vanuatu for 2 weeks - should I go?

Hi Guys

I would like to go to Vanuatu around August, but I'd only have 15 days for that. Will I be able to experience Vanuatu in such a short time? I understand that most people go for 3 weeks, but I don't have that much time.

What do you think?

thanks
Magda

Definitely go. Pick 2 or 3 islands you really want to see. It would take months to see the whole country, but you can see a fair bit in 2 weeks if you don't choose isolated places with travel difficulties.

Thanks for this advice.
Which islands do you guys recommend?

I reckon most people actually go just for a week, spending all of that in a resort, so you will be far better off than them.
Go, but be prepared to shell out the airfares for domestic flights, and you can visit 2 outer islands (say Santo andd Tanna) besides Vila quite comfortably.

Thanks Laszlo

I just booked my flight literary 10 minutes ago! I'm going at the end of July and I will be there for 15 full days. Lots of time until July to figure out how to spend those 15 days, but it's such an exciting perspective! I definitely want to see a few islands.
My husband dives, so any good diving spots recommendations are welcomed (he prefers good reef rather than a wrecks)

Thanks again
Magda

I think diving possibilities are limited by availability of facilities, primarily to the Vila and Luganville (Santo) areas. Of these, Santo should be far better.
Maybe there's also a dive shop on Tanna by now? But even then, coral down there is less diverse.

Darned if I know where you got the 3 weeks bizzo from. Most people go for 1 week.

The best dive resort on Efate is Hideaway. Assuming you don't want to pay for a dive charter boat then the best diving outside Efate is the East coast of Santo. Lotsa places all up and down the coast. Bokissa is the best of those but be sure you are OK with their price. The most popular single attraction in Vanuatu is the volcano on Tanna but that is quite a way from Santo. Flying from Tanna to Santo means changing planes in Vila so it takes a while. If you head directly for Santo there is a fairly decent plan B and that is Ambrym which has a medium active volcano. Ambrym is only 30 mins by plane from Santo and it is also the best island in the country to see kastom village lifestyle. Should you ever get the chance, be there in the second half of August.

The whole business is a trade off question that only you can answer. No matter where you go 15 days is plenty of time to see Efate and two other islands.

Yes, you should go! We've just had two weeks. One week on Mystery island; very good but check when the cruiseboats are there. Than I must recommend Tanna to you. We've been on Yasur the volcano. It's one of my best expreiences ever! You're standing almost IN the volcano while it roaring and spitting fireworks in the air. It's pretty scary but such an great experience. I should definitley try to get there.
Have a great time!

I've just met someone at the airport of Suva who was going to go to Vanuatu for two DAYS.
Now, that IS a waste of money IMHO - he was open to the idea of extending it a bit though! ;-

Wow, two days. I don 't know why people travel that way. What's the point?

Anyway, I've picked up a South Pacific guidebook by Moon at my local library. I guess I will read through it and if I have any questions I will surely ask you guys :)

Thanks for your help so far!
Magda

The Moon series does the Pacific better that you know who.

Unfortunately, nowadays Moon only covers Fiji (new edition due this year) and Tahiti (new edition just out). For general info, the old Moon SP book is sure better than Lp though, and on Vanuatu it may still have more detailed info than the latest LP.

I think the "point" in those 2 days' visits is simply "country collecting".
They'll be able to say "been to all these countries", nothing more.

This is the one that I used. The Micronesia Guide is good too. I have put both to the test by actually going to the countries.

http://www.amazon.com/Handbooks-South-Pacific-David-Stanley/dp/1566914116/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1294797386&sr=8-1-spell

Yes, I used that 5 years ago, too.
Unfortunately, no more updated editions will come out.
I think it still has more detail on remote islands of Vanuatu than the current Vanuatu & New Caledonia LP, but its practical info can be very dated.

I also carried the 1999 LP Vanuatu guide , the last of the old-style, well-researched and detailed ones, and it was priceless. I'll still take it with me on future trips!