Travel Information From Christmas Island to Solomon Islands

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Routine Vaccines

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (Influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)
• Polio
• Shingles

COVID-19

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to the Solomon Islands. Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series. Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given. Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers of all ages to the Solomon Islands.

Measles

Infants 6 to 11 months old traveling internationally should get 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before travel. This dose does not count as part of the routine childhood vaccination series.

Malaria

CDC recommends that travelers going to the Solomon Islands take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.

Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.

Yellow Fever

Required if traveling from a country with risk of YF virus transmission and ≥9 months of age.

You will need 6 months validity remaining on your passport from the date you intend to entry.

Local Phrases Language : English

Local Phrases :

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Drug use is illegal in Solomon Islands, and can lead to prison sentences. Swearing is a crime and can lead to large compensation claims and even jail. Dress codes, particularly for women, are modest. In certain areas there are ‘tabu’ sites only visited by men. Land ownership in Solomon Islands is an important and sensitive issue. Walking and trekking off the beaten track, or the use of many of the beaches around Honiara, may require payment of a ’kastom’ fee to the landowner. Homosexual acts are illegal in Solomon Islands and the penalties can include custodial sentences. Open displays of affection are likely to offend.

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Honiara

Honiara, on the island of Guadalcanal, is the capital city of the Solomon Islands. Its buzzing Central Market sells local produce and handicrafts. Traditional frescoes adorn the conical National Parliament building. The National Museum has WWII relics and cultural artifacts. The Botanical Gardens includes an orchid house. Outside the city, the waters of the Mataniko Falls thunder down a rocky cliff into a canyon.

Customs Allowances : Click Here

Crime in Honiara

The Solomons is a melting pot of various ethnicities, and not all of these cultural groups get along. When one cultural group is unhappy, they like to show their frustrations via protests, which often turn into riots, which then sparks looting and general lawlessness.

Avoid all protests and public gatherings. Keep an eye on local media reports (or ask hotel staff) about potential conflict. Trouble brews quickly here.

Honiara is also the crime capital of The Solomons, and wealthy-looking visitors are often a target. Leave the expensive watches and expensive jewelry at home.

Don't walk around the streets alone at night (best to go with a group or a guide), and give the early morning jog a miss.

If you do go out to a bar at night, be aware there'll always be a few locals who like to fight – there were active headhunters on these islands until the 1930s, so they probably know how to handle themselves.

During the day pickpocketing, bag snatching, mobile phone theft and general harassment is common.

Hot-spots for crime in Honiara

These are the most common areas that experience crime in the capital: the Central Market, Point Cruz, the area surrounding old Mataniko bridge in Central Honiara (Chinatown), the Kukum area, Burns Creek/Lungga River in east Honiara, White River in west Honiara, Borderline and Kombito Market in the south-east of Honiar, and squatter settlement areas in and around Honiara.

Plus the Japanese War Memorial at Mt Austin where criminal gangs will operate in broad daylight.

The incidence of crime typically increases during the Christmas period, in the lead-up to major holidays and following periods of political instability.

If you are planning to travel outside Honiara to rural Guadalcanal, Malaita and other provinces, you should contact the High Commission for an update on the security situation prior to travel.

Yachties beware

Foreign governments also warn their yacht-based citizens to take care in Honiara harbour where there have been reports of criminals boarding yachts at night and stealing valuables. They are usually armed and are not deterred if confronted. It's best to let them take what they want and live to tell the tale.

• The most common religion in Solomon Islands is Christianity.
• Don't ignore the wildlife and always be cautions - fresh and saltwater crocodiles have been seen offshore at beaches near Honiara.\
• Don't ever disrespect elders or women. When one is talking to a woman who is not a relative, one is expected to look away as a sign of respect.
• Don't violate the community rules and protocols. Often when strangers make mistakes, they are gently reminded of community protocols.
• Don't export military artefacts from World war II without special permission.
• Don't forget the rainy season usually runs between November and May.

Do I need travel insurance to travel to Solomon Islands?

Travel insurance is very important when traveling overseas. We strongly recommend that you take out cover to travel to Solomon Islands. You can usually take out single trip or annual multi-trip cover to give you peace of mind should anything happen.

It can be a better and cheaper option to take annual multi-trip cover as it usually covers any number of trips taken in one year with a maximum of up to around 60 days away per trip.

We work with the top names in the industry and have already pre-selected the easiest, cheapest and best quality travel insurance on the market to save you time and money trying to find the best cover.

Travel insurance typically covers the following; however, you can tailor a policy to suit your needs depending on where you are traveling to, your activities and how long you are away.

• Medical Expenses
  Medical treatment can be extremely costly and add up very quickly, and include Overnight stays in hospital, minor or major surgery, accident and emergency treatment, drugs, COVID-19 treatment, journey home if you cannot use the original ticket, dental treatment, and many more unexpected expenses.
• Baggage and personal belongings
  If your baggage is lost, stolen, damaged or delayed it is extremely frustrating. If you must buy new clothes, toiletry products or personal belongings it can be very expensive and time consuming.
• Cancellation
  Sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances you may need to cancel your trip. This could be due to several reasons such as illness, injury, a bereavement or many other scenarios. Usually airlines, tour operators and hotels have large cancellation fees, so buying travel insurance that covers this is recommended.

Health Care

Healthcare System in Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands lack an adequate supply of properly trained healthcare workers, specifically doctors and nurses.

Health Risk

Leptospirosis

Caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira.

Zika

Occurs from mosquito bite.

Dengue

Occurs from insect bites, including mosquitoes.

Hantavirus

Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Caused from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.