What I wish I had known about Palau (Koror) before going...

I made a reservation at Tree D several weeks in advance of my trip, and received prompt confirmation by the manager. It was agreed that I would get picked up at the airport at 2am on the day of my arrival. When I eventually arrived to Koror no representative of Tree D was at the airport to pick me up and take me to the guesthouse. Tourist information helped me to call them, yet nobody answered the phone. Being worried about standing in front of a locked front entrance by the time I make it to Tree D on my own I decided to head to a different place instead. The following day I wrote Tree D a message, mentioning that I was waiting to get picked up at the airport as previously agreed upon, and telling them that they should consider my reservation for 5 nights as hereby cancelled. I never received a message from them in return.

I stayed at DW motel in downtown Koror, which turned out to be a pretty good choice. The staff was very accommodating and helpful, and the rooms were basic but comfortable. There’s WIFI but it’s slow and pricey at 10$ per day. The location is good. Just make sure not to stay in one of the rooms near the staircase, as most guests arrive on late night flights and you’ll definitely be woken up by the new arrivals hauling their luggage up the stairs in the middle of the night.

Moving around Koror on foot is possible but distances are not insignificant, not the mention the heat and potentially frequent downpours. I rarely used taxis and walked for the most part, but was caught in the rain a few times. I ended up renting a car only for a single day and used it to explore Babeldoeb. That was easy to do even off the new concrete compact road and without a 4WD. Babeldoeb’s attractions are somewhat overrated in my opinion, but it definitely is a beautiful tropical island worth spending some time on. Some of the traditional “Bais” are very nice to look at, and the size and location of the new Capitol building is indeed impressive considering the small size of this island nation. Visiting it shouldn’t be missed.

Having done pretty extensive internet research online (also here on the TT) before going on my trip, I decided to head to Sam’s Dive Shop first to inquire about my options regarding scuba diving. I am only moderately experienced and hadn’t done any scuba diving in almost three years prior to this trip. Service and advice given at Sam’s were very professional, attentive, and tuned to my needs. Sam’s suggested me to do a refresher dive with an instructor near the dock to review my skills before heading out to the real dive sites. This is what I did, and the following day I headed out for a wreck dive as well as a drift dive (Ito Maru and German Channel) with them. We also visited Jellyfish Lake and Milky Way during the day. Again, I was very happy with the whole setup, including the expertise and professionalism of the guides. At the end of my stay I did a kayaking/snorkeling excursion in the Rock Islands area with them that was equally great. Sam’s picks up and drops off their customers at their respective hotels every day so I had no need to rent a car on those days. They also prepare pretty good food for reasonable prices at their on-site restaurant, and their WIFI is reasonably fast.

Talking about food…by far the best food I have had in Koror was at Taj’s. It really lives up to its reputation. Great stuff!

I wanted to check out the lookout on Malakal island, but didn’t find the way all the way up to the top. The little road uphill ends at some stage and then you’re in the middle of farm land, with trails branching off into different directions. I followed to one that appeared most promising, but the trail soon became very narrow, muddy, and overgrown. Maybe others have better luck…

I enjoyed reading your report and have to agree with your views on Sam's Tours. We did the kayak tour and the Rock Islands Snorkel trip - great guides and an excellent experience.

To get to the look out you have to turn left at the top of the hill (in the farmland area)... and make your way up through a small taro patch (there is a path down the middle)... once through there there is a path - fairly well beaten - all the way to the top... Don't feel bad for missing it.. I did a few times before someone showed me the way. The view from the top is certainly worth the climb.

Thankyou for your stories, I am planning my trip there in 2012. and I will definately take your experience into consideration.