Vanuatu Beachfront Apartments

You arrive at Vanuatu Beachfront Apartments for a self-contained stay on Mele Beach, with the useful middle ground between an apartment and a small resort. Your accommodation comes with a kitchen or kitchenette, a private balcony in the family rooms, air conditioning, WiFi and the option of doing very little beyond moving between the beach, the pool and the bar.

The place suits you particularly well if you want room to spread out rather than a single hotel room with nowhere to put a wet towel or tomorrow's clothes. Couples can keep things simple in a studio, while larger groups have two-bedroom apartments, a four-bedroom penthouse or a villa with its own pool. Families are clearly part of the picture, with a playground, children's meal boxes, board games and space to retreat when the younger members of the party still have energy left.

The hotel's team speaks English and French, so you can deal with the practicalities in either language. The atmosphere is informal and set up for choosing your own pace: breakfast, a swim, a paddleboard, a meal on the pool deck, or simply a chair facing the water. No timetable is required unless you count dinner.

You are in Port Vila, Vanuatu, at Lot 6 Mele Cove on the edge of Mele Beach. The property sits directly on the seafront, with white sand, sun loungers and parasols between your accommodation and the water. Mele Beach is a few steps away, which is rather more useful than a grand description when you are carrying a towel and trying not to lose your sunglasses.

Port Vila city centre is about ten minutes away by car, placing restaurants, cafés and the waterfront within reach without making the hotel part of the town traffic. Bauerfield International Airport is about 3.3 miles away, with the drive taking around seven minutes. An airport shuttle is available through the property.

There is enough nearby to give you a reason to leave the beach. Tanna Roastery Coffee is about 1 mile away, Tanna Coffee about 1.2 miles, and Cascades Waterfalls about 1.3 miles. Hideaway Island is reached from the beach by barge, while the surrounding area also offers a golf course within 3 km and local attractions around Port Vila.

The main decision is not simply how many people you are bringing; it is how much living space you want once the day is over. The studios keep things compact, with a king-size bed and sofa bed, while the larger apartments give you separate bedrooms and a proper living area. For a group, the two-bedroom apartments are the sensible step up. The beachfront four-bedroom penthouse goes further, with two bathrooms and direct positioning for anyone who considers a sea view part of the booking rather than a decorative bonus.

The villa with private pool is the obvious choice when several people want to stay together but still need room to disappear occasionally. It sleeps up to twelve and has four bathrooms. That matters more than it sounds when everyone returns at different times, sandy, hungry and competing for the shower.

Inside, you have air conditioning and a fan, a refrigerator, microwave, toaster, kettle, coffee machine and kitchenware. The combination lets you keep cold water and simple provisions ready, or make use of the kitchenette when a restaurant meal feels like unnecessary ceremony. A seating area, sofa, television, private bathroom, towels and daily housekeeping cover the practical end of the stay. The accommodation is non-smoking, and the property keeps quiet hours from 21:00 to 09:00.

Oceans Bar and Cafe handles breakfast, lunch and dinner beside the pool. The menu keeps to familiar, filling territory: fish and chips, steak sandwiches and house-made meat pies. This is useful food after a day in the water, when the appetite is larger than the enthusiasm for dressing up. Kids' meal boxes are also available, with a drink, dessert and a mystery toy.

Breakfast is included and comes in continental, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free versions. You can also take breakfast in your room, which is a sound arrangement if the morning involves an early start or if the bed has won the argument. Room service is available, with limited hours.

There is one bar, Oceans Bar, offering cocktails with a view from the pool deck. The signature move is a Piña Colada at sunset, although you can also order wine or champagne. A snack bar, coffee house, minibar and grocery deliveries add a few practical options, while the apartments' kitchen facilities give you another way to avoid turning every meal into an expedition.

The outdoor pool is the main post-water landing zone. It has a swim-out area with underwater bench seating, so you can sit in the water rather than commit to a full-length swim. Pool and beach towels, sun loungers and umbrellas are available, and the pool deck gives you somewhere to settle with a drink while the light changes over the beach.

The sea is immediately in front of you, with calm water suited to leisurely swimming and paddleboarding. Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are available on site, and water-sports facilities are part of the property rather than something you need to organise across town. Snorkelling at Hideaway Island is an off-site activity reached by barge from the beach, with the island's underwater post office adding a distinctly Vanuatu detail to the outing.

On land, you have volleyball, badminton equipment, a garden, picnic and outdoor dining areas, plus a children's playground. A local-culture tour can be arranged, and wildlife observation is part of the activities offered. For a quieter excursion, Cascades Waterfalls is about 1.3 miles away. Families also have babysitting or child services available, although the property remains equally workable for couples who prefer a pool, a book and no organised entertainment at all.

You can check in between 14:00 and 17:00, and the property asks you to provide your expected arrival time in advance. Check-out runs from 05:00 to 10:00, which is relevant if your return flight leaves early. If you expect to arrive after 18:00, contact the property beforehand. The minimum age for check-in is 18.

Transfers to and from Bauerfield International Airport are available and should be arranged directly with the hotel. The drive is about 3.3 miles and takes around seven minutes by car. Free public parking is available on site without reservation, and WiFi is free throughout the property. Currency exchange, a tour desk, a minimarket and laundry facilities add useful support when you are staying in an apartment rather than passing through for one night.

Payment is by cash, and American Express is not accepted. Smoking is not allowed, parties are not permitted, and pets cannot stay. The quiet period runs from 21:00 to 09:00, so the property is better suited to evenings on the pool deck than to late-night noise. Children of all ages are welcome, with cots and extra beds available on request according to the accommodation selected.