Aore Island Resort

Christmas is what brought home how much care goes into a stay here. Lisa and Montana made Christmas Eve and Day feel special, and having a Christmas meal prepared for me for the first time since my own childhood nearly brought me to tears. I'm a mum of a 9- and 11-year-old, and this was my first holiday in 11 years where I didn't have to lift a finger. My washing was done for a small cost, meals were cooked beautifully, and the villa was tidied every day. The other children at the resort kept our kids happily entertained, so I could finally switch off. My husband loved the crystal-clear water and cocktails, and we even went home with a few new friends. I did plenty of research before booking. I knew to expect “raw luxury,” not a glossy five-star Fiji-style resort, and that was exactly what we wanted. I looked through the reviews and photos and thought it would suit our family. It still exceeded my expectations. Vanuatu is part of the magic, but do your homework on tours. It's a developing country, so rides can be bumpy, roads can be dirt, and you might travel in the back of a truck. Every tour and interaction we had felt wholesome and genuine, and the whole trip was unforgettable. The owners and staff are wonderful, and the atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming. Our kids felt happy and safe. If you're a mum reading this, take this as your sign to book! We'd return every year if we could. Aore Island Resort has our hearts.

Santo is stunning, with so much natural beauty still untouched. We had a great family break here, and the resort made it even better with lovely staff, good food and excellent snorkelling.

The location is lovely, and you can see the resort has potential, but we left disappointed and wouldn't come back. Our room felt dated and wasn't especially clean, which made the stay uncomfortable. Management also seemed distant and uninterested in guests. The food tasted nice, though it was overpriced. The kayaks, bikes and SUPs were in poor condition, and the transfer boat didn't feel safe to us. For what they charge, the experience doesn't offer good value. The lack of care and attention was hard to miss.

A lot is easy to arrange through reception, including tours and taxis, which came in handy. The staff were friendly and everything felt well organised. Kayaks, snorkelling gear, SUPs and fat-tire bikes are available to use around the island. The beach bungalows are lovely and spaced far enough apart for plenty of privacy. Snorkelling starts just a few metres offshore, with lots of different fish to see. Breakfast was tropical each day, and dinner had a nice range of choices. We also really enjoyed the peaceful dinner out on the jetty. It's only about a 15-minute boat ride from Luganville, with a convenient service running through the day from 7am. Hard to beat this place when you're visiting Santo.