Planning your Holiday
What's Unique?
Vanuatu holidays offer a contrasting style from eclectic Port Vila with a bustling harbour setting boasting waterfront restaurants and large branded resort chains, to the very traditional culture and wild adventures available in the outer islands which include several iconic attractions. Mt. Yasur volcano on Tanna Island is the most accessible active volcano in the world whilst the SS President Coolidge off the coast of Espiritu Santo is the world's most accessible large wreck dive and both are must-sees for visitors to these wild but beautiful shores.
About Vanuatu
Where in the South Pacific?
Vanuatu Resorts Guide
Vanuatu has a good selection of accommodation with a handful of large brand resorts around Port Vila attracting the lion's share of holiday-makers - in Port Vila you can eat gourmet meals at top-tier restaurants, experience an island night for traditional fare and sample kava at one of the many kava bars along the streets. There are plenty of dive orientated small resorts on Espiritu Santo as well as budget beach huts and several boutique style resorts to entice the romantic and adventure market.
Port Vila is the most popular place to stay on holiday in Vanuatu with plenty of boutique beach resorts, a few of which are on small uninhabited islands in the lagoon, large hotels for families and several business hotels in the city centre. A second concentration of accommodation can be found around Luganville Town where the countries second international airport is located, and travellers come here mostly for scuba diving and hiking. Otherwise, accommodation is scattered around the islands in secluded spots and offering great scope for exploring and adventure.
Find out more from our comprehensive Vanuatu Hotel Guide
Vanuatu Holiday Inspirations
Port Vila
Port Vila offers a convenient holiday base with both large resorts, town hotels and small boutique resorts. The town has good restaurants and there are organised day tours and cruises.
Popular Port Vila Hotels
- Breakas Beach
nice lagoon for couples - Moorings Hotel
on the waterfront in city
Efate Island
The main island of Efate has several pretty beaches and small offshore islands with good snorkelling reefs. Don't miss the Cascades waterfall, the cultural centre and Lelepa historical site.
Popular Efate Island Hotels
- Eratap Beach Resort
secluded beach - Hideaway Island Resort
relaxing and snorkelling
Espiritu Santo
Santo is the premier scuba diving destination with the world's most accessible wreck dive, the SS Coolidge. There are also great walks in tropical rainforest and kayaking in secluded bays.
Popular Espiritu Santo Hotels
- Moyyan by the Sea
small secluded property - Coral Quays Resort
scuba diving specialist
Specialist Holidays
Outer Islands
Tanna is known for its active volcano, Mt Yasur, and has a rich culture with traditional kastom villages. The land divers of Pentecost and volcanoes of Ambryn are other highlights.
Tanna Island Hotels
- White Grass Resort
upmarket for adventure - Sunrise Bungalows
budget bungalows near volcano
Family Beach Holidays
The closest of the main South Pacific islands to Australia, Vanuatu is just 2hrs from Brisbane although only Port Vila is considered free from malaria so this is the place to visit with kids.
Family Holiday Resorts
- Iririki Island Resort
large resort in port vila - Erakor Island Resort
island atmosphere in lagoon
Romance & Honeymoon
A honeymoon in the mystical Vanuatu islands combines a secluded beach with some exciting adventure. Head to Tanna for villages, Santo for diving and cap it off at Vila for some lively night life.
Honeymoon Resorts
- Bokissa Island
upmarket resort for couples - The Havannah
intimate retreat on secluded beach
Vanuatu Islands Holiday Overview
If this is your first time visiting the islands, we recommend you use our Vanuatu Holidays Planner. Here you'll get a great overview about what there is do on holiday in Vanuatu along with general tourist information such as travel, weather and other handy tips. Otherwise, read our quick reviews below and find out our top places to stay for your holiday.
Vanuatu is the most accessible of the "true" Melanesian destinations to visit on holiday and offers a very traditional and rich culture to explore along with exceptional scuba diving and some of the worlds most amazing active volcanoes to marvel at. The capital Port Vila is a pretty waterfront town with good restaurants, an excellent market and has the majority of the countries large resorts, although few are on beaches.
If you're searching for the ideal place to stay at the right price, read our independent reviews of all Vanuatu Hotels highlighting our specials which have been hand created by our own travel specialists. Beautiful Pacific features both the popular large beach resorts and hotels sold by most travel agents, as well as highlighting the smaller, lesser-known properties which include luxury villas, boutique self-catering bungalows and affordable huts for backpackers or couples looking to do their own thing.
Vanuatu Tourist Information
Vanuatu is an excelent destination for exploring. It has a decent transport network with the domestic airline, Air Vanuatu, flying regularly to all major islands in good planes. Port Vila is the hub, and although public buses are non-existent, its easy to get about by local van which acts like a shared taxi on behalf of the missing bus network. Taxi's too are cheap, or you can hire a car, moped or even cycle around the main island.
Our Vanuatu travel guide provides detailed information on all the different regions to visit.