Honiara Hotel

It's within easy walking distance of most things in Honiara, but the resort is a very odd, run-down place, apparently run by a local celebrity. Our first room had broken AC, though they moved us to another. Everything felt rough around the edges. The food was terrible for four times what it should cost, and it takes at least two people to mix and drink. I wouldn't stay again.

The rooms are spacious and spread across a fairly large area, with rooms on three levels. The reception staff were friendly and provided good service. This may have been a luxurious hotel in its heyday, but it feels a bit aged now. Rooms on the higher levels have good views, though getting there means climbing 5-6 flights of stairs, as there's no lift or elevator. Water pressure up there was usually just a trickle, so showers took a while.

I had a great first night in room 821 with no problems. The second night in room 827 was a different story: the promised balcony wasn't there, foliage blocked the view, and there was no desk, lamp, or TV remote. The overhead fan squeaked, too. Hard to rate the stay, so I'd check the room before committing.

The French restaurant on the ground floor was very good, and the shop sold great local chocolate. We also tried the Chinese restaurant, which was OK, though it was hard to communicate since I didn't speak their language. The hotel was quirky, and the rooms we stayed in were very basic. There were much nicer rooms available.