costs and accommodation

hi all,

i will be going to vanuatu next march for a wedding in port vila. am thinking i will take a week or so to enjoy myself! my question is about what i can reasonably expect to spend?

i don't mind basic accommodation including dorm rooms -- although the night before the wedding i'll probably want something a bit more private (eg. own bathroom) to get myself prettied up. i'm looking for suggestions on places to stay....

also, i hear conflicting budget reports. if i base myself in port vila, and stay on efate, how much can i expect to spend? all recent experiences welcomed!

ps, i don't plan to dive

Hi!

I just got back from Vanuatu. While I was there I stayed at the Hibiscis motel, I would highly recommend it. It was really close to downtown and the ocean, extremely safe, really nice people and atmosphere, and you can definitely get a wide variety of rooms depending on how much you are willing to pay.

While I was there I paid 2500vt a night for a single room,shared kitchen and bathroom witch is around $25 Canadian I know you can get a single room with a kitchen and bathroom for $10 more.

For eating and etc it would again depend on how much you are willing to pay, you can get cheap fresh and local food in the markets as well as some cheap fast food and "chinese food" if you want, but the majority are restaurants directed to tourists only and the food is expensive. Its is all about finding the right place, somwhere with lots of locals would be a good sign for cheap, good food.
for example you can get chicken and chips for around 350vt witch is about $3.50 Canadian I believe.

As for entertaining yourself, most of that is directed at tourists so some prices can be high (e.g tours etc) but you can find cheap ways to entertain yourself. Nightlife can be very good, and can be pretty pathetic, normally its just all tourists and alcohol is normal price depending when and where(Thursday is ladies night!) if you go to a kava bar (there is one directly across the street from HIbiscis) its extremely cheap and definitely a good experience

One thing to watch out for is because you are a tourists people will definitely charge you more, if you picked up some bislama you would be able to negotiate and people will give you a better price oh and dont be afraid to use the minibuses! they are so much more cheaper than taxis and a lot of fun!

You wont have any problems there im sure! Have an amazing time, it is an amazing country if you get the oppurtunity to go to the outer islands you would be very lucky.

thanks grace!!

If you want to spend a little more then the best value hotel is the Olympic. You get private bathroom, bar fridge (fill it with your own stuff), air and free internet hotspot for AU$65. The hotel has the best location of all right in the main street.

The cheapest food in town is lunch at the market. Each woman there sells one thing so just ask what is on offer or look at what other customers are eating. You might pay 300vt for boiled vegetables and rice or 400vt for curried chicken wings and rice. I have never seen anything over 500vt. There is a cheap cafe outside the museum with similar prices. There is a good cheap chinese in an arcade off the one way section of the main street on the uphill side. (hard to find) There is a great Vietnamese place near the police station, one block uphill from the main street. Look for the yucky green building. The best coffee and cakes are at a patisserie almost opposite the market. The best fruit is at the market. It is better than in any big city and cheaper too. The best pizza is at Chili up some stairs directly beside the market. The cheapest beer is 350vt at Anchor Inn only 50 metres from Olympic. This place gets full of Kiwis if there is rugby on tv. Best water views during the day. Bread is very cheap,only au70c for half a baguette at the supermarket, so you could make up a roll. Try at least one steak as Vanuatu beef is excellent. The best fillet costs only 1200vt at the supermarket.

All of the tourist restaurants are expensive.