Everything you want to know about the Village
Where is the Village? The Village is on Pohnpei, in Micronesia, in the western Pacific at 7N and 158W. The hotel overlooks the north lagoon, with several islands in the foreground and the barrier reef beyond them. It's a quiet place among bread-fruit and banana trees on a point of land that juts out into the lagoon, away from the hustle and bustle of Kolonia. (see Maps)
How does the Village differ from other hotels? The Village is the only one of it's kind. It's built above ground on mangrove poles and is entirely thatched. It won an Eco-tourism award from the US Congress in 1991 as an example of how things could be. To keep loud noises from intruding, telephones, fax machines, and computers are at the front desk. Free WiFi is available. (see Bob and Patti)
Where are the bungalows located? The bungalows are in three areas - Sunrise, Sokehs, and the Point. Sunrise is the lowest cost and has views of the water, Sokehs is medium priced and has lagoon views, and the Point is the quietest area and has the best views. (see Rates)
What are the individual bungalows like? The thatch roofed bungalows are separate from the Long House. The beds are queen size waterbeds, and a futon can be put on the floor. Each bed has its own net (principally for the romance), and its own lamp. The beds are turned down at night. (see Bungalows)
How far in advance should a reservation be made? The Village has 20 bungalows: 17 single and 3 family units - each with two queen size waterbeds. To avoid being turned away, reservations should be made as early as possible. (see Rates)
Nan Madol A visit to the mysterious city of Nan Madol should not be missed. Take an all-day boat trip to visit the stone ruins, snorkel with the mantas, have lunch on a sand island, and swim in the famous Keperhoi waterfall. (see Nan Madol and Things to do)
Which is the best restaurant on Pohnpei? Even though there are several other restaurants in Kolonia, most people agree that the best food is at the Village. (see Food)
Will it be hot? Pohnpei is the coolest island in Micronesia, but this is the tropics, and it sometimes gets humid . The daytime temperature sometimes reaches 95 deg F; but at night is usually a cool 75 deg F.
Will I need air conditioning? Many don't want air conditioning. The thatch roof, the waterbed and the ceiling fan will keep you cool and comfortable, and the screens let the tropical breezes in so that you don't get that musty smell of a closed up room. (see Bungalows)
Are there bugs and snakes? Don't worry - there are NO SNAKES on Pohnpei. An occasional non-biting spider or friendly gecko may be seen. But don't worry, they're afraid of you and won't let you get close. Although the maids spray the rooms daily, you may want to use the repellant that is in each room and at the bar.
What will the weather be like? Predicting the weather is very difficult. Because of its cloud cover, Pohnpei is cooler than most islands in the tropics. Rain usually consists of a 20 minute shower, and usually comes in the early hours. There is little difference between the "wet" or "dry" season.
Is scuba diving any good? Pohnpei diving is some of the best in the world. There aren't many places that have pristine coral reefs with such a multitude of large and small fish. The Village regularly schedules diving and Nan Madol tours. (see Diving, Dive Packages and Nan Madol)
Taxis Taxis are plentiful, and are a telephone call away. The taxi might be shared with others. The current price is about $3 per person to Kolonia.
Shopping Because the plane schedule allows it, shopping is sometimes done on the morning of departure. You're welcome to ride along when the van leaves at 9:30, every day but Sunday. A taxi is always available to bring you back.
Some of the best things to see are the carvings and weavings in the Kapinga Village, Pohnpeian skirts everywhere, and the custom jewelry that's made at the Village.
FAQ about the Village