If you’d rather keep your accommodation costs to a minimum and save your money for tours/experiences/business, then this local’s guide to the Top 15 Cheap Sleeps is for you! Most of the budget accommodation Espiritu Santo is centred around the main town of Luganville, which is handy to shops/markets/dive centres. But keep in mind Luganville is definitely not a romantic or beautiful place to chill out. For better locations you need to look farther afield (in particular the east coast of Santo) so check out the handful of out of town hotel/motel/backpacker options as well. (*Note – for bungalow style accommodation see our blog Top 12 Bungalows and Cottages Espiritu Santo)
Cheap Accommodation In Town (Luganville)
Hibiscus Attraction Centre/Le Motel Hibscus – Espiritu Santo
This small motel run by hosts Marie France Ro and Lois Delattre is perfectly located 2 blocks from the centre of town, so it’s quiet and handy. The self-contained rooms have everything you need – kitchenette, bathroom, fly screens and fan. The gardens are cute and there are large communal tables where you can meet other people and dine together. The accommodation is basic, but kept spotlessly clean and there is free wifi and laundry facilities available. Great reviews and extremely helpful and friendly hosts. Rooms prices start from around 3500vt ($37AUD) a night for up to 3 people – a bargain! Special rates available for monthly bookings. Contact +678 36 727 or +678 595 0052, Hibscus website Email lemotelhac@gmail.com or facebook
Lapita Lodge – Espiritu Santo
Quiet, peaceful airy and clean, Lapita Lodge consists of two “houses” each with 3 rooms sharing a bathroom and kitchen and dormitory with its own bathroom and kitchen. The internet is free, the water hot, the surrounding gardens lush, the verandahs spacious and the staff friendly and helpful. Short walking distance to main street. Room prices are very similar to Hibiscus Motel and Tropicana Hotel. One of the best upmarket budget accommodation Espiritu Santo options. Contact +678 37791 or +678 7737791 email lapitalodge@vanuatu.com.vu or Facebook
Tropicana Motel and Backpackers – Espiritu Santo
Located only two blocks from the main street and close to the food markets, Tropicana Motel, consists of 19 small rooms centred around a communal courtyard – 4 double rooms, 8 single rooms, 5 double bunk rooms, a dormitory and a family unit. All rooms have their own bathroom, ceiling fans and insect screens but the kitchen is shared and communal. There is free wifi in the courtyard. Overall the motel is clean but basic and host/owner Kenneth Seol is helpful and accommodating, Double rooms start from around $30-40 AUD a night and dormitory accommodation starts from around 1500vt pp per night. Reviews are good with only minor complaints about the hot water and noise from the courtyard. Contact +678 779 2943 or Facebook
Unity Park Motel – Espiritu Santo
This handy little motel is right on the main street and offers accommodation ranging from bunk bed (backpacker) lodgings with shared bathrooms to more spacious double rooms with sea views. There are 13 rooms in all, they are basic but very clean and serviced daily. Some of the rooms have aircon. Facilities include a shared kitchen, a cute communal dining/family room, outdoor seating in a quiet garden courtyard, free wifi and a laundry service. Prices start from around 2200vt per night ($25 AUD) for a bunk bed in a shared room to around 4500vt ($53 AUD) for an ocean view room that can sleep up to 3 people. Reviews are generally very good with only minor complaints about the noise from the main street. Contact 678) 36052 Unity website Email: info@unityparkmotel.com
The Best of the Rest
There’s a fairly big drop off in standards and service between the 4 accommodation houses listed above and the rest of the bargain basement hotels/motels in Luganville. However, for those who don’t mind basic living conditions and have a relaxed approach to cleanliness, this could be an option for you! Best to hit the streets when you arrive in Luganville and ask around – Lingi Motel, Motel Le Nemo, Natapoa Motel, New Look Motel, River Motel, Mataweli Motel, Bamboo Garden Motel, Asia Motel.
