If you are lucky enough to be one of the few people to visit Nauru then you will most likely end up at the Menem Hotel and that is because it is pretty much the only joint in town.
Yet despite its monopoly this state run run down hotel is not without its charms and in some ways straddles over the so bad that it is good mark. And it is for this reason that we stay here on the Least Visited Countries Tour.
What the Nauru?
I will not go crazy into detail about Nauru as you can read this great article, but I will give a basic rundown. The world’s smallest island nation, is a fascinating enigma in the Pacific. Known for its phosphate wealth, which once made it one of the richest countries per capita, the island is now a symbol of boom-and-bust economics.
With its lunar-like landscapes, remnants of colonial influence, and quirky landmarks like the Menen Hotel, Nauru offers a unique travel experience. Despite its size—just 21 square kilometers—it’s packed with history, from World War II relics to its role in modern geopolitics. A visit to Nauru isn’t just a trip; it’s a journey into one of the world’s most unusual destinations.
And it is all together a little bit communist which will come in useful later when we discuss the state run element to the Menem Hotel.
The Menem Hotel
The Menen Hotel in Nauru is less a hotel and more a rite of passage for those venturing to the world’s least-visited nation. Once the island’s crown jewel, it now feels like stepping into a 1980s time warp, complete with retro décor and a charm that’s, well, “unique.”
The rooms are basic, the Wi-Fi is mythical, and the air conditioning has a personality of its own. But where else can you sip a beer with locals while gazing at the Pacific, knowing you’re in one of the planet’s most obscure spots? The Menen: not perfect, but perfectly Nauruan.
And remember we said about the whole communist thing? Well the Menem was private (and better) before the state took it over. Now it rather reminds us of places like the Yanggakdo Hotel in North Korea.
State Run You Say?
So, what is it that makes this so very state run? Well I could go on about this for a long time, but lets start with the obvious, this is a very very run down hotel that is way past its better years. Of course this is not unique to state run hotels, but it is quite common. As is the countless members of staff, too many if anything, but with few of them wanting to, or bothering to do any work.
I do not think I have ever been here and not had to change at least 1/4 of my guests rooms for one reason, or another. Another state run element is that this is where the government put most everyone who comes here. This includes sporting teams, but also refugees back in the day and most recently the staff of the Chinese embassy. Nauru of course famously switched (again) from Taiwan to the Peoples Republic of China, before signing a lightly dubious treaty with Australia regarding who they can be friends with. Nauru might be small, but they sure do punch above their weight when it comes to the international arena.
The Facilities at the Menem Hotel
Lets start with the rooms at the Menem which come in two categories, the ones in the “hotel” and the ones made out of shipping containers. The ones in the hotel are very basic and dated, but often come with a great sea view. On the flip side the container units, which were formerly housing refugees are more like self-contained apartments and have among other things a washing machine. The later is better overall.
Then there is the restaurant and bar! Said restaurant has really slipped over the years and nowadays we do not even use it for breakfast. Technically though it is still one of the best restaurants in Nauru.
But, if you think the restaurant has seen better days then the bar is even worse. Formerly the bar here was open every night and doubled up as the nightclub. Sadly those days are gone and it is allegedly only open at the weekends. This is apparently due to noise and the complaints of the new Chinese overlords – allegedly. This meant that we could not even include it in the Nauru Pub Crawl – FOR SHAME!
Perhaps the best and indeed most communist part of the hotel though is the gift shop, which aside from being hotel gift shop also sells cereals and random appliances. Again the only other place I have seen such a thing is in the boonies of North Korea, such as in Rason.
Did I mention the swimming pool? Well it has been without water since 2020, but at least it does exist, technically at least.
Why stay at the Menem Hotel?
One big reason is lack of choice, but in actuality if you go in a molal group there are other places that you can stay. The Menem though has history and flair, the kind of flair you might get in say Fawlty Towers. Yes the place is shit, but if you embrace the shitness of the place then you might just have a great time.
Location wise it is also the best equipped place, although on an island the size of Nauru everything really is economies of scale. One day though I truly hope to bring foreign footballers here as I develop soccer in Nauru, at least that is the plan.
Hotel Menem Address
Menen Hotel
Address: Anibare District,
Republic of Nauru, Pacific Ocean
Phone Number: +674 557 0000
Note: Availability and booking options for the Menen Hotel can be limited. It’s recommended to contact them directly for reservations or inquiries.