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My boyfriend and I would like to go to PNG next year. I have looking into flights from the US, and they are very expensive.

We just got back from a trip to Fiji and Vanuatu last month. I know that I can take a flight from Fiji to PNG via Air Niguini and it will cost about $550 US pp. The flight from DPS (Bali) is much cheaper, but the costs maybe more from LAX>DPS and longer than from NAN>PNG.

Does anyone know of a cheaper/better route to get to PNG from the US (Los Angeles, CA?)

We want to spend at least one week in PNG mainly interested in the culture. Is one week enough?

What is a suggested itinerary?

Thanks in advance.

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1

What might end up being cheaper is finding an off-season flight to Australia, then fly from there.

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2

I've thought about it, but didn't necessarily want to go to Australia. I'm open to every feasible option.

Thanks.

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3

There is no really cheap way to PNG.

As for whether one week is enough - I'd personally say even a month is not enough for that enormously diverse country with its poor transport connections.


My info & thoughts:
on East-Indonesia.info: Indonesia, Maluku, West Papua, Raja Ampat & Indonesian Visas
on Thorn Tree: Seeing Orangutans, Kalimantan, Kiribati & Tuvalu
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4

Thanks for your input. Then what would you recommend for someone who wants to experience the country and it's culture? I really want to go next year.

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5

For a good overview of PNG, you should visit the Sepik, the Highlands and at least one of the islands. Each of those could easily take up a week, including getting there and back. You could cut them a bit shorter, but still, one week is way too short.


My info & thoughts:
on East-Indonesia.info: Indonesia, Maluku, West Papua, Raja Ampat & Indonesian Visas
on Thorn Tree: Seeing Orangutans, Kalimantan, Kiribati & Tuvalu
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6

Thanks. I'll do some research on those places. I am thinking of extending my time. I'll make a decision after doing some research.

Thanks for your input.

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7

Does anyone know of a cheaper/better route to get to PNG from the US (Los Angeles, CA?)

I don't know if it'll be cheaper or better but take a look also at Air Niugini's fares out of Manila, Hong Kong and Tokyo to see if the cheapest flight from the USA to either Manila, Hong Kong or Tokyo plus an Air Niugini flight from there is overall cheaper.

Another option you could research is to fly from Los Angeles to Honiara with Fiji Airways (changing planes in Nadi) and from Honiara to Port Moresby with Air Niugini.

And take a look too at webs like Kayak, Skyscanner, Orbitz and any other similar to see if it would be cheaper to make a single booking for all the route.

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8

Thank you. I have looked into routes out of Asia, and most are cheaper to PNG, however, the flight from LAX is much more expensive and a longer flight time. I am looking at flying out of Nadi International to POM. I'll still research other options and see what works best for me.

I appreciate your input.

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9

Personally I feel that you can do 1 week total in PNG if you concentrate on for example the Sepik River (fly to Wewak) or the Highlands (preferably time it with the Mt Hagen festival). If you've been to "paradise" islands before, you don't have to go in PNG. Remember, PNG is horrifically expensive and the quality of accommodation, food etc is very low in comparison to the prices they charge.
You can send me a private message if you want more info.

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