WorldFish Lilisiana village, Solomon Islands by Wade Fairley via Flickr Creative Commons

Language

Melanesian pidgin is the primary language used across the islands. However, there are many different languages and dialects found across the archipelago. English is also commonly used throughout the country.

Currency

The Solomon Islands dollar (SI$) is the main currency of the country. However, some resorts do accept Australian dollars as payment. The coins look almost identical in size to the currency used in Australia. Despite this, tourists should exchange their money into Solomon Islands dollars upon arrival, and not to Australian dollars, as the Solomon Islands dollar is more widely accepted. Credit cards are accepted in the main resorts, and larger restaurants. Honiara, the capital city, is where most of the ATMs and banks are located.

Time

The Solomon Islands is 11 hours ahead of the Coordinated Universal Time (+11 UTC).

Electricity

The Solomon Islands uses 220/240 Volts of electricity, at 50 Hertz, the same as its largest neighbor, Australia. American travelers are unable to use American appliances with this voltage, so a converter is required. Electrical plugs are three pronged, with two diagonal holes and a vertical grounded hole.

Communications

Solomon Telekom is the main internet provider across the islands of this archipelago. Internet connections are mostly available in the city of Honiara, and most of the larger resorts around the Solomon Islands. However, in the rural areas, internet services are much more limited. The islands of the Solomons use GSM mobile phone satellite. There are a little more than 60,000 mobile phone users in the country. If calling into the Solomon Islands, one has to +677 and then the phone number to reach the country.

Duty-free

Travelers who are over 18 years of age can bring in duty-free items. But, there are limitations. Only two liters of alcohol can be brought into the country duty-free, and goods equal or less than the value of SI$400. When it comes to tobacco products, travelers can bring in 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco.

Tourist Office

Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau, Honiara: +677-22-442 or http://www.visitsolomons.com.sb/home

Embassies in Qatar

Australian High Commission, Honiara: +677-21-561 New Zealand Consulate, Honiara: +677-21-502 Papua New Guinea High Commission, Honiara: +677-20-561 Swedish Consulate, Honiara: +677-22-588

Emergency

Emergency services: 999

Click here for Visas and Vaccinations in the Solomon Islands