A landmark return to Port Vila’s waterfront, the Grand Hotel and Casino reopens after extensive restoration, pairing sweeping Pacific views with refreshed interiors, renewed dining and a steady sense of local continuity. Sandip Hor investigates.
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| Looking up from pool level (Sandip Hor) |
Overlooking the Port Vila harbour and the Iririki Island at a distance, this 74-room, eight-level landmark hotel, since 2003, has been the preferred accommodation for visitors to Vanuatu for business or leisure, presenting island warmth in a semi-urban setting. Unfortunately, a devastating earthquake in December 2024 severely damaged the property, which then had to be temporarily closed for repairs.
Finally, after a massive 15-month restoration and transformation, the hotel has reopened its doors in early March, signalling a renewed confidence in the Pacific nation’s tourism trajectory for the now and future. While a vibrant coral-toned new exterior now redefines the waterfront silhouette, the transformation blends modern comfort, elevated dining and vibrant social spaces and I can endorse all of them from my four-night stay. What touched me the most was knowing the hotel management retained the entire team during the redevelopment phase.
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| Panorama Suite (Sandip Hor) |
Located on the corner side of the hotel, my room, called the Panorama Suite, was fitted with elegant furnishings and provided a large open-plan space to sit, relax, and watch programs on a large-screen television with Chromecast. There was a coffee pod machine for a cuppa, and a mini fridge filled daily with bottled water and two little cartons of milk. The marble-tiled bathroom included both a walk-in shower and a bath. My favourite spot was the balcony, from which I enjoyed watching life in the harbour.
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| Balcony view (supplied) |
The hotel's location was ideal for me. It’s less than a half-hour drive from the airport, with the necessary amenities like supermarkets (island-style), chemists, and eateries dotted within walking distance. Also, in close proximity are some local attractions, such as the Vanuatu Parliament House, National Museum, Sacre-Coeur Cathedral, and the vibrant Mama’s Market, which is a great place to rub shoulders with the friendly locals and find out what grows on the island.
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| Dining (supplied) |
Port Vila becomes very quiet after sundown. So, my evenings were mostly spent sipping local
Tusker Beer at the hotel’s well-stocked Lobby Bar while socialising with other some other
guests, followed by dinner at the 90-seat Grand Dining Room, where the gastronomic program has been fully reconceived from exotic breakfast choices to elaborate lunch and dinner menus, anchored in pristine seafood and locally grown produce. The tastes of the items from the menu that still linger in my mouth are the Poulet Fish Cakes, Spiced Pumpkin, and Peri Peri Chicken.
For the room rates, availability and booking, please check: www.grandvanuatu.com
For more info on Vanuatu, please check: www.vanuatu.travel
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