Poppy’s on the Lagoon Hotel in Vanuatu

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Updated: January 6, 2021

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Review of Poppy’s on the Lagoon Hotel in Vanuatu

Poppy’s on the Lagoon – Tranquil, stylish, and water’s-edge, with a rare beach.

Claiming prime position between a suburban street and Erakor Lagoon, the tropical setting of this boutique resort is instantly appealing. Offering a huge array of accommodations, it seems unofficially split into two sections. Most families stay in the bungalows and apartments clustered tightly together around the main pool, which is surprisingly small. They are all spacious inside, with kitchenettes and substantial patios/balconies, though not all have air-conditioning. Spread further up the hill, the villas and suites offer better views (which could be blocked by trees) and proximity to the adult’s-only pool. Almost unique in the region is the sizable beach.

Poppy’s on the Lagoon – The Basics

  • Location: On the other (eastern) side of the peninsula from Port Vila, in the suburb of Seaside on the main island of Efate. About 100m down a lane off Captain Cook Avenue. A 20-minute walk from downtown Port Vila and a 20-minute drive from the airport.
  • Guests: Caters very well to families, as well as to adults without children.
  • Beach: Remarkably, there is a beach which is small but clean and shady. It faces a lagoon, which is nothing like those in Fiji or Tahiti. In fact, the water resembles a river, with mangrove banks 200m away.
  • Views: Only those up the hill could offer possible water views, which may still be partially blocked by trees, while most alongside the lagoon don’t directly face the water.
  • Wi-Fi: Free around the restaurant/pool areas, but a considerable cost for use in the rooms.
  • Parking: Probably enough spaces at the street-side lobby area.
  • How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
  • Phone: (678) 23425
  • Email: info@poppys.com.vu
  • Website: poppys.com.vu

Poppy’s on the Lagoon – Amenities

  • Pool: 2 pools: 1 for adults and 1 for families, each admirably distant from the other.
  • Spa: The modest but impressive spa offers the usual massages and other treatments.
  • Fitness Center: None.
  • Private Pools/Jacuzzis: None have private pools, but some bungalows have jacuzzis.
  • Activities: Free hire of kayaks and snorkeling gear. Also activities for families, including art classes and canoe trips.

Poppy’s on the Lagoon – Food and Drink

  • Restaurant & Bar: The Leaf Restaurant is renowned across the island for western favorites like banana pancakes, and is a great place to try traditional food. The menu is a little limited, but the themed buffet nights are certainly worthwhile.
  • Breakfast: Rates include a continental buffet breakfast.
  • Room Service: Available during restaurants hours – 8 am and 8 pm.

Poppy’s on the Lagoon – Rooms

  • Room Types: Lagoon View Studio • Beachfront Spa Bungalow • Garden View Bungalow • 2 Bedroom Lagoon Suite • 3 Bedroom Beachfront Villa • 3 Bedroom Lagoon View Apartment
  • Smoking Rooms: Smoking is not allowed in or anywhere near the rooms or public areas.
  • Best Room: Families would probably veer towards accommodations with 2 or 3 bedrooms. Otherwise, the best would be the adults-only and well-named Beachfront Spa Bungalows. With a kitchenette, air-conditioning, jacuzzi, and balcony offering stunning views of the sea, which is almost within touching distance.
  • For families: Most of the accommodations have 2 or 3 bedrooms, and all are equipped with kitchenettes.

Poppy’s on the Lagoon – What’s Nearby?

Best Nearby Restaurants & Bars

  • Retreat Seaside Resort – Low-key expat hangout, with pub meals, daily specials, and happy hours. About 300m down Captain Cook Avenue.
  • Navara Restaurant – Wide range of meals, including steaks, lobster, and pasta. Try the Vanuatu Tapas. In the Coconut Palms Resort about 500m northwest up Rue Cornwell street.
  • Mangoes Restaurant – Enchanting colonial-style layout. Popular for organic ingredients and the changing menu. Hard to ignore the seafood platter or prawn curry. At Mangoes Resort, 750m up Captain Cook Avenue.
  • Ristorante Casa Mia – Classy Italian bistro with barbecues and buffets featuring entertainment. At The Melanesian, down Captain Cook Avenue and west along Rue de Picardi street – about 1 km.

Nearby Market or Grocery

  • Minimarts are dotted along the main road, Rue Dartois, about 500m to the west towards Port Vila.

Local Transport

    Plenty of public minibuses pass by along Captain Cook Avenue towards Port Vila. Hail one down at top of the lane to Poppy’s.

Poppy’s on the Lagoon – What’s Nearby?

The resort has a waterside location.

Unlike other resorts in the immediate area, Poppy’s is located alongside the water.

Leaf Restaurant used lot of organic vegetables in its meals.

The Leaf Restaurant offers a range of meals, often using locally-grown organic vegetables.

The small jetty is a good relaxation point as well.

The small jetty into the water is also used for lounging about.

The resort has a rare and small beach.

Very rare along this side of the peninsula, the resort features a small but serviceable beach.

The resort face Erakor Lagoon which looks like a river.

The resort faces Erakor Lagoon, which is nothing like those found in Fiji and Tahiti. Narrow, with mangrove banks about 200m away, the water resembles a river.

This beach resort is located in the capital's suburbs.

Poppy’s is a beach resort, yet along a suburban street in the capital.

Villas and bungalows are spread across tropical gardens.

Villas and bungalows are dotted around the lawns and tropical gardens.

The resort features a giant banyan tree with a large treehouse.

Dominating the resort is a gigantic banyan tree, with a treehouse the size of an apartment.

The adults-only pool is away from the noisy main pool.

The adults-only pool is some distance from the main pool.

The main pool is very popular with families.

The main pool alongside the water’s edge is popular with families.

The resort also offers 3-bedroom apartments.

Among the accommodation options are three-bedroom apartments.

Apartments and villas are grouped tightly together.

Some of the villas and apartments are clustered together.

Simple and spacious lounge rooms have a tropical decor.

The living rooms are simple but spacious, with some furniture with a tropical flavor.

Second bedrooms feature traditional art on the walls.

The second bedrooms are also nice, with some traditional art on the walls.

Larger villas even have a dining area.

Some of the larger villas have dining tables.

The Standard Villa bedrooms are simple and comfortable.

The main bedrooms in the standard villas are simple but comfortable.

All accomodations feature kitchenettes.

Almost all accommodations feature kitchens or kitchenettes.

Some villas have pool views and not sea views.

Some of the villas facing the pool and water don’t actually have sea views.

Navara Restaurant in the Coconut Palms Resort is within walking distance.

The Navara Restaurant in the Coconut Palms Resort is about 500m from Poppy’s.

Mangoes Restaurant nearby serves excellent food in a delightful setting.

Worth the 750m stroll up Captain Cook Avenue, Mangoes Restaurant offers a delightful setting and excellent food.

The Melanesian Resort nearby has good restaurants and bars.

The Melanesian Resort, about 1 km away, offers a couple of decent restaurants and bars.

Retreat Seaside Resort nearby serves good western food.

The Retreat Seaside Resort, about 350m down the road, has a pub-style setting and tasty western food.

Port Vila is located right by the harbor.

Only 20 minutes on foot, Port Vila is pleasantly positioned alongside the harbor.

The capital's main street has many souvenir stalls.

The capital offers several souvenir stalls along the main street.

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