Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu by IHG
by the TopOfHotel team
Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu is Port Vila's most dialled-in family resort — a packed Kids Club, a Kids Eat Free deal that's genuinely free, and famously kind staff, traded against rooms that are starting to show their age.
Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu is Port Vila's most dialled-in family resort — a packed Kids Club, a Kids Eat Free deal that's genuinely free, and famously kind staff, traded against rooms that are starting to show their age.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
There are 138 rooms here, and you choose between lagoon-view and garden-view. The family suites are the reason this place works for parents: they come with a separate kids' room, so the children aren't sleeping a metre from you. Nearly every room has a private balcony, which is where you'll end up most evenings. The honest catch is age — the building and rooms are starting to show it, with worn carpets and tired furniture in some rooms, and review after review agrees the place is due for a proper refresh.
Food and amenities
The amenities are the headline. There are 3 pools including a shallow kids' pool with a fountain, plus a tennis court, beach volleyball, free kayaks in the lagoon, and poolside entertainment every evening. The two policies families come for are both real: a free Kids Club that runs daily with carers and a rotating activity programme, and Kids Eat Free for children under 12 dining with an adult — which genuinely cuts your food spend over a week. There's also a spa and fitness centre.
Location and getting there
The resort sits at Tassiriki Park, on a clifftop above Erakor Lagoon, and the emerald water is the view you're paying for. It's well placed: about a 5-minute drive into Port Vila town and roughly 10 minutes to Bauerfield Airport (VLI). There's an airport shuttle, which you should book ahead. One thing to set expectations on — there's no sand beach. The shore is a rocky coral lagoon, you walk down stairs from the cliff to get in, and it isn't suited to open-sea swimming, though the water is clear enough for snorkelling. For a real sand beach, you boat over to nearby Erakor or Hideaway island.
Things to know before booking
Two things to weigh. First, the rooms are aging and want a refresh, so don't expect new-build finishes. Second, the Wi-Fi is slow and unstable, worse in the far wings away from the lobby, so if you have online meetings bring a local Digicel SIM as backup — it drops out most in the evening when everyone's online. And remember there's no beach right at the resort if that's central to your trip.
Our take
What lifts this resort above its dated rooms is the staff and the kids' programme. The Ni-Vanuatu team get singled out in reviews as some of the kindest guests have met anywhere, remembering names across a stay, and the free Kids Club plus Kids Eat Free are genuinely free rather than upsells. At an 8.6/10 with rooms from about $120 a night, it's the pick for families with young kids who want the children entertained and the parents actually rested — just go in knowing the rooms are tired and the beach is a boat ride away.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- The Ni-Vanuatu staff get praised across reviews for being kind and remembering guests by name — some guests go as far as calling them the best team they've met on their travels.
- The Kids Club runs every day at no extra charge, with carers watching the children so parents get a genuine break, and a daily activity programme that keeps changing.
- The Kids Eat Free policy covers children under 12 when they dine with an adult, which trims a real chunk off your food bill over a trip.
- There are 3 pools including a shallow kids' pool with a fountain, plus free kayaks, beach volleyball, a tennis court, and poolside entertainment every evening.
- The clifftop spot above Erakor Lagoon delivers lovely emerald views, and it's only about a 5-minute drive into Port Vila town and around 10 minutes to Bauerfield Airport.
- The building and rooms are starting to show their age — carpets and furniture in some rooms look worn, and plenty of reviews agree it's due for a major refresh.
- Wi-Fi is slow and unstable, especially in rooms out in the far wings away from the lobby; if you have online meetings, line up a local SIM as backup.
- The resort has no real sand beach — the shore is a rocky coral lagoon, so you walk down stairs from the clifftop to get in the water, and it isn't suited to open-sea swimming.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Port Vila
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Insider Tips
- Ask for a top-floor lagoon-view family suite — you get the sunset behind Erakor island and it's quieter than the rooms near the pool.
- If you're travelling with kids, sign up for the Kids Club on your first day at check-in, since some days fill up fast, and check the activity schedule at the counter each morning.
- Pack a local Digicel SIM for your stay, because the resort Wi-Fi is slow and cuts out often, especially in the evening when everyone's online at once.