Northern Mariana Islands
Travel tips for Northern Mariana Islands: safety advisories, currency and cash vs. card, tap water, plugs, local phrases, food, and advice from travelers.
Cash and cards
Carry some cash. While major hotels and restaurants accept cards, recent 2025 traveler reports advise carrying small USD bills for public buses, small vendors, and exploring outside central Saipan, though ATMs are readily available in main towns.
Try the food
- Kelaguen: A savory, ceviche-like dish of chopped chicken, beef, or seafood marinated in lemon juice, onions, hot peppers, and grated coconut.
- Red Rice (Hineksa' Agaga'): Short-grain rice colored and flavored with achiote seeds, often cooked with onions and savory fats.
- Apigigi: A sweet, chewy treat made from grated cassava and young coconut, wrapped in a banana leaf and grilled.
Essentials
- Plugs
- Type A / Type B
- Voltage
- 120V, 60Hz
- Driving
- Right side
- Tap water
- Avoid — buy bottled
- Emergency
- 911 (all services)
- SIM tip
- Pick up a prepaid tourist SIM from IT&E or Docomo Pacific stores in Saipan, or purchase a global eSIM before you travel.
Etiquette
Tipping follows standard US customs, so leaving 15 to 20 percent at restaurants and a few dollars for hotel staff is expected.