In this blog, “Future Atlas by Ron,” I write realistic travel diaries of the places I have visited based on my experience of traveling to more than 15 countries, as well as my impressions and insights from my travels.
I usually travel on my days off while working full time in Tokyo, and I am active in my efforts to share the charm of international travel with everyone.
It was my first time driving overseas, and on the right side of the road.
When I put my hand on the steering wheel in the parking lot at the airport, I was honestly a little nervous.
I was thinking “What if I pull over to the left by mistake?” or
“It would be embarrassing if I mistake the blinker for the windshield wiper.
But once we started driving, we were surprisingly fine.
Within 30 minutes, I had enough time to enjoy the scenery and realized that
“Driving around the island on your own is the best way to travel.
In this article, I will summarize what I actually noticed while driving and what I am glad I prepared for, based on my own experiences.
👇The entire trip and cost details can be found in the [Guam Trip Summary Article]
- 🚗 Basic Information: Car Rental in Guam
- Reservation: How to reserve a rental car at QEEQ
- ✅ Advance preparation and car rental
- 🛑 Points to keep in mind while driving
- ⛽ How to fill up and return gasoline
- ✈️ Airport return routes & tips
- 💬 What is your impression of the actual drive?
- 💡 Summary: Driving in Guam is a pleasure.
🚗 Basic Information: Car Rental in Guam
- Driving is on the right side of the road and left-hand drive
- Driving is allowed with a Japanese driver’s license only (international driver’s license is not required)
- Most cars are automatic transmissions (AT)
- English road signs (but you can understand them if you look at them)
- Traffic volume is not that heavy, so beginners don’t have to worry.
Reservation: How to reserve a rental car at QEEQ
If you are looking for an overseas car rental, QEEQ, a comparison booking site, is convenient!
🔹 Advantages of QEEQ
- Prices of car rentals from various companies can be compared at once
- Coupons are regularly distributed, so you can rent a car at a lower price
- Easy to understand operation with Japanese display
- Many plans include insurance, so you don’t have to worry
🔹 Reservation steps
- Access the official QEEQ website
- Enter “Guam International Airport” in the “Pick-up Location” field
- Select the date and time to search
- Select your favorite car model, insurance, and options
- Enter your name, e-mail address, and credit card information to complete the reservation!
📌 Local counters are “Hertz”, ‘National’, “Budget”, etc., and pickup details are included in the reservation confirmation email.
✅ Advance preparation and car rental
Required items
- Driver’s license (original)
- Passport
- Credit card (required for deposit payment)
Location of rental and experience
This time I rented a car at “Hertz” near the airport.
The model of car I had reserved in advance was out of stock, and they changed me to a one-rank-up car free of charge, which was a pleasant occurrence!
The receptionist did not speak Japanese, but simple English was fine.
After receiving keys and documents, we got into the designated one from the cars lined up in the parking space.
🛑 Points to keep in mind while driving
(1) Until you get used to the feeling of driving on the right side of the road
- Be especially careful in the first 30 minutes.
- Be careful when making left turns, as it is easy to get into the habit of making wide turns!
- Always be aware of “right side, right side” to avoid going into oncoming traffic!
(2) Blinkers and windshield wipers are often mistaken
- The left and right are reversed compared to Japanese cars (blinker is on the left and wiper is on the right).
- It’s OK to make mistakes until you get used to it; we’ve all been there (laughs).
(3) Pay attention to speed and signs
- Speed is indicated in miles per hour (mph). 1 mph = approx. 1.6 km
→ If the speed limit says “35 mph”, it means approx. 56 km/h. - It is a good idea to remember basic English signs such as “STOP” and “YIELD” (go slowly).
4) Parking lots are surprisingly spacious and convenient.
- Free parking is available at many facilities and tourist attractions.
- There are plenty of parking spaces at shopping malls, beaches, etc.
⛽ How to fill up and return gasoline
Types of gasoline
- Unleaded (87) = Regular in Japan
- Premium Unleaded (91) = High octane
- Diesel” = Diesel fuel (check the type for the car you rent!)
How to use a gas station
- Most are self-serve.
- Many stations accept credit cards.
- You can ask the staff how to open the gas tank and lock the gas lever in advance.
How to return
- Basically, return a full tank of gas.
- Check gas stations near the airport.
- Return the car to the place where you rented it, and return the key at the reception counter!
✈️ Airport return routes & tips
It is a good idea to confirm the route in advance, as it is easy to get a little rushed on the day of return.
The road to the rental car return location is not easy to find!
There were several points on the road to the rental car return locations near the airport (e.g., Hertz Rent-A-Car) where it was easy to get lost, even if you had done your research beforehand.
In particular, if you make a mistake at the turnoff just before returning the car, you will have to make a major detour to get back to the airport. In fact, we made a mistake once and ended up on the other side of the airport grounds, losing more than 10 minutes.
So, we will show you the correct route with images from Google Street View below. By confirming this in advance, you should be able to return your baggage smoothly!
(1) Take this branch to the left (going right is a big detour).
(2) Go straight at this junction (going right is a major detour)
(3) Turn right on the road at the back (Note: The road in front is a one-way street and you are going the wrong way!
If you see this sign, you are correct!
As shown in the image, enter the road with the sign on the left and go straight, and that is the return area.
🔹 Return Process
- Return the car to the space in the parking lot reserved for the rented car
- Park in an available parking space
- Take out your luggage
- Go to the counter to return the key and complete the check!
💬 What is your impression of the actual drive?
At first I thought, “I might not be able to drive abroad…,” but when I actually experienced it
, I realized that there were great advantages to being able to move freely without relying on buses or cabs.
Driving along the seaside with its spectacular scenery,
the freedom to go directly to the stores I wanted to go to,
the luxury of being able to stop by a local supermarket with a local atmosphere.
It was a feeling that doubled the satisfaction of the trip.
💡 Summary: Driving in Guam is a pleasure.
- ✅ You only need a Japanese driver’s license, so feel free to challenge yourself.
- ✅ You will get used to it naturally if you drive carefully at first
- ✅ Pay attention to speed signs and direction of travel
- ✅ Check gasoline types and return routes in advance
- ✅ Best way to enjoy traveling at your own pace
Please take a look at the summary article as well!
＞＞【Travel to Guam Summary Article】
🔗 Related Links
- [United Airlines Flight Experience Review]
- [Detailed article on advance preparation]
- [Guam Basic Infomation]
- [Frequently Asked Questions Q&A]
- [Detailed cost information]
- [Travel Diary of Day 1] [Coming soon]
- [Travel Diary of Day 2] [Coming soon]
- [Guam Shopping Guide]
The atmosphere of this trip and what I felt on the ground is left in a video on
YouTube.
Rather than a record, I would be happy if it could be a trigger for someone else’s journey.
▶︎ YouTube ‘UYUTABI’ channel here
コメント