ABOUT PALAU

The Palau Visitors Authority has a very good website which should answer most of your questions, from the history of the islands and people to upcoming events and festivals. There are, however, a number of questions that come up again and again:

• Q: What currencies are accepted?
• A: US Dollar is the official currency and credit cards are widely accepted.

• Q: What is the electrical voltage and which type of plug sockets are available?
• A: The electricity is provided at 110 volts AC and the wall sockets found in Palau are identical to those found in the continental US. Visitors from elsewhere should bring plug adapters.

• Q: What medical facilities are available?
• A: You are in good hands. Palau has a modern, well equipped hospital and several private clinics. The hospital even has a two-man hyperbaric chamber for any unfortunate diving accidents. NECO recommends DAN insurance for scuba divers.

• Q: Are there any health risks on Palau?
• A: Palau is malaria free. The country has little or no risk of any major disease, but there are occasional cases of Dengue fever. We recommend that during your stay, you drink only bottled water.

• Q: What languages are spoken?
• A: Palauan and English are the official languages. Koror in particular is a very cosmopolitan place, and you will hear many languages spoken. NECO's own staff are fluent in Palauan, English, Japanese, Filipino, German, Italian, Spanish, French, Dutch, and Mandarin Chinese.

• Q: What is the best time of year to visit?
• A: December through March is the peak season for tourism in Palau. July and August usually have the heaviest rainfall, although short showers can be expected year round. Being close to the equator, the weather is very consistent, with the air temperature hovering round 84°F/29°C and the humidity averages 82%. Diving is good year round, and for more details on what can be seen in which months, check out the diving page.

• Q: Can I use my cellphone?
• A: More and more cell phones from different countries work in Palau, however you will more than likely have to purchase a local SIM card for your phone to work - check with PNCC to see the latest information.

• Q: Where can I find internet access?
• A: Many places on island are connected to the web; if not in your hotel, you will find plenty of internet cafes in Palau. NECO has it's own internet cafe at the dive center with free wireless. Hotels with wireless internet connections are Cliffside Hotel, Palau Pacific Resort, Landmark Marina, and the Palau Royal Hotel.

• Q: What is the duty free allowance?
• A: One bottle of Liquor and 200 cigarettes can be brought into Palau duty-free.

WEATHER

One question we always get asked is "What is the weather like here?" Well, it's usually sunny and hot most of the time, with the occasional rain shower. Courtesy of Windguru, a three day forecast for Palau is provided below. NOAA also provides forecasts and satellite imagery for Palau and Micronesia here.