Booking

Papua New Guinea is not exactly a tourist destination, but its capital does have a handful of hotels from well-known chains such as IHG and Hilton. The Hilton, as a 5-star property, won me over and the price was very fair. Since I wanted to enjoy my last night in Port Moresby in comfort, the Hilton with all its amenities was the right choice.

Location

From Port Moresby Airport you should budget around 15 minutes by transfer or taxi. Public transport in Papua New Guinea is essentially non-existent beyond flying.

Check-In

An upgrade was already showing in the app before arrival, though no specific room had been assigned yet. The staff were very helpful and friendly — as people generally are in PNG. I ended up with a King Executive Suite on the tenth floor.

Room

The first impression of the room is quite good and luxurious, with typical paintings and artefacts from local culture. There is a first toilet near the entrance. On the right as you enter the room is the living and work area. Alongside a generously sized TV there is a small workspace and a very large, comfortable sofa. On the left you’ll find a kettle and coffee machine next to the minibar with water bottles. The sleeping area is in a corner room with floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides. The curtains can be operated conveniently from the bed. The bathroom — with toilet, shower and bathtub — is accessible from the left side of the sleeping area. I was impressed by how bright it was; the design is kept very modern. As you would expect from Hilton, all the usual toiletries such as shower gel and shampoo are provided. Power sockets and USB charging points are conveniently distributed throughout. The large TV is easily visible from the bed. As standard, there is a safe, ironing board and ample storage space.

Bar / Restaurant

Breakfast is served as a buffet in the restaurant. As the hotel was quite fully booked due to a large group of visitors from Australia, both the buffet and the lounge were correspondingly busy. Both local and Western dishes are on offer. In addition, there are several restaurants and bars in and around the hotel complex.

Amenities

The outdoor pool feels more decorative than functional in my view, but it is still a pleasant retreat. There is also a hot tub, which was quite warm. The gym, on the other hand, is open 24 hours and has everything you need for a workout. A refreshing dip in the pool in the evening is genuinely enjoyable.

Check-Out

Check-out was once again uncomplicated and friendly, as you would expect from Hilton. The airport shuttle runs every half hour, on the hour and half hour.

Verdict

The stay was good value for money. I cannot really judge the location, but I felt safe throughout. The ambience and breakfast were genuinely at a good level.