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If you’d rather keep your accommodation costs to a minimum and save your money for tours and experiences then my local’s guide to the best budget accommodation Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu is for you! Most of the cheap accommodation on the island is centred around the main town of Luganville, which is handy to shops/markets/dive centers. But keep in mind Luganville is definitely NOT a pretty place to hang out for more than a day or two. It’s ugly, noisy and hot. 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.
PS. If you want other accommodation options why not check out our other blogs: Best Resorts in Espiritu Santo click HERE , Top 10 Holiday Houses on Espiritu Santo click HERE , Top Bungalows and Cottages Espiritu Santo click HERE Best AirBnBs Espiritu Santo click HERE Best Hotels Espiritu Santo click HERE
Cheap Accommodation In Town (Luganville)
Hibiscus Attraction Centre/Le Motel Hibiscus
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 generally fairly 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 4000vt ($55AUD) per room per night for up to 3 people – a bargain! Special rates available for monthly bookings. A great budget accommodation Espiritu Santo option. Contact +678 36 727 or +678 595 0052, Email lemotelhac@gmail.com or facebook
Lapita Lodge
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
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 generally good with only minor complaints about the hot water and noise from the courtyard. So as far as budget accommodation Espiritu Santo goes, this is a good option for a town stay. Contact +678 779 2943 or Facebook
Coral Sea Motel
This handy cheap little motel is located on the hill above the town of Luganville (below Deco Stop Lodge) and offers half a dozen clean, simple rooms with sea views. Prices start from around 3000vt pp per night ($35 AUD pp). Reviews are generally very good. The Chinese owners also run another motel called Mateweli Motel down the road which is clean and comfortable, if a little basic. Simple budget accommodation Espiritu Santo style. Contact +678 534 4968 website
Santo Paradise Tours Villa
Santo Paradise Tours has a spacious 2 bedroom/1 bathroom self contained villa for rent on a daily or weekly basis one street back from the main street of Luganville. The fully self contained unit is basic but comfortable and features ceiling fans, one queen bed and two single bed as well as a fully equipped kitchen. The price includes free wifi. Starting from 10,000vt per night. Walking distance to the local fruit and vegetable markets, restaurants and shops. Located off the main street in a quiet secluded backroad. call Luke or email Luke at Paradise Tours Santo for a booking. Website – https://www.paradisetourssanto.com/
Budget Accommodation Near Town
Philomenas Lodge
Philomena’s Lodge is located about a 10 min drive south of Luganville near the end of the tar seal road. It’s clean and well run and has self contained rooms that overlook the water surrounded by gardens. Basic but nice. Jerry Willie the owner is a great guy. Room rates start from around 3000vt per person including breakfast! Contact +678 735 9746 email philolodge@gmail.com or Facebook
Migotty Motel
Located half way between the airport/Million Dollar Point and Luganville. Miggoty is at the top of the hill behind Matewali Hotel. Locally owned and operated, Miggoty 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 a little run down and the cleanliness ls not great but if you’re not fussy it’s bearable, Prices start from around 1800vt ($25 AUD) per person per night. Contact (+678) 36494. 678 5351028 email stayatmigotti@gmail.com or facebook
Aore Island Guesthouses
There are a number of cute guesthouses and Air BnBs on Aore Island directly across the channel from Luganville. Many start from as little as $35 pp per night sharing between a few people. There’s usually great snorkelling and swimming out the front of most of them, the only drawback being you can only to get to the island is by water taxi (which costs $12 each way) there are no shops on the island (so BYO food/drinks) and most of the tours are based on Santo. So it’s ideal for people who just want to chill out and do nothing. Other than that, it’s an idyllic location. Try Island View cottages or Aoridise or Island Escape website
Hidden Lodge, Show Grounds Area
This locally owned guesthouse is located about 10 minutes east of Luganville (in Showgrounds area). The cabins are basic but comfortable enough for the budget traveller and overlook a pretty courtyard garden. Locals Charlie, his wife Sylvie and their daughters are the owners. Hidden Lodge would be a good base to begin your adventures on Santo but not stay long term as is it not near the water and can be hot, dusty and isolated, Room rates start from around $40 AUD per night. Rustic, basic no frills accommodation for a cheap price. Reviews are mixed, and there have been issues with car hire here.
Pui Lodge, Show Grounds Area
Cheap Accommodation on the East Coast
Seahorse Cottage, Suranda
Turtle Bay Beach House/Turtle Bay Tree House, Turtle Bay
This holiday house complex at Turtle Bay probably offers the best value budget accommodation Espiritu Santo in one of the prettiest locations on the island. It offers beautiful clean, self contained beachfront cottages, beach houses and huge oceanfront apartments with all the mod-cons for a bargain basement weekly or monthly price. Studio cottages start from around $630 AUD for the week for 2 people which works out to less than $45 pp per night. The 2 bedroom beach house starts from $1150/week for up to four people. The property is a short walk away from Turtle Bay Lodge where you can enjoy food/drinks if you don’t want to cook yourself. Otherwise each room has its own cooking facilities and an option to cook on the covered overwater deck with BBQ/electric cookers. Price includes use of satellite internet an onsite laundry and free kayaks/SUPs. Located at Turtle Bay (about 25 min from town on Santo’s east coast), the holiday houses are surrounded by islands, reef, blue holes and coconut plantations. All rooms have fans, hot water and private ensuites with showers. Contact Vanuatu Ph 678 7788590 or Australia – What’s App 61 491166194 or Turtle Bay Beach House Website email info@turtlebaybeachhouse.com & facebook
Lonnoc Beach Bungalows
If you’re after a stunning location for a cheap price, then Lonnoc Beach might be a good option. There’s a range of bungalows that stretch along the beach, each owned by different owners. My personal favour ite is Bamboo Bungalows. 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. Keep in mind the bungalows here are basic and some are quite run down (so choose wisely). There’s no electricity just solar and generator for a limited time and transport options are limited to get there. Prices start from around $75 AUD a night for a bungalow for 2 people and include breakfast. The two beachside bungalows are the best. There’s also dormitory style backpacker accommodation (4 per room) from 3000vt ($35AUD) 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 – reviews are mixed. Contact – 5695140 or 5906863 email lonnocbungalows@gmail.com & website
Little Bay Bungalows, Hideaway Bay
Little Bay Bungalows is located right next to Hideaway Paradise Bungalows on an isolated peninsula surrounded by beaches and reef just south of Port Olry (look for the sign on the main road) or about 45 min drive north of Luganville. Follow the road in until it reaches a fork and then turn left until you hit the beach. There’s three cute bungalows to choose from including a large 3 bedroom bungalow. Lots of great snorkelling to enjoy out front. Lots of big trees. There is a small restaurant on site which serves basic food but its probably wise to bring your own as well. Prices start from around 4500vt ($60 AUD) per night per bungalow for two people and includes breakfast. Contact Nael on +678 5284214 or 536 9597 email: littlebaybungalow@gmail.com or find them on Facebook