Vanuatu - Do not go there if you're expecting Paradise

We actually paid to come home early. We stayed in Port Vila - the tourist brochure does not mention that the resort is right across the road from a squatters camp, complete with nutso kava drinkers, or maybe they were just drunk. The "hello, hello" from the ni-vans starts to get tiring as you suspect they are quietly sick to death of saying hello. The smell is overpowering - a mixture of body odour and coconut fires. The roads were beyond belief - and that's just in Port Vila. No rules for anything - bus "drivers" weaving all over the road and the filth was astounding. Piles of rubbish left by the roadside for days, people think nothing of discarding whatever anywhere. The restaurants were very disappointing. Nothing outstanding at all and a few were actually very very poor. We couldn't find anywhere to swim, the shopping was pathetic and although the people seem very nice - they also were very tired, particularly the women, and their obsession with mobile phones is kind of weird. The men lolling about in the bushes, by the side of the road, anywhere really, is very disconcerting and despite assurances about how safe the place is, I don't believe that for a second. I don't know what we were expecting really, but this wasn't it. I was not expecting the level of filth and general overall tiredness of the people. I didn't get an overall impression that they were very happy at all. They get paid next to nothing and don't look particularly pleased about that at all. I could not wait to get home to a clean bed. Will not be back. Do your research if you're planning a trip here.

"paid to come home early. We stayed in Port Vila"
If you were expecting resort cleanliness in a third world country city (town), then Vila or any Pacific town is not for you. In fact in just about any Third World city you will find much of what you just experienced.

I'm sorry for you that you left Vanuatu early. Not all of Vanuatu is like that at all.There are resorts near Vila that are clean and lovely. Better you stay home though.

Like most places, you won't get to see the real country until you leave the capital.

We did drive out to Devils Point Road and out past Mele Maat, Havannah Harbour. Yes these areas were beautiful (coconut palms, green, immaculate grounds), but it just wasn't that big a deal. I was just disappointed I suppose. I was expecting something as beautiful as or more beautiful than certain parts of Australia, and that wasn't what I saw.

I'm sure the volcano at Tanna is amazing, didn't see that.

You sound to me like an old lady who cannot give up her habits such as an afternoon tea time and biscuits crunching.
Or you are just a young lady whose social venues are orchestra halls or concert shows not to speak of venturing into the countryside from the fear of being sunburnt and losing pride of delicate porcelain-like white skin .
And I do not think the OZ outback has to offer more.
Sorry to hear about your ordeal though. And I am really disappointed to hear such bad things about Vanuatu before my planned journey to this country.
Can somebody tell me good things ?
Laszlo, are you there ?

Vanuatu is a great country and Pt. Vila (when I saw it) was/is more 'upscale' than anything I found, and still find, in Honiara, Solomon Islands, Solomons being my hands-down favourite. I went through reverse culture shock in Pt. Vila after spending 4 months in Solomons, and the people are almost as friendly as Solomon Islanders . Laszlo can surely help you on things Vanuatan and I'm also sure he'll say ni-Vanuatans are friendlier than Solomon Islanders :-).

Thanks for the report, we have put this country waaaay down on our list to visit! {:"}

Madmanascar:

My standard of living is way above what I experienced, and I'm glad about that. I actually like having a clean environment in which to live and raise my family. Good roads, good health care, basic health and hygeine - these things are valuable to me and should be to everyone. I saw kids trying to play with a soccer ball on a 3 metre filthy cement landing on the front of their shack. I don't think that's wonderful and I think if you asked them if they'd rather play on a nice flat area of grass with no broken glass or rubbish embedded in it, they'd look at you in disbelief (I'm talking about Vila). Also, that fruit and vege market? I could not bring myself to go in there, despite knowing that the fruit and veges were probably great - it was disgusting! They were hosing out the toilets where the people were walking along the harbour front there, and the smell was awful. When the fruit goes bad, they throw it out behind the stall for it to rot in the sun. Yuk, give me a fresh fruit and vegetable market in Australia any day. Basic standard of living is what I'm talking about.

Anyway, enough said from me. I know that other people like it there, have enjoyed it there, good for them. I think I had to experience it in person to really get what it was all about. Not for me or for anyone like me.

