Avoiding cold Japan, I escaped to the nearest tropical country, Guam. From Tokyo, it took about 3 hours.
Many visitors from Japan (many student trip or company trip), more from Korea and less from China.
Interestingly, I could see the difference between Japanese and Korean here.
While Japanese is more stick to safer and comfortable activities such as marine activities, shopping and dinner show, Korean is more adventurous like renting a car or joining free local trekking tour.
I was more like Korean, instead of enjoying the beach, I trekked a lot, like during my 3 days and 3 nights stay, I went to 3 hikings, one with expensive Japanese tour agency, and twice with almost free local community.
My favorites:
- Caving at Piggy Pool with Bonnie Stompers. Might be dangerous but interesting experience.
- Driving to the south. The route was scenic and less car. Stopping at Inarajan Pool, didn't snorkel but climbed the rock to see incredible rock formation (like terraced field).
- Hiking to Mount Lamlam (the highest) and Mount Jumullong Manglo (the second highest).
- Dining the local food at Terry's.
I wish I could:
- Snorkeling in the eastern coast, on the way to Inarajan Pool. Inarajan Pool itself, not so inviting to snorkel since the water was quite polluted and not clear anymore.
- Hiking to Pagat cave.
- Join other trekking from Bonnie Stompers.
- Watching dinner show Taotao Tasi.
- Driving to the north.
- Night Market Wednesdays at Chamorro Village.
Review and Tips
Tour
- I used JTB hotel and air ticket package with the cheapest price, around JPY 50,000 and in actual got the cheapest air ticket, T'way, a Korean LCC and the cheapest hotel in Guam, Grand Plaza Hotel. Wish I chose better package with better hotel.
Flight
- T'way, I think it was a chartered flight. Korean LCC but departing from Narita Japan. Though there was no Korean on the plane, their first language in the announcement was Korean. The seat is narrow and no monitor. They provided snack.
Accommodation
- Grand Plaza Hotel.
Interior, decoration, the room and everything looks cheap in the hotel and it is obvious that the owner is a Chinese looking at the decoration and the background music. Wish I could stay in better hotel like a real resort like Outrigger or Nikko Hotel.
The good part is the location is not that bad. There is ABC Store just next to the hotel. Many restaurants around, including my favourites, Terry's Local Comfort Food.
Food
- Terry's Local Food Comfort
Recommended by my trekking guide, it was truly awesome and the price was not expensive. Located a bit outside hotel road.
Ordered
- Fish & Bull
Located in Merizo in the south. Owned by Korean. Recommended in Japanese guide book Chikyu no Arukikata. Ordered Coconut Crab meal, it costed USD 50, expensive, and the crab was not fresh.
- Dinner Show Fish Eye
http://www.fisheyeguam.com/index.html.en
USD 77 (discounted USD 10 for early bird 3 days in advance) for dinner buffet and show package. Booked directly at their website.
The Observatory deck was quite interesting too.
Travel Agent
- US Explorer & Study
http://usesguam.com/
Owned by a Japanese. Joined the hard course to Mt. Lamlam, costed USD 130, quite expensive. The tour started about 9:30 and ended 14:00. Only Japanese joins, I think.
- Bonnie Stompers
https://www.facebook.com/GuamBoonieStompersInc
A local trekking community, led by some old men (in their 60's and 70's) and younger men. They make trekking tour every Saturday, posted in their Facebook page.
On 19 January 2019, they had two tours, one in the morning to river cave at Piggy Pool near Mount Santa Rosa, and at night to Atillong Acho.
The river cave trekking was quite interesting. We started the trekking by entering a jungle near Piggy Pool then wet entry to the cave. The cave with river and waterfall and narrow entry, sometime we had to squeeze or crawl in the water. Since it was in a private land, they only do the route once a year.
The night trekking was quite stressful. There was no view and the path was quite slippery. We needed to climb up and down two steep hills.
Transportation
- Bus
I saw there were two competing companies, the Red Bus and Lealea.
The JTB package included 4 days use of the Red Bus.
- Car Rental
I booked at Economy Booking with Alamo/National, got a Toyota Yaris at about USD 31 per day including full protection. The trick is don't add full protection at the booking site, since it is already included in the original price. Driving in Guam was easy. Japanese driving license can be used.
SIM Card
- There are 4 companies. They have stores in Micronesia Mall and Guam Premium Outlet. I bought a prepaid SIM Card from I&ET, USD 20 for four days unlimited use plus local/international call worth USD 10.
Shopping
- Dededo Morning Market every Saturdays and Sundays
Many tourists go there for meal, like BBQ and other local food.
It sells various things, including a puppy.
- Micronesia Mall
A shopping mall with food court and cinema.
