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Truk Stop Hotel
Home » Hotels & Resorts » Pacific Island » Micronesia » Pohnpei » Truk Stop Hotel
Details:
Truk Stop Hotel is a family owned and operated first-class hotel designed and built with both the scuba diver and business traveller in mind. The hotel is only a short walk from town and less than a mile from the International airport. Within a five–minute walk you can be in town at the market, shops or port.
Balconies overlooking the lagoon
The hotel's 23 rooms include 13 standard rooms, six ocean view rooms, two executive suites and two presidential suites. Each room has a private balcony overlooking the beautiful lagoon. The rooms are tastefully decorated and have a private bathroom, air-conditioning, refrigerator, TV/DVD player and overhead fan. The conveniently spacious closets make unpacking a breeze.
Delectable delights
Walk downstairs and dine in smoke free, air-conditioned comfort, served by friendly local staff. Enjoy delicious meals from the large menu prepared by the skilled chefs of The Truk Stop Hotel Restaurant or pop into the Hard Wreck Café & Bar where you can sip your favourite beverage while shooting pool or singing karaoke. Or dine outside where the Patio Bar offers amazing views overlooking the lagoon. In both the restaurant and on the patio, guests have access to complimentary broadband Wi-Fi internet.
Professional dive shop
The Truk Lagoon Dive Centre is the most professional and well equipped dive shop in Chuuk and offers up to four dives daily including wreck, shark, reef and night dives. Both certified expatriate and expert local dive guides provide all the service, equipment, oxygen and helium needed for the recreational diver and the technical, re-breather or trimix diver.
At The Body Shop a professional massage therapist will eliminate the fatigue of a long journey or a full day of diving and for the business guest, the hotel's first-class conference facility can accommodate up to 80 people. The conference room can also be divided into two separate conference rooms for smaller groups.
Although completely modern in design, the hotel is decorated throughout with traditional Micronesian handicrafts. Works, by local artists, can be enjoyed during your stay and some items are available for purchase from the hotel's gift shop.
Whether you are visiting for a holiday, diving expedition or business trip, Truk Stop Hotel & Dive Centre has everything you need for a memorable and successful visit.
Guide to Pohnpei
Situated in the North-Western Pacific, it is 880 metres high, 21 kilometres wide and shaped somewhat like a circular tent. Also known as the garden island of Micronesia, its boldest landmarks are Sokehs Rock and Nan Madol.
Nan Madol is an ancient stone city built on the tidal flats of the eastern part of Pohnpei. There are approximately 100 artificial islets constructed of basalt logs of various sizes up to 70 tons each – making Nan Madol the largest and one of the most mysterious archaeological sites in the Pacific.
The first European to visit the island group was Spaniard Diego de Rocha in 1526. The islands were originally called the New Philippines until 1696 when they were renamed the Caroline Islands. Occupied by Spain, Germany, Japan and the USA, Pohnpei experienced 100 years of foreign rule because it proved to be an ideal supply stop for the Pacific expeditions. Pohnpeian is the native language, however; both English and Pohnpeian are used in business.
Archaeologists and engineers are attempting to discover more about the race which constructed the island city of Nan Madol. The stone fortress was built on a reef south-east of Temwen Island by the rulers of Pohnpei around 500 AD until it was taken over by Isokelekel, the warrior who installed the present traditional system in the 1520s. Nan Madol is reached by boat from the main town of Kolonia about 45 minutes away. It's a full day boat tour which includes a visit to the spectacular Keprohi Waterfall and snorkelling in the lagoon.
A 20-minute ride out of Kolonia takes you to the Nanpil River where further along are the spectacular Liduduhniap Twin Waterfalls, complete with thatched huts where you can picnic in a jungle setting.
A day trip to privately owned Black Coral Island in the lagoon is the perfect way to safely snorkel the reef and, for a family day, visit Langer island with its simple cottages where visitors can stay overnight.
In Kolonia you can see the Spanish Wall, built in 1889 as a boundary for Fort Alphonso XII. Nearby is the Catholic Mission Bell Tower, all that remains of the old German church torn down by the Japanese during WWII.
Also take a stroll into the Polynesian village and watch the craftsmen whittle ornaments from locally grown ivory seed.
Most tours operate from Kolonia, and many of the waterfalls and areas of historical and ecological importance can only be reached by guided tour.
Accommodation is in both traditional Pohnpeian thatched roofed bungalows with garden showers, and Western-style hotels. There is no public transport, only taxis and rental cars, but most hotels offer shuttle services. Tourist facilities are clean and the service is friendly.
A visit to the Pohnpeian cultural centres is a must for anyone wishing to experience traditional Pohnpeian life. Each centre has a distinctive program and performances include traditional dancing, singing, music, ceremonial sakau making, handicraft arts, and food preparation.
The village shops specialise in handicrafts and popular items include carvings of sharks, fish, dolphins and canoes. When it comes to relaxing, try sakau, the numbing local drink which is used in ceremonies and also sold in bars.