After Chuuk and Guam

In May my wife and I will be heading to Chuuk and flying through Guam. Four months ago we had our flights set up but now the latter half of the flight is screwed up due to schedule changes so we may have a chance to change things around. Previously we were going to spend 5 days in Siapan on the return because that what the airline rules allowed and there were no other options. Naturally, flying on to Yap is one option but the hitch is that we are not suppose to fly in /out Guam more than twice and we are currently doing for the Chuuk portion. So Yap may be problematic unless we pay for the ticket ourselves. What are some other ideas that might get us somewhere without returning to Gaum.

I should add that we looked into doing the milk run from Honolulu to Chuuk but it was not possible on FF miles. So we are stuck going in and out of Guam.

Cheers,

Allen

Is this on continental, is the milk run the island hopper? We are going to Chuuk in 3 weeks, on FF miles, and could *only* take the island hopper. We'll be stopping at Pohnpei on the way back, the FF miles allow us one stop. Sounds like the opposite problem you have, but I'm surprised that the FF miles turned out so differently for us.

Yes this is on CO and what I am calling the milk run is the island hopper. Actually doing the island hopper was not the problem - getting to Honolulu was. I am going to look at doing it on the way back with a stop in either Kosrae or Pohnpei.

Not sure i understand you correctly. You can go in to Guam then on to Chuuk then back to Guam for your plane back to Hawaii?

So you are looking for something to go to from Chuuk? Or?

Getting to Saipan, Rota, and Tinian shouldn't be a problem once back in Guam from Chuuk, i believe they are just puddle jumpers that fly to those islands and not Continental.

Other than that i see no option other than diving in Guam

Mike, you pretty much have it. We arrive in Guam from the states and then go to Chuuk. Currently, when we come out from Chuuk we return to Guam. So for instance, if we wanted to go to Yap we would have to be able to do this without returning to Guam because we can only stop in Guam twice.

So our options are

1) Return to Guam from Chuuk and go somewhere without returning to Guam.

2) Going from Chuuk to either Pophnpei or Kosrae and return to Honolulu.

The part I am not filling in is that the airlines screwed up twice with our reservation but because it was their screw up they have to honor it even though it is technically in violation. So at this point we have an option to "help" them fix it without being charged to change it. Currently, we have 5 days in Saipan after Chuuk because at the time that was all we work out. So I am trying to find options. For instance, after spending an hour on the phone with the airline I almost got things changed around so that instead of Siapan we could get ourselves into Sidapan - a much better option. Same with some other places like flying into Bangkok.

So what I am looking for is thoughts. As is in if you can get your self to XXX do it. For instance, being that you are in Yap given the choice, Siapan, Rota, Guam, Pophnpei or Kosrae where would you explore and why?

Cheers,

Allen

I think i would choose Kosrae and Pohnpei over the Marianas. Much more marine life there and not dived nearly as often. They also have some mantas over there, the ruins of Nan Madol, and some great reefs and diving (that is Pohnpei)

Kosrae also has great diving from what i have heard.

But...i haven't been to either.

Of the two Pohnpei is better from what i am told, can you stop in both? GIve us a trip report!!! :)

I doubt much has changed since my 3 trips to truk a long time ago. Leaving Truk you can take the Island Hopper east and will hit all the islands back to Hawaii take your pick as far as staying.. Or you must go thru Guam from Truk to anywhere the other way. I agree with MIke when he said (I think i would choose Kosrae and Pohnpei over the Marianas. Much more marine life there and not dived nearly as often.) Mark

Tim Rock wrote an excellent article in a recent dive magazine recently (one of the big ones, can't remember which) on all the stops on the island hopper. He also wrote the Lonely Planet guide to the area.

We had the same problem, 5 days to kill between Chuuk and Hawaii. We went with Pohnpei. We leave the 19th of Jan, will give a trip report, but everything we've read everywhere makes Pohnpei, Nan Madol, and the Village Resort, sound like a winner. Our travel agent is susan pantle, www.uncommonadventures.com and she's been there, too, her experience backs up everything we've read.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts ... we managed to get our way and were able to change our flights so that we now have a week in Pohnpei before going on to Chuuk. Plus a couple of over nights each way in Honolulu (neither with enough time to do much). Nothing like having the airlines screw things up and being able to take advantage of it. And like Roger we are now doing the island hopper both ways. My butt is already sore ;-).

Merry beers and a happy hour,

Allen