Raiders Hotel

Solomon Islands


New Zealander and owner Bob ensures everything runs smoothly at this diver-friendly venture – there's an onsite dive centre – right on the waterfront (no beach). The rooms are tip top and the restaurant serves up excellent food (mains S$150). It's a short walk from the quay.

You'll meet an interesting mix of people staying here, from groups of wreck divers to weekending Honiara-based expats and tourists in search of an escape.

A single dive costs S$550 and diving-gear hire is S$450 per day. Wreck buffs will need a few days to explore the huge WWII wrecks lying just offshore, including the monster-sized USS Kanawha, the USS Aaron Ward and the Moa.

Raiders Hotel can organise private transfers, or you can take an outboard-powered dinghy from the little beach next to Point Cruz Yacht Club in Honiara (about S$200 one way, or S$1800 if it's chartered). The passenger boat MV 360 Flyer/Discovery also travels between Honiara and Tulagi (S$200 one-way, two hours) twice a week.