Micronesia is a vast tropical island archipelago in the northwest Pacific region just north of the equator, sharing similar latitudes with Australia and New Zealand. Micronesia is divided into the following independent island nations:
- Guam (US territory)
- Republic of Palau
- Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) includes Yap, Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae & Pohnpei
- Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI)
US Dollars are the only accepted currency in all of Micronesia, and most resorts and larger restaurants accept international credit cards.
Micronesia can be reached from west coast USA, Asia and Australia. The gateways are:
From the United States
United Airlines operate nonstop flights from Honolulu to Guam. From Guam, UA flights connect directly to Palau, Yap, Chuuk (Truk Lagoon) and Saipan. Divers heading for Truk Lagoon may also book the early morning (milk run) flight from Honolulu via Majuro/Marshall Islands, Korae, Pohnpei to Truk Lagoon which ends in Guam.
From Australia
There are 2 United flights per week departing from Cairns to Guam with seamless connections to Truk Lagoon (& Pohnpei, Kosrae & Majuro) on Mondays and Fridays with only about 3 hours stopover in Guam. Palau requires an all-day stopover in Guam for their daily evening flights. Connections to Yap are scheduled only twice a week (Guam-Yap TUE and SAT; Yap-Guam WED and SUN) and require a layover in Guam.
From Manila
This is the least expensive gateway into Micronesia with daily United Airlines flights to Guam and twice weekly nonstop flights to Palau.
Philippine Airlines also offers inexpensive nonstop flights to Guam only. Divers interested in a multi-island trip will find roundtrip airfare with United Airlines via Manila less expensive than adding domestic United flights within Micronesia to their Philippine Airlines ticket cost.
Divers from Europe find particularly convenient and inexpensive connections to Manila with KLM, Air France, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates and Qatar Airways.
From Taipei/Taiwan
China Airlines offers nonstop flights to Palau which are particularly interesting for European divers with very attractively priced add-on connections to European cities. Divers interested in a multi-island trip will find roundtrip airfare with United Airlines via Manila less expensive than adding domestic United flights within Micronesia to their China Airlines ticket cost.
From Tokyo
Many US, European and Australian airlines offer convenient flights to Tokyo Narita, and United flies nonstop from Narita to Guam; this flight is usually more expensive than comparable United flights from Manila. Other airlines offering nonstop flights from Narita or Osaka to Guam are Delta Airlines and Japan Airlines.
Airfares
We offer competitive wholesale airfares with United Airlines from Cairns/Australia and Manila. Those airfares can be reserved for you and ticketed at a later point in time. Seat allocations, necessary schedule or itinerary changes are all part of our service.
We also offer research and ticketing of all published airfares, to find the least expensive and/or most convenient flight plan from any international gateway world-wide. Many of the lowest available published airfares are instant purchase only, often online through booking engines of the airlines' own websites.
Air taxes are subject to strong fluctuations and can change daily or until your flight ticket has been purchased. Taxes generally include local airport/security fees, departure taxes, ground handling fees and fuel surcharges.
In general, airfares available for purchase online depend on day of departure and time of travel. Those instant purchase airfares require full payment at time of booking. If you choose to arrange your own flights online, we won't be able to provide any services for seat reservations, schedule or itinerary changes.
Baggage
United Airlines, like many other US airlines, recently changed their baggage regulations. Now, only 1 bag may be checked in free of charge (max. weight 23kg/50lbs). A flat rate of USD 40 or USD 70 will be charged for a second checked item (max. weight 23kg/50lbs). Fee depends on customer's point of origin within South Pacific/Asia. Maximum cabin baggage allowance is 1 piece not exceeding 18kg/39lbs.
Most European and Asian airlines generally only allow 20kg (44lbs) of free check baggage per passenger on their international routes, but please inquire about exceptions for sporting goods and dive bags.
Fragile items such as camera, regulator, dive computer etc., should be packed in a small bag and taken as carry-on luggage. Batteries from dive torches, strobes, cameras and other devices should be removed prior to check-in. Be sure your baggage is properly tagged.
International airport information
Guam
Guam is the international gateway to all other Micronesian island, and connecting flights are only offered by United Airlines. Passengers booked on United flights from Honololu via Guam to Palau will notice that their scheduled stopover in-between flights in Guam is much less than 2 hours. Nevertheless, this is a secure connection guaranteed by United.
Passengers on any other international flights should observe the regular minimum connection times at international airports of at least 2 hours.
Manila
Please note that Ninoy Aquino airport has separate international terminals which are linked by surface streets only. Traffic in Manila is always busy, and connecting flights arriving and departing from different terminals require a minimum stop-over time of 4 hours. Please contact your ticketing agent to make sure you have sufficient time on the ground.
Passengers arriving from other southeast Asian gateways into Clark Manila airport, the former Clark airforce base, will have to arrange transfer to Nino Aquino International Airport which is more than 200km south. Airport shuttles exist, and private transfer is comparatively inexpensive for western standards. An overnight stay before is highly recommended in-between flights.
Visa & passport requirements
Palau and Federated States of Micronesia:
Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from proposed date of departure, and a valid onward air ticket or travel document is an entry requirement. Tourist entry visas are valid for up to 30 days are issued on arrival for Palau and all FSM islands. Guam, as a US territory, requires all passengers to register online prior to arrival or transit (please see below).
Guam Visits and Transits
Effective January 2009, new immigration procedures have been put in place for all visitors intending to enter the USA, including Guam. Visa Waiver Program travellers (VWP) will be required to obtain a travel authorisation via the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) prior to boarding any flight into Guam.
A fee of USD 14 per person applies for all online applications. Payment by credit card online.
The Visa Waiver Program is available to citizens of a number of countries, including those who hold Australian, New Zealand and most European passports.
Links to more information
The following information is supplied by the foreign affairs section of the relevant country or the tourism authority of the destination. Please check the links for up to date information on visa and safety requirements, embassy and consular contacts, general information:
