Vanuatu guidebook

Hello,

I have the LP Vanuatu guidebook, edition 2006, but I don't like this guidebook. There is too little information about things to see, and also about budget accommodation. I compared this guidebook with the first edition, which I have seen in the library. That old edition was much much better, although of course the practical information is now dated. I have heard that the new edition (2009) is still worse.
Is there any Vanuatu guidebook which you can recommend?

Thanks, Mike

Hello, there is a good and detailed chapter about Vanuatu for backpackers in the Moon Handbook "South Pacific". The problem is, that the last edition of this guide book is from 2004.....In the Internet you find a good guide under www.positiveearth.org, which is made by an national environmental non-government organisation incorporated in Vanuatu as a charitable association. Greetings

For the best info on budget accommodation, just use the website recommended above.

The most detailed info on various islands, sights, culture etc, is in the 1999 edition of LP Vanuatu, which has over 300 pages on the country . The next edition became poorer, and after that Vanuatu got put together with New Caledonia in a slim book much further reducing detail.

If you really want in-depth info on off the beaten track corners of Vasnuatu, I'd definitely recommend carrying that 1999 edition (buy it online), then backing it up with more current accommodation and transport info from the web.

Thanks dzg and Laszlo,

I know the positiveearth site already. It is really very useful.
I will look now for the 1999 edition. I think it is the last edition before LP changed the layout of their guidebooks and the same time reduced their contents.

Thank you again, Mike

Exactly, that's one reason why it's the last good one.

The other reason is that it's the last one written by DH, an author who realy knew Melanesia.
The 2003 edition's author apparently only visited a (very) few islands and tried getting much of his updates just by talking to Peace Corps volunteers and the like.

Laszlo,
Do you know if the 1999 edition has more detailed information on sights than the previous one (1995). I have just found that 1995 edition in another library.
Mike

Sorry, I don't know.
I think because they are by the same expert author they must be quite similar.
But given that the '99 edition can be bought for $2 or so online, I'd get that one to take along.

Hi Laszlo,
I have one more question to you:
I have seen your Vanuatu travelogue on Virtual Tourist site.
Could you tell me where have you been hiking on Santo?
Thanks, Mike

Kind of through the middle, from the south coast to Butmas.
Not being more specific is intentional - do your own research, and don't worry, there are plenty of nice/interesting villages and routes out there!

Thank you, that's enough information for me.
Just wanted to know which part of Santo you have visited.
Mike