New Guinea for tourists on a budget...?

I would like to hit the touristic spots of NG... Probably on a tour... No solo hiking in the bush...!

What is the best touristic town to arrive at in NG...and should you have a tour already booked...or can you get one there on short notice... Fly in ...take a Boat...? Best way to arrive...I assume a VOA is available for US passports...?

The warnings about crime are noted...but I've seen those before in virtually everyplace I've visited...and they usually amount to not much...if you are careful and don't look like an easy target...

Is there a "tourist district"...like Khao San Road in Bangkok...or a "hotel district"...where backpackers congregate...? Can you book a room locally as a walk in...or on the Net...or only in advance....? I'm thinking of spending a week or 10 days in NG....

Hopefully someone with firsthand experience will weigh in.

That being said, it is worth noting that while lots of places come with warnings about violence, rarely do you hear so many stories of people who have been harmed or nearly harmed as you do for PNG (except Chuuk in the FSM). My understanding is that in Port Moresby, you can't even even hail a taxi without fearing harm--you have to book a hotel in advance and get a driver to meet you at the airport.

This isn't to say that you shouldn't go (it's certaintly still on my travel list), but this is a completely different situation than the rest of of the Pacific (again, excluding Chuuk).

Hi Vasenka,

To answer your questions...
- Organised tours. Stick to a company like Trans Niugini Tours, but remember they are aimed at the upper end of the market. 'Budget' tours that are safe, and require minimal independent knowledge of the country and how to get around in PNG. Running a tourism business in PNG is challenging and high risk for even experienced operators.

• Best Touristic Towns, and where to Arrive. You will inevitably arrive in Port Moresby, and with a bit of planning and some contacts there are things to see here. However, the more popular tourist places are Madang, Alotau and Rabaul for coastal/island based exploring. Highlands for scenery, culture and adventure (esp if aligned with a Highlands show). Sepik as well. Do some research (inc on Thorntree) and find an area with things that are of interest to you to explore.

• Warnings about Crime. Yes, I believe you can travel safely in PNG, but it is not as simple as not looking like an easy target. Follow the advice from locals. Travel with locals, and in most major towns (Moresby, Lae, Hagen, as well as on major roads / highways etc) do not walk around at night at all, and take advice even during the day. Best to be accompanied by someone, especially until you get to know the place and have some judgement of what looks normal, and what does not.

• Tourist or Hotel Districts. No. These do not exist. Hotels / accom / restuarants frequented by Expats only really exist in the major centres, and are typically on discrete plots of land or in hotel complexes or compounds. Often spread over town too. There is no street of bars, restuarants, guest houses that you can wander around with other tourists. This does not exist.

• Walk In Rooms. You typically will not be 'walking in' because of the points above. Internet is unreliable but is used by the major hotels in Moresby, Lae, Rabaul etc. Rates are not much different, and generally non negotiable. Payment upfront often expected, especially if visiting at a time of a festival. Do some research on recommended places in the areas where you want to visit, call the owner on the phone and make the necessary arrangements. They will most likely pick you up from the Airport and can then help discuss other tourist and travel arrangements.

PNG is a great, fascinating country, but you need to be prepared, flexible, and have realistic expectations to get the most out of your visit. Hope this initial advice has helped. Happy for you to PM if you have any other questions.

Kruegs

unlike your touristic experiences in most of asia,png is opposite all that.
no backpacker 'clubs",and very little tourist office type stuff,it is a very expensive trek for people who are used to the asia cheapo hotel accom routine!
the best tourist office is at the international airport(if it is open)
10 days is way too short to see the real png......as you will have to fly to any locations from pom.
accom in pom is really high rate...........maybe if you only have 10 days try the tufi area....on the nth coast?
budget+png do not go together.

HI, I am also planning a trip to PNG for probably the best season to go in may 2013 as a backpacker, I am also a diver so any info concerning the best cheap places to go interest me.