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

[Sprucegoose]

. My Mother would say she was 'off with the fairies'. She was most surprised that Australians were travelling to Guam (a theme that would be repeated the entire trip) so asked us where we were staying and what we were doing etc. We asked her various questions about Guam and this is where it got weird - some questions she would answer perfectly in a light-hearted flirty way that made us think she really loved her job but didn't take it or herself too seriously. Other questions she would just stare at us blankly, smile and not answer (questions like 'has it been raining today?'). She was a caucasian American with perfect English as her first language so I don't think there was a language problem. Despite not answering many questions at all and saying strange things like 'I don't even know my son's age' she was keen to hang around us and chat for most of the flight rather than hide in the galley. What questions she did answer she managed to give us some good tips for the island. UA GUM-based crew only do same-day same-plane turnarounds so she never gets to visit the destinations she flies to (NRT, KIX, NGO, SPN, CTS, ROR, MNL, HKG, HNL, CNS etc).

The flight attendant that you came across described above could well be your average american.

 

[zainman]

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

You're welcome. I stayed there in December and got upgraded to an executive suite. Really loved it. Ate there 2 nights and the quality of food was great! Probably on the expensive side but well worth it.

 

[boomy]

You're welcome. I stayed there in December and got upgraded to an executive suite. Really loved it. Ate there 2 nights and the quality of food was great! Probably on the expensive side but well worth it.

How's the exec lounge there?
Is the Hilton located in a good area? I would really prefer to avoid hiring a car. We are there only for 2 nights.

 

[get me outta here]

You're welcome. I stayed there in December and got upgraded to an executive suite. Really loved it. Ate there 2 nights and the quality of food was great! Probably on the expensive side but well worth it.

What's about the price of the Hilton. The Bayview is $99+11%.

 

[zainman]

What's about the price of the Hilton. The Bayview is $99+11%.

I paid similar for the Hilton because I used expedia BRG coupons to bring down price of each night by $50

 

[get me outta here]

I don't know what expedia BRG coupons are, but how do I get some for 3 nights!?

 

[zainman]

I don't know what expedia BRG coupons are, but how do I get some for 3 nights!?

BRG= Best rate guarantee. Book a hotel, find a rate lower than expedia and submit a claim. Expedia refunds the extra amount you've paid and gives you a $50 coupon after you complete your stay.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

It's getting to the stage where we need a social calendar of who's in GUM & when.

The staff at the Green Lizard will think there's an Australian invasion because they only have to shake a palm tree & an AFFer will fall out of it!

 

[get me outta here]

QF have just emailed me re some double points offers. Just wondering if they normally include the US tax in the total - it's a similar price to the hotel quote.

and, do they expect you to pay in advance for these normally.

 

[smit0847]

What's about the price of the Hilton. The Bayview is $99+11%.

It was over $180 + 11% when I was in Guam and it does not have very good reviews so we didn't stay there. I don't even think there is an exec lounge?

It's getting to the stage where we need a social calendar of who's in GUM & when.

The staff at the Green Lizard will think there's an Australian invasion because they only have to shake a palm tree & an AFFer will fall out of it! 

Would definitely recommend meeting up with other AFFers at the GL if you are there at the same time - its right in the middle of Tumon. The staff there are really fantastic - sit at the bar when its not busy and chat to the staff and see if they encourage you to 'try' any special drinks!

I think there are several AFFers there for Easter?

 

[get me outta here]

It was over $180 + 11% when I was in Guam and it does not have very good reviews so we didn't stay there. I don't even think there is an exec lounge

I didn't even look for a lounge as the $99 + suited me for 3 nights, much cheaper than the Hilton. I'll pay more in a nicer destination!

 

[hummel]

It was over $180 + 11% when I was in Guam and it does not have very good reviews so we didn't stay there. I don't even think there is an exec lounge?



Would definitely recommend meeting up with other AFFers at the GL if you are there at the same time - its right in the middle of Tumon. The staff there are really fantastic - sit at the bar when its not busy and chat to the staff and see if they encourage you to 'try' any special drinks!

I think there are several AFFers there for Easter?

I was going to GUM at easter but now will be in SPN...I'll wave from the beach!

 

[jazza1971]

I just spent a week up there with work, loved it. Just like a mini Hawaii. If you hire a car and want to go swimming in a cave easy to get to follow these instructions, take Marine Corp Drive out of town heading Nth towards Anderson AFB, turn right at the KFC (KFC is on right and only one headed that way) onto Macheche Rd, follow it all the way along to cross road at end. Go straight through, road is a divided road to no where. Follow it along (its out in the boonies) and then you turn left at the end onto a old and narrow road and follow that to end. You'll see parking spot, jump out and follow trail down hill to this (Japanese pumped fresh water from here for their troops)



Well worth the 30mins or so it takes to get there, bring a waterproof torch and you can really have a good look. We were lucky enough to bump into a pair of local kids who showed us through with candles. You can also walk further along the path chuck a left to this



Spectacular!

