Chester Resthouse

Rooms and decor

Picture a small 12-room guesthouse tucked into the centre of Honiara, the sleepy capital city perched between the Coral Sea and the green hills of Guadalcanal. It is run by the Melanesian Brotherhood, a local Anglican religious order that has been part of this community for a long time — and that is the secret of Chester Resthouse. The vibe is not a commercial hotel; it feels more like staying at a relative's house. Single-storey buildings in a simple tropical style, a wooden verandah for morning coffee with Pacific birds in the background, and big shade trees keeping things cool all day. Two room categories: family rooms with private bathroom and a small kitchenette for self-catering, ideal for families or groups staying several nights, and twin rooms with shared bathroom for the budget backpacker. Decor is not designer-hotel — it is plain. But the beds are tidy, the linen is fresh, the towels are white and clean, and review after review keeps repeating that the place is cleaner than you'd expect for the price. Housekeeping runs every day, which anyone who has travelled the Pacific island nations knows is genuinely rare at this price point.

Food and amenities

Be honest with yourself before you book: this is a guesthouse, not a hotel. There is no pool, no gym, no restaurant, no bar. What you get instead is the family-room kitchenette — and in Honiara, where restaurants close early and choices thin out fast after dark, the kitchenette is a quiet hero. Walk five minutes to Honiara Central Market in the morning, buy fresh fish, island vegetables, papaya and bananas straight from the boats and the gardeners, and cook a simple dinner back at the room. There is a 24-hour reception and Wi-Fi in the common areas — not the lobby of a 5-star, but functional. Other practicalities: housekeeping runs daily, the twin rooms share a bathroom (queues possible when full), and rooms vary between fan-only and air-con — confirm which one you are getting at the time of booking.

Location and getting there

Location is the real card Chester Resthouse plays. The guesthouse sits in central Honiara, on the side closer to the Solomon Islands National Museum — a short walk away. Inside the museum you will find traditional canoes, shell-currency jewellery, ritual masks, and the WWII Guadalcanal campaign exhibits that still pull in history-minded travellers. Walk a little further and you hit Mendana Avenue, the main road of the capital, lined with ANZ and BSP branches, convenience shops, local fabric stalls and government offices. Nearby is Honiara Central Market, where islanders bring vegetables, fish, fresh fruit, betel leaf and rare plants every morning — busy, photogenic and the most fun street-photography spot in town. For transport, Honiara International Airport (HIR) is a 15-20 minute taxi ride away. And once you are in town, you can walk almost everywhere without needing taxis, which saves money and puts you in the everyday rhythm of Honiara life.

Things to know before booking

Three points to weigh up before you book. First, this is a guesthouse, not a hotel — there is no pool, gym, spa, restaurant or bar. If you expect a buffet breakfast or room service, look elsewhere. Second, twin rooms share a bathroom; on busy nights (NGO conferences, church events) there may be a short queue, so pay up for the family room if privacy matters. Third, infrastructure in Honiara is not Bangkok or Sydney — Wi-Fi and power outages happen, and rooms can get warm in the humid season. Confirm whether your room has air-con or fan-only at booking, and pack a power bank. Lastly, the capital itself is small and most restaurants close early, so plan dinners ahead — or use that kitchenette and shop the morning market.

Our take

Reading the real guest reviews and talking to backpackers and NGO staff who have spent time in Honiara, Chester Resthouse nails three things that are hard to find together in this city — budget price, central location, and a safe family-feel atmosphere. It is the right call for backpackers watching their wallets, missionaries and NGO field staff on multi-night assignments, researchers, and adventurous couples or families who care more about a real local experience than resort polish. If your mental picture of Honiara is morning coffee on a wooden verandah, a market walk to buy fresh fish, an afternoon at the WWII museum and an evening swapping stories in the common room, this place delivers far above the price tag. If you want a beachfront resort with a pool and sundown bar, this is not your match. Overall we give it 7.4/10 as the best-value, safest central-Honiara base for budget-conscious travellers who want to experience the small capital of Solomon Islands the way locals actually live it.