Reviews

Our favourite B&B so far and we have stayed at some amazing places. The hosts are exceptional and so is the location if you enjoy unique natural surroundings, unlike your regular resort. From the food to the cooking classes, kms of pristine reef beach, snorkeling at your doorstep and superb hospitality, we would highly recommend staying here. The area is a relatively untouched area of the island with beautiful coastline, magic beaches and pristine reef snorkeling . The only thing is we would like to keep this a secret, so that it doesn’t get booked out lol. Many thanks Marcus and Shoran xx

There is only one way to get enough of Papaya Villa Serenity – keep coming back And that’s exactly what we have done – our second visit now and wow! The finishing touches are superb with the french inspired kitchen being one of the many highlights particularly for someone who loves cooking. It was so hard to leave the beautiful, relaxing villa amenities and surrounds to return to the grind of working in Sydney even though we reside in QLD weekends. If you seek peace, tranquility, privacy, quality, amazing sea breezes and lagoon style swimming at your whim, then Papaya is a must. Typically we travel to Bali, Thailand and China for our R&R and very rarely have we gone back to the same resort or hotel. I also travel extensively for my work and this has been THE MOST relaxing and romantic venue and only a 25 to 30 minute pleasant drive to Port Vila. Highly recommended and we are already planning our next stay for early 2015 and September 2015. It is that good and blue lagoon is a MUST see – spectacular. Will upload some pics shortly and am planning another short getaway already for September.

Thanks to Marcus and the team at Papaya Villa / Eton Reef for looking after us so well during our stay. We had the most wonderful relaxing holiday. Papaya Villa is private, and the accommodation very comfortable. Eton Reef is just the most beautiful place and we loved exploring the beaches and swimming holes. The tropical fish were amazing. We certainly weren’t ready to go home.

Thanks so much Marcus, we are grateful to you and really enjoyed the stay at Papaya villa. We are looking forward to come back next time. Thank you for providing us this beautiful place.

We really enjoyed the stay at the Papaya Villa. Sam and Aniese greeted us and obviously take great pride in looking after your piece of paradise. They were both very helpful and super diligent. They brought us coconuts and citrus fruit everyday.

Really special place. Efate is beautiful, same as the drive to the house & entryway. Vanuatans are warm & friendly. The island gets better & better. The house is a leisurely 25-30min drive from Port Vila. Private beach/reef runs in front of the house as far as you can see…just for you. Hear the waves crashing in the bedroom.  Groundsman brought fresh lobster & fish. Sunrise&sunsets. Blue Lagoon mins away. Paradise!

Hello Marcus, As you are aware I spent 6 wonderful nights at Papaya villa last week. It was exactly what we were looking for. The property was fantastic and the surroundings simply amazing! Thank you for sharing your piece of paradise with us. We didn’t see another sole for 5 days which hard to come buy over the Easter period in this day and age. Sammi and Aniese did a wonderful job whilst we were there too. Your attention to detail in the Villa was excellent. Thanks again and we will certainly be recommending it to our friends.

“Your villa is amazing. So much space, so quiet, thank you thank you thank you very much!”

Michael & I had such a wonderful holiday & very much enjoyed our stay at Papaya Villa. We do hope to visit again some day. Many thanks to everyone who make our stay so wonderful.

Exceeded our expectations! We had a wonderful week (which was not long enough!) staying at Papaya Villa. Even though we had seen all the photo’s on the website before we went, the property was even more amazing than we anticipated. Uninterrupted beach views, and no other people for miles, you are in your own private oasis. It is definitely a ‘digital detox’ with no internet or TV and only the house phone, but we really enjoyed that aspect of the holiday. It was a good opportunity to read lots of good books and watch DVD’s, whilst enjoying a few quiet gin and tonics and a beautiful view. We also had great fun swimming & snorkeling at our own private beach, and walking along the coral paths that run through the property, and discovering more beaches and inlets along the way. The accommodation was second to none, comfortable bed, lovely bathroom and spotlessly clean.  We have come back very relaxed and planning our next holiday to Vanuatu and the beautiful Papaya Villa.

“The property was beautiful” … Actual photos don’t do it justice. Privacy was amazing and you felt very secure. The ocean was footsteps away and port villa was only 20 mins away if you rented a car. All in all great place and wouldn’t change if given another opportunity to book elsewhere on the island

“A very memorable getaway, it was absolute bliss!” A secluded location, beautifully built and presented. Perfect if you are looking to escape, relax and just enjoy the simple pleasures of life. The highlights were the private beach, accommodation, the deck and of course Aniese and Sammy who looked after us during our stay. If you are looking for unique accommodation, outside of the tourist areas where you have privacy then Papaya Villa is perfect!

WOW! Arrived a few hours ago – have had a wander down the beach and settled in to the house now. Thanks so much for sharing your home with us – it’s pretty special. You may have to send security to drag me out kicking/screaming.

“True barefoot Luxury” Spent a delightful and chilled Christmas here! Prime beachfront to ourselves. Awesome reef, beach, views, fishing, walking, swimming, reading, jigsawing, sundowners with no one to share. Well appointed, beautiful propertry in gorgeous, breezy, tropical location. Cooking Paella with Marcus and Stoney made for a fabulous, fun and tasty afternoon! A special place which is great value for money. Highly recommended!

I could not recommend Papaya Villa enough. It truly was an unforgettable experience. From check in to check out our experience was only positive. Due to a cyclone and a delayed arrival, they made every effort to ensure that the property was ready and that someone was there to check us in. The property owner and local contact kept us informed throughout and gave us regular updates regarding the cyclone. Upon arrival the property was in immaculate condition. The villa is stunning and provides the ideal tropical getaway. The private beachfront location provided amazing views. If you are after a private relaxed getaway I would highly recommend this property. The fresh coconuts and delicious papayas were also a treat! ”

Our stay was fantastic, you have to go there to discover this beautiful place. The accommodation was very nice and clean. Marcus and Shoran make you feel at home. The food was very tasty and fresh everyday! The house is located at a wonderful reef and you can enjoy swