Saipan: Pacific Paradise, American Prices
Located on the west side of the Pacific and just north of the equator, Saipan begs comparison to Hawaii. Of course both had major roles in WWII, and both use that to attract tourists. While Hawaii went on to be an American state and grew in the American psyche as an idealized place, Saipan has slid quietly under the radar.
Too far away and undeveloped to be of interest to North American tourists, Saipan gets most of it's visitors from Asia and Russia. Coming from South Korea, Saipan was just over 4 hours by air. Technically, Saipan is an American territory and has been since the Second World War. So this tropical paradise mainly speaks English, although it obviously isn't the first language for most natives.
Saipan is an ideal place to learn windsurfing or to relax in water teeming with wildlife. This is the only place that I've actually seen (and could have touched) starfish. Sea turtles are very common. I saw a few on different days near different beaches. Saipan's west coast is blessed with a long reef that protects some very beautiful beaches. The shallow waters can simply be walked into and then you can swim (carefully) over the reefs. Wind surfing classes are very popular around Garapan, the largest city in Saipan.
Saipan caters to most budgets, but backpackers would be hard pressed to find a hostel. All prices are in American dollars, so you have to budget carefully. Saipan is cash-strapped so there are many hustlers trying to get your money, legally or otherwise.
The restaurants tend toward big name American chains, with typical roadhouse fare, but if you look around, there are a lot of local fish shops. The Grotto, where everything is cooked with enough garlic to kill you, is worth a visit. Just don't try to be social afterwards.
Popular attractions include scuba diving in a grotto (a series of caves that let you get out into the ocean); riding a minisub down to visit sunken ships and airplanes from World War II; cycling the north point of the island or taking bus tours of the (locally) famous locations.
Saipan's reef also shelters Managaha Island, a beautiful sand knoll that has some of the best beaches I've ever walked on. The tourists get thick there, especially on the south and west sides, but the northern shore (which is rocky), can be empty, and the sandy east shore was completely deserted.
Every tourist map of Saipan includes lists of where you can see wrecked Japanese weapons from the war. In some places, these have been gathered together for easier viewing. There are many places, even today, where it isn't safe to go. Many underground bunkers still exist and their entranceways are clearly marked with yellow tape to try to warn away the foolish.
One of the more intriguing stories from Saipan's past is that according to local witnesses, Amelia Earhart was brought by the Japanese to the Garapan prison. According to these accounts, she lived out her last days there and either died before the Americans landed or was taken away by the Japanese.
Saipan is a good three-day trip. I was there four days and was a little bored by the end. If I just wanted to sit on a beach and sleep, I could have, but I could have done that nearer to home for less money too. If you have the budget, you can take short flights to the nearby islands of Tinian and Rota.
On the east side of the island in areas that are not easily accessible to tourists, Saipan is becoming notorious for its sweatshops. As Saipan is part of the Commonwealth of the North Marianas Islands (CNMI), it is a de facto part of the United States. Clothing made here can be legally labeled as "Made in America." However, this far from legal oversight, the clothing factories in Saipan don't pay anywhere near what would be considered a fair wage in America. A scandal in the U.S. boiled over in 2005, as elected officials attempting to preserve Saipan's status while not allowing US-style worker rights.
