Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# Honeymoon in vanuatu Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Vanuatu
franticmandy1 22:02 UTC 03 Feb 2009 | Hi, we are hoping to spend our honeymoon in Vanuatu March/April. Does anyone have any suggestions for a nice place to stay? (Heard good things about Mangoes Resort, does anyone have any experience staying there?). We'll have to be on a bit of a budget but would still like to stay in a decent/quiet place. Also, what are the beaches like around Port Vila. Any help would be very much appreciated! |
uncle_sav 07:59 UTC 07 Feb 2009 | It all depends on your expectations. Mangoes, Poppys and Meridien are all in Siberia. Fine if you want to stay there, but not so good if you want to move around. Taxis will be 1000 or 1500v to anywhere in town. Consider these. Moorings and Chantilly are close to each other and an easy, flat 10 minute walk into town. Rooms with a view have a great outlook over part of the harbour. Buses and taxis pass both all day. Breakas is the best if you like the beach - but don't expect good surf. The local village of Pango is drop dead gorgeous albeit primitive, and there there is a big kava bar almost opposite the front door of the hotel. Kava is only 50v per shell. You have to at least try it. The stuff looks like mud and tastes like pepper. Buses to Vila stop right at the front door and cost 100v per person. (100v roughly = $1usd) Hideaway is best if you like diving and it has a good bus service too. There is another stunning beach in Vila that no one goes to, except on Sunday. Tell the bus driver you want the big wharf and go to the far end. Walk about 200m along the dirt road and you'll come to it. If there are a few people there keep walking ahead to the point and turn left where there is another beach that is also uninhabited 6 days a week. Climb over the jetty. Say hi to the natives who often sit under the big tree to the left on this road. Ask them to show you their pigs or their garden. They are very nice people. If you swim Breakas is best and if you dive Hideaway is best. If you are unsure go to Chantilly or Moorings which are on the main road so you can easily take a bus to wherever. Mangoes, Poppys and Meridien are only good if you go there and sit. Look for a beat up old bongo van with rust holes in the door - that's the bus. They have a red "B" on the numberplate. The driver will go wherever you say but he will take the other passengers home first. Can be educational. Do support the local economy and buy some fruit from the town market. Yum yum yum. Best mangoes, bananas and pineapples I ever ate. Sorry, but the mangoes and pawpaws won't be there in March. Cheap AND organic. Look for the tiny bananas. Hope this helps. | 1