In planning mode - how much budget should I keep in mind for Marshall Islands - any experiences?
I would not recommend going to the Marshall Islands on a tight budget. A realistic daily budget is over $200. You'll find that many things are more expensive than you'd expect. A simple taxi ride from the airport can cost $15. There are no public buses, so you'll be relying on taxis for all your transport. You'll also need to have cash on hand, as many places don't accept cards and ATMs are unreliable. It's a beautiful place, but the cost can be shocking.
A friend of mine went to the Marshall Islands recently and said it was a once-in-a-lifetime trip but very expensive. She budgeted around $250 a day. The biggest cost was a pre-arranged tour package that included a flight from the US and inter-island transport. There are no hostels, so you'll have to stay in hotels or guesthouses. The local food at a place like the Eneko Restaurant is delicious but not cheap. It's a country where you need to plan ahead and have a solid budget.
My experience in the Marshall Islands was more for a work trip, so I was on a high budget, over $300 a day. I stayed at the Marshall Islands Resort, and the room was over $200 a night. I had to charter a small boat to get to some of the outer islands, which was a huge expense, but it was the only way to get there. There are very few tourist-oriented activities, so you'll have to pay for a guide to explore some of the more remote areas. This is not a place for budget backpacking.
The Marshall Islands are an extremely expensive and challenging destination to get to and travel in. You should budget a minimum of $200 per day. The biggest cost is flights, with a round trip from the US costing over $2,000. Once you're there, a decent hotel room in Majuro can be $150-$200 per night. Food is also expensive, with a meal at a restaurant costing $20-$30. The lack of infrastructure and limited transport options between the atolls adds to the cost.