Palau post trip advice Sept 2013

Just wanted to throw out some random info on Palau. I just returned from a week there. September 2013

For starters, when we looked at the weather for September, it looked like it was going to rain everyday. Though we were hit by a couple of 5 minute showers, we had sunshine and blue skies the entire week. Storm clouds were small and passed quickly thus don't be afraid to visit in September.

We stayed at Carolines which was amazing. Great balconies overlooking lush island and bay. Included is a free day pass for Palau Pacific Resort which has a nice long stretch of beach with free use of pool, jacuzzi and umbrella/lawn chairs. You can rent kayaks, paddleboards and snorkel sets there for $10. Cozy beds and friendly staff. Great sunsets at Carolines and/or PPR. Breakfasts options cost $9 but are delivered to your bungalow. We did this once but then just bought breakfast food at the grocery in town the first night.

Koror town isn't an overly exciting place to spend time but it does have some good restaurants. It's pretty low key and friendly. People speak English so it's easy to navigate and taxis are easy to come by. You can get $5 haircuts, $20 massages, $3 fruit shakes and the grocery stores are stocked with US products. We stocked up on cheese/crackers & beer for happy hours at our balcony. There aren't many soveneir shops. They recommend the prison & senior center for handmade crafts but there isn't much variety at either. The prison has amazing carved wood but it's very pricey with most pieces between $100-$500.

We dove through Fish & Fins and really enjoyed our days with them. Quality guides and fun drivers and guides. Saw manta-rays, lots of sharks, turtles and schools of fish. Good stuff. Our favorite dive site was Blue Corner. They have a great restaurant on their dock for post diving meals. The Mediterrean sampler was amazing! They also do discovery divers for beginners. Two of my friends did them with us and highly recommend it for others who may not be certified but want to experience diving. As a snorkeler joining boat trips, you still can see a lot including reef sharks and turtles. We booked dives a night in advance. Dives cost $130 for two dives. If you need to rent equipment is $35 more. If you want to add on Jellyfish lake its $35 per person add on. These fees sound really expensive but when you see the quality of the boats and take into account that most sites are an hour by speedboat away, you realize it's actually good value. Being out on the water is magical as the water is every shade of blue imaginable and the limestones islands offer amazing backdrops.

Koror airport is tiny but easy. 30 minutes drive from Koror area as the speed limit is 25mph most places. We flew direct from Seoul, Korea for $715 RT on Asiana though we booked it via Orbitz.com.

Exit fee at the airport is $50

Definitely go to Palau if you get the chance. It's paradise! Google Images don't do it justice.

Glad you had a good trip! Palau remains one of my favorite vacations. The rock islands are out of this world and the people are amazing.