 | Vanuatu Warnings or Dangers 
 
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 | Vanuatu Warnings or Dangers | Tips 1 - 10 of 22 |  | ||
Popular Warnings or Dangers | Miscellaneous Warnings or Dangers Tips | All Tips (22)
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 | Malaria |   |  |
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 |  on May 6, 2004 |
Malaria can be a problem in Vanuatu so it is a good idea to get some malaria tablets through your doctor before going. We were told to have the tablets two days before and two weeks after our trip also. You will get bitten by mozzies, there is no doubt about it. Also worth checking out is Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid, Polio, Tetanus & Diptheria vaccinations. |
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| Fast cars and cava! | | |
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 |  on August 28, 2004 |
The local road rules make for some scarey driving. They permit drink driving and I don't think there is a speed limit over there. Be careful crossing the street and it's best not to look when being driven around - just hang on tight!! However we found it to be quite exciting and it gave us something to laugh about afterwards. Don't be tempted to drink Cava. It is more of a drug than an alchohol. It apparently has a numbing effect and will put you to sleep for hours. |
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| The kids...you'll fall in love with them... |  | |
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| on May 6, 2004 |
The kids in Vanuatu are so cute! They are fairly shy though when they're younger. It would be a good idea to take something to give to the kids - we didn't think of it before leaving but we should have taken some lollipops, stickers, lollies or something for them. |
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| Beware of drug dealers! | | |
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| on February 25, 2005 |
Our taxi driver took us to this pretty little beach. While admiring the view we were approached by a man who offered to climb a coconut tree for a small fee...( for a photo ). It was supposedly to help raise money for the local school. We politely declined his offer and walked off. Then he came up and offered us some drugs...well! it was back in the taxi for us! Afterwards our driver told us he had seen the guy and had kept a watchful eye on us...so we had been safe enough. However it did put us off somewhat! |
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| NO Tipping NO Bargaining PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | | |
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 |  on November 18, 2002 |
Tipping No tipping or bargaining please, it goes against local tradition. Please, just don't do it as it creates an obligation for the person to return to you. Which is virtually impossible if you're a leaving tourist . Therefore it would leave someone behind indepted to you which is not fair to do. |
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| Bites, stings and other things | | |
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 |  on April 27, 2006 |
I came to very little harm in Vanuatu, but there does seem to be a lot of potential for Mother Nature to play mischief here. As with all tropical destinations, mosquitoes are an annoyance. At best you will receive a couple of dozen itching bites in a week or so, at worst you could pick up something a lot nastier. The whole of the country is malarial all year round, so make sure you're taking medication and adequate precautions. On my VERY FIRST STEP into the Pacific Ocean, I got stung by a jellyfish. Only a mild sting, but it shows they are pretty prevalent. I don't think there are any lethal jellies in Vanuatu, but take care. I was enjoying a leisurely swim when I happened upon a large school of them just in front of me. I avoided them, but that proves you have to be vigilant. I took a swim on my own in Erakor lagoon once and upon my return a local told me that aggressive sharks have been known to frequent those waters. Shark attacks are extremely rare anywhere, but still it's best to avoid known risk areas. There are a LOT of very big bugs around, some of which are poisonous. The picture in this chapter shows a spider I found in the garden at the place I was staying. For perspective, that little blob to the top-right of it is a NORMAL sized spider! Take care in the waters around Port Vila and Iririki island, as there are a lot of sea urchins in the shallows. These are not dangerous but it's very painful if you get stung by one. I've experienced that, although not in Vanuatu. Other natural dangers include snakes, stonefish, coral cuts and other tropical staples. Big cyclones hit Vanuatu every few years and there are a few active volcanoes. If something like that happens, there's not much you can do to prevent it! That's quite a long list, but don't let that put you off. I repeat, no harm came to me apart from mozzie bites and a mild jellyfish sting, and there's nothing here that you wouldn't find in more popular holiday destinations such as Australia, Thailand or Fiji, so don't let it put you off. |
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| Malaria is an endemic in Vanuatu! | | |
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 |  on November 29, 2005 |
Malaria is present in Vanuatu.. not so much in Port Vila but around the islands, and it is very rural everywhere. Mosquitos are not too bad but it just depends on how easily you get bitten. Malaria tablets are cheap and easy. Visit your doctor before you leave (around 4-6 weeks) and you can get a prescription for them . We took Doxycicline tablets, which are cheap and have little side effects. The only bad thing about the tablets were that they make you really prone to sunburn. Even though we'd apply sunscreen three times a day we still got really really burnt. So stay in the shade and wear sensible clothing in the sun! They can also make your skin burn a little but it goes away and its very seldom. Of course, all of this is better than getting Malaria! Also take Aerogard or other insect repelants! |
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| Spiders... | | |
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| on May 7, 2004 |
There are no deadly spiders or snakes etc in Vanuatu but there are some non deadly ones...and BIG spiders at that!!!! I was a bit scared although our guide wasn't phased at all when this big spider crawled all over him... |
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| Tabu | | |
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| on May 6, 2004 |
When you see the word Tabu be careful...you could be doing something illegal or very disrespectful. Most places will have the warning in English and Bislama. |
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| Ladies Beware: When I tried... | | |
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 |  on September 12, 2002 |
Ladies Beware: When I tried this my periods stopped for 6 months!! could be wave shock more than culture shock :-), unless you are physically extroverted then hey go for it!! |
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More Vanuatu Tips
| Overview | General Tips Tips: 29 - Photos: 19 |
| Restaurants Tips: 46 - Photos: 30 | Hotels and Accommodations Tips: 43 - Photos: 31 |
| Things To Do Tips: 96 - Photos: 67 | Nightlife Tips: 11 - Photos: 6 |
| Off the Beaten Path Tips: 24 - Photos: 18 | Tourist Traps Tips: 10 - Photos: 5 |
| Warnings or Dangers Tips: 22 - Photos: 12 | Transportation Tips: 28 - Photos: 18 |
| Local Customs Tips: 25 - Photos: 15 | Packing Lists Tips: 16 - Photos: 6 |
| Shopping Tips: 12 - Photos: 7 | Sports Travel Tips: 4 - Photos: 1 |
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(0 comments, 4:34 PM Apr. 7, 2008)