Single women travelers - Vanuatu

Hey there,

Was reading up on the islands and one of the guides mentioned that single female travelers would potentially have problems from the locals, to the point where if someone were staying in a bungalow by herself, they would bring in a local female to sleep in the room in order for her to be safe. Does anyone have any thoughts / experience with this? Would you recommend another spot in the South Pacific instead? Thanks!

Hi, as no-one else has answered I'll share my thoughts. Bear in mind I'm not female, & my time in Vanuatu (last year) was with my wife. (She had no problems from locals whatsoever).
As a single female if you were to walk around in a skimpy bikini or similar all the time, I expect you may attract some unwanted & potentially dangerous attention, but no more than anywhere else. If you use your common sense, & show respect for the culture it's hard to imagine you having any problems, Vanuatu is a very friendly place.

When on Pentecost we did hear of one assault on a white woman, but she wasn't a tourist, & had been on the island for some time, not sure what the history was though. Heard several different versions.

regards
Cuppa

Vanuatu is culturally similar to Solomon Islands, where I travel alone regularly, as a single woman.
When I was first living there, and even now with people who are less familiar with me, it is usual for Solomon Islanders to make sure that someone is with you. Depending who it is, it can be great, or a bit annoying.
However, if you rented a room or bungalow in a commercial property, it is unlikely that they would expect anyone to share your room - most Melanesians these days who work with visitors are familiar enough with the peculiarities of westerners.
It would only be if you were staying in a village on your own that they would expect you to share a room with one or more other women, and often that is because sleeping space is limited.
Similarly, I have been on group village tours with teachers and students (Solomon Islanders) where married couples were expected to split up - the husband sleeping in men's quarters and the wife in women's.
It depends largely on where you are travelling and staying. if you know the locals, discuss the conditions where you are going, and let them know your needs.
i do agree with Cupa - be careful how you dress, unless you are in a resort.
In villages, wear skirts that cover your knees. Trousers on women can be frowned on in some rural and regional areas.

I'll echo what the first two said. I've never been hassled in Solomons or Vanuatu (or W. Papua or PNG), and also have never come across having to share a room in a hotel or anywhere. Only once, in a village, did the hostess share my sleeping mat, more as a courtesy rather than for protection, but the next night she went back to her own hut. I figure that was because I snore! In fact, I've been hassled more in Fiji, but never anything threatening or rude, and it's simple enough to say no, which they understand. But do dress appropriately, that's a courtesy and common sense.

I might also add that Vanuatu feels a lot safer than PNG or even the Solomons - not that I had trouble in either of those.

The reason is simple: instead of drinking alcohol, ni-Vanuatu men "listen to" kawa! :-)

Dresswise, Vanuatu is more conservative than the Solomons or Fiji, about the same as PNG or even Kanak New Caledonia: long live the good old Mother Hubbard! :-)
Don't dispair - Western woman are not expected to don the latter, but some longish, loose-fitting dress is best.