"Vanuatu-you will love it!" a Vanuatu Travel Page by angelundercover

Accommodation:
We stayed at the Erakor resort.It provides a small paradise where you can relax and indulge on all that the resort has to offer.
Erakor resort, is a small island only 2-3 min ride on a small ferry from Port Villa.
The ferry operates 24 hours a day, courtesy of the resort
The accommodation in the resort consists of bungalows that can accommodate couples and families.
Each bungalow is nested amongst coconut trees
All of them are only a couple of footsteps from the water. The beautiful Polynesian decor in the rooms marries with modern facilities. You just have to open the bedroom doors and there is the beautiful warm water of the Pacific at your feet.

A stroll around the island takes 20 minutes. The walk takes you amongst native trees and plants and exotic flowers, through to the open chapel where a lot of couples chose to get married.
Then you come face to face with the tempting Erakor Resort Spa facilities. The choices of massages and skin treatments are endless and the only problem one is faced with …is which treatment to have first!

The path will take you to the resorts restaurant.
Roxy's Restaurant on the island provides a decadent menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner……..not to mention the mouth watering seafood!!
Dining on the Restaurants verandah over the water, with views of port villa is an experience in it self.

The island has a small beach, with umbrellas and sun beds. Guests have access to free non motorized sports. There is a Volley ball court near by and a few hummocks swaying over the water.
But reading a book in the Pacific sun , with a the occasional dip in the warm water is the best sport of all.
The two friendly island dogs- Duke and Roxy-will often keep you company on the beach. Roxy spends much of her day chasing fish in the shallow waters where Duke greats the guests at the jetty.
Neptune the cat may visit you in your Bungalow, and take a nap on your verandah.

The staff on the island are friendly, courteous and very professional.
The Polynesian- style reception offers a billiard table, internet access, TV, and a public phone.
But I am sure once on the island the last thing on your mind will be the TV and internet!!
The sea, the atmosphere and the people will capture you!!!...I promise.
For visitors with kids:
It has a volley ball court and has a billiard table , a TV at the reception area only, and you can borrow board games. Baby-sitting is 2500 Vat / 3 hours I think. BUT …NO KIDS club!...and no pool…..so the Le Meridien may be more entertaining for the kids…..but you can catch the free ferry to Erakor( only 2-5 min ride) and spend a bit of time on the island beach. You can do the same with Iririki resort but they do not allow kids under 12 there. A couple stayed at Erakor and then a few days in Iririki and they said Erakor was much better.
A friend of mine had gone a few months ago to the Le Meridien and he liked it….but I didn’t get any tips on the kids facilities as he has no kids!
Overall I felt the Erakor Resort was best suited to Adults.

Things to do:There are lots of mini water tours you can book on…we went with a place called “ the barge” I am sure your hotel would have their number…..its a 3 hour tour 6:30- 9:30 pm….you get 3 drinks and nibbles and a couple of BBQ things…( not a dinner) for 3800 vatt. It stops at Erakor for 10- 20 min…and people can get off.We cought the bus to hideaway island…..approx 20 min bus ride fro 200 Vatt per person ( I don’t know what kids pay)..
Entry to the island is 500 vatt (nobody tells you that so take some money with you) snorkeling gear which you NEED…is 800 vatt so if your hotel supplies it free and can be bothered take it with you. It has a restaurant, has showers, toilets and sunbeds. The whole beach is covered with washed out coral which makes it very pretty and interesting and VERY VERY painfull on bear feet…I KNOW…mine still hurt.So take some thongs or even better reef shoes…

The whole beach is covered with washed out coral which makes it very pretty and interesting and VERY painfull on bear feet.So take some thongs or reef shoes….as this business of coral pieces continues in the sea.
Once you are in,you are in heaven!You are only 4 steps in the water and the most amazing fish just swim around you,totally relaxed in your presence! You will love it!
To get a bus/taxi back you may have to walk to the main road which is 500 m or so,so you may want to prearrange for one to pick you up.
Then you must go to the mele cascades- the waterfalls,also a 20 min ride in bus for 200 vatt. 1000vatt/person to enter…so takes your money with you…and take some water and maybe a couple of snacks if you want. There are toilets but no restaurant that I saw.
DO not take too many things with you, and you need good shoes , as it is an up hill and then a down hill some parts slippery, but no need for climbing experience either, but good shoes and not much to carry will help.
All along the way there are water pools that you can jump in and have a swim…a few of them are well before you need to do any uphill walking. The water is lovely and crisp and there are fish in there. Some pools of water are more accessible than others and the 1st one is reasonably easy to get in and out of, but in places is deep so one needs to be able to swim a little.
I think you can take a guide up if you want.( for a fee)

All resorts have “Melanesian feast nights”Dont go there! There is a guy called BOB on the main st of port villa, he may approach you politely to inform you of a local Melanesian feast night that they hold at a “village” on Thusrdays pm….its 2500 vatt,they have locals dancing , singing & ground oven food as dinner. This guy has set it up to help his own community, so the money goes back to the locals. He will pick you up in the evening…if he is a little late,he WILL come, he just picks up everybody from their hotels …its worth the money…and the money goes to the right place.
All the resorts and shops are owned by non Melanesian people & our money goes to the rich than the locals. So keep an eye out for BOB……he sat on the pavement at a table outside a travel agent on the side of the markets but a bit further down. We prepaid him and he just gave us a photocopied paper that he signed with the value….so we thought we had just given 5000 vatt to a stranger that we may never see again…but the guy delivered! Others paid on the night…so that’s an option.

All resorts have “Melanesian feast nights”….dont go there! There is a guy called BOB on the main st of port villa, he may approach you politely to inform you of a local Melanesian feast night that they hold at a “village” on Thusrdays pm….its 2500 vatt…..they have locals dancing , singing….and ground oven food as dinner. This guy has set it up to help his own community, so the money goes back to the locals. He will pick you up in the evening…if he is a little late…he WILL come, he just picks up everybody from their hotels …its worth the money…and the money goes to the right place.
All the resorts and shops are owned by non Melanesian people….and our money goes to the rich than the locals. So keep an eye out for BOB……he sat on the pavement at a table outside a travel agent on the side of the markets but a bit further down. We prepaid him and he just gave us a photocopied paper that he signed with the value….so we thought we had just given 5000 vatt to a stranger that we may never see again…but the guy delivered! Others paid on the night…so that’s an option.
Shopping:
There is nothing to buy!

Food:
Restaurants and any trips you might want to book is very similar in price to Australia
Supermarket prices are similar to Australia
The markets worth having a look at…personally I didn’t find them interesting…lots of veggies and fruits…cheap….and lots of the same souvenirs/ shell necklaces/ traditional dresses/hair braiding etc- go in the afternoon…too hot and a bit smelly during the day.
The main street is only one km long…so you can walk it a few times.
On that main street …café deli has a nice lunch and coffee……NB..it is not open the times it says on the door! Café Gecko was also ok for lunch. Next to it is “the Barber shop” that offers 1 hour island massage for 2500 vat – which is like a aromatherapy massage…and possibly the best price in town.
Erakor has a massage-spa place…( has NO spa)- apparently is good but the prices are …well a bit pricy!- 6000-9000 vatt.
There is siesta time from 11:30- 13:30 ….so most shops are closed- a couple of eating places are open.
Sat after lunch time and Sund most things are closed on that st but u will find somewhere to eat.
All hotels and resorts have good restaurants…Le lagoon has three to chose from with different prices.

Transport: buses are these mini vans….that you only know that are buses because on the number plate they have a red “B”…there is no bus schedule but they go up and down all the time, just tell them where you want to go….and they take you.
Taxis do have a taxi light on mostly and the number plate has a “T”…..they vary in shapes sizes and colours. It cost us 500 vatt from post villa market to the resort peer. They have no meters …so if you are going a distance ask how much before you get in…
Airport and Duty Free:
The Vanuatu airport is basic and there is very little in duty free…so if interested buy before you go

Van Air: The only airline we found flying out of Australia to Vanuatu was Van Air departing from Sydney. The service was very good and the staff very attentive, but the plane was very basic. In 1st class there are 8 big seats, none reclining, one of the TVs did not work and the other all it had on was real estate adds for Vanuatu & a documentary with “Kim And Cath”.
Either way the destination was great!