Itinerary for around FIVE / SIX weeks

Hello

I am heading for the Solomons for some 5 weeks from end of May and I am looking for
some suggestions/information.

My plan so far :

1. 10 days in Malaita

2. 14 days in Rennell/Bellona OR Santa Cruz Islands

3. 14 days in the Western Province ( Marovo Lagoon Area and/ or Gizo Area )

4. Honiara and surroundings

Apart from the Rennell/Santa Cruz trip, I want to take ferries :
Are there reliable ones to the Western Province?
Any schedule available?

Is it possible to book the domestic flights upon arrival in Honiara or is it advisable to
book everything well in advance?

Any decent guest-house/hotel with en suite rooms in Honiara?

I want to spend some days in the LangaLanga Lagoon/Malaita: Do I need to book
well in advance for the homestay? and if so, how? How about transfers from Auki?

Renbel Province OR Santa Cruz Islands?

Any advice greatly appreciated, thanks a lot

There are ferries that run from Honiara to Western Province as well as Honiara to Auki. Last time I was there the ferry service to Santa Cruz was "iffy" to non-existent, but things have picked up since then. Probably best to fly there, though, it's a long, rough sea trip.

Try the Chester House in Honiara (the Melanesian Brothers Rest House) but you'd need to book in advance, it's pretty popular. There are other church-run guest/rest houses in Honiara as well. I don't have access to more information at the moment, I'm not at home and this connection is as slow as molasses. Ozziegiraffe can help.

You normally don't need to book domestic flights too far in advance, a few days or a week, maybe. If you don't have a place to stay on Bellona try visiting the folks in the Renbel Provincial offices, which were in Chinatown (Honiara) last time I was there, and they usually arrange something. Try the Suania Guesthouse (can't remember the spelling, all my info is at home), run by Barnabas and Millie Suania (not the correct spelling).

Not sure what you mean by transfers from Auki ... do you have a homestay arranged? Travel around Malaita is usually by truck. Again, Ozziegiraffe will have much more info on Malaita.

My first bit of advice is to book to go to either Santa Cruz or Renbel at the beginning of your trip, as planes to these places can get delayed or cancelled. It is more important to get to the airport early for these flights, as you can get "bumped" if the plane is overbooked, or overloaded with cargo. You need a long time allowance to get a flight back, as they can be cancelled at short notice. On one trip to Temotu Province, I had to wait a week for a flight, as they had changed the weekly flight time to 10 hours earlier, and I was on another island.
June can be difficult for internal travel because of a month-long school and college holiday, with many students trying to get home, but most travel by ship, not plane.
I have not been to Rennel or Bellona, but I understand that the local community high school near Lake Tenggano can provide accommodation and guides.
There are several Rest Houses in Lata (capital on Santa Cruz). There is also a low key resort on Pigeon Island in the Reefs, and the family has its own transport.
There are a couple of Home Stays in the Langa Langa Lagoon, and it is very close to Auki. They will probably organise to meet you. The Lau Lagoon also has artificial islands and is further north and less tourist-oriented, and there is a homestay there as well. I would leave Malaita to last of your 3 options, because of regular transport options and relative closeness to Honiara. Remember to book our seat on 360 Discovery (daily fast boat) in advance, as they never take extra passengers.
Other options in Honiara are St Agnes Rest House (both St Agnes and Chester now offer en suite rooms, shared kitchen facilities, and are very centrally located).
The Raintree B&B is located by the water a bus trip west of the centre of town, and has a cafe as well as en suite guest rooms.
Please let me know if you would like more details about any of the above.

Thanks a lot both of you, BRILLIANT advice/information!

To put the flight trip to either Renbel OR Santa Cruz at the beginning sounds logical.

Have found the Ngarando Resort on Pigeon Island in the Reefs, sounds tempting.
Will decide which province I pick the coming week and then book the flight through
the Air Solomon Island website.

How do I contact Ngarando Resort in case I decide to go there?
Have also found the emails of the two centrally located recommended guesthouses
in Honiara.

The mentioned home stay in LauLagoon : Is it the "Lagoon Dweller's guesthouse" from the
official SI - tourism board website?
If not : How do I get in touch with the one from "your" exploringsolomon-site in Berlin/ Lismore?
I guess they are offering some kind of activities for exploring the surroundings there...

Do you know something about - reliable - ferries to the Western Province?

If one has €, best way/place to change money? ATMs for VISA reliable?

Again, thank you for any reply

This seems to be the most up to date link for Ngarando. If you have problems, I can probably send you information about a contact in Honiara. I have been there, but not stayed, as I was staying with a friend on a nearby island. The sea crossings from Lata can be interesting, as there is no regular service, but the Hepburn family have a good boat with a large engine.
I am not familiar with the Lagoon dweller's guest house, but from the website, it looks like it is on the mainland, not an artificial island. The house is also a "permanent" house.
I have been visiting Berlin for 20 years now, and over the last few years, have been helping the locals by letting people know about the guest house. It is private, can accommodate up to 4. The house is a leaf house, and the artificial islands and leaf houses are definitely cooler. Also you can swim whenever you want. (It does not have power or a flush toilet, so is much more like a real village experiece.) Activities like hikes and village activities can be arranged as you choose, as well as visits to gardens, markets, fishing, dug-out canoeing etc. Anthing involving power boats is extra, and depend on availability of boats and fuel, which is quite expensive. All meals will be cooked for you and included in the price.
I can send you contact details by PM if you are interested. The family who lives there permanently should be in Honiara at present, as they are having a baby. I have emails for family in Honiara, and a phone (mobile) number, but will not post them on the open board.
There are one or two fast boats a week going to Western Province, usually early Sunday morning. You can book seats when you get to Honiara. There are also at least one or two slower boats weekly.
You can change Euros at the airport when you arrive (not the best rate) or at one of the 3 main banks in the middle of town. There are ATMs in Honiara, including the airport, Auki and Gizo, which accept Mastercard and Visa.

Great information, thank you so much Ozziegiraffe.

Berlin sounds very interesting, will send you a PM for further contact details of the family.

Still not decided between Renbel and Santa Cruz but the airfare to Lata is rather
expensive.....

Cheers

Ben Hepworth of Pigeon Isand, Reef Islands, Temotu Province can be contacted by email: hepworth_ben (at) yahoo.com

His twin brother Ross Hepworth lives in Honiara, his email: acf (at) solomon.com.sb

Oops I just realised I typed Hepburn when I meant Hepworth. OP, I've sent you a PM.