While most cities in Papua New Guinea are not hotel friendly, Port Moresby (Pom) is an outlier and has choice. Alas the Holiday Inn Port Moresby, is now at least not all that much cop.
This is in contrast to The Hilton, Lamana and even the Crown. What is it though that makes the place so shoddy?
The Holiday Inn Port Moresby
Holiday Inn Port Moresby is a decent option for travelers, though it’s far from exceptional. Established to cater to both business travelers and tourists, it’s located in the government district, close to embassies and banks, and a short drive from the airport. While the location is convenient, the hotel itself doesn’t offer anything particularly memorable. Rooms are spacious and equipped with modern amenities, with prices ranging from $130 to $200 USD per night, depending on the season.
The hotel’s restaurant is not exactly street food, nor high end. For street food lovers, the bustling city markets, HB, or even supermarkets are a far better option. A solid functional base if you are stuck is all I can say.
Holiday Inn Port Moresby Decor
There are two buildings, with building one being the more luxurious. In fact I will go further, building 2 looks like a prison in the fashion of Stalag Luft. The rooms are little better and look vert dated.
And when you compare and contrast with the Hilton, which at times is just 20 bucks more then there really is little reason to come here.
Although I did once stay with the Mount Hagen Rugby team, which was pretty cool.
Facilities at Holiday Inn Port Moresby
The Holiday Inn Port Moresby is like a town within a town and has a convenience store that is pretty expensive, a pool which is OK and the restaurant.
The restaurant is also far from cheap, but was is really annoying is that they add 2 percent for card payments, which in all honesty is pretty damned ridiculous in 2024, at least in mind.
The buffets here are god awful, but the Ala-carte menu has its good and bad moments. For example the poke was a bit pretentious, while the salt and pepper squid came deep-fried, which I did not really understand. It was certainly no Reasons Cafe!
I did though have a bacon wrapped sirloin that was frankly amazing, although it was also $30.
And the area?
So, while this is a very honest review and I have to say the staff were great and accommodating, there is an extra factor that might have clouded me and that is me getting robbed.
Last year I was robbed at knife point very close to the hotel and well shit like that stays with you. Overall though I just feel there is so much more in offer in POM that there really is no pint staying here.
You can though join me on a PNG tour.