- Guam Premier Outlet
A big complex with cinema.
Many visitors from Japan (many student trip or company trip), more from Korea and less from China.
Interestingly, I could see the difference between Japanese and Korean here.
While Japanese is more stick to safer and comfortable activities such as marine activities, shopping and dinner show, Korean is more adventurous like renting a car or joining free local trekking tour.
I was more like Korean, instead of enjoying the beach, I trekked a lot, like during my 3 days and 3 nights stay, I went to 3 hikings, one with expensive Japanese tour agency, and twice with almost free local community.
My favorites:
- Caving at Piggy Pool with Bonnie Stompers. Might be dangerous but interesting experience.
- Driving to the south. The route was scenic and less car. Stopping at Inarajan Pool, didn't snorkel but climbed the rock to see incredible rock formation (like terraced field).
- Hiking to Mount Lamlam (the highest) and Mount Jumullong Manglo (the second highest).
- Dining the local food at Terry's.
I wish I could:
- Snorkeling in the eastern coast, on the way to Inarajan Pool. Inarajan Pool itself, not so inviting to snorkel since the water was quite polluted and not clear anymore.
- Hiking to Pagat cave.
- Join other trekking from Bonnie Stompers.
- Watching dinner show Taotao Tasi.
- Driving to the north.
- Night Market Wednesdays at Chamorro Village.
Review and Tips
Tour
- I used JTB hotel and air ticket package with the cheapest price, around JPY 50,000 and in actual got the cheapest air ticket, T'way, a Korean LCC and the cheapest hotel in Guam, Grand Plaza Hotel. Wish I chose better package with better hotel.
Flight
- T'way, I think it was a chartered flight. Korean LCC but departing from Narita Japan. Though there was no Korean on the plane, their first language in the announcement was Korean. The seat is narrow and no monitor. They provided snack.
Accommodation
- Grand Plaza Hotel.
Interior, decoration, the room and everything looks cheap in the hotel and it is obvious that the owner is a Chinese looking at the decoration and the background music. Wish I could stay in better hotel like a real resort like Outrigger or Nikko Hotel.
The good part is the location is not that bad. There is ABC Store just next to the hotel. Many restaurants around, including my favourites, Terry's Local Comfort Food.
Food
- Terry's Local Food Comfort
Recommended by my trekking guide, it was truly awesome and the price was not expensive. Located a bit outside hotel road.
Ordered
- Fish & Bull
Located in Merizo in the south. Owned by Korean. Recommended in Japanese guide book Chikyu no Arukikata. Ordered Coconut Crab meal, it costed USD 50, expensive, and the crab was not fresh.
- Dinner Show Fish Eye
http://www.fisheyeguam.com/index.html.en
USD 77 (discounted USD 10 for early bird 3 days in advance) for dinner buffet and show package. Booked directly at their website.
The Observatory deck was quite interesting too.
Travel Agent
- US Explorer & Study
http://usesguam.com/
Owned by a Japanese. Joined the hard course to Mt. Lamlam, costed USD 130, quite expensive. The tour started about 9:30 and ended 14:00. Only Japanese joins, I think.
- Bonnie Stompers
https://www.facebook.com/GuamBoonieStompersInc
A local trekking community, led by some old men (in their 60's and 70's) and younger men. They make trekking tour every Saturday, posted in their Facebook page.
On 19 January 2019, they had two tours, one in the morning to river cave at Piggy Pool near Mount Santa Rosa, and at night to Atillong Acho.
The river cave trekking was quite interesting. We started the trekking by entering a jungle near Piggy Pool then wet entry to the cave. The cave with river and waterfall and narrow entry, sometime we had to squeeze or crawl in the water. Since it was in a private land, they only do the route once a year.
The night trekking was quite stressful. There was no view and the path was quite slippery. We needed to climb up and down two steep hills.
Transportation
- Bus
I saw there were two competing companies, the Red Bus and Lealea.
The JTB package included 4 days use of the Red Bus.
- Car Rental
I booked at Economy Booking with Alamo/National, got a Toyota Yaris at about USD 31 per day including full protection. The trick is don't add full protection at the booking site, since it is already included in the original price. Driving in Guam was easy. Japanese driving license can be used.
SIM Card
- There are 4 companies. They have stores in Micronesia Mall and Guam Premium Outlet. I bought a prepaid SIM Card from I&ET, USD 20 for four days unlimited use plus local/international call worth USD 10.
Shopping
- Dededo Morning Market every Saturdays and Sundays
Many tourists go there for meal, like BBQ and other local food.
It sells various things, including a puppy.
- Micronesia Mall
A shopping mall with food court and cinema.
- Guam Premier Outlet
A big complex with cinema.
 |
| Mount Jumullong Manglo (the second highest) |
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