We stayed here for 4 nights in May. We booked the 2 bedroom house plus one of the studios for another adult. Our itinerary to Vanuatu was thrown in disarray by the cyclone with domestic flights being cancelled however the owners were very understanding and helpful with our booking. When we could finally rebook our flights from Port Vila to Santo, the Villa was beautifully prepared for us (even though the weather the day before had been atrocious). The gardens were amazing and the location superb, right on the water with a great jetty over the sea. There were extensive water sports equipment available to us and I really enjoyed the early morning stand up paddle board. The manager, Liz, lived on a yacht moored out the front and she went through all the details upon arrival and checked on us throughout our stay.
The house was well built and provided all the facilities you could need. We loved relaxing in every area of the property, on the verandah, jetty, hammock etc. We cooked several meals on site utilising the BBQ. We enjoyed feeding the fish off the jetty and taking the kayaks out on low tide to the snorkelling area out from Turtle Bay Resort (look for the post in the ground and you will find the trench).
The information booklet (which is also on line) was very extensive and gave great information about the local area. We enjoyed a meal at Turtle Bay Resort, great pizza and dessert and then cocktails sitting under the coloured lights enjoying the company of their dogs!
Watch for the sunsets out the back with the coconut palms and then the beautiful moon rise over Malvanua Island.
I would highly recommend this house to anyone wanting to enjoy the beauty that is Santo. Definitely one of our favourite places.
I stayed in Turtle Cottage, and you can literally feed the fish from your balcony, it’s so close to the water! Compared to some of the other bungalows I saw around Santo, it was large, clean and comfortable and had a fully kitted out kitchenette. Although there was no air-con, the ceiling fans and traditional natangora thatched palm roof kept us cool every day so we didn’t miss it. Turtle Bay is an awesome spot for kayaking, lots of nearby islands to explore, dugongs, turtles, blue holes, crystal rivers and some great reef for snorkelling. The water is like a warm bath! Recommend paddling to nearby Matevulu Blue Hole – great swimming spot and huge rope swing!
I stayed here with my elderly parents for a few days and it was such a beautiful place to relax and chill out at, with your own jetty, beautiful garden, lots of lounges to relax on and great facilities . We really enjoyed the whole experience - wish we were there for longer.
Everything is well maintained and clean with comfortable beds.
We saw lots of fish off the jetty and went snorkeling out the front.
You are out of town away from everything but also have a resort within walking distance so have the advantage of being able to go up there for a meal or a few drinks if you don't feel like cooking.
They have thought of everything that you need for a few days or a few weeks - extra towels, water sport equipment, BBQ, torches, DVD's, music, books and a house phone to call local taxi etc. The manager met us on site and showed us how everything worked and gave us some great information on the area, a book was provided with tips and where to find things in case you forget..
We could not have felt more welcome - I have no hesitation in recommending this property.
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We went to Vanuatu a few days after a busy Christmas and NYE schedule and looked forward to visiting a place that could offer us the typical laid back atmosphere of a remote pacific island paradise combined with wild and adventurous places that seemingly not many people go to explore.We found all of that and much more after a 2 hour flight and a short drive up the east coast of Santos at and near The Beach House in Turtle Bay.We stayed in one of the two bungalows and I can tell from having worked in 5 star hotels all over the world that The Beach House is not ordinary.From folded towels to welcome flowers the owner seems to have a fine eye for detail and nothing was spared.The cottage sits close enough to the edge of the water that you can throw your left over breakfast toast to the fish.There are all sorts of water craft available and the water was always calm and flat.There is a surf break a little off shore and the snorkelling spots are near and plentiful.
We went to a number of restaurants and bars in the vicinity of the The Beach House ,all of which were of very good quality and very affordable.
We felt comfortable ,relaxed and security was never a concern.Neighbours are friendly and locals in general are warm and welcoming.
If we get another chance to go to Vanuatu we will not bother searching around for alternatives as we don't feel the need to.
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How great to wake up in a stunning, natural, well-built bungalow, watch your child put on his sunscreen and bolt out the door to the lagoon that's right there? 6am, and it's sunny, and your child is safe, and it's quiet, and you can lie in knowing that when you wake, amazing pineapples and passionfruit and bananas await.
The weather was just perfect, the ocean almost 30 degrees warm (great for kids who get cold in Sydney's water), the visibility and things to see underwater made my 8-year-old a better snorkeler for sure. And kayaker. And Stand-Up paddle boarder. Mosquitoes were almost non-existent, the bungalow's ceiling fan kept us cool, and making group meals with our extended family was easy and cost-efficient, too. And for nights when we didn't want to blend our own pina coladas or cook, several nearby resorts were just a short moonlit walk or kayak paddle away.
Turtle Bay Beach House is near numerous Blue Holes, Champagne Beach, and the world's best wreck diving. Lovely local people who speak English and French. We thought we'd die without regular internet but checking every other day, in town or at nearby resorts, was more than sufficient. There were also board games and DVDs for this kids on the one short afternoon when it rained.
Don't miss the local market in town - it's small and rustic for sure, but the red papayas, eaten with lime juice squeezed on top, are heaven. As is the local lime juice which must be just local limes with a bit of sugar mixed in.
Beds were King sized, new, and comfy.
Coral Quays diving collected us for dives and returned us. They were absolutely great as well.
How easy was it to book the property? | How helpful were the directions to the property? |
How easy was key pickup/access to the property? | Overall condition of the property |
Bedding & mattresses | Kitchen & utensils |
Bathroom cleanliness | Other facilities & amenities |
Service |
Friends getaway | People with disabilities |
Older travelers | Families with young children |
Large groups |