Guam

Well, I’ve finally gotten around to writing about Guam. After finishing my trip to Seoul, I headed to the airport early on the fourth day, changed into summer clothes, packed my thick clothes into my suitcase, stored it at the airport for four days, and with just a backpack for light travel, boarded my flight to Guam.

Guam is neither particularly large nor small, covering an area of 540 square kilometers with a population of about 160,000. U.S. military bases occupy roughly a quarter of the island, making it one of America’s key military outposts in the Western Pacific. A major advantage here is the reliable supply of electricity, fresh water, and internet, along with social stability and safety. For Chinese citizens, visiting Guam requires a U.S. visa, so there are relatively few Chinese tourists; visitors mainly come from Japan and South Korea (which enjoy visa-free entry), alongside many U.S. service members.

Located at the southernmost tip of the Mariana Islands in the Western Pacific, Guam is roughly equidistant from Japan, Australia, South Korea, Shanghai, and the Philippines.

As a tropical island paradise, everything here is simply beautiful: the sea is blue, the sky is clear, the trees are green, and the flowers are red—everything is exactly the color it should be.

Guam’s mascot, Guamzilla

Language and Payment

There isn’t much to say about language; English is universally spoken. Coming from South Korea, it felt great to finally be in a place without a language barrier. Due to the high number of Japanese tourists, signs generally include Japanese translations, and occasionally you’ll see Korean and Chinese as well. Locals speak English with a slight Southeast Asian accent, which tends to be more pronounced among older generations, while elementary school students already speak with a standard American accent~~

Credit cards are accepted at hotels, restaurants, and attractions. Restaurants typically include a 10% service charge, so no additional tipping is required~~ It seems they’ve made some adjustments specifically for tourists. However, cash is still necessary in certain situations, such as tipping hotel staff, taking taxis, or buying bus tickets; these require paper bills only. So unlike in South Korea, where you can get by entirely without cash, you should carry some U.S. dollars in Guam, especially smaller denominations.

Transportation

Unlike South Korea, public transportation here is far less developed. There are no subways or airport shuttles—not even minibuses. In fact, there’s absolutely no public transport from the airport to anywhere else… Your only options are taxis or renting a car. I highly recommend renting a car; it’s affordable, offers complete freedom to go wherever you want, and isn’t restricted by bus schedules—it’s extremely convenient. Also, note that taxi fares from the airport are about $10 more expensive than rides to the airport. Perhaps this pricing aims to support local taxi services, but it creates the impression that taxis are prohibitively expensive, ultimately hurting the taxi market.

If you’re concerned about taxi prices—for example, unsure of fares to certain destinations, worried about overcharging, or uncertain about appropriate tips—you can download an app called Lam Car. It functions like a ride-hailing service with fixed upfront pricing and online payment, providing peace of mind as the car comes directly to pick you up. However, unlike domestic ride-hailing apps, once you’ve placed your order and paid, you won’t see the vehicle’s location or know exactly when it will arrive. But rest assured, it will definitely show up….

Additionally, hailing taxis on the street isn’t allowed in Guam; you must book via the app or ask the hotel concierge to arrange one for you.

Now let’s talk about buses. There are several types, starting with the Lam Lam Bus, which operates the following routes:

• Tumon Shuttle: This green-colored southbound route runs from Micronesia Mall to the Outlets, while the northbound route goes back from the Outlets to Micronesia Mall—essentially forming a single loop. Buses run approximately every 13 minutes. A one-way ticket costs $4, and passes are also accepted.
• Shopping Mall Shuttle: This circular route connects Agana Shopping Center, K-mart, Micronesia Mall, and the Outlets. A one-way ticket costs $4, and passes are also accepted.
• T-Galleria – K mart Shuttle: Runs between K-mart and T-Galleria. A one-way ticket costs $4, and passes are also accepted.
• Airport Shuttle: Runs from T-Galleria to the airport only (no return service). A one-way ticket costs $7.
• Hagatna Marine Bus: Departs from Agana Shopping Center, stops at Fish Eye Marine Park, then returns. Round-trip tickets cost $4.
• Two Lovers Shuttle: Runs from Micronesia Mall to Two Lovers Point. Round-trip tickets cost $10 and include admission to Two Lovers Point plus coupons for select restaurants.
• Chamorro Shuttle & Flea Market Shuttle: Both routes head into local villages and operate only at specific times, so check schedules carefully. Round-trip tickets cost $7.
• GPO – Leopalace Shuttle: Provides service to the Leopalace Resort located uphill.

Unlimited ride passes are valid for their specified duration and are practically essential: 1-day pass ($12), 2-day pass ($15), and 5-day pass ($25). They can be purchased at bus stops and hotels.

