What To Bring With You

Read This Before You Go!

We recommend travellers to Vanuatu consider the following suggestions...

Sunscreen

Wide brim hat

Sunglasses

Pump spray tropical strength insect repellent (such as with 20% DEET) (Especially use at dawn and dusk)

You might want to avoid brands containing 80% DEET as they can melt plastic

Mask and snorkel (at least pool goggles)

Reef shoes or closed shoes for swimming (VERY IMPORTANT!)

Vanuatu is full of coral. Any cuts are to be avoided as they have a much slower rate of healing in the tropics. It is highly recommended that people wear reef shoes or closed shoes whenever they are in the water.

Thongs and/or sandals (for walking around town, the village or island tracks)

Comfortable walking shoes for town and bush tracks

Light clothes suitable for humid weather

Two NZ girls asked me to recommend female guests bring a sports bra for the bumpy roads on Tanna

A light travel jacket/jumper for cool nights (especially on southern islands like Tanna)

A sleeping sheet (useful & handy but not a necessity as sheets are provided)

Your medication (suggest for customs inspection a doctor’s approval note if necessary)

There are chemists in Vanuatu but do not expect them to have all medications available in your country

Earplugs for the airplane or early rising roosters in the morning

A traveller’s towel (compact, light, quick drying)

A camera with extra film or memory stick (with batteries charged. There’s no 240v electricity in the islands)

Spare batteries for your camera, torch or walkman

A torch and/or LED headlamp (head lamps are very handy)

Please see your doctor regarding anti-malaria medication (VERY IMPORTANT!)

It is highly recommended you have anti-malaria medication with you in Vanuatu. Please check with your doctor that you are not allergic to the medication and are aware of the possible side effects. There is medication that can be taken if you have malaria symptoms rather than taking medication everyday.

Travel insurance (covering medical expenses too if necessary) (VERY IMPORTANT!)

We can arrange your insurance for you. (There is no word in any of the 115 custom languages for insurance).

Cash – exchange cash in Port Vila or Santo for the best rates.

When visiting outer islands you must carry small change with you (nothing over 1,000 vatu) as the remote islands have few facilities to change money and locals will rarely have change for anything over 1,000 vatu Take vatu in amounts of 50 and 100 (vatu coins) and 200, 500, and 1,000 (vatu notes) (VERY IMPORTANT!)

The Vanuatu currency is the vatu and it is worth around 82 vatu per $1 AUD. Port Vila has banks, credit card payments and teller machines for withdrawing cash but beyond Port Vila expect cash only to be accepted – such as for food, gifts, accommodation, tours, everything.

Passport (Valid/Current. International guests are requested to check if you need a visa)

Australian residents can stay for up to 3 months on a holiday visa – which you are automatically entitled to and you do not need to apply for. Citizens of other nations should check the visa requirements applicable to them. See http://www.vanuatutourism.com/vanuatu/cms/en/resources/visa_info.html

If you are keen to drink coffee or tea daily in the outer islands your bungalow will likely have local style. To be certain we recommend you buy some supplies in Port Vila and take them with you on your trip. Vanuatu travel milk is either powdered or UHT. We request that you leave the left-over supplies with the villagers as a small donation.

Local food is different to traveller's usual diet. You can buy fresh fruit and food in the Port Vila markets (Also, home of the cheapest cooked lunch in Port Vila), Santo markets or local villages. Tinned food is heavy to carry if you are trekking. Some snacks, biscuits and sweets to take with you is often a good idea. BYO alcohol (in moderation please). Alcohol is not available in Vanuatu stores from midday Saturday until Monday morning.

We suggest you bring your own basic travel medication/supplies

Such as for sunburn, cuts (disinfect them quickly), indigestion, headaches – think of what you usually have

Backpack or Sports Bag but not a Suitcase

You will likely be getting on and off small planes, boats, canoes, 4WD vehicles or be walking a lot.

What do you want to carry?

A day pack to take your things in for day trips

Moisture cream/Aloe Vera for dry skin after being in the sun

Deodorant for the sake of all those around you in the warm weather :o)

Your fun sense of adventure and an open mind

Respect for the local culture and customs

Common sense

The ability to be flexible to accommodate island time, service and culture

Bring your patience and your joy for life and you will be open to being amazed

Vanuatu runs at its own pace in its own way. Nothing is ‘guaranteed’.

Feel free to ask your hosts and guides questions, ask for something if you would like it. Do not assume these remote people know what you want or how you want it. You will receive a more ‘correct’ Western answer if you ask open questions not closed questions. Locals like to say “Yes” or give you the answer they think you want to hear – that is the ‘correct’ local answer. Ask a question that cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no” and see what happens.

If you can – it would be fun to learn a few greetings and phrases in the Vanuatu pigeon English. (You can find a language section in the Air Vanuatu in flight magazine on the plane) it will add great value to your experience. Most people you meet will speak English. The local ‘bislama’ is an English/French pigeon mix and is easy to pick up. It is read phonetically – e.g. ‘Number 1’ (means ‘very good’) and is spelt Nambawan.

French is also spoken by many Vanuatu people (ni-vans are people of Vanuatu).

There are over 115 different language across the 83 islands.

There are no traffic lights, and no McDonalds.