GUAM: Visiting somewhere obscure for no apparent reason (NGO-GUM-KIX on UA J)

[seritonin]

Hm, the Japan parts of the trip looked good, the Guam less so. So what's the longest anyone has been in Japan and shortest in Guam, e.g. Has anyone had 2 weeks in Japan and 2 days in Guam?

Even 2 days in Guam is way too long...great trip report nevertheless ... 12 hours was enough for me and 8 days in Thailand instead of Japan..

 

[JessicaTam]

Great trip report. Thanks for putting it together.

Q: Could you have got away without hiring a car? That is, what is the public transport or cost of taxis like?

 

[Boris spatsky]

I spent one night in Guam with work years ago. Spent the night drinking beer then shooting guns (yes, that combo is legal!!). Back in my younger days

 

[Ben170292]

Nice trip report,

Why will lots of Aussies be going there this year?

 

[Melburnian1]

One alternate way to get to GUM is to fly from BNE, DRW, MEL or SYD on PR to MNL and then the same airline from MNL to GUM. In the low season it can be quite a reasonable fare, cheaper than via CNS.

 

[markis10]

One alternate way to get to GUM is to fly from BNE, DRW, MEL or SYD on PR to MNL and then the same airline from MNL to GUM. In the low season it can be quite a reasonable fare, cheaper than via CNS.

Hardly reasonable compared to using other methods such as buying points, especially when it's not the real destination

 

[Melburnian1]

markis10, apologies: I as approaching it from the viewpoint of someone who wanted to pay 'cash' for their fare, not use points.

 

[markis10]

markis10, apologies: I as approaching it from the viewpoint of someone who wanted to pay 'cash' for their fare, not use points.

Buying points would be less than any cash fare, which is the point of going

 

[netgrom]

Why will lots of Aussies be going there this year?

Might have something to do with USDM..or maybe it just made best value trips for Australians. One of those I think.

 

[get me outta here]

Q: Could you have got away without hiring a car? That is, what is the public transport or cost of taxis like?[/QUOTE]

I booked the hotel The Bayview Hotel Guam / Oceanview Hotel & Residences and they do a personal a/port pick up for $10 each way and it's a 24 hour service which is good as I arrive at 0440 and dep at 0610. I do not intend to hire a car and will ask the hotel re a idea of taxis and report back if I get an answer.

 

[markis10]

I booked the hotel The Bayview Hotel Guam / Oceanview Hotel & Residences and they do a personal a/port pick up for $10 each way and it's a 24 hour service which is good as I arrive at 0440 and dep at 0610. I do not intend to hire a car and will ask the hotel re a idea of taxis and report back if I get an answer.

Taxis are not cheap

Flag Rate = $2.40
1st Mile = $4.00
Every 1/4 Mile Thereafter = $0.80
Waiting Time (2 Minutes) = $0.80
Luggage Charge = $1.00 per luggage



http://www.guam-online.com/transit/

 

[smit0847]

Great trip report. Thanks for putting it together.

Q: Could you have got away without hiring a car? That is, what is the public transport or cost of taxis like?

You could get away without hiring a car if you were happy to stay in Tumon the whole time (which is the central tourist area). Tumon is pretty much next to the runway so would be less than a USD20 cab ride and everything is walking distance in Tumon. We only hired a car because we could get a great car at a cheap rate, and we wanted to explore the whole island. I would have been climbing the walls if I hadnt left Tumon for 5 days.

Even 2 days in Guam is way too long...great trip report nevertheless ... 12 hours was enough for me and 8 days in Thailand instead of Japan..

Oh come on! In nice weather its a cheap tropical island. I certainly enjoyed my time in Japan more but it was fun to go somewhere obscure.

Nice trip report,

Why will lots of Aussies be going there this year?

Check the USDM forum....

One alternate way to get to GUM is to fly from BNE, DRW, MEL or SYD on PR to MNL and then the same airline from MNL to GUM. In the low season it can be quite a reasonable fare, cheaper than via CNS.

When it's cheaper to buy points and go J with a free asian stopover than it is to buy Y rev tickets you can start to understand the appeal...

Q: Could you have got away without hiring a car? That is, what is the public transport or cost of taxis like?

I booked the hotel The Bayview Hotel Guam / Oceanview Hotel & Residences and they do a personal a/port pick up for $10 each way and it's a 24 hour service which is good as I arrive at 0440 and dep at 0610. I do not intend to hire a car and will ask the hotel re a idea of taxis and report back if I get an answer.[/QUOTE]

That seems like a fair price. I vaguely remember a sign re taxi prices outside our hotel - I think it's fixed prices - $20 to airport (I think?), $20 to Tauming and maybe max $40 anywhere else on the island?

 

[markis10]

I wonder what the SPG properties are like on the island, the Westin for 10000 SPG points seems ok?

 

[get me outta here]

QUOTE: Guam Travel, Getting around on Guam.[/QUOTE]

Thanks, this is a very useful link and shows that getting around sans car is not impossible.

 

[get me outta here]

Here's another good link for the bus schedule to and from hotels and malls etc. Comprehensive enough for some trip planning whilst there.:

http://gardenvilla.devsite-1.com/d/...ed_Guahan_Shuttle_schedule_ending_3.31.14.pdf

PLUS, there may be a new hotel having a soft opening later in the year. Dusit Thani Guam.

 

[Fifa]

Thanks for the detailed TR smit0847. I have really enjoyed reading it.
We will be there for three nights (probably staying at Hilton Guam) in November and you have given us lots of ideas.

Did you think of sending your snowboard gear by Takkyubin from your ski resort to KIX? It's an excellent cheap service and they would have held it at the airport for pick-up on the way back through.

 

[zainman]

Thanks for the detailed TR smit0847. I have really enjoyed reading it.
We will be there for three nights (probably staying at Hilton Guam) in November and you have given us lots of ideas.

Did you think of sending your snowboard gear by Takkyubin from your ski resort to KIX? It's an excellent cheap service and they would have held it at the airport for pick-up on the way back through.

If you stay at the Hilton, definitely try the Seafood restaurant there. The black pepper crab was the best I've ever had!

 

[Fifa]

If you stay at the Hilton, definitely try the Seafood restaurant there. The black pepper crab was the best I've ever had!

Yum - thanks for the heads up.

 

[Sprucegoose]

If you stay at the Hilton, definitely try the Seafood restaurant there. The black pepper crab was the best I've ever had!

Puts the heat on the SYD Flounge!!

 

[boomy]

If you stay at the Hilton, definitely try the Seafood restaurant there. The black pepper crab was the best I've ever had!

Thanks for the tip, I'm staying there in September and I love pepper crab