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Foreign cash, travellers cheques and major international credit cards (Amex,
Diners, JCB, Mastercard and Visa) are widely accepted.
Opening hours are 7.30am to 11.30 am and 1.30am to5pm. Lunchtime is usually from
11.30am to 1.30pm and most businesses, apart from banks , supermarkets and
restuarants will close.
Shops are open on Saturday morning and some specialty shops and supermarkets are
open on Sunday morning. Suburban general stores open early and close late seven
days a week. The colourful market in the town centre operates every day except
Sundays for flowers, fruit, vegetables and handicrafts.
All major hotels have regular entertainment and there are several night clubs
open till late. In the evenings men drink kava at local kava bars or Nakamals.
Regular Melanesian cultural shows are available. Club Vanuatu and The Office
Pub have cable sports channels on screen.
There is gambling at Palms Casino (Le Meridien Resort), Club 21 (Melanesian
Resort) and at Club Vanuatu.
There are two major 18 hole golf courses on Efate and smaller resort courses at
two of Port Vilas hotels. Theres also a golf course on Santo.
Dining is a highlight in Vanuatu. Fresh local fish, beef, fruit and vegetables
are in plentiful supply. Top class restaurants offer Melanesian, French,
Polynesian, Indian, Chinese, Thai-Vietnamese, English and Japanese specialties.
There is no tipping or bargaining, it goes against local tradition. A smile and
a 'thank you' is tip enough. Mind you, the prices at the souvenir markets do
rise on days when cruise ships are in dock, so it's best to put off the
shopping for a day if you know one is in town.
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