Staying at the Ramada Resort Port Vila, Vanuatu

Chris Tarpey checks into the Ramada Resort Port Vila, Vanuatu.

Check-in experience: I was greeted by the friendly staff with a cold towel and fresh fruit on arrival. A private buggy took me to my room. Overall a great first impression.

Room: Each room has modern furnishings, satellite TV, microwave, dishwasher, kettle and toaster. Interconnecting rooms are handy if you're with a family. The resort had only recently opened when I visited, so the rooms appeared untouched.

What's in the neighbourhood? Ramada Resort Port Vila is along Erakor Lagoon, five minutes' drive or 15 minutes' walk to the township and 10 minutes' drive to Bauerfield International airport. Port Vila has a large supermarket and the local markets bursting with fresh fruit, flowers, hand-painted art and souvenirs. There's a variety of shops, restaurant and bars within walking distance of the resort.

Food and drink: I made the most of the buffet breakfast, which left me full for most of the day — but I still enjoyed the on-site waterfront restaurant. It has a classy French flair but caters to all tastes. The resort has a lounge bar, sports bar and pool bar to enjoy a swim-up cocktail while the sun is setting.

The bed: The king-sized bed was one of the comfiest I have ever slept on. I thought it might have been the result of jetlag but I heard other guests comment on the bedding.
Room with a view? I stayed in a spacious junior suite, with panoramic lagoon views, a large balcony, lounge area and kitchen.

Bathroom: The shower pressure was perfect and the bathroom had a variety of complimentary toiletries.

Free Wi-Fi? Each room has up to 500MB of free Wi-Fi per day. I used the service throughout the resort and couldn't find any areas without connection.

Noise: No problems.

Room service: Room service was a little slow and many items were unavailable. To their credit, the prawn soup went down a treat at 2am.

Exercise facilities: The gymnasium overlooks the water and is well equipped with weights, exercise bikes, yoga mats and a running machine.

Contact: Email reservations@ramadaresort.com.vu or visit ramadaresort.com.vu for more details.

Perfect for: A relaxing, mid-priced holiday for a couple or young family looking to stay in a new resort. There are plenty of activities in the area for those who want some adventure. Not advisable to visit during cyclone season (November to March).