Micronesia: good to know
The general-information half of trip planning: how expensive Micronesia feels, what is considered polite, what is not, and the everyday practicalities - alongside our 31 written places.
Four island states with one soft-spoken rule - modesty, respect and no hurry whatsoever.
✓ Considered polite
- Cover thighs - knee-length shorts, skirts or sarongs blend in, and bare shoulders matter less
- Ask permission before crossing beaches, villages or reefs - nearly all land is privately owned
- Keep your voice low and your manner calm - quiet is the default register
- Join a sakau circle in Pohnpei if invited - the slow, silent ceremony is an honour to share
✗ Better avoided
- Tip - it is neither expected nor encouraged
- Wear swimwear away from the water - local women often swim covered
- Photograph people, villages or Yap's stone money without asking first
- Bring money to a sakau circle - a tray of food is the right contribution
Worth knowing
- The US dollar is the currency and cash is essential - cards work only at main hotels
- Sunday observance is strong, strongest in Kosrae, where even fishing and swimming pause
- Betel nut chewing is constant in Yap - offering and accepting it is a social gesture
- Flights between the four states run only a few times a week - the island-hopper route sets your schedule
Plugs and voltage: Wikipedia, «Mains electricity by country» (after the IEC World Plugs list), read 15 October 2026.
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Keep planning
Customs are living things - regions differ, cities relax, generations shift. Take these notes as a friendly head start, watch what locals do, and when in doubt a smile and a greeting in the local language cover almost everything.