Getting to Palau

Hi there,

Can anyone recommend the cheapest way of getting to Palau. We are currently living in the Caribbean so guess our best routes are either going to be via London or the USA. I know it's going to be expensive anyway, but looking for any inside tips on how to get the best bargains...

many thanks

Sadie

I think LAX/HNL/Guam/Palau is one way. Continental/Air Micronesia, or whatever it is called these days, does most of that route.

Our N. Pacific expert, 5Waldos, might answer this.

Wow- don't think I've ever been called an expert- thanks Raro!

I would look into finding cheap flights to London rt, then a rt flight to Manila from London. You can often find both of those flights deeply discounted. There is a new service from the Phillipines to Palau that is supposed to be cheaper than Air Mike (aka Continental Air Micronesia). I don't remember the airline- it has been mentioned here on several occassions lately.
You can also fly to Palau from Taiwan if you can get a cheap enough flight from London to Taiwan, although the web site is entirely in Chinese, which makes it hard.

Sometimes you can get cheap flights from Manila to LAX with a stop in Palau. To some degree it depends on how much you are willing to leave to the last minute. We once got one way tickets to London from a discounter, then searched out the cheap flights to Manila while in London. Same from Manila to the US with the stop in Palau. It was a risk, but did end up cheaper than just buying tickets from US. Both London and Manila are wonderful places for cheap tickets. The one thing I would be careful about is getting the Manila to Palau tickets too far in advance- airlines other than Air Mike to Palau have a habit of disappearing without a lot of warning. The route is heavy with politics.

The airline from the Philippines is Asian Spirit, and it has VERY good fares indeed - see here.

Fares depend on length of stay.

Good heavens- just checked the Air Mike prices for Manila to Koror- more than $1000. What are they thinking? That is beyond outrageous.

Especially when compared to $330-380 on Asia Spirit...

And for Palau-Yap, Continental's own website quotes $1541 as the lowest fare!!!

Now, that's truly crazy!

At that point, get the US to Palau with a stop in Yap fare. There have to be better Air Mike fares. Check out dive packages- they used to include some nights at the resort, and with diving, were still cheaper than what Continental was advertising.

There has to be a better way!

Good day!

do we need a visa for palau micornesia? if ur form the Philippines? if yes why sort of visa then? cheers!

I am not sure about a Phillipine passport. I would suggest that you check the Palauan embassy in Manila or with your airline. Many places can get a visa at entrance. But many folks from the Phillipines go to Palau to work, so it may be a bit more complicated.

janmark,
Philippine passport holders do not require a visa for Palau.
Continental from LAX flies to Guam then Manila. If you insist on flying Air Mike to Palau out of Manila instead of Air Philippines (and spare yourself the Davao layover), get your tickets from local travel agents. Got my R/T ticket at US$440 all in

Sorry, that was Asian Spirit and NOT Air Philippines (keep messing the two up - wonder why...)