Under $100: Tumon Bay, Guam

Located on the south end of the Mariana Islands, Guam is the largest island of Micronesia, as well as an unincorporated U.S. territory using American currency, making Hagåtña and Tumon Bay great places to visit on a budget.

Fort Santa Agueda © Rrab1972 | Dreamstime

For transportation, you can either rent one of the island’s Guam Bombs, which are vans popular with locals and tourist groups alike, at rates similar to the United States, though it would be cheapest to get a bus pass for the day, costing $3 or $1 for a single ride. Trolleys are also available at $3 a ride, but the most convenient way of getting around is a taxi at $4 for the first mile and $0.80 every quarter-mile after. The capital and Tumon Bay are pretty close together, but opt for busses if you’re traveling to different villages.

Before heading out for the day, stop by for brunch at Linda’s Coffee Shop, an Hagåtña institution that’s a bit divey but popular with locals for breakfast and as a late night joint. This your typical greasy spoon establishment, serving eggs, bacon, hash browns, fried chicken and pancakes, as well as local favorites like Chamorro sausage. A meal here will run $10–15, but you’ll be full for a while.

Tumon Bay © Jonghyunkim | Dreamstime

Walk off your breakfast in Tumon Bay, which is becoming a shopping destination thanks to customs exemptions and tax-free importation of goods. With 90 percent of their tourism coming from Japan, there are a large number of Asian boutiques, as well as duty-free shops and luxury outlets like Chanel, Ferragamo, Louis Vuitton and Rolex. Be careful with prices though, they might not be cheaper than what you can find elsewhere.

Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral © Junpei Abe | Flickr

To get a bit of culture after all that shopping, take a tour of Old Hagåtña, where you can see 400 years of Spanish history and architecture left on the island. There are a variety of tours available, but you can do a self-guided one stopping at Plaza de Espana, the former governor’s palace; Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral, home to the island’s predominantly Catholic population; and Angel Leon Guerrero Santos Memorial Park, where you can see stone pillars constructed by ancient Chamorros.

Finish out the day with a visit to the Chamorro Night Market, which is open Wednesday nights in Hagåtña. While somewhat touristy and overpriced compared to the daytime market, it is a truly unique experience with plenty of restaurants, artisans and cultural performances to give you a taste of Chamorro culture.

Chamorro Night Market © Junpei Abe | Flickr