{"country":{"title":"Marshall Islands","name":"Marshall Islands","slug":"marshall-islands","flag":"🇲🇭","subtitle":"","summary":"","prose":["We stayed on Bikendrik Island, and the experience was one of the most unique we’ve ever had—especially compared to the other Pacific Island countries. Our host, Suzy, an Austrian through and through, had owned the small resort for more than 20 years. Before her husband’s passing, their life story was so wildly dramatic it almost seemed unbelievable. A movie was even made about him: Fly Rocket Fly. They had lived in Libya and the Congo, she had an Iraqi brother, and her home was filled with extraordinary pieces and stories. Among many other things, she owned paintings connected to Matisse, Hitler (yes, him), and Picasso because Picasso had once been friends with her mother.","Now 73, she lives alone aside from the staff she hires to help maintain the property. The private island resort was full of unexpected treasures: collections of art, complete encyclopedias, silver and crystal cutlery, unique ceramics, houseplants, and decor unlike anything we had seen—especially on an island this remote. Years ago, she trained as a chef at Le Cordon Bleu, and one evening she even served us Italian truffles. She still had the touch.","The Marshall Islands were the closest we could get to Bikini Atoll, where atomic bomb testing took place in the Pacific Ocean. We had incredible dives exploring sunken Cessna planes, military helicopters, and shipwrecks scattered across the ocean floor. If we’d had more time, we might have attempted a dive at the USS Saratoga (CV-3), the naval aircraft carrier sunk during the atomic bomb testing."],"pop":"42k","lang":"Marshallese, English","adv":1,"vis":0.006,"rar":99,"daysOnGround":6,"mapsUrl":"https://maps.app.goo.gl/vTNxoHBP1diWAoXMA","countedDate":"25 Jul 2025","countryNo":119,"firstArrival":{"date":"2025-07-21","airport":"KWA","from":"KSA","carrier":"UAL","num":"155","duration":"2h 5m"},"hero":"1753485236588-R48NS97UPC5EI28XECAK/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+2.jpeg","art":"marshall-islands"},"ui":{"words":{},"copy":{"recap":"Five nights on Bikendrik Island was one of the most unique stays we've ever had, thanks to Suzy — our 73-year-old Austrian host, twenty-plus years on her private island, Le Cordon Bleu-trained, with a house full of art tied to Matisse and Picasso and a life story so dramatic they made a movie about her husband. One evening she served us Italian truffles. She still had the touch. The dives held their own: sunken Cessnas, military helicopters, and shipwrecks — as close as we could get to Bikini Atoll."},"facts":[{"idx":"Sticks + shells","h":"Maps of waves, not land","p":"Marshallese navigators crossed vast stretches of open Pacific using stick charts — lattices of palm ribs and cowrie shells that mapped not islands, but the way ocean swells bend around them.","chip":null},{"idx":"1946","h":"The atoll that named a swimsuit","p":"Days after Bikini Atoll filled the world's newsreels in 1946, a French designer borrowed its name for his scandalous new two-piece — and the bikini has carried this atoll's name ever since.","chip":"Bikini Atoll: visited ✓ — the UNESCO chapter"},{"idx":"~2 million km²","h":"A shark's safest ocean","p":"In 2011 the Marshall Islands declared its entire ocean territory — nearly two million square kilometers — a shark sanctuary, at the time the largest in the world.","chip":null},{"idx":"181 km² of land","h":"A nation that is almost entirely ocean","p":"The country's 1,200-odd islands and islets add up to just 181 square kilometers of dry land — about the size of Washington, D.C. — scattered across a swath of Pacific nearly the size of Mexico.","chip":null},{"idx":"~10 m","h":"The whole country, one story high","p":"The highest natural point in the Marshall Islands rises only about ten meters above the sea — there are apartment buildings taller than the entire country.","chip":null},{"idx":"2,174 km²","h":"The world's largest atoll","p":"Kwajalein's slender ring of reef and 97 islets encloses a lagoon of some 2,174 square kilometers — Guinness World Records lists it as the largest atoll on Earth, a sheet of turquoise you could fit Singapore into three times.","chip":null}],"pronti":[],"planning":false,"regionsTotal":null,"regionsNoun":"regions","airportNames":{},"cityMetro":{}},"stats":{"nights":5,"trips":1,"stops":1,"distinctStops":1,"hotels":1,"flights":3,"galleryPhotos":27,"galleryVideos":0,"archivePhotos":25,"places":4,"visited":3,"regions":1,"regionNames":["Majuro Atoll"],"starsEaten":0,"michelinVisited":0,"vineyards50Best":0,"unescoVisited":1,"unescoTotal":1},"outline":{"src":"world-atlas 