hotels in Port Vila, Vanuatu

Hi, I'm going to Vanuatu at the beginning of December and I could use your advise on which hotel I should choose. I'll be travelling with my girlfriend. We have to choose from the following:
Coconut Palms Resort
Mangoes Resort
Ramada Resort On Breakas Beach
The Grand Hotel and Casino
Warwick Le Lagon Resort & Spa
Iririki Island Resort & Spa
Moorings Vanuatu
Sunset Bungalows Resort
Starfish Cove

thanks for your help!

Was in Vanuatu a couple of weeks ago and saw some of places on your list.

I would not consider the Grand Hotel. It is land locked, not on the beach, architecturally ugly and as it is in town did not even have surrounding gardens to reccomend it.

Mangos is a new development and each bungalow has access to a small private swimming pool. There is not much tree cover but it is situated on a ridge and so most rooms probably have a fantasatic view. We had an exquisite meal there at the price you might expect to pay or slightly more for a similar quality meal in Australia. It is a 150 vatu bus ride away from town - you could also walk. If I was going back to Port Vila I would think about staying there.

Moorings is on the bay. It is a medium sized place and quite aesthetically pleasing although a bit motel like. It is 5 minutes walk into the centre of the small town of Port Vila.

Breakas. My partner has been doing some work in Vanuatu this year and he was very keen that we stay there but they were booked out. I havent seen it but he thinks it looks great.

A local bus took us to Coconut Palms because we were staying at "The Palms" which until recently had been called Le Meridian It is also up on the hill above Port Vila and set in gardens. Location is find and possibly you might get a room with a view but at least (unlike the Grand) you will have garden to enjoy.

Irirriki - could clearly see if over the bay. It is supposed to be "the place" but I wonder if it is getting a bit tired.

We also stayed at Hideaway which I really liked but the best part of our two weeks in Vanuatu was staying on the island of Tanna.

PM me if you want to know more.

Tough question, so many hotels, so far apart, so different. Shheeessshh ! Anyway, here goes.

If you want to stay in town - Moorings.

If you want to stay out of town - Breakas.

I stayed at Moorings in February this year - it was okay (nothing special) and a short walk into town. Also at Iririki - very nice - decent snorkelling at Smuggler's Cove, good food and views at Michener's restaurant - short ferry ride to town.

""The Palms" which until recently had been called Le Meridian It is also up on the hill above Port Vila" - I have stayed at the Meidian. Not aware of name change, but although it is accessed over the hill from Vila , it is actually on a lovely inlet, down the coast from the Le Lagon.Fromk memory, many of the rooms had lovely water views.

Le Lagon is a large but good resort and accessible from there is a small island (name?) with small resort on it.

Some like Irriki, as the rooms and gardens are lovely, snorkelling good, and short punt ride from centre of town.It is on a small island, which has undergone major development over recent years so may be a little crowded.

Meridien, Mangoes and Le Lagon all face Erakor lagoon. The island resort was called Erakor but they went broke and the island was sold. I'm not sure what happens out there now. It is some kind of resort.