Micronesia Tourist Information

Is there anything like it that's actually working? I have been trying to get in touch with Kosrae's tourist information for weeks now. My emails were not replied to, and when I called nobody ever picked up the phone. So I have tried to email the Tourist Information Office for all of Micronesia but my emails were bounced back because of "invalid address". I don't get it ! Supposedly this is their website: http://www.visit-fsm.org/ and it appears to be fairly up to date. Yet it seems impossible to get in touch with anyone there. Does anyone have an advice on how I could manage to get a hold of someone who is willing to help me out answering some basic questions, mostly about homestay opportunities?

Thanks a lot!

It seems that you are on the right web. Have you tried to fill the contact us form on the web of the Kosrae Visitors Bureau?
If you didn't read it yet, you can find the info provided by the Kosrae Visitors Bureau about Homestays here.

I've tried all that. I wrote to that email address several times. I even wrote to the FSM consulate in Honolulu, Guam, and Tokyo. Half of the emails get bounced back with some error message. The other half are never answered. It's pretty frustrating.

Have you tried with their Twitter account?

What reason on earth would you be going to such a place? You should get a clue by your non-response that the place is TOTALLY laid-back and dead. Would you be going for any other reason than to enjoy that?

Since you are going there to join that apathy, kick back, don't stress until you get there. Don't stress after you get there either.

Welcome to Micronesia. Go with the flow. There will be a place to sleep.

For what reason? I'm not sure this is related to the nature of my question, or any of your concern for that matter, or should it be? Does scuba diving ring a bell? I've been to many Pacific islands before so I know the vibe. There will be a place to sleep. Duh...yes! I am just hoping for not just "any" place. Go troll someone else now, will ya? ;)

Good luck twittering.....twit.

I lived on Pohnpei for a little while recently, and I have to second (though much more politely) the "go with the flow" statement.

The tourist information centre on Pohnpei is in the botanic gardens and staffed by one person who speaks english (who is very busy, by local standards) and one, part-time person who doesn't. Add to this the fact that the power, internet and phone go out on a bi-weekly basis, and that lunch breaks often go from 12-3, and that the english speaker travels a lot for work, and you can understand why the phone doesn't often get answered.

I'd say your best bet would be to contact one of the more touristy hotel places (on Pohnpei, that's The Village, Pohnpei Surf Club or Ocean View Hotel). Once you get there, they will help to arrange a homestay, though everything takes a least a week or so. The hotels aren't cheap though, they're normal US prices (like $50-$90 per day). Same advice goes for Chuuk (where the big diving sites are).

If you're religious, you might have better luck trying to contact one of the many, many church organisations, which frequently organise homestays for their missionaries and teachers, so may have better advice.

Its a very difficult place to organise things before hand, unfortunately.

Thanks for your advice. Fortunately I've already managed to get in touch with Kosrae's tourist information now. They told me they will organize a homestay for me, so that's good news. I'll see how it goes...