PNG- Solomon Islands

Forgot to also mention, i was checking out the Lonely Planet, wondered if anyone agrees that the old Papua New Guinea LP guide book gives more information than the latest edition 2005.
I had heard that the latest wasn't well written and quite unhelpful for budget travellers.
Info appreciated!!
Thanks Romie

Guess your best route depends on where you are flying to PNG & Solomons from ... Brisbane? Fiji? As far as village stays go, you could check out Ecotourism Melanesia; they might be have something to interest you. Other than that, in Solomons just go ... you'll find people very open and friendly and will often offer accommodation to a stranger (but you must help pay for it).

Hi, PNG will not be a country that you will just wander about in. There are real security risks that need to be taken seriously. It has been some years since I lived there (Rabaul). Things were not so good then and I understand it is worse. Do your research. My suggestion would be to check out tours - I know I don't like them either! Have no idea what there is available in that line. Do you know anyone there- even friend of a friend, volunteer worker, mission type etc. Having someone or an organization that you can stay with or make contact with when you get there can really make it easier. This sort of thing is quite common.

I was in the Solomons too, again some years ago, so my information may be a bit dated. Thoroughly enjoyed it and a much easier than PNG

Another good page for Solomon Islands is Exploring Solomons, which has been set up over the last few months by people who have been living in the country and using the opportunity to travel.
My big warning if you are using the older Lonely Planet is inflation. The Solomon dollar is about 6 to 1 Australian - 10 years ago it was 2 to 1. So Solomon dollar prices are a lot higher, although at present, you get good value when you change Australian dollars.
If you look through the Solomon Islands threads, you will get information about reasonable accommodation in Honiara.
Flights to Honiara are from Port Moresby (Air Niugini), Brisbane (Solomon Airlines, Our Airline) and Nadi (Air Pacific, which has some good packages out of Brisbane and Sydney including an overnight in Fiji)

Hi Romie,

A few days ago I just returned from a great trip to both Solomon Islands and PNG. In a couple of days I will post all my information up here, remind me if I havent done so.
If you PM me your email address I can send you even more info.

In a nutshell - great times!! And Milne Bay Province in PNG seemed safe as houses to me, had zero problems with security.
Allow plenty of time as airlines VERY unreliable... but more on all that soon.

Cheers,
LostScot

Hey Romie,

I promised I would post details about my trip to Solomon Islands and PNG...
and here it is...

Regards, feel free to PrivateMessage me if you have any questions.
LostScot

Hi LostScot,

I've taken the liberty of adding your excellent post to a wiki i help to maintain - Exploring Solomons. (in fact, you already know the wiki since you left a comment there last August - clearly you've managed to do some awesome travelling since then).

The links are at:
http://exploringsolomons.wikispaces.com/lostscot_honiara
and
http://exploringsolomons.wikispaces.com/lostscot_west

If you feel this is an outrageous breach of your copyright (!) then feel free to jump onto the wiki and edit/delete as you like. But I'm sure you'll only be chuffed if more people can benefit from your notes?

Cheers,
Harry

Hi there, sorry man I havent been checking back here enough recently...
Totally happy for you to post that on your site... cool, I am going to check it out now.
It inspires me to do more.
Thanks!