When landing at Kiribati’s international airport located on a long beach, one may wonder where they would sleep. Though the entire island seems like an empty stretch of beach, Tarawa actually houses half of the country’s population. This means visitors have the option to stay at modern hotels like The George Hotel.
On my Pacifying the Pacific trip, I organized to visit Kiribati. From the airport I met one of the cheery hotel staff who drove me 30 minutes to Betio. The relaxing drive took us by seaside villages on our left and shipwrecks in the lagoon on our right.
The George Hotel is a family owned property opened in 2013 with 19 rooms. It has since become a favorite for businessmen and tourists alike. On arrival, I was checked in and shown my large room.
The homey room featured a large TV, a king sized bed and a smaller single next to it. Near the entrance was a desk, tea and coffee making facilities, wardrobe, seating area, and a mini fridge. The bathroom was very simple but had all the necessities. Wifi and the air conditioning worked great.
In the center of the property is the outdoor dining space of the restaurant. Inside is where the breakfast buffet is set up in the morning as well as a seating area with a large flat screen TV. The yummy cuisine is mostly international with some local dishes.
The outdoor area is also perfect to sit and get some work done with a coffee.
Next to the parking area is a large patio where a bar and seating areas are available.
Across the street from the entrance is a popular club operated by the same owners. On the weekends, they have DJs playing dance music in two separate areas with a top level open-air VIP patio. I’m not sure if this is a rule, but as a hotel guest, I was given free entrance.
Conveniently, the hotel is right in the center of Betio so locations in town can easily be reached by foot. For the tourist sites spread around the island, you’ll need a car. You can get a taxi or hired car service at the reception. Fortunately the friendly hotel team hosting me took me for a tour of the island.
As with most of the Pacific cultures, the people were very hospitable and friendly. The warm smiles and caring attitudes made it a real pleasure to be a guest at the hotel and a reason to come back.
If you are lucky enough to explore Tarawa, The George Hotel is a wonderful choice.
Contact
The George Hotel
Address: PowerHouse Road, Between Sda & Kpc Church Compound, Bairiki Village, Kiribati
Telephone: +686 26340
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgehotelkiribati/