Cheap Food options, DIY in Port Vila

Hi folks,

heading back for my third trip, but looking for some specific ways to save dosh on food. On other trips we mostly eat food from the markets for our lunches (tinned fish, fresh veggies, nuts and fruit) and then splash out for dinner (all restaurants are pricey).

Does anyone know of a place where we could cook our own food for a few Vatu, near the centre of town? Any accomodation places that we could negotiate a bit of cooking time with? nothing fancy, just some fish or rice?

Also, how do local ex pats source cheap wine, beer & spirits? Surely they aren't importing it all themselves privately or paying the $8 a beer that tourists get charged everywhere?

cheers

Chris

You can eat well and cheaply at foodstalls at the market.
250 Vt for a plate of rice with some stew or sg. similar - much better than tinned fish.

I think several budget places have kitchens for their guests to use.
The Kalfabun GH where I stayed certaiinly did.

Kaiviti is closer to town but also has full kitchens. And Treetops lodge on Pago Rd is further out (not much further than Kalfabun) ,has a communal ktchen and is, in my view, the best place in Vila to stay. The supermarkets sell beer and I think, wine? But I agree with Laszlo - the foodstalls at the market are an amazing bargain - you couldn't cook as good yourself for the price.

From memory, the local beer was fairly reasonably priced at the supermarket. It was a while ago, but I certainly didn't pay anywhere near $8 a beer! When in rome... etc etc

Kaviti Motel is a budget place and a short walk to the centre of town and offers self contained apartments. and quite close by in the other direction is a large supermarket, where you can buy your supplies including beer , VB was much the same price as in OZ so not sure where you get the $8 per beer price from .....we didn't even pay that for a beer over the bar at Le Meridan.