Guam Travel Guide
GENERAL
Capital
Agaña.
Geography
As a country located in Oceania listed on militarynous, Guam is the largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Group. The island is mostly hilly, the northern end forms a plateau with gentle hills and cliffs, 152 m above sea level. d. M. rise and are criss-crossed by caves. The island is narrower in the middle and runs out into mountains and valleys in the southern part, interrupted by rivers and waterfalls. Protected beaches are on the west coast.
Government
“Self-governing Incorporated Territory” of the USA since 1982. Unicameral parliament with 15 members. The Guam Treaty (1950) grants internal self-determination. The islanders are American citizens without presidential voting rights. The island is under the administration of the US Department of the Interior and sends a biennial delegate to the House of Representatives in Washington.
Head of state
Donald Trump, since January 2017.
Head of government
Governor Eddie Calvo, since January 2011.
Electricity
120 V, 60 Hz.
Time zone
Chamorro Standard Time: CET +11
GETTING THERE
Arriving by plane
Scheduled air traffic from Frankfurt / M. to Tokyo, Nagoya or Osaka, z. B. with Lufthansa LH), Japan Airlines (JL), China Airlines (CI) or All Nippon Airways (NH). The national airlines like Continental Micronesia mostly fly via Tokyo.
Flight times
Frankfurt – Guam: 16 hours 05 Vienna – Guam: 17 hours; Zurich – Guam: 17 hours 35 (connections via Tokyo).
Departure fee
No.
Arrival by car
Bus: The bus network operated by the Guam Mass Transit Authority connects almost all places on the island. No operation on Sundays and public holidays.
Rental Cars: Most of the larger rental companies have branches.
Taxis are metered and available in front of major shopping centers and hotels.
Documentation: international driver’s license.
Arrival by ship
Apra Harbor is the main port in Micronesia and is used by various shipping lines.
MONEY
Currency
US dollars (see USA).
Credit cards
Are usually accepted. Details from the issuer of the credit card in question.
ATMs
ec / Maestro card / Sparcard
cards with the Cirrus or Maestro symbol are accepted throughout Europe and worldwide. Further information from banks and credit institutes.
Attention: Travelers who pay with their bank card abroad and want to withdraw money should find out about the possibilities of using their card from their bank before starting their journey.
ATMs can be found at the airport, in some hotels and in shopping centers.
Bank opening times
Mon-Thu 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Fri 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (Bank of Guam only).
Foreign exchange regulations
- USA.
Currency Exchange
There are numerous ATMs. Banks (some of which are open all day) and exchange offices can be found at the airport upon arrival.
LANGUAGE
Overview
English is the official language. Chamorro and Japanese are also spoken.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
DUTY-FREE SHOPPING
Overview
- USA.
Prohibited imports
Fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers, seeds, livestock or meat products, as well as narcotics and items that violate US copyright law.
ECONOMY
Business etiquette
Guam Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 283, 173 Aspinall Avenue, Ada Plaza Center, Suite 101, GU-Agaña 96910
Tel: 472 63 11.
Internet: www.guamchamber.com.gu
COMMUNICATION
Phone
Long distance international calls from Agaña.
Cellphone
GSM 1900; Network operator is Guam Wireless Co LLC and HafaTel (Internet: www.hafatel.com).
Internet
The main providers are Guam.Net (Internet: www.guam.net) and ITE (Internet: www.ite.net).
Post Office
The post offices in Agaña and Tamuning are open Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm and Sat 9.30am-12pm. The Guam Central Post Office is open Mon-Fri 9:30 am-5:00pm and Sat 1:00 pm-4:00pm.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
SHOP
Overview
In Agaña Shopping Center local products are sold. Marks Shopping Center in West Agañas and Gibson’s Shopping Center in Tamuning have an even wider choice. Nice souvenirs include watches, perfume, jewelry, spirits, china and cameras (Kimura Camera in Agaña has excellent new and repaired cameras). Shop opening times: Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun 12 p.m.-6 p.m.
NIGHTLIFE
Introduction
Music and dancing are offered in various night clubs. In the larger hotels often occur singers and musicians from the US, or regional groups such as the Guam Symphony & Choral Society on. In Tamuning, several cinemas show the latest American films.
CULINARY
ACCOMMODATION
Hotels
In the last 15 years tourism has increased considerably and numerous hotels have been built. Most of the hotels and tourist facilities are in the Tumon area. Most hotels are heavily geared towards Japanese vacationers.
Camping
Tents are allowed on the beaches and in some parks. Not all places are recommended. Details from the Guam Visitors Bureau (see addresses).
CULTURE
Religion
Mostly Catholic (85%) and others.
Social rules of conduct
Western customs and traditions are known. However, visitors actually need to understand less local customs than those of Japanese tourists. The most obvious legacy of the Chamorro culture is the Chamorro language and a facial expression language of different facial expressions called the “eyebrow”.
CLIMATE
Best travel time
Tropical with dry and rainy seasons. The hottest and humid months are March to August, the coolest December to February. Dry season: December to June.
COUNTRY DATA
Area code +1 671 Area (km2) 544 Population 161,785 Population density (per km2) 297 Population in 2015 Member of the EU No main emergency number 911