Madmanascar:

My standard of living is way above what I experienced, and I'm glad about that. I actually like having a clean environment in which to live and raise my family. Good roads, good health care, basic health and hygiene - these things are valuable to me and should be to everyone. I saw kids trying to play with a soccer ball on a 3 metre filthy cement landing on the front of their shack. I don't think that's wonderful and I think if you asked them if they'd rather play on a nice flat area of grass with no broken glass or rubbish embedded in it, they'd look at you in disbelief (I'm talking about Vila). Also, that fruit and vege market? I could not bring myself to go in there, despite knowing that the fruit and veges were probably great - it was disgusting! They were hosing out the toilets where the people were walking along the harbor front there, and the smell was awful. When the fruit goes bad, they throw it out behind the stall for it to rot in the sun. Yuk, give me a fresh fruit and vegetable market in Australia any day. Basic standard of living is what I'm talking about.

Anyway, enough said from me. I know that other people like it there, have enjoyed it there, good for them. I think I had to experience it in person to really get what it was all about. Not for me or for anyone like me.

sorry about the double post!

Interesting post. Different people seek different things in a holiday (and life), and I suspect Vanuatu isn't for everyone. Most places have a good side and a bad side, and a person's overall impression depends on the balance for them. The roads, the odours will be offset by the beauty of some of the areas (yes, there are some lovely places in Vanuatu), and the more personable culture. For some people (like yourself) the latter don't seem such a big deal because you need certain comforts and order, but for others these aren't as important. When we were in Vanuatu we stayed with a local family who had returned from many years in Australia to the island they grew up on. There was no communication to this island, no running water or sanitation - but it was a beautiful spot where the kids could grow up with much more freedom and that must have meant more to them than order.

Right now I live in India (and I can say honestly that good roads are not a top priority for everyone!) and I am often evaluating this balance. There are many things I don't like about living here (the dirt, disease, congestion), but the good points of being here currently outweigh those (climate, the different cultures my kids are exposed to, the help I have that allows me to work from home + the fact everything is not perfect so my kids and I don't expect it that way.).

The health issue - this is something everyone wants, but it comes down to money and education. Rotting vegetables aren't such a big deal (at least they aren't just putting the "perfect" fruit and veg in the market as they would do in the west. Have you ever though about the huge amount of wastage in western supermarkets?). The toilets - at least they were cleaning them, but maintenance is sometimes a major issue. If this results in major health issues, then yes it is important.

. Rotting vegetables aren't such a big deal (at least they aren't just putting the "perfect" fruit and veg in the market as they would do in the west. Have you ever though about the huge amount of wastage in western supermarkets?).

Yes, I have thought about this since we returned, and I think it comes down to what people demand. Not many people in this country are prepared to eat what looks inedible (regardless of whether it is or not). Flawed thinking probably, but that's what it is. Again it's a different standard, different expectations. Your comment about your children seeing a different culture and not expecting perfection - I think that is an excellent attitude. I don't have the time just at the moment to talk but I would like to discuss this further. Thanks.

Mayairis,

Sorry again for your bad experience. You are really entitled to your own views. But please understand that though you have found Vanuatu unsatisfying, there may be others who will say that Vanuatu is undoubtedly a paradise. Well,of course it is not. But there are wonderful things to see there such as the traditional lives of the natives which are nothing similar to our modern world, their beliefs, their traditional clothes, their religious ceremonies and more.
And what about the nature ? I believe these Pacific Islands have pristine nature reserves, rainforests, volcanoes, beautiful sand beaches . Haven't you seen them all ?
If you were on a package tour and your expectations were for a five star hotel, then I can understand your disappointment. But you had to know well in advance that you are going to a third world country where western standards are hardly met. Personally,

(continued).....I like those destionations which are challenging .
I remember I was disappointed from my trip to China. Though there were many interesting things to see, I found the Chinese very hard to befriend. That made me very upset.
Anyway, when I look back at my 'Chinese' experience which was not easy at all, I think there was something positive about it. I saw another world which was so strange to me but yet, gave me some additional value.
Take it easy !

The fruit and veg issue. I didn't think about it either until my Indian in-laws came to my home (NZ). They asked how a supermarket in a small town could stock so many perfect fruit and vegetables and who could possibly eat them all. It was then I realized that there must be alot of waste. In India, despite visiting multiple supermarkets and a veg market I still can't regularly get some foods I would like to - but I think it is OK, because I enjoy it when we finally find it and learn to be flexible. Sometimes it is travel to places like this which do make you appreciate what you have, and think about what you take for granted. I don't believe anyone is happier living life at some level of poverty (or at least very few), but it doesn't mean you can't learn from it. It also doesn't mean everyone wants to see this in a holiday! At least now you know which sort-of destination suits you.

To follow on from the last comment. My parents visited us in India last year and we had a busy holiday taking trains and staying in a range of accommodation (from backpacker to luxury). They found it tough, fell sick and it generally just seemed not to be the most enjoyable experience. But, they went home and now they say how wonderful it all was and it is partly because of those tough moments and what they experienced. Of course, they didn't have to deal with alot of the hassle because we were there.

And your parents did not expect India to be paradise. Look at the headline of this thread. And read the introduction to this branch of Thorn Tree "Welcome to the branch, which will take you to some of the most beautiful paradise islands on earth". Paradise. Not 3rd world. In fact that would be correct " ... most beautiful 3rd world islands on earth";-) That is exactly what they are. Most beautiful. And full of poverty.

Its not the fault of the locals of course but I really do not blame the OP either for being disappointed by paradise never been. Maybe one should not believe that there is paradise on earth in the first place. And tell Lonely Planet too.

I decided to be extremely truthful about my holiday experience in an effort to inform others who may be planning a trip there. I did not buy a package deal, I researched it myself, on here and other websites. I bought the flights and accommodation separately, and followed the reviews from others. It just goes to show that people have very different likes and dislikes.

I didn't say there weren't beautiful areas, however I will say again, that I was surprised to find it was no more beautiful than many many areas I have already seen throughout Queensland, (islands and mainland). We can see all of this right where I live now, and I don't need to fly there and deal with filth to see it.

Well noted mayairis. But still, you need to choose mild words to convey your message.
I just wonder how this country of remote Pacific Islands can't offer beauty and interesting insight to its traditional life that cannot intrigue foreign travellers.
But maybe you are used to Pacific ocean views in your country. To me, it is totally a diferent world to be explored.

But still, you need to choose mild words to convey your message.

No, I don't. I can explain myself as I choose. If you are intrigued by the place, that's fabulous. You go enjoy yourself!

Just back from the remote Lau group of Fiji, hence the belated reply! ;-)

I think OP simply wasn't prepared for "developing country" standards of living and cleanliness.
Comparing a poor country like Vanuatu to wealthy Australia is plain ridiculous in my eyes, and I can only think of culture shock of a "first time beyond western borders" as an excuse.

Poor and dirty?
Sure, if compared to AU, but as Watsoff has said, far less so than some other Pacific countries.
If that puts you off, stick to a resort island, or better still, a western country (like AU).

I did find the friendliess genuine, and got more of it than in any of the other 109 countries I've been to so far - which is saying something.

Paradise?
Of course there's no such place (just in a certain widely-consumed age-old storybook), but to me (and I am used to 3rd World smells, etc), Vanuatu gets as close to it as a real country can.
As for the opening post for this branch promising paradise islands, note that that post was compiled by an industrious TT member who never even posted much on this branch but enjoyed writing "FAQ threads", not even by any LP staff.
Then again, I am pretty sure the word "paradise" pops up in certain Lp guides to the region - take it word for word at your own judgement.

I take Vanuatu over QLD any time - for all their own!

I found Ni-Van people to be more genuinely friendly than the people of any of the 60 other countries I've visited. I certainly don't share OP's view that they are sick of saying hello, hello. If so, why would they say it?! I guess if you've never traveled much you can only judge foreign people's behaviour by your own standards. Also, I did not notice any "obsession with mobile phones." Certainly not more than the West's obsession with them!

Of the 60 countries i have been to, a mix of developed and undeveloped, Vanuatu is easily my favourite. I found nothing special at all in Port Vila, although I did not notice the filth OP talks of, but the rest of the country was just stunning.

Eddie, Surely you noticed them sitting in their villages chatting away? Probably to someone 3 metres away. The digitel advertising is absolutely everywhere. Apparently the sim cards were superglued to their phones so they can't change companies. To me, it was very obvious, and very odd.

I agree that westerners use mobile phones a lot, however I wasn't expecting to see so much of it in Vanuatu.

And look, my use of the word "paradise", I'm not so dim that I would expect paradise anywhere. I was trying to say that it wasn't all it's cracked up to be. No more, no less.

yes i saw people using mobile phones but have you seen westerner businessmen, teenagers, school kids and in fact pretty much everyone? it's like an addiction. In the west the average person spends 9 hours a day using media devices like tv, ipods, mobiles, etc, more than any other waking activity! it's way less than that in vanuatu, particularly on other islands where less people own mobile phones than in Vila

No, I don't. I can explain myself as I choose. If you are intrigued by the place, that's fabulous. You go enjoy yourself!

Of you can. And you should also choose to use mild words when responding to other members who want to talk with you. So far, I have been polite to you.

What seems to me, Mayairis, is that you can not convince any one of your feelings. Again, this is partly because your words are a bit harsh. You can use DIRT instead of FILTH and you can be more politically correct when telling about the disadvantages of Vanuatu. Shooting too hard does not do any good.

I hardly believe that people will keep a distance away from Vanuatu just because of this current post. But I do tend to believe that people will keep a distance from you ( not because of your opinion of Vanuatu but because the way you choose to express yourself . )

It is useless to talk with that girl !

MadManascar you are absolutely correct! All I can say is the homework OP did on her subject compares well to my teenage son's......not much! I can understand why the people sounded like they didn't really want to say hello to her....they probably sensed her attitude. The ni Van people are so happy and generous even though they have to work so hard for so little...how insulting to say they live in filth. I hope that any 'would be' travellers to Vanuatu can see, like most of us here, that OP's review is one to be disregarded.

I'm not trying to convince anyone of my feelings. We can all choose to think or feel what we like, I'm just explaining how I saw the place. I think that the people who have responded negatively to my comments are feeling insulted because they like the place. Now, if that's the way you feel, I don't think you should feel insulted, we all want different things in life, holidays being just one of them.

As far as the comment about doing my howework as well as your teenage son - well how would you know? I spoke to people from my hometown who lived there for some time, and they liked it. I based my intention to travel there on the comments of these people, and others on here, and the like. I also spoke to other people who said they didn't like it at all, mentioned how dirty it was etc. I still chose to go there and form my own opinion. And this is what this is, an opinion. I'm just as entitled to one as anyone else.

Going by the number of people who have viewed this post, and the number who have responded (negatively and not many) I would assume that there are mixed feelings on this place as a destination.

The ni Van people being "happy and generous", this is such a broad sweeping statement. I don't think they are any more or less happy or generous than anyone else. In fact, there were those who told us, when we were there, that they are anything but generous. As I said, my impression was that they were tired and bored. Yes, they were friendly, said hello - but so what?

As always in life, listen and observe, and form your own opinion! I mean no harm, but don't like being attacked for having an opinion.

I don't think they are any more or less happy or generous than anyone else.

In my experience, most of them are certainly more generous, and quite possibly more "happy" than most Australians I met in their home country.
(Aussies chosen for comparison just because OP kept comparing these 2 countries)

The new 2010 list is topped by Nigeria, as I heard, but at least in 2006 the people of Vanuatu had been found to be the happiest in the world.

Yes, read it here. I did not find Vanuatu in the report but "New Zealand ranked 15 for overall satisfaction, the US 16th, Australia 20th and Britain 24th - although Australia beats the other three for day-to-day happiness". See - so Australia is not too bad either.

Nigeria - LOL!
Well, I guess that was not based on the oil-spoilt Delta area, or even on the ever more fundamentalist North...
Still, Africans seem to be able to have fun even when we surely wouldn't.

While I have my doubts about the top-rated countries, the Bottom Three listed must indeed be somewhere down there even according to my own experiences in them.
Note that they only surveyed 65 countries so Vanuatu may have been left out to give chance to others, and being #20 among 65 is not all that bright either.

And, of course, any such survey is hard to take seriously (even when it puts Vanuatu on top).

I fully agree. But it confirms the experience that there is always a survey to prove anything. BTW - that study with Nigeria on the top was carried out in 1999-2001 but only published now. They might have needed that decade to make the data fit to prove the most unexpected. Or re-check so many times because it was so unexpected ;-)

Saying that N-Van are more happy and generous is not a "sweeping statement". All nationalities have certain characteristics, things that distinguish them from others, and this is one of the things that distinguish the Ni-Vanuatu. Also OP says he "was told by others that Ni-Van are not generous". I wonder if he actually spent any time with them himself to find out.

Summing up ( at least from my point pf view.....)
Shall I go to Vanuatu next May (2011)?

Laszlo, are you there ?

I can tell you that I love to see beautiful nature, sun drenched beaches, wildlife and traditional villages. I do not mind dirt in cities. I do not mind to eat only bread and drink silted water for the sake of seeing a beautiful place in a remote corner of our planet. I swear I do.

Shall I go to Vanuatu then ?