50m","rings":[[[5.83,169.635],[5.801,169.614],[5.802,169.592],[5.825,169.614],[5.856,169.628],[5.945,169.65],[5.978,169.7],[6.014,169.736],[5.976,169.725],[5.936,169.671],[5.83,169.635]],[[7.049,171.576],[7.026,171.616],[7.028,171.688],[6.972,171.756],[6.976,171.731],[7.0,171.695],[7.011,171.659],[7.007,171.616],[7.016,171.594],[7.049,171.576]],[[7.139,171.101],[7.087,171.227],[7.111,171.392],[7.096,171.367],[7.082,171.306],[7.068,171.263],[7.068,171.234],[7.073,171.202],[7.11,171.097],[7.156,171.036],[7.172,171.05],[7.139,171.101]]],"bbox":[5.801,7.172,169.592,171.756]},"terrain":{},"trips":[{"start":"2025-07-21","end":"2025-07-26","stops":[{"place":"Marshall Islands","hotel":"Bikendrik Island","start":"2025-07-21","end":"2025-07-26","nights":5}],"nights":5}],"stopCoords":{},"gallery":[{"k":"1753485045375-82JNOE5SX57GPO45TBSR/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+25.jpeg","w":2049,"h":1537,"dt":"2025-07-25","lat":7.146922,"lng":171.2874,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485051495-AYNOA1GHEFVHD2PEGDB6/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+8.jpeg","w":5712,"h":4284,"dt":"2025-07-22","lat":7.14698,"lng":171.287553,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485034679-02M3EN2LJTJX3TQG1JIK/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+21.jpeg","w":2049,"h":1537,"dt":"2025-07-23","lat":7.147289,"lng":171.286955,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485034679-H20ICLYCGMJ25NWBZJ9K/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+7.jpeg","w":2049,"h":1537,"dt":"2025-07-22","lat":7.147322,"lng":171.287217,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485046419-1Y0AK5OU7EBI28FPQ09E/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+19.jpeg","w":1537,"h":2049,"dt":"2025-07-22","lat":7.147183,"lng":171.287247,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485053429-VPF2A8I1ZUNE35G2Z5Z9/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+24.jpeg","w":1537,"h":2049,"dt":"2025-07-24","lat":7.146905,"lng":171.28772,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485058204-T5RBS4NLDTJ6ODKVRHFN/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+12.jpeg","w":2049,"h":1537,"dt":"2025-07-22","lat":7.146967,"lng":171.287353,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485059869-I5CI1ZZNY3RI7GBHY7TM/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+22.jpeg","w":1537,"h":2049,"dt":"2025-07-23","lat":7.146994,"lng":171.287262,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485063099-9W96A8SGKVC5AN47ANUU/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+20.jpeg","w":2049,"h":1537,"dt":"2025-07-22","lat":7.14692,"lng":171.28743,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485065089-ML75D168AHMDGO3WTKU3/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+27.jpeg","w":1537,"h":2049,"dt":"2025-07-25","lat":7.146864,"lng":171.287628,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485067825-ZOK5CCT8904FH7G5DZ8D/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+18.jpeg","w":1537,"h":2049,"dt":"2025-07-22","lat":7.146883,"lng":171.287247,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485069663-6M6M77Z4HE3I9YS6YCZQ/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+26.jpeg","w":1537,"h":2049,"dt":"2025-07-25","lat":7.146883,"lng":171.287613,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485370343-V1CPRPCEIQS777KDG4DD/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+1+(1).jpeg","w":1537,"h":2049,"dt":"2025-07-21","lat":7.109081,"lng":171.371108,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485243367-FIKD1UV6MG5RA306ACE9/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+1.jpeg","w":5568,"h":4872,"dt":"2025-07-22","lat":null,"lng":null,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485218333-6VOLY9ZAWTKCL50WJHQ4/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+15.jpeg","w":1537,"h":2049,"dt":"2025-07-22","lat":7.146772,"lng":171.287675,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485218093-6VAPY0G76YU4Y6US1OOA/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+23.jpeg","w":1537,"h":2049,"dt":"2025-07-24","lat":7.146955,"lng":171.287462,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485225669-RBHHFI674UAY84NOCK6Z/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+14.jpeg","w":1537,"h":2049,"dt":"2025-07-22","lat":7.147264,"lng":171.287017,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485244996-W1L1588R6574IIZSJUCC/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+3.jpeg","w":1792,"h":2048,"dt":"2025-07-21","lat":null,"lng":null,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485226673-T86CYXAR8IHURXV4EUSK/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+17.jpeg","w":1537,"h":2049,"dt":"2025-07-22","lat":7.146886,"lng":171.287462,