Where to Stay in Vanuatu: The Best Accommodations

The largest and most populous island in Vanuatu, Port Vila & Efate, is typically the go-to destination for first-time visitors. It offers the widest range of holiday accommodations, most of which are located in and around the capital, Port Vila, while a few are situated along the beachfronts or among the tropical forests around Efate.

We personally believe that the biggest appeal of staying on Port Vila & Efate is that it offers all the tours, activities, restaurants, transportation, and more to make a tropical getaway effortless. There's enough to do as much or as little as you like, as the case may be.

So whether you're keen for a snorkel or scuba dive, fancy jumping into a swimming hole beneath a beautiful cascade, want to immerse yourself in the culture in a "cultural village", or even try ziplining or horse riding, Port Vila & Efate is the place to be for your first time in Vanuatu.

Learn more about what Port Vila & Efate is all about with The Complete Travel Guide to Port Vila & Efate LINK#D017 and the 50 Best Things to Do on Port Vila & Efate.

The Best Resorts in Port Vila & Efate

• The Moso - Off-shore island resort with luxury accommodation
• Poppy's on the Lagoon - Popular resort with a swimming pool overlooking Erakor Lagoon
• Nakatumble - Luxury resort with five-star services and facilities
• Tranquillity Island Eco Resort - Sustainable resort known for its scuba diving
• M Resort & Spa - Spacious villas on the beach on the sunset coast

Learn more about the top resorts in the 50 Best Resorts & Hotels in Vanuatu.

The Best Resorts in Port Vila & Efate for Families

• Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu by IGH - Family-friendly resort with overwater bungalows
• Iririki Island Resort - Private island resort, a 5-minute ferry ride from downtown Port Vila - $$$$
• Erakor Island Resort - Private island resort with something for everyone
• Tamanu on the Beach - Stylish modern bungalows with restaurant
• Le Life Resort - Glamping tents, beach houses and lots of activities

For more resorts for families, check out the 50 Best Family Resorts & Accommodations in Vanuatu.

The Best Resorts in Port Vila & Efate for Couples

• Eratap Beach Resort - Upscale resort with amazing surf and restaurant
• Mangoes Resort - Adults-only resort featuring private plunge pools
• Breakas Beach Resort - Adults-only resort with an infinity pool on Breakas Beach
• South Pacific Memories - Boutique resort with dive shop, Gone Diving
• The Havannah - Luxury adults-only resort on a stunning beach

Learn more about the best stays for couples in The Honeymoon & Romantic Getaway Guide to Vanuatu LINK#TT063.

The Best Holiday Homes in Port Vila & Efate

• The Cove Vanuatu - Airy one-bedroom holiday home on the beach
• Seahorse Lodge - Holiday home with private chef and resort services
• Seven Star Lodge - Spacious family home near the airport
• Solwata House - Design-driven home with a pool on the shores of Havannah
• Longview - Three-beddy on the hills overlooking Port Vila

Check out the 15 Best Holiday Homes & Villas in Vanuatu to learn more about these exclusive stays.

The Best Budget Accommodations in Port Vila & Efate

• Hideaway Island & Marine Sanctuary Resort - Budget resort with excellent snorkelling
• Vila Backpackers - Friendly hostel with a range of private and dorm rooms
• Seachange Lodge - Self-contained waterfront accommodation
• Kerith Lodge - Guesthouse accommodation with a friendly vibe
• Lagoon Gardens - Waterfront villas with a gorgeous breakfast area on the lagoon

For more cheap picks, check out the 50 Best Budget Accommodations in Vanuatu.

The Best Apartments in Port Vila & Efate

• Mariner Apartments - Three-star apartments with kids' and adults' pool
• Ocean View Apartments - Apartments with a view, swimming pool and popular restaurant
• Quest Apartments - Quirky complex with a heart-shaped pool
• The Terraces - Luxury apartments with swimming pool and tennis court
• The Hub Vanuatu - Apartment-style villas with a central swimming pool

The Best Hotels in Port Vila & Efate

• Grand Hotel & Casino - Tallest building in Port Vila with a pool and on-site casino
• Kaiviti Motel - Fresh rooms with a choice of A/C or fan, with a central swimming pool
• The Melanesian Port Vila - Affordable hotel with central pool and bar
• Crown Royale Hotel & Lounge - Budget hotel with on-site restaurant and bar

Check out the top hotels in the 50 Best Resorts & Hotels in Vanuatu.

The Best Side of Efate to Stay

Where on the island should you stay on Efate? Efate's main hotspots are Port Vila on the southwest side, Mele Bay west of Port Vila and Havannah Harbour on the northwest coast. Luckily, we have a full guide about all the best places to stay on the island.