I personally used the Lam Lam Bus app. Upon registration, you receive a complimentary 1-hour ticket, which I used on my first day in Guam to get from T-mart to my hotel. The app also offers 3-hour ($3) and 6-hour ($6) tickets, plus a 1-day pass for just $10. Multi-day passes are valid for consecutive 24-hour periods starting from first use, making them somewhat more appealing than traditional paper passes. Note that an active internet connection is required to use the app~~

This image shows the Lam Lam Bus route map for the Tumon Bay area. Be sure to grab a booklet at the airport—it includes maps, fare information, and timetables, all very handy.

Another option primarily catering to Japanese tourists is the LeaLea Trolley. Information on this service is currently limited; maps are mostly in Japanese, and tickets must be purchased at counters. However, based on observation, it appears to offer more frequent service, longer operating hours, and lower fares compared to the Lam Lam Bus, making it another good choice.

There’s also a free shuttle to T Galleria that stops at various hotels. Service isn’t very frequent, but since the Westin is so close to T Galleria, walking is easy. Additionally, Lotte Duty Free provides a complimentary airport shuttle; you can find its schedule at the bus stop outside the hotel, where you can also pick up a 10% discount coupon for the duty-free store.

Shopping

Here are some of the larger shopping venues worth mentioning:

T-Galleria by DFS: A well-known global duty-free chain featuring numerous luxury brands. Cosmetics don’t seem as inexpensive as those at Lotte Duty Free in the airport, so the airport shops might be a better option. Nevertheless, T-Galleria serves as a central hub for most bus routes.

JP SuperStore: A one-stop shop offering everything from food and beverages to souvenirs and clothing—you’ll likely find whatever you need here.

Tumon Sands Plaza: Though not very large, this plaza houses several luxury brands. It attracts fewer tourists and has prices comparable to T-Galleria, though service tends to be better. Overall, however, luxury goods don’t appear significantly cheaper than in mainland U.S.

Micronesia Mall: Home to stores like Macy’s, Foot Locker, and Payless. Most non-luxury apparel available in Guam can be found here—a nice spot for post-meal browsing.

Guam Premier Outlets: While spacious, it’s single-level layout limits the number of shops. Mostly American brands with no luxury labels, it’s fairly average. You might find some bargains if you look carefully, but overall, few items seem truly worthwhile.

Agana Shopping Center: Hardly any tourists visit here; it caters mainly to locals, featuring mobile phone shops, jewelry stores, supplement retailers, and a few restaurants.

And everywhere you go, you’ll find ABC Stores—convenient convenience stores perfect for grabbing drinks and snacks.

Activities

Most activities revolve around the ocean, including small boats provided by various hotels, dolphin-watching tours at ABC (Alupang Beach Club), submarine rides at Atlantics, diving at Fish Eye Marine Park, flying lessons at Sky Guam, skydiving experiences, amphibious Duck Boat tours, and more… Most venues offer complimentary pickup and drop-off services, but reservations are required—either through official websites, phone calls, or via hotel staff who can assist with bookings. Transportation will be arranged both ways.

For those interested in cultural sites, places like Pacific War Memorial Park (gun emplacements), South Pacific Memorial Park, Paseo de Susana Plaza (featuring a miniature Statue of Liberty), Guam Museum, and Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica unfortunately lack public transit access and require self-driving. I was quite keen to visit these spots but couldn’t manage it this time—a bit regrettable.

You’ll also notice plenty of live-fire shooting ranges along main streets, often with staff outside soliciting customers.

Dining

Options include familiar American chain restaurants, hotel dining venues, local eateries, and independently-run Japanese and Korean restaurants—all offering diverse menus and consistently high quality.

However, due to fishing restrictions, nearly all ingredients are imported, resulting in noticeably higher prices compared to mainland U.S. Excluding dishes like lobster or steak, expect meals to average around $20 each, with fast-food chains being slightly cheaper.

The Westin

With numerous hotels lining Tumon Bay, choices abound. My primary reason for selecting this particular hotel was last-minute planning; Hilton and Hyatt were fully booked. Still, the views here proved quite pleasant, and location-wise, it’s extremely convenient.

Though slightly dated—at 20 years old—the property may not match newer hotels in terms of facilities, yet retains a sense of elegance. Rooms are generously sized, bedding and amenities comfortably appointed, air conditioning efficient, rooms quiet, TVs upgraded, and Bluetooth speakers included. Combined with breathtaking ocean vistas visible right from the balcony, the experience is truly stunning. Prices remain reasonable too, roughly matching rates at Westins within China.

Interestingly, one unique feature of Guam is that nearly every hotel boasts its own chapel—but these chapels aren’t intended for regular worship; they’re exclusively reserved for wedding ceremonies.

Hotel pool and beach.

Just a short walk from the hotel lies T-Galleria by DFS—an incredibly convenient location offering virtually everything you could need.

Photos taken with SONY A5100 + 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 lens, edited in Lightroom.

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Guam Tours, Hotel, Sea, Seoul and Guam, Travel Abroad, Westin