Again, I hope that OP will have a nice vacation next time.
Everyone is entitled to his views and feelings.
I just think that Ni-Vans are not to be blamed for living in filth as described by her.
They did not choose to be born under such circumstances of poverty and filthiness ( I still think that more gentle words could be chosen though). Nor do they have the facilities as a developed country to keep their environment clean. We should me more understanding at this point !

most of vanuatu's environment is WAY cleaner than other undeveloped or developed countries. Only Port Vila could be described as dirty, but as I said I didnt even really notice it there

Yes MM, you definitely should go.
And when you come back, post here your assessment! ;-)

I appreciate the fact that OP has every right to post her opinion however I agree with MadManascar that she could have done so in a much more polite way. Her words made the opinion sound aggressive and offensive.

MM, I agree with Laszlo. Go. Definitely.

Me too, just go and enjoy, because you will enjoy.

Madmanascar ...Yes I agree - go and see for yourself. If nothing else, it is educational.

I wanted to explain a bit more about why I was disturbed about what I saw there. You see, I had this idea in my mind that "the simple life" equates with better life. That wasn't what I saw. To make it clear, we're talking about a very quick glimpse of a different culture, and I'm sure there are very many things that I didn't see, but what I did see and learn, was mildly shocking. The fact that the ni-vans can't afford a basic education for every child (apparently there are 4-5 kids in most families) so they send each child to school for a few weeks a year. We were told that many of the villages that have sprung up in Vila are of people who have come in from the outer villages looking for work, so there is an element of desperation there. There is opportunistic crime. There are drugs, but apparently not the hard kind. They really were living in a dirty environment - houses without paint, held together by materials found anywhere (road signs, pieces of tin etc.). Women were washing their clothes in a bucket and hanging it on bits of string attached to trees. I realize this is the world we're living in, but I kinda had this misconception that it was largely unspoilt in Vanuatu. I can see that some of you who have contributed to this thread have spend considerable time there, did you not see this and feel disappointed? Thoughts?

Not disappointed, Mayairis. Angry and sad, probably, and also guilty. I spent a month last summer researching why villagers in Solomon Islands move to town, where their children can't get a decent education, and they live in very poor conditions, eking a living through jobs that may or may not be legal.
Why? probably because 150 years ago, Eurpoeans disrupted their traditional lifestyle, which may have looked idyllic, but was actually very hard, especially for the women.
I believe that education for all is the answer, and there are moves to make that possible, but these countries are poor, and they don't want to sell their birthright to foreign investors.
Hence my small attempts to initiate village stays and support ecotourism and volunteer tourism.
On one occasion I arranged for the manager of a Rest House in Honiara to stay at an apartment hotel in Brisbane, so he could actually see what Western tourists are used to. It certainly opened his eyes. I help women's groups who want to travel on "look and learn" trips to Australia, too, and collect donated second-hand books for village schools.

Yep, I realized as soon as I posted that "disappointed" was the wrong word. Sounds like you're doing something very worthwhile.

I think most of those of us who spent more than a week in Vanuatu spent most time in the outer islands, where there are no slums in people live a more idyllic-looking subsistance-level lifestyle, and impressions made there dominate.

Mind you, I just can't see anything horrible about "washing their clothes in a bucket and hanging it on bits of string attached to trees". I did just that an hour ago here in the capital of Fiji myself simply because my hotel provides no laundry and walking to somewhere that does would have taken longer! Surely you don't expect everyone in the world to have both a washing machine and a dryer??? Houses without paint - that's the way the traditional ones have always been, too.
And no, "simple life" certainly does NOT equal "better life". At least you've learned this, all too many westerners imagine it that way indeed, which is why we get people wanting to "move to paradise" (what they imagine the islands to be) every now and then.

yeh mayairis i'm glad to see you've toned down your argument from questioning the sincerity of the ni-van people themselves to just saying you didn't like villa. That's fine, everyone's entitled to an opinion. Just please don't take this away as your view on the entire country. The difference between life in Port Villa and on the other islands is really extreme.

sigh.....no, I don't expect everyone to have a washing machine and dryer.

And washing for yourself is completely different to washing for many people, which is obviously what these women were doing, and on a regular basis. I would much rather wash for my family of 7 with a washing machine than a bucket of soapy water, and I'm almost certain they would too. And I wasn't talking about traditional houses - I was talking about the slums.

Just a question to you Laszlo, what exactly do you get out of spending significant time in these places if it's not to experience "the simple life"?

yep, okay eddy. I'm sure that's right. But most tourists don't see what you've seen, that's what I'm trying to say.

It is mostly experiencing the culture and the nature unique to each place.
If I only wanted simple life, I could have stayed put in one of the places living it long ago.

Okay, thanks. So does Vanuatu greatly differ from some of the other places you've seen, like Samoa or Solomon Islands? I guess Fiji is more touristy?

