Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# Budget issues Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Vanuatu
e_poleg 11:56 UTC 20 Jul 2010 | Hello all , After reading the posts here , and other web sites , I really want to visit Vanuatou . However from the impression I got (including from the LP guide) , it might cost alot . I understood the main island is suppose to cater more up scale parties , but also that accommodation on the outer island is STARTING from $15 US a night , not including meals . Considring I plan to be 4 weeks in Vanuatu , on a bugdet (basic accommodation - shared faclities , a bed and mosqitu net , and somewhere to eat - is all I need ) , independent treavling style (doing it on your own , public transport , occasional tours by locals) , planing to visit two outer islands (by supply boats) . What is the rough estimate of the all costs ? I know it's a tought question , and it depends on many things , is the lower quote of the LP guide - 3,000 VT per day is relastic ? |
Laszlo 01:45 UTC 21 Jul 2010 | I don't think VT 3000 is reaistic - more likely 5000, and even with that one, you will need to stick to sea transport, cheapest accommodation and self-catering. | 1
s7k5 07:18 UTC 21 Jul 2010 | I absolutly agree with Laszlo.On the "main" islands,there is no real budget accommodation,not the kind of public transport you might imagine and tours are not going under 5000 VT.Can be hard to get by on 5000 Vt/day. The places I stayed at on the outer islands were 1500-2000 Vt/night including meals but I found I still needed water and extra food like cookies and such.Those things are expensive,since transporting them to isolated places isn't cheap.Transport to get around is the major cost factor-especially if you are travelling alone. | 2
uncle_sav 10:21 UTC 23 Jul 2010 | There is cheap accommodation in Vila - Blue Pango, Hibiscus, City Lodge. Expect to pay USD50 for 2. The cheapest food is native food. Buy from village markets (carry lots of 100vt coins). At Vila Market you can get a huge cooked meal for VT400, a hand of bananas for 150, a pawpaw for 100, a cabbage for 50, a bunch of kebis for 100 (tastes like spinach), a bunch of snake beans for 100 etc etc. Only pineapples are expensive at 200 - 400. Supermarket food is very expensive except for fresh bread which is only 60 and beef which is about 900/kg for sirloin. VT3000 per day is dreamland stuff. Even at a guest house your best price will be 2000 with decent food. | 3
uncle_sav 10:49 UTC 23 Jul 2010 | I forgot bunk rooms. You can get a bunk at Hideaway for US40 or at Coconut Palms for US30. | 4