Check it out: Where to Stay in Port Vila & Efate: The Best Efate Accommodations.

Known for its breathtaking beaches and world-class diving, Espiritu Santo is Vanuatu's largest island with stunning blue holes, top-class wreck diving and lush tropical landscapes awash in waterfalls. It's paradise. And it has a whole range of accommodation styles so you can stay for longer.

The main attraction in Espiritu Santo is the incredible diving and snorkelling opportunities, including the famous SS President Coolidge wreck and Million Dollar Point, where many operators are available to show you around. In between the excitement, your downtime on this island, which is much more relaxed than Port Vila (if you'd think that's possible), can be spent at your chosen five-star resort, boutique bungalow on the beach, or even a guesthouse in one of the villages.

See if you'll love Espiritu Santo as much as we do by checking out The Complete Travel Guide to Espiritu Santo LINK#D053, as well as the 50 Best Things to Do on Espiritu Santo.

The Best Resorts on Espiritu Santo

• Turtle Bay Lodge - Comprehensive resort with dive shop, restaurant and more
• Ratua Private Island Resort - Rustic bungalows in a luxury resort setting
• Aore Breeze - Modern beach bungalows with access to good snorkelling
• Beachfront Resort - Three-star bungalows set in expansive lawns with a pool and restaurant
• Dany Island - Private island resort with good beaches and surf

Discover more about these resorts in the 50 Best Resorts & Hotels in Vanuatu.

The Best Resorts on Espiritu Santo for Families

• Aore Island Resort - Comprehensive resort with regular ferries and a range of activities
• Turtle Bay Beach House - Affordable units right by the lagoon
• Lope Lope Beach Bungalows - Two family-friendly villas with pool access

Check out the 50 Best Family Resorts & Accommodations in Vanuatu, for more family-friendly resorts.

The Best Resorts on Espiritu Santo for Couples

• Bombua Beach House - Upmarket villas with private pools
• Exclusive Sunrise Resort - Adults-only resort right on the beach
• Barrier Beach Resort - Couple-centric resort known for its weddings, spa and breakfast

Learn more about the best accommodations for couples in The Honeymoon & Romantic Getaway Guide to Vanuatu LINK#TT063.

The Best Holiday Homes on Espiritu Santo

• Sails Beach House - Stylish three-bedroom home with kayaks and snorkelling gear
• Aoredise - Two-bedroom home with kayaks, SUPs and bikes
• Aore Paradise - Design-driven two-bedroom villa with a sunset deck and cabana. Bikes included.

See the 15 Best Holiday Homes & Villas in Vanuatu to learn more about these more private stays.

The Best Budget Accommodations on Espiritu Santo

• Serenity Treehouse & Bungalows - Rustic accommodation with the option to stay in a treehouse
• Lonnoc Ocean View Bungalows - Local bungalows with kayaks and beach access
• Freshwater Plantation Farmstay - Affordable units with an on-site restaurant and regular ferry
• Santo Seaside Villas - Affordable self-contained beach houses
• Pui Lodge & Tours - Basic accommodation near the airport known for its cultural experiences

Check out the 50 Best Budget Accommodations in Vanuatu for more affordable finds.

The Best Hotels on Espiritu Santo

• The Espiritu - Upmarket hotel with a restaurant and pool
• Hotel Santo - Affordable hotel with a retro design
• Luganvilla Business Hotel & Restaurant - Modern hotel rooms and an on-site lap pool
• Deco Stop Lodge - Upmarket guesthouse with a restaurant and pool

Learn more about these hotels and more in the 50 Best Resorts & Hotels in Vanuatu.

The Best Side of Espiritu Santo to Stay

Where on the island should you stay on Espiritu Santo? Espiritu Santo's main hotspots are Luganville on the southeast side, Aore Island south of Luganville, Turtle Bay along the lower east coast and finally the more remote Hog Harbour and Port Olry in the northeast. We also have a full guide about all the best places to stay on the island.

Check it out: Where to Stay in Luganville & Espiritu Santo: The Best Espiritu Santo Accommodations.

Known for its dramatic volcanic landscapes and cultural authenticity, Tanna is often considered Vanuatu's most captivating island with the legendary Mt Yasur volcano and traditional village experiences that showcase genuine kastom culture. It's wild and wonderful. And it has accommodation options perfectly positioned so you can make the most of your volcanic adventure.

The main attraction on Tanna is the incredible Mt Yasur volcano experience, with its regular eruptions providing spectacular sunset and sunrise shows, where local guides are available to safely escort you to the crater rim. In between the volcanic excitement, your downtime on this island, which feels wonderfully untouched compared to the busier islands, can be spent at your chosen locally-run bungalow (or treehouse) near the volcano or a comfortable guesthouse or resort near Lenakel airport.

Most visitors choose to stay either close to Mt Yasur and its surrounding villages, like Sulphur Bay, for easier access to volcano tours, or near Lenakel on the west side of the island for convenient airport transfers and exploring the coastline.

Discover if you'll be as mesmerised by Tanna as we are by checking out The Complete Travel Guide to Tanna LINK#D071, as well as the 20 Best Things to Do on Tanna.

The Best Resorts on Tanna

• White Grass Ocean Resort & Spa - Tanna's most upmarket offering with a dive shop and restaurant
• Rockwater Resort - Stylish clifftop retreat designed with couples in mind

Learn more about these resorts and others in the 20 Best Luxury Accommodations in Vanuatu.

The Best Bungalows in West Tanna

• Alofa Beach Bungalows - Spacious locally-run bungalows in lush gardens
• Rocky Ridge Bungalows - Basic units by Tanna's blue holes and Blue Cave

Learn more about these local stays in the 20 Best Bungalows & Guesthouses in Vanuatu.

The Best Bungalows Near Mt Yasur

• Castle Tree House & Bungalow - Treehouse suspended in a banyan tree at the foot of Mt Yasur
• Glowing Mountain View Tree House - Alternative treehouse in a village setting facing Mt Yasur
• Montanna Lodge - Village bungalow near Sulphur Bay
• Friendly Beach Bungalow - Beachfront bungalow at Lowakel's Cove
• Tanna Chez Nous Bungalow & Tours - Reliable tour operator with village stay bungalow

More on these Tanna beauties can be found in the 15 Unique Stays, Treehouses & Overwater Bungalows in Vanuatu and 35 Best Budget Accommodations in Vanuatu.

The Best Side of Tanna to Stay

Where on the island should you stay on Tanna? Tanna's main hotspots are Lenakel and Isangel on the west coast and the road and villages surrounding Mt Yasur on the east coast. We also have a full guide about all the best places to stay on the island.

Check it out: Where to Stay on Tanna: The Best Tanna Accommodations.

Known for being the home to some of the most captivating cultures in the country, Malekula is often considered one of Vanuatu's most fascinating islands with traditional village experiences that showcase genuine kastom culture and diverse landscapes from coastal areas to mountainous interior. It's wild and wonderful. And it has accommodation options perfectly positioned so you can make the most of your cultural adventure.

The main attractions on Malekula include the incredible cultural experiences with the Small Nambas people, spectacular hiking trails like the Dog's Head Trail, and access to traditional villages where local guides are available to safely escort you through authentic cultural encounters. In between the cultural excitement, your downtime on this island, which feels wonderfully untouched compared to the busier islands, can be spent at your chosen locally-run bungalow in Lakatoro or Norsup, or venture south to Lamap and Maskelyne Island for an authentic island stay.

Most visitors choose to stay either in the main centres of Lakatoro and Norsup on the east coast for convenient access to the Dog's Head Trail and Small Nambas villages, or head south to Lamap for exploring Maskelyne Island and accessing nearby Ambrym Island.

Discover if you'll be as mesmerised by Malekula as we are by checking out The Complete Travel Guide to Malekula LINK#D035, as well as the 20 Best Things to Do on Malekula.

The Best Bungalows on Malekula

• Malekula Holiday Villas - Great for people seeking something more familiar
• Nowori Sea View Bungalows - Impressive waterfront location on the northeast coast
• Malog Bungalows - Well-presented local bungalows on Maskelyne Island

Learn more about these local stays in the 20 Best Bungalows & Guesthouses in Vanuatu.

The Best Side of Malekula to Stay

Where on the island should you stay on Malekula? Malekula's main hotspots are Lakatoro and Norsup on the northeast coast and the villages surrounding Lamap and Maskelyne on the southwest coast. We also have a full guide about all the best places to stay on the island.

Check it out: Where to Stay on Malekula: The Best Malekula Accommodations.

By now, you've probably realised that Vanuatu has accommodations appealing to all types of travellers and that here, at Vanuatu Pocket Guide, we've ranked them all! Browse Vanuatu accommodations by category using the following links:

• The Top 50 Resorts in Vanuatu
• 25 Best Villas & Holiday Homes in Vanuatu
• 10 Best Bungalows & Guesthouses in Vanuatu
• 20 Best Adults-Only Resorts in Vanuatu
• 20 Best Family Resorts & Accommodations in Vanuatu
• 50 Best Budget Accommodations in Vanuatu