 

[get me outta here]

Thanks jazza, more please!

 

[markis10]

It was over $180 + 11% when I was in Guam and it does not have very good reviews so we didn't stay there. I don't even think there is an exec lounge?

There is a lounge, around USD$30 a night to upgrade.

 

[jazza1971]

Thanks jazza, more please!

Some not the best quality, Panoramic view close to the cave we swam in



View from hotel, would have been better higher but when you aren't paying you don't have much choice...rest of folks had other side of building. Beach was great, water fantastic



Beach on the other side of the island





And of course my obligatory food shot! My fav when I go to the US, Ribs washed down with a beer!

 

[get me outta here]

You got ribs as long as your arm

 

[jazza1971]

You got ribs as long as your arm

Yes indeed, I wasn't complaining....nice big 700mil beer to go along with it...Ate way to much on the trip, TGI Fridays, Tony Roma's, a newly opened place Big Boi's BBQ (proper dry rub BBQ place which was awesome), even got a tour of the smoker from the owner after my meal.

Hit the Churrasco grill for a huge feed of Medium Rare goodness, pity the red's didn't live up to our wonderful standards back here....

Also went to the Chamorro Village markets held on a Wed night, which had a bunch of local fair & food which was pretty good.

A bunch of food to increase the waist line and now I have to loose a KG or two

 

[travelislife]

So I recently complete my USDM trip to Tokyo and Guam and had a great time. I am not a massive trip report person so thought I would just add a couple of my insights from my Guam sojourn. We had three nights in Guam arriving at 1:30am on the Thursday night and flying out at 5:00pm on the Sunday arfternoon.

We travelled in Business NRT-GUM-NRT on United airlines in one of their B777-200 with 2-3-2 set up with old recliners and wifi BYO device in flight entertainment. Generally pretty coughpy experience, wifi entertainment didn't work, food average, plastic cups before take off, US style service a shock after the delight of the Asian airlines, not too much else to report really. Lounges in NRT and GUM ok for an hour or so.

We stayed at the Hilton. It was nice with a room in the premier tower overlooking the park and Tumon Bay and had great pools but no real beach. Also appears they have pieced the hotel together over the years with not really a great flow from the lobby to the pools/ocean/gym and restaurants. They are currently renovating rooms in the main building. You would hate to be given a room on the back side of either building which would look straight in to the carpark. Rate was probably a bit expensive really at AUD$200 per night inclusive of all taxes and including buffet breakfast, booked through Agoda in USD a while back. Specifically emailed hotel and requested an ocean view room in the Premier Tower on a high floor. We were on floor 9.

We got lucky with the 27th Annual Micronesian Fare being held in the park right next door to the hotel. Lots of great BBQ Chamoro food and live music going on and a great vibe of people out and about enjoying life. You could tell we were in US land though with everyone seemingly carrying a few extra kg's. We wandered around and ate some food at the fare on both the Friday and Saturday nights. Lots of meat on a stick which was great.

We got a taxi from the airport when we first arrived, cost $16 + $2 for bags, gave him $20. Lazed by the pool and went for a walk up the beach round the bay and had a swim or two, the bay and reef is really beautiful and quite spectacular when the sun shines the right way. In the afternoon we picked up the mustang which we had hired. It was great fun cruising around with the top down checking out the island, there are some great vista's around the island and checked out some of the military sites which was interesting.

We are not massive shoppers and just checked out the main two plazas on the main Tumon road on the last day killing an hour or two before going to the airport and when the rain hit. Didn't find any of it really inspiring to tell the truth. Went to PROA for dinner on the Saturday night in Tumon, wait was 45 minutes but we put our name down and went for a walk and beer at the fair across the road before coming back and getting a table straight away. Food was okay, but not great. Not sure what the hype is about on Trip Advisor.

Overall we enjoyed our time there and needed a couple of days of chilling out in the warmth and sun after a hectic week in Japan. I feel we got lucky with the weather having mostly sunshine and only a couple of hours of rain on the last day, it would definitely be a fairly boring place if it continually rained.

 

[smit0847]

Great feedback. It sounds like you had a very similar experience in Guam that I did.

I would argue the UA 737 J might be better than the 777-200 J as with a much smaller cabin its a bit more personable. We found the recliner seats extremely comfortable for the 2 day flights and though the IFE was non-existant, the crew ere pretty good in offering plenty of (somewhat average) food and drinks in the small cabin.

We were quite bored when it was raining as unless you like shopping or eating there is very little to do. $4.75 cinema tickets were a great way to pass the afternoon. It was glorious driving around in a convertible when the sun was out though!

What did you think of the roads? Did the word 'ghetto' come to mind when you were there at all?