Travel Essentials › Vanuatu
Travel Essentials
Plugs: Type I, 230 V. Emergency: Police 111, Ambulance 112, Fire 113. Tipping: Not customary and can cause embarrassment; a smile and a thank-you are enough. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water..
Type I, 230 V
| Police | 111 |
| Ambulance | 112 |
| Fire | 113 |
Not customary and can cause embarrassment; a smile and a thank-you are enough.
Greetings. Greet with "halo" (Bislama) or "alo", a smile and a gentle handshake that may last a little longer than usual. In villages, introduce yourself and greet the chief and elders first. Kisses and hugs are unusual.
Kastom and chiefs. Traditional custom (kastom) guides daily life; when visiting a village, ask permission from the chief and introduce yourself before wandering around.
Modest dress. Revealing shorts or swimwear are seen as disrespectful outside resorts; women should swim in a t-shirt and sarong, and cover shoulders and thighs in villages.
Kastom fees. Some sites (waterfalls, volcanoes, villages) charge a legitimate kastom fee for access; agree the price before entering, but be wary of people falsely claiming to be chiefs demanding fees on public land.
Vanuatu is a safe destination with very low violent crime against tourists; the main risks are natural hazards (cyclones, volcanic activity, earthquakes) rather than crime.
Fake kastom fee collectors. Some individuals pose as village chiefs to demand access fees for beaches or waterfalls that are actually public; ask your guide or accommodation which fees are legitimate.
Overpriced tours from touts. Book volcano and island tours through your accommodation or a licensed operator rather than street touts to avoid inflated prices.
Women travelers. Women travel safely in Vanuatu, but modest dress (covering shoulders and thighs, swimming in a t-shirt/sarong) is expected, particularly in villages outside resort areas.
Legal · Use Caution
Same-sex relations are legal, but the country is socially conservative, same-sex marriage is explicitly banned, and there is no visible LGBTQ+ scene; public displays of affection are not advisable.
| Coffee (café) | 500 VUV | $4 |
| Local bus or metro ride | 150 VUV | $1.25 |
| Mid-range restaurant meal | 2,400 VUV | $20 |
| Hostel bed / budget room (night) | 4,400 VUV | $37 |
| Mid-range hotel (night) | 11,800 VUV | $98 |
| Daily budget, mid-range traveler | 30,000 VUV | $250 |
2026-09
The dry season, April to October, has the most stable weather with lower humidity, and late August to early September is the sweet spot for diving and volcano treks; November to April is cyclone season.