahead. United Church Rest House (up to the left right before Chester) 220 S$/room. Marovo Lagoon Matikuri Lodge 165/220 S$/bungalow (ex food). Transfer return to Seghe is 500 S$/boat. Trips in the lagoon is based on the length (base price plus the cost of gasoline). A litre of gasoline costs 15 S$. The lodge has now a generator. Langa Langa Lagoon Serah's Lagoon Hideaway 385 S$/two people ex. food. Transfer can be done by shared boat (20 S$ ow) or hired taxi (300 S$ ow). Keep in mind that there is no shared boats on Sundays. I hope this information will be helpful to any Solomon bounded travellers. It is an amazing place with even more amazing people, but it can be challenging to get around – unless you have tons of money/time. Else visit Globe Spots for more travel inspiration and photos from the Solomon Islands other Pacific places. |
ozziegiraffe 11:07 UTC 14 Mar 2010 | I can recommend Discovery 360 - excellent service, booked tickets only, so it doesn't get overcrowded. the upstairs lounge is the best, and there is a good canteen on board. Add to Honiara accommodation, St Agnes Transit, just along from Chester, opposite the Quality Motel. All its rooms have en suites, and it may be necessary to book in advance, as it is popular with locals. There is a downstairs self-contained bedsitter with its own kitchen, which is popular with people staying a week to a month. | 1