RE: Trip to Nauru

Just curious.... Why are you going there?

I plan to travel to Nauru from Brisbane and after Nauru to Honiara and have already the plane-ticket with Our-Airline (former Air Nauru). Please give me some advise about visaregulations, hotel etc. Does the Menem-Hotel has an e-mail-adress? The Nauru-Tourist-Web-Side is not very helpful. Thank you!

Why not?

I always wanted to visit Nauru, I hope you'll tell us how Nauru is and what you visited. Two years ago or so I saw a documentary on TV about the island. I hope things are improving for Nauruans.

I wanted to visit that island until i learned from internet, other media, my friends a this website there is really nothing to do and see. I ultimately wasnt there nevertheless I hate to tell you I think your trip is gonna be a disappointment.

Well, not necessarily a disappointment. It depends on what stoephi is interested in :)

Guano?

LOL!
No, I meant it might be interesting to see with your own eyes what happened to Nauru.

Look at my travel-map tomy profile - and you will see that I miss only a few countries - one is Nauru. I tried it twice in the past. First time 1991 from Kiribati - I booked the flight by Air Nauru but didn't got a reconfirmation. 2005 from Brisbane - I booked and payed the flight - but the plane of Air Nauru was confiscicated from the Australian Government.
I think at the island is to see so much. What happens to a country where the people had in the past one of the biggest BIP all over the world? How will the people live now? Did they started to mine the Guano again? What is with the global warming etc.?

stoephi this is exactly what I have in mind when I say I'd like to see Nauru.

By the way, now that Kevin Rudd has been sworn in as Prime Minister in Canberra, will the offshore detention centres close?

It looks like the Australian Government is closing the detention centre, much to the disappointment of some in Nauru (but most Aussies are delighted). There have to be more humane ways to support Nauru's economy - eg allowing Nauruans (and other Pacific Islanders) to come here and pick fruit on short-term working Visas.

Stoephi, if you're still planning to go, here's a page of e-mail addresses of tourism officials you could contact. Purportedly. To tell the truth, if you actually got a reply from one of these addresses, I'd be impressed.

EDIT: Sorry, I didn't see the part that said that you had already been to the tourism website. But here's a Sidney Morning Herald article by Lisa Carty about a recent trip to Nauru to talk to new President Marcus Stephen, that goes in detail about the misadventures she had just travelling there.

Edited by: Inkan1969

Thank you very much to all - especially to Inkan1969. All the e-mail-adresses at the Tourist page are wrong. I tried them all and get it back. Menen Hotel did't answered to two faxes.
After reading the article from Lisa Carty I desided to cancel this trip. Yes I'm a country-sampler - but if I miss three or for countries it is not a big problem

It is very sad after reading Sidney Morning Herald article by Lisa Carty, my brother and I planned to bring our father to Nauru becasue our father was working there 40 years ago with his brother. My brother and I want to see what and where our father had been living and doing at that little island during is 20s.

However, after reading the article, I am very disappointed. Can the Australian Gov do something about the island and turn it into a great tourist centre!!!!

People from Hong Kong

I would not blame the current Australian government for the problems caused by the policies of the parties now in opposition.
Some of what Lisa says is typical of many less-developed countries. She is a journalist. Don't cancel your trip because of one article, but don't expect 5 star luxury, either.

I stayed for almost about 7 months from 2000 - 2001 and the Hotel is dilapidated. The airconditioner was repaired on the day I was leaving lol. I managed to have a great time there although I would have to say that 90% of my colleges hated it.

I don't expect that anyone will be manning the phones at the Hotel but I have some details below. There was also another hotel but the name escapes me but by far the best place to stay on the Island if it is still running is Capelle's. This is the Islands sole Shopping Centre and it is run by Des and Sophie Openheimer. They run things professionally and they are two of the best hosts you could wish for.

General Hotel Information

Description: Island resort - 3 km from airport.
Year Built: 1969
Year Renovated: 1992
Check in Time: 2:00 PM
Check out Time: 12:00 PM
Number of Floors: 3
Total Number of Rooms: 119
Restaurants On-Site
Dining: 1 Restaurant & 1 Bar On Site

Rates & Policies

Rates are Daily in USD
Standard: $80-$132
Suite: $218-$662
Meals: No Meals Included
Credit Cards Are Accepted
Reservations must be guaranteed with a credit card
Deposit Policy: Full payment
Cancellation Policy: 30.00 fee