VERY greatly, especially from Polynesian, tourist-packed Samoa.
Fiji is more touristy in sheer numbers but has hundreds of islands, most without any tourist facilities, and the tourists stick to certain resort islands/regions of it.
When I toured the superbly pretty Lau group, Fiji's largest though remotest region, I saw not one tourist at all.
The Solomons should be most similar to Vanuatu, but I found them quite different, too.

And what is the most attractive destination you've found in the Pacific ?

PNG & Vanuatu are my 2 favourites.
PNG is bigger and more diverse, Vanuatu mellower and more easygoing.

New Caledonia is probably the 3rd, with very beautiful and unique scenery.

If we define the Pacific in geographical terms rather than based on political boundaries, the 2 Indonesian regions of West Papua and Maluku might be serious contenders for the top positionsd, too.
They'd easily beat New Caledonia, and possible one or both of the others, too.

A Masterful Troll-Best on this branch in ages.

9 out of 10

I don't think so, OP had asked very credible Qs about taking kids, medicine etc before her trip to Vanuatu.
Though I can see why such a post about Vanuatu, of all places, might seem like a troll! :-)

yeah right, I'm about as far from a troll as you can get. What is wrong with asking a few questions and having something to offer as far as an opinion?! Thanks Laszlo, although I disagree with you on the virtues or otherwise of the said destination, you have been most helpful and I appreciate your input. And what's with that hideous picture on your profile hardnose? You should be ashamed of yourself. At least everyone else has had something useful to say.

I certainly think Mayairis is genuine, and basically, her observations are the reason I encourage visitors to Solomon Islands to get out of Honiara and preferably off Guadalcanal. I would expect the same to apply to Port Vila and Efate.
My observations are that the real country emerges the further you get from the capital or other large urban areas.

I've been lurking on this thread but thought I'd finally chime in with my .02 cents.

I think Mayairis is genuine as well. It's all about expectations and reality.

I think the best attitude is to look for your paradise but don't expect to find it all in one place. It rarely (never?) happens that way. I've been trying to capture those moments and times all of my life and have been lucky enough to experience them , in bits and peices, in places like the Carribean in the late 50's, Mexico in the sixties, Alaska in the 80's and 90's and in the South Pacific for the last ten years.

They always happened in the company of newly-made friends and usually in off-the-beaten-track places that did not cater to tourists. And they usually weren't planned, they just happened.

My advice to those looking for paradise is to go someplace you think you like, get away from "tourist" locations, get to know the locals and then just be yourself. Then there's a good chance you'll find your paradise.

BTW... thanks to Lazlo and Ozziegiraffe... you really help buoy this forum and have been a big help to me in finding my paradise... :-)

Just for interest, you could tell us here you've found it, H2ooh!
Country is enough, that still allows it to remain"secret".
If it was found based on posts by OG and myself it should be somewhere in Melanesia, but your posts on tt indicate the Cooks... ;-)

58

The Cook Islands Southern Group... but Raro only as a gateway to the rest

Added as an afterthought... in order of my personal preference #1 Mauke, #2 Aitu, #3 Aitutaki, #4 Mangaia, #5 Raro

I think the locals on these islands can use the money that visitors bring. Not many tourists, especially pushy offensive ones, will take the trouble to actually visit them. So I don't think I'm taking a chance on ruining my paradise...:-)

Edited by: H2ooh

Opps... I forgot Mitiaro... ties with Mangaia for #4 spot

Edited by: H2ooh

"And what's with that hideous picture on your profile hardnose? You should be ashamed of yourself. At least everyone else has had something useful to say."

Maybe you should look somewhere else for your little paradise

I agree.
In most cases, especially where locals could do with a few more visitors, it is unnecessary and even downright selfish to keep such places "secret".

Of course a tiny, fragile spot with no tourism infrastructure is a different matter.

Haha, Sumatra!
I think I've seen this kid on local TV, but he was not so fat back then.

Is he two years old ?
Oh, my God !

I spent 2 weeks in Vanuatu last year by myself and absolutely lovely.
Yes Port Villa is dirty, Yes Port Villa was a bit of a let down (as with most capitals i've visited) and Yes people did laze around a lot which is their way of life (they also do that in all of Vietnam after lunch).
If you travel expecting certain things then of course you are going to be let down.

In my 2 weeks in Vanuatu, I also spent time on Santos and Tanna which were the most amazing places- beautiful, clean and very very friendly (yes there was pot holes and not really any rules- but not once did I feel unsafe in my ventures). So far in my travels the people from Vanuatu are one of the nicest and friendliest and most welcoming that I met!
I'm really sorry that you didn't enjoy your trip there, maybe next time you should venture away from the capital and visit one of the other islands.
Cass

I loved Vanautu because it is different to my home and that is why i travel

#64
What do you mean by pot holes ?