Cheap Accommodation Near Town
Pui Lodge – Espiritu Santo
Pui Lodge bills itself as the cheapest accommodation 
on the island with rates starting from only 1500vt per person for your own room, including free breakfast! Granted the rooms are small, basic wood huts with double beds but it is set amongst a lovely flower/fruit garden and has the added bonus of being run by a local cultural group (from Malekula). They do regular island feasts and cultural shows for tourists. There is a choice of dormitory rooms, twin rooms, single rooms and even campsites! All the rooms are solar powered, there are shared bathrooms and a kitchen area. Pui Lodge is located in the Showgrounds area, about 10 minutes east of Luganville (half way between airport and town). Contact +678 7772640, +678 7729012 or +678 59832178
Migotty Motel – Espiritu Santo
Locally owned and operated, Migotty Motel may have an unfortunate sounding name but it offers 6 great value rooms with amazing views over the Segund Channel and Aore Island as well as backpacker rooms in Ocean View House (just behind the motel). Three of the rooms (Royal Garden Studios) are self contained studios with a kitchenette, air con, fan & ensuite bathroom (sleeps 3-4 people). The other 3 rooms (Garden Studios) are more basic but have a roofed terrace and a little garden area. There’s free wifi at the bar area and a small pool. It’s cute, colourful and quirky, Prices start from around 1500vt ($18 AUD) per person per night. Migotty Motel is ideally located half way between the airport and Luganville. Contact (+678) 36494. 678 5351028 email stayatmigotti@gmail.com or facebook
Blue Island Villas – Espiritu Santo
This locally owned Air BnB guesthouse is located about 10 minutes south of Luganville (opposite Beachfront Resort). It consists of 2 small studio units each with a double bed, ensuite bathroom (max. 2 guests) and a small verandah overlooking a cute garden setting just off the main road. Quiet location (if a little isolated), well equipped kitchen, hot water and ceiling fans but no wifi access or breakfast included (wi-fi, restaurant, pool & beach access all available via nearby Beachfront Resort but for an additional cost). George, the owner is helpful and will organise tours or taxis if required. Room rates start from around $40 AUD per night. Rustic, basic no frills accommodation for a cheap price. Website
Cheap Accommodation Out of Town
Turtle Bay Beach House, Turtle Bay – Espiritu Santo
Turtle Bay Beach House offers a guest room in their 2 bedroom Beach House starting from around $18 pp AUD per night (based on 2 pax) . The guest room has its own ensuite and separate entrance and can fit up to 4 people making it great value for money. Its a short walk to Turtle Bay Lodge for food/drinks otherwise there is an option to cook on the overwater deck with BBQ/electric cookers. The property also offers a self contained cottage starting from around $50pp AUD a night (2 pax). Optional day bed for a child or third person. It has its own kitchenette and access to a laundry and overwater deck with BBQ , giant hammock etc. Located at Turtle Bay (about 25 min from town on Santo’s east coast), the house is surrounded by islands, reef, blue holes and coconut plantations. Included in the price is free watersports equipment, free mountain bikes, wifi available. Ph 7779723 or 37779 Turtle Bay Beach House Website email info@turtlebaybeachhouse.com & facebook
Turtle Bay Lodge – Espiritu Santo
Overlooking Turtle Bay and the Bay of Islands, Turtle 
Bay Lodge offers double and family rooms for fairly reasonable rates (prices start from around $98 AUD a night) but it’s their backpacker rooms that are the best value! There’s a set of bunk beds and 3 single beds in each room and the price is VUV4000 ($48 AUD) per person, per night including continental breakfast. Facilities include a pool, free wifi, on site watersports (costs extra) and a great restaurant. Turtle Lodge website email – stay@turtlebaylodge.vu
Island Escape Aore Island – Espiritu Santo
At only around $95 per night for up to 4 people for your very own beachfront unit on Aore Island, this represents a great cheap sleep option. The 2 bedroom house is walking distance to nearby Aore Island Resort, has a great snorkelling reef nearby and features all the mod cons (including free Wifi). The only drawback is you are on an island just off Santo (directly opposite Luganville) and the only way to get to the island is by water taxi (which costs $12 each way). Other than that, it’s an idyllic location. Island Escape website
Lonnoc Beach Bungalows – Espiritu Santo
If you’re after a stunning location for a cheap price, then Lonnoc Beach Bungalows might be a good option. All the rooms overlook beautiful Lonnoc Beach (about a 45 min drive north of Luganville) and are surrounded by spacious, tropical gardens. Famous Champagne Beach is only a short stroll or kayak away. Small basic bungalows start from around $50 AUD a night and include breakfast. There’s also dormitory style backpacker accommodation (4 per room) from 2500vt ($27 AUD) per person including breakfast. Or you can camp near the beach for only 1000vt ($12) per night. Facilities include an on-site restaurant, Wifi (costs extra) and on site watersports (costs extra). Very basic, no frills accommodation (no hot showers, no electricity – just solar lights), reviews are mixed. Contact – 5695140 or 5906863 email lonnocbungalows@gmail.com & website
Colleen Nokome Backpackers/Bungalows – Espiritu Santo
Another classic case of cheap, basic accommodation in an amazing location, in this case Port Olry Beach, about an hour’s drive north of Luganville. There are 2 surprisingly large guestrooms, each sleeping up to 3-4 people and featuring a large outdoor porch area, an outdoor bathroom (cold showers) and a shared dining room/kitchen area. It’s a short walk to Port Olry Beach with its stunning white sands, tropical islands and turquoise waters. There are also nearby restaurants on the beach and one in the village (the mini market) that serves home cooked meals starting from $5. Nokome is no-frills, locally owned budget accommodation Espiritu Santo style, but at only around $50 per room including breakfast, it’s a bargain. Contact Stanislas Franck +678 546 2083 or +678 564 6051
Millennium Caves Guest House – Espiritu Santo
Millennium Caves is famous for being one of the most exciting adventure tours on Espiritu Santo and now you can actually stay at Vunaspef village (near the caves) for a very reasonable price. There’s 3 bedrooms in all, each sleeping 3-4 people. Basic local style accommodation with a shared lounge and shared toilet and shower facilities (adjacent to the house). A great way to experience a traditional Vanuatu village (with local people who know and understand traveller’s needs). Lots of amazing treks to enjoy in the surrounding jungle. Prices start from around 3500vt ($42 AUD) per person per night and include breakfast. Additional meals available in the nakamal for 800vt. We recommend you combine the accommodation with a Millennium Caves tour so you don’t have to pay extra for transport up to the village (which is about an hour north of Luganville up in the mountains). Contact +678 547 0957 email: bookings@millenniumcave.com & website
Recent Comments