Roman Tmetuchl International Airport sits on Babeldaob, approximately 25 kilometers from Koror. The single terminal handles all international arrivals. United Airlines operates the primary connection via Guam with flights continuing to Manila. Asiana Airlines and Korean Air provide service through Seoul Incheon. China Airlines routes through Taipei. No nonstop service exists from the continental United States or Europe. Most itineraries require one connection minimum.
Immigration occurs at the airport arrival hall. Nationals from most countries including the United States, European Union members, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Australia receive a thirty-day entry permit on arrival without prior application. Officers stamp passports at the counter. The process moves quickly given the limited flight schedule. Travelers must hold passports valid six months beyond their intended departure date. No departure card is issued. The printed arrival card collected at immigration asks for accommodation address and expected length of stay. Visitors overstaying thirty days face fines calculated per day.
Palau maintains no departure tax charged separately at the airport. Environmental fees exist but are collected through airline tickets at purchase. The Pristine Paradise Environmental Fee costs one hundred US dollars per person for visitors aged twelve and over. The Green Fee for Rock Islands Southern Lagoon access costs fifty US dollars and permits entry to the protected area for ten days. Both fees are mandatory for tourists. Some ticket sellers include these in the fare total while others add them at checkout. Payment occurs before boarding the Palau-bound flight, not upon arrival.
The US dollar is the official currency. Palau adopted the dollar in 1944 during the Trust Territory period and continued its use after independence in 1994. No local currency exists. Coins and bills circulate identically to those in the United States. Credit cards see acceptance at hotels, the few restaurants in Koror, and dive operators. Smaller guesthouses and village shops operate cash-only. The Bank of Palau maintains ATMs at the airport, in Koror, and at Malakal Island near the commercial harbor. These machines dispense US dollars and accept major international networks including Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus, and Plus. Daily withdrawal limits typically reach four hundred dollars. Banks charge foreign transaction fees per withdrawal.
Cellular service covers Koror, the highway corridor on Babeldaob, and areas near Ngerulmud. The Palau National Communications Corporation operates the primary network. Roaming agreements exist with carriers in the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Coverage does not extend to the Rock Islands, Peleliu, or Angaur. Most hotels and guesthouses provide WiFi though speeds rarely exceed basic browsing capability. The Palau Visitors Authority office in Koror offers free wireless internet during business hours. Cellular data packages can be purchased at the PNCC office in Koror for travelers staying longer than one week. A local SIM card costs approximately fifteen dollars with data packages starting at twenty-five dollars for two gigabytes valid fourteen days.
Electrical outlets follow US standards with Type A and Type B sockets at 120 volts and 60 hertz. Appliances designed for the United States work without adapters. Devices from countries using 220-240 volt systems require voltage converters in addition to plug adapters. Power outages occur occasionally particularly during storms. Hotels typically run generators though smaller guesthouses may not.
No public bus system operates. Taxis exist in Koror but do not use meters. Drivers quote flat rates per destination. A ride from the airport to central Koror costs approximately twenty-five to thirty dollars. The same route to hotels on Malakal Island runs thirty to thirty-five dollars. Advance arrangement works better than hailing on the street. Most hotels coordinate airport pickup if notified of arrival times. Car rental agencies operate from the airport and Koror. Rock Island Tour Company, Budget, and local provider Eco Paradise maintain fleets. A compact car rents for approximately seventy to ninety dollars per day. An international driving permit is not required. US, Japanese, South Korean, and most European licenses are valid for thirty days. Driving occurs on the right side. The main highway spans Babeldaob from the airport to Ngerulmud with paved surface. Side roads to villages often remain unpaved coral or dirt.
Water from taps in Koror and areas near the capital meets drinking standards established during the US administration period. The Palau Public Utilities Corporation treats supply with chlorination. Many visitors prefer bottled water purchased at supermarkets in Koror. A gallon jug costs approximately three to four dollars. Stores stock brands imported from the United States and Asia. Restaurants serve tap water unless bottled is specifically requested. Outer islands including Peleliu and Angaur rely on rainwater catchment and well systems. Visitors to those areas should bring bottled water.
English serves as an official language alongside Palauan. Government documents, hotel operations, and tour services default to English. Staff at Roman Tmetuchl International Airport speak English fluently. Signage appears in both languages with English predominating in tourist areas. Older residents and those in outer villages may speak primarily Palauan though younger generations learn English in schools. Japanese remains understood by some residents over sixty who attended school during the Japanese mandate period from 1914 to 1944. No translation services are necessary for English speakers.