Should a solo budget traveller worry about safety in PNG?
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General and Multi-Country
Should a solo budget traveller worry about safety in PNG?
Hi there! The security situation in PNG comes very controversial over various internet sources! Many governement travel advice offices warn for terrible things to happen, while travellers report bette
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Cat:Australia and the South PacificForum:0EEC8770
Cat:Australia and the South PacificForum:0EEC8770Discussion:aa63ec30-4c94-450a-bd08-9cb1ecd6bc65
Hi there! The security situation in PNG comes very controversial over various internet sources! Many governement travel advice offices warn for terrible things to happen, while travellers report better situation. iI anybody has a good idea about how things are going this period, I would be greatfull to know! My plan is to travel solo and budget, so with public transport and stay at simple places, which might expose the backpacker to some more possible danger, instead of staying in top end hotels with security, private transport etc, which is not my case. I'm thinking to enter overland from Indonesia and stay for about 10 days, then return to Indonesia or fly ex Port Moresby. Many thanks guys Nik
Never been there myself, but I've found in general that the best travel advisories (better than the US State Dept's) are from the Australian, Canadian, and British governments. I've given links to their PNG pages.
I've checked all of them , too, and they are not flattering at all for PNG! It's of courese difficult to translate what they say to reality in the country, but i search... many thanks! N.
I just returned from a month in Australia of which most of the time was spent on a cruise ship going from Sydney to Peth. We spent one day in PNG and I can tell you for sure that I would not be a solo traveller there. I have traveled all over the world, including all the continents, and PNG is not a place you want to spend much time there and certainly not by yourself. The people are very friendly but extremely poor and the crime rate is very high. We were told by one of the ship's officers that the cruise line was considering removing PNG from the cruise itinerary because of high security risk and lots problems. Each person has to make their own decision but since I have been there, I can speak with some experience.
Thanks DrSue, PNG seems really a tough place to be solo independent. All reading I've done is promising a tough time security-wise, although travellers like the other faces of the country. So maybe I'll reorganise my plans to see what is nice and safe(r) the same time! happy travels N.
I´m sorry to hear that so many people say PNG isn´t safe for travellers. I (female) travelled through PNG on my own and never had any problems whatsoever. People were always very friendly and helpful and I never felt unsafe. I have to say that I skipped places that were supposed to be unsafe like Port Moresby or the Highlands and mainly stayed around Madang and Milne Bay. But I think that with a little bit of common sense you´re normally fine. I am glad I didn´t listen to all the people who told me I shouldn´t go there. It is a beautiful and exciting place and I would go back there anytime.
I agree with the last post...everyone worries too much...keep in mind that everyone is different, and what is fine for some people isn't for others.
I know people who have been afraid in very, very safe foreign communities...we all need to keep in mind that being afraid is not the same as being in danger...
We also need to keep in mind that most crime is not committed against foreigners...it's locals committing crimes against locals...take Mexico...prime example...I've heard of lots of people cancelling trips because of the violence....but who is actually getting attacked? Certainly not foreign tourists....