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485228928-KH859381M6XDUJK4T0G9/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+10.jpeg","w":1537,"h":2049,"dt":"2025-07-22","lat":7.146975,"lng":171.28737,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485230755-BEQ70RARU3UKWYZHJ4KA/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+6.jpeg","w":1537,"h":2049,"dt":"2025-07-22","lat":7.14728,"lng":171.286942,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485236588-R48NS97UPC5EI28XECAK/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+2.jpeg","w":2048,"h":1792,"dt":"2025-07-22","lat":null,"lng":null,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485232685-WOF2YLFU6AEO586BZXZ3/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+9.jpeg","w":1537,"h":2049,"dt":"2025-07-22","lat":7.146975,"lng":171.287383,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485234869-069HUMNIWCDWWQG31A20/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+13.jpeg","w":1537,"h":2049,"dt":"2025-07-22","lat":7.14727,"lng":171.287017,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485240196-TR20B5SK61GFHM1PLSUA/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+16.jpeg","w":2049,"h":1537,"dt":"2025-07-22","lat":7.147264,"lng":171.287017,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485241819-2ERBNOYA8FNWF1U176RB/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+5.jpeg","w":1792,"h":2048,"dt":"2025-07-21","lat":null,"lng":null,"trip":0},{"k":"1753485246376-P9976JTUSJ90TZI9LRQU/maxandhailey_travel_marshall-islands-bikendrik-shipwreck-majuro+-+11.jpeg","w":1537,"h":2049,"dt":"2025-07-22","lat":7.146978,"lng":171.287322,"trip":0}],"clips":[],"map":{"kinds":["restaurant","bar","cafe","hotel","sight","museum","park","shop","food_other","other"],"dots":[[11.6065,165.3768,4,32],[7.1093,171.3709,3,5],[7.1469,171.2878,3,5],[7.1071,171.3734,0,5]],"names":["Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test Site","Hotel Robert Reimers","Private Island Boutique Resort Bikendrik Island Hideaway, Marshall Islands","Toeak Bar and Grill"],"cities":["","Delap-Uliga-Djarrit","","Delap-Uliga-Djarrit"],"pids":["","ChIJzSuMoZoED2URpDM4HT51luM","ChIJY_F0CFEaD2URJKehrTZnnR4","ChIJ1ccJBNsFD2URDbCQXZ8X2kE"],"labels":[]},"unesco":[{"id":1339,"name":"Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test Site","short":"","cat":"cultural","year":2010,"lat":11.6,"lng":165.3806,"v":true,"img":"unesco/1339.jpg","credit":"NASA","lic":"Public domain"}],"food":{"counts":{"restaurants":1,"bars":0,"cafes":0,"visitedRestaurants":1,"visitedBars":0,"visitedCafes":0},"michelin":[],"starWish":[],"cards":[{"name":"Toeak Bar and Grill","city":"Delap-Uliga-Djarrit","kind":"restaurant","rating":4.6,"n":67,"stars":0,"badges":[],"ph":"places/ChIJ1ccJBNsFD2URDbCQXZ8X2kE/hero.jpg","visited":true,"sc":""}],"bars":[],"curated":{"dining":[{"t":"Beef bourguignon dinner, Bikendrik","name":"Beef bourguignon dinner","city":"Bikendrik","note":""}],"drinking":[{"t":"Digestif on the porch with Suzy","name":"Digestif on the porch with Suzy","city":"","note":""}],"activities":["Dive: The Aquarium","Boat from Majuro to Bikendrik","Bikendrik property walk"]}},"stays":[{"name":"Private Island Boutique Resort Bikendrik Island Hideaway, Marshall Islands","place":"Marshall Islands","nights":5,"visits":1,"first":"2025-07-21","last":"2025-07-21","ph":"places/ChIJY_F0CFEaD2URJKehrTZnnR4/hero.jpg"},{"name":"Hotel Robert Reimers","place":"Majuro","nights":0,"visits":1,"first":"","last":"","ph":"places/ChIJzSuMoZoED2URpDM4HT51luM/hero.jpg"}],"hotelsAlbo":[],"cities":[],"wishlist":[],"flights":{"legs":[{"d":"2025-07-21","f":"KSA","t":"KWA","al":"UAL","n":"155"},{"d":"2025-07-21","f":"KWA","t":"MAJ","al":"UAL","n":"155"},{"d":"2025-07-26","f":"MAJ","t":"TRW","al":"RON","n":"42"}],"airports":{"KWA":[8.72,167.732],"TRW":[1.382,173.147],"KSA":[5.357,162.958],"MAJ":[7.065,171.272]},"own":["KWA","MAJ"]},"weather":{"place":"Majuro","lat":7.1,"lng":171.38,"basis":"representative capital/region","summary":"Majuro is warmest around Nov (28°C) and coolest around Feb (28°C). Nov is usually the mildest point of the year. Wettest stretch peaks around Oct.","months":[["Jan",28.0,5.19,"mixed","partly"],["Feb",27.9,4.85,"mixed","partly"],["Mar",27.9,5.22,"mixed","partly"],["Apr",28.1,7.57,"mixed","showers"],["May",28.2,6.8,"mixed","showers"],["Jun",28.2,7.43,"mixed","showers"],["Jul",28.1,8.14,"mixed","showers"],["Aug",28.0,7.55,"mixed","showers"],["Sep",28.2,8.67,"mixed","showers"],["Oct",28.2,8.91,"mixed","showers"],["Nov",28.4,8.89,"mixed","showers"],["Dec",28.3,7.22,"mixed","showers"]],"phrases":[{"label":"Hello","text":"Iọkwe"},{"label":"Thank you","text":"Koṃṃool"},{"label":"One more drink","text":"Bar juon"}]},"stories":[],"metros":[]}