travel to Santo

jgd41i14:56 UTC01 Jun 2007

Hi
we're going to Santo for a couple of weeks in July then back to Port Vila for 10 days.
I've looked at the flights to Santo which seem v expensive (some $350 $A).
What are the boat connections from Port Vila to Santo like..how long and how expensive?
cheers
JGD

Laszlo18:31 UTC01 Jun 2007

Yep, domestic flights in Vanuatu are expensive.

If this company still does the weekly runs, it should only take a day.
Otherwise, filthy cargo ships take 3 days one-way.
As going by ship is not THAT much cheaper than flying.
Last year, a similar passenger ship charged ca. 70% of the air-fare, and those cargo ships were only marginally cheaper!
OTOH, it can be a beautiful and interesting boat-ride past various islands.

jaym0112:35 UTC07 Jun 2007

I just booked tickets directly with the airline in Australia (Air Vanuatu) and they were a lot cheaper than I expected from looking through the website - I booked Vila - Santo - Ambryn (Craig Cove) - Vila and it was around $250 - I had worked out about $500. I did get a 20% discount for having Qantas tickets, but it was still cheaper than I'd thought. Why not call your local agent and get a quote? Worth a try.

siddalt12:27 UTC30 Jun 2007

Only very brave people go on the interisland boats. There was a very nice new high speed cat operating for a while but it went broke.
Wave to them from aloft, much safer.

jgd41i07:45 UTC15 Jul 2007

Hi
and thanks to all who helped.
We're back!
Inter island boats don't seem to be much cheaper, are slow and less than salubrious (even for an erstwhile hitchhiking backpacker)
The discount for Air Vanuatu is 20%.....however our (ex) australian agent didn't get this EVEN when we told them about it. (Is there any wonder people are not using travel agents).
The fun bit of the travel was that the return trip was on a 20 seater Twin Otter and you we're sitting looking at the pilots and the instruments (all of which were working).
cheers
JGD
(ps Chooks travel by air and sea)

bluesun7806:00 UTC26 Jul 2007

Hiya!
A bit late for you JGD, but I booked all our flights with the Brisbane office of Air Vanuatu. They were phenomenally helpful and friendly and offered the 20% discount without me having to ask! Cant wait for our trip in September!
BlueSun

travel to Santo Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Vanuatu
jgd41i14:56 UTC01 Jun 2007	Hi we're going to Santo for a couple of weeks in July then back to Port Vila for 10 days. I've looked at the flights to Santo which seem v expensive (some $350 $A). What are the boat connections from Port Vila to Santo like..how long and how expensive? cheers JGD
Laszlo18:31 UTC01 Jun 2007	Yep, domestic flights in Vanuatu are expensive. If this company still does the weekly runs, it should only take a day. Otherwise, filthy cargo ships take 3 days one-way. As going by ship is not THAT much cheaper than flying. Last year, a similar passenger ship charged ca. 70% of the air-fare, and those cargo ships were only marginally cheaper! OTOH, it can be a beautiful and interesting boat-ride past various islands.	1
jaym0112:35 UTC07 Jun 2007	I just booked tickets directly with the airline in Australia (Air Vanuatu) and they were a lot cheaper than I expected from looking through the website - I booked Vila - Santo - Ambryn (Craig Cove) - Vila and it was around $250 - I had worked out about $500. I did get a 20% discount for having Qantas tickets, but it was still cheaper than I'd thought. Why not call your local agent and get a quote? Worth a try.	2
siddalt12:27 UTC30 Jun 2007	Only very brave people go on the interisland boats. There was a very nice new high speed cat operating for a while but it went broke. Wave to them from aloft, much safer.	3
jgd41i07:45 UTC15 Jul 2007	Hi and thanks to all who helped. We're back! Inter island boats don't seem to be much cheaper, are slow and less than salubrious (even for an erstwhile hitchhiking backpacker) The discount for Air Vanuatu is 20%.....however our (ex) australian agent didn't get this EVEN when we told them about it. (Is there any wonder people are not using travel agents). The fun bit of the travel was that the return trip was on a 20 seater Twin Otter and you we're sitting looking at the pilots and the instruments (all of which were working). cheers JGD (ps Chooks travel by air and sea)	4
bluesun7806:00 UTC26 Jul 2007	Hiya! A bit late for you JGD, but I booked all our flights with the Brisbane office of Air Vanuatu. They were phenomenally helpful and friendly and offered the 20% discount without me having to ask! Cant wait for our trip in September! BlueSun	5