Pot holes = holes in the surface of the road.

ahhhhh not holes full of pot.

BTW, what is the kid smoking in your pic, hardnose?

I think this cigarrete is to ditract him from eating more.
This boy's total weight is the same when I was 25 years old .

Vanuatu - GO there if you are expecting paradise! A stunning place with awesome down-to-earth happy people.

At the end of the day, you need to know you are visiting one of the most impoverished countries in the world. So if you are expecting luxury, keep out!

But if you are looking for an experience that will stay with you for a long long time, if you are looking to go back to basics, if you can live without your Latte every morning, then there is NO BETTER place than Vanuatu.

And for what it is worth, i found the locals very respectful of foreigners, and they do keep their distance, but if you approach for a chat they are very friendly and helpful.

#70
Well said. I fly to Vanuatu on the 2nd of May and I am so excited. How long have you been there and which places would you recommend me to visit ?

Hi Madmanascar. i was there on a short trip for work but managed to squeeze in 2 days of sightseeing and activities, so only been in and around Vila. Stayed at Anabru around a typical Ni-Vanuatu community (and across the road from a Kava bar!!) which was fantastic. The markets in the city are awesome too so have a look. Went to a very secluded beach, cant remember the name, and the water was crystal clear, but the best part was seeing the locals arriving in canoes from other parts of the bay or other islands.
But i guess if u are going to other parts Vanuatu, i am sure there will be heaps more to see and do! Enjoy

I actually go there because its so down to earth. I can find clean & neat where i live now but i cant find the richness of people in friendship like the people i meet in Vanuatu anywhere else in the world. The whole place is unconditional. Ive travelled to some 40 countries but Vanuatu is the only one i go back to regularly. I love it that no-one really knows what time it is, or that a truck will just stop on the road out of town & let you on for a lift when you are walking. I love how you get in a van & everyone you look at smiles & greets you. Nothing is a problem to these people, everyone is helpful & kind. I feel so grateful that i can turn up & simply be there.

2 of my friends just got back from a short holiday in Vanuatu, and wished they could have stayed much longer.

Oh wow - it's such a shame that you found you had to leave the country instead of simply changing your hotel.

We're here for 12 nights - staying at Breakers Beach Resort and I cannot think of a time when we have to go home! The people are wonderful - no-one is paying them to say hello. They say hello because they want to - tired or not.

the food is delicious and such a wide array of cultural influence. All the beaches we have visited (and it's only been a couple so far) have been wonderful and great swimming and snorkling.

I have a funny feeling if you forked out a couple of hundred dollars to actually get to Tanna (or any of the other islands for that fact) you would have been even more disappointed. the roads are terrible and people drive around in almost brand new 4WD - the trays almost always full of locals hitching a ride either here or there... the kids running around and waving - must be such a pain for them to do. The dirt roads up to the volcano are seriously bumpy and I fear that without a good sports bra and wearing your seat belt tight and low you just might loose consciousnesses and heavens forbid something like that might happen, you might also question why EVERYONE seems to be hanging out on grassy patches chatting away and being barefoot. Who knows hey? I guess everyones idea of paradise is different, and it seems to me, that if you just spent a little more money your expectations would be met. Not to mention that absolutely every resort is accessible by everyone (bar some have a small entry fee for the day - but who could blame them).

My husband and I have traveled the world and still havent seen it all even though we have stayed from shonky hostels to the shangri-la's and we both agree that this place - is paradise. It's just a matter of getting off the high horse - or paying for it.

Maybe try the maldives next time??

Well said madic.

Everything is relative. I love Honiara, for reasons that still bewilder me at times, and went through reverse culture shock on arriving in Port Vila from Honiara. Did not find PV dirty, in fact I felt I was in a modern metropolis by comparison, relatively speaking. All of Melanesia tops my list of favourite destinations; the friendliness of the locals is genuine, quite unlike the false alohas one gets in Hawaii. Perhaps Hawaii might have been more acceptable to the OP, it is tropical and western at the same time, with high end resorts (my nightmare come true), and one can easily avoid seeing the poverty that exists there (apparently it is the poorest of the US states, or so say the locals) There's been some really good opinions/thoughts in this thread, particularly from Laszlo and Ozziegiraffe.

It is a pity her vacation went sour, that's a huge disappointment no matter what the reason, however maybe the OP will look at whatever destination he/she chooses to visit next with a different perspective and a more open mind.

This forum might be a couple of years old now, but after just returning from a holiday from Vanuatu i completely disagree with EVERYTHING you criticised about the place and the people, especially when you gave them a nasty remark because they say 'hello' and always give you a greet when walking past, there friendly happy people, happiest people on earth infact, but obviously you dont think so which is sad, what did you expect?

"The smell is overpowering - a mixture of body odour and coconut fires. The roads were beyond belief - and that's just in Port Vila"

I did not find or experience ANY of this, if i did it would of been for a split second when i drove past a construction site.

"particularly the women, and their obsession with mobile phones is kind of weird. The men lolling about in the bushes, by the side of the road, anywhere really, is very disconcerting and despite assurances about how safe the place is, I don't believe that for a second."

The women with there mobile phones? I have no idea why your criticising them for that, because everyone in all the western countries today is pretty much absorbed with the 'Iphones' and 'Samsung Galaxys'.

"I was not expecting the level of filth and general overall tiredness of the people. I didn't get an overall impression that they were very happy at all. They get paid next to nothing and don't look particularly pleased about that at all. I could not wait to get home to a clean bed. Will not be back. Do your research if you're planning a trip here."

The Filth? The tiredness?
Well im sorry but i can guarantee you every city/country in the world has these things (I'll exclude Tokyo though), because Port Vila is so small, its easier to notice it.

Perhaps try somewhere in Thailand? Or wait, its much dirtier then Port Vila (Port Vila is not even Dirty!)
I can guarantee you even Bora Bora and the Maldives will not be as good as the brochures. When your after Paradise
you have to realise you don't get pure paradise with the luxuries of (Smooth clean roads, Clean Streets etc etc) is not possible, you always
have to pass some area that is dirty or not clean.

So im sorry you didn't have a good experience, but you have to understand that paradise is never ever what you see in the brochures, it will always have some downfall to it. You may see a powder white beach with crystal clear turquoise waters but you don't see whats behind the postcard picture, do you? No.

So overall im disappointed with how you described Vanuatu, i myself found Vanuatu amazing, everything about it and could go on and on about how good it is but i could not find any faults. Aswell as a friend of mine who has travelled the whole of the South Pacific and has put Santo Island in Vanuatu on par with Bora Bora.

-Jacob

Edited by: jacobg88

In year 2010 Vanuatu was listed by lonely Planet as one of World's 10 happiest places That's why I visited Vanuatu few months back and it was a very nice experience. I visited Vila, Santo, Tanna and Malekula. Everywhere people were nice, friendly and helpful. Overall it was an unforgettable experience. Would like to visit other parts but not sure when.

What is your definition of a paradise ?

In last 3 years I have been to 15+ countries. Depending on overall experience I love, like and un-like a country.

Regarding Vanuatu I say - I love Vanuatu

I hope that your country (please name your country?) is more beautifull than Vanuatu

My country is one of the very few naturally diverse countries in world but with lot of nonsense too :)

# 80 MANY countries are "naturally diverse"
WHICH country are YOU from?

As per wikipedia there are hardly 17 countries as megadiverse countries. Surprisingly giants like Russia, Argentina, Canada and not surprisingly Europe, Middle east, New zealand are not included in the list of 17.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megadiverse_countries]

So what is special about coming from a megadiverse country? When I look at the list - roughly half of the world's population lives in one of them.

Hmmm... maybe a "naturally diverse" environment breeds intense intolerance of others.

You should go to Iran or Iraq to experience that paradise you looking for, then you'll know what paradise really is. It seemed you only spend FEW days in Port Vila and rated that as whole of Vanuatu? People who say Vanuatu is a true paradise a people who travelled throughout Vanuatu or at least to more than one island, there's more than 83 islands there and YOU chose Port Vila. People have different views and if you want a clean modern and same type of living you have where ever you come from, then dont travel, stay home. People travel to experience different cultures and ways of living but you wanted everyone to adjust to your way of living? Get real mate, no one likes your way of living....too much worrying about pleasing others and not enough time to see the world.

I think Vanuatu hates people like you too, let them be and do us all a favour...don't go there with your negativity ever again their friendliness is what counts

Australia. Regional. Tropical. And I still have memories of what I didn't like about Vanuatu. Sorry about that - I thought it was a hole.

[teezkin 0l1 n0 k473m 9ud yu y4] Hi!, Vanuatu is for many people and you not 1 of them. #Proud2bNiVan