Vanuatu

Do

Scuba diving is a major attraction, with the wreck of the SS President Coolidge at a depth of just 21 meters in Espiritu Santo in particular drawing many divers.

Eat

thumb|Curry of Vanuatu beef with taro boiled in coconut milk and island vegetables

There are many restaurants and eateries in Port-Vila, ranging from up-market places catering to tourists and expats, with French food particularly common, to more low-key establishments. In a sit-down restaurant, the approximate cost of lunch would be around 1500-2000 VT, depending on where and what you eat. Some examples of prices:

sandwiches, around 450-600 VT bacon and eggs, 750 VT burger with fries or salad, around 1500 VT main meal, e.g. steak or seafood, 2000-3000 VT large, fresh-squeezed fruit juice, around 500VT

Drink

thumb|Nakamal on [[Pentecost]] thumb|Vanuatuan Kava in bottle form|173x173px|left

Sleep

Port Vila has a good choice of accommodation in all price brackets. Tanna and Santo have a few hotels and resorts catering to tourists. Elsewhere you will largely be limited to basic guesthouses.

Stay safe

thumb|Police on Espiritu Santo Vanuatu is, on the whole, a safe and friendly environment. You are unlikely to encounter any trouble unless you do something extremely provocative, though crime rates are said to be increasing, particularly in Port Vila at night. Take the same precautions you would anywhere else.

There are no seriously venomous snakes, spiders, or insects on Vanuatu. However, there are various poisonous aquatic animals that you should beware of if you are swimming, snorkeling, or diving in the area. The most dangerous of these is the stonefish. Saltwater crocodiles may remain on the eastern coast of Vanua Lava, but the likelihood of an attack is minimal.

Stay healthy

It is advisable to be immunised against Hepatitis A and B and typhoid fever before visiting Vanuatu.

Malaria is endemic within some areas of Vanuatu, but not Port-Vila. If you are venturing outside the resort areas, check with your doctor before you travel. Malaria may not be endemic but you may come in contact with mosquito carriers and visitors from outer islands who have malaria - particularly in the wet season and at the hospital.

Dengue fever is also mosquito vectored in Port-Vila and elsewhere particularly in the wet season. Be familiar with the symptoms as there is no cure all for dengue and malaria symptoms are intermittently leading to misdiagnosis. Many local clinics in the outer islands can test you for malaria.

Malaria preventative drugs have side effects which can cause problems in the sun, scuba diving, general stability and digestion.

Tap water in Port-Vila is clean and potable, but is best avoided elsewhere. Bottled water is not available outside the main cities. Fizzy drinks but not beer may be available outside the main cities. Giardiasis after using local water is rare. Tourism, cattle raising, and the rapidly rising population are placing stress on municipal water supplies.

Doctors used to treating common travel ailments are available in Port-Vila and Luganville. Any more serious problems may require some form of medical evacuation.

Be careful of any small cuts, scratches, or other sores you receive while travelling in Vanuatu. As in most tropical ar…