Practical information Solomon Islands

10985  sq.mi

There are no direct flights from London to the Solomon Islands so you will need to fly to Australia or New Zealand and take a connecting flight from there. You can expect a flight of approximately 30 hrs (excluding layover time).

509190 hab.

Henderson international airport is located 8 miles (a 20 minute trip) away from the capital city, Honiara, on the main island of Guadalcanal. By taxi from the airport to the city centre, allow roughly £7. The airport has a bureau de change, car rental agencies (Avis, Budget) and a regular bus and taxi service. The airport tax is SBD 40 (about £3.50).

According to Foreign Affairs, it is important to know that some safety measures are required before going to the Solomon Islands. The country is still undergoing economical turmoil and does not offer, especially in Guadalcanal and Malaita, the conditions of security necessary for tourism. Consequently, it is recommended not to drive as a lone car in the capital's suburbs, to limit your travelling to a minimum beyond the international airport and not to travel alone, but to prepare your holiday well, preferably as a package holiday.
Upon your arrival in Honiara you should make contact with the British Consulate.
Domestic flights can be cancelled without notice. Boats ensuring inter-island crossings are often overcrowded and safety standards are minimal.
Moreover, people reportedly drown every year. Therefore, you should avoid swimming on isolated beaches where the currents created by the reefs can be very strong.

English is the official language. The population speaks Pijin, a derivative of English. 87 other local dialects are spoken.

A passport valid for six months after the return date and a return ticket are required. A visa is not required for stays of less than three months. There is a possibility of extending your stay for three extra months by paying a tax.

Over 95% Christian (Anglican, Protestant or Catholic).

The Solomon Islands Dollar (SBD) consists of 100 Cents. £1 Sterling = 11.60 SBD. The main credit cards are accepted in hotels and shops in tourist areas and can also be used to withdraw cash at banks. Bring cash and travellers cheques in US or Australian Dollars. Banks are open from 8:30am to 3:00pm, Monday to Friday. Money can also be exchanged in some shops as well as in larger hotels.

Driving: it is a left-hand drive country, though the condition of the roads is rather bad. Mini-buses drive from village to village, and car rental is available at the airport and from major hotels (a national driver's licence is sufficient). Taxis are available in Honiara and Auki and fares must be negotiated beforehand.
Flights: the company Solomon Airlines ensures regular links and charters to the main cities, departing from Henderson airport. The fares are rather high though.
Boats: this is the most convenient and economical way to travel from one island to the other on the archipelago, whether on an inter-island cruise-liner or small coastal traffic boats.

No particular vaccine is required, but it is strongly recommended to be up to date for the following: tetanus, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, typhoid, hepatitis A and B. Concerning malaria, it is recommended to have preventive treatment combining chloroquine and proguanil, and a effective protection against mosquitoes (cream lotion, long clothes at night). The country has a poor hospital infrastructure: being sent to Cairns in Australia might be necessary in the event of an emergency. It is not recommended to drink tap water, it is preferable to limit yourself to bottled drinks or filtered water. Diarrhoea problems are fairly frequent, thus it is suggested to bring a good pharmacy kit. Medical insurance covering repatriation expenses in case of an accident is absolutely necessary. Please note that, for divers, there is no decompression room in case of diving accidents.

240 V. Bring an adaptor.

The Solomon Islands are mostly visited by Australian, New-Zealander, American and Japanese tourists, and, to a lesser extent, the British. The tourist season is concentrated in July-August.

A tax of 10% must be addded for hotels and restaurants. Tips are not very common.

To call the Solomon Islands from the UK dial 00 + 677 + number.
To call the UK from the Solomon Islands dial 00 + 44 + regional code (excluding the initial 0) + number.