Fuel Prices

Hello,

I was hoping that someone could help me out with some information. My partner and I are planning to visit Tetepare in August. We booked this with them back in January and also confirmed transfer costs with them at this time. However, now they are telling me that these transfer costs have increased by 30%!! Something which they are blaming on an increase in fuel costs. I have enquired from several other sources who tell me that the fuel prices are in fact roughly the same as they were at this time last year and so I am struggling to understand what is going on.

Any info gratefully received.

Thanks,
Sarah.

It may depend whether your other sources are in Honiara, a Provincial centre like Gizo, or near Tetepare. Transporting fuel to regional areas can add greatly to the cost.
I don't have any up to date information on prices, though.

Hi OzzieGirraffe,

Thanks for your post. I'm less interested in the actual price of fuel - more whether it has gone up significantly over recent months. Is it likely that fuel prices have increased in some areas and not in others?

Thanks,
Sarah.

Well, does it matter?
As tourism in Tetepare is run as a monopoly (unless things have changed) they can charge whatever they like regardless of actual changes in fuel prices.
All you can do is accept or reject it.

Yes, fuel prices can increase in some areas rather than others, depending on how the fuel was obtained. I have never been to Tetepare, but when I've asked about the cost of a transfer, it's always been completely fair, I doubt very much that they're making much (if anything) from it. In any case you probably don't have much choice, and I've never heard anything but incredible reports from those who have gone to Tetepare.

We went to Tetepare last December and the transfer was 1900SBD from Munda and then $2200SBD to Lola island. At the time we thought this was a lot so we enquired with a couple of other places and Tetepare actually did the cheapest fare. They seem pretty honest there and the high price is just a reflection of the remoteness of the island and how far you need to go in a little boat. Petrol is very expensive and all travel by boat cost a lot.
But from our experience the cost is well worth the experience. Tetepare was amazing!!!

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Don't worry, we're still planning to go. In fact we'll be there in less than 3 weeks! Am so excited! Can't wait :)

Boat transfers seem quite expensive wherever you go in the Solomons...but it can't just be put to 'high fuel prices'... for example, one place I stayed for several days recently charged 600SBD (approx $85 oz/us) for pick-up one way...the boat trip was 30-45 minutes....I doubt it would use even a gallon of fuel in that time.
Unfortunately you dont have any options and it's just something you have to accept for travel there....just means you feel compelled to spend more time at any one place to make it worthwhile paying the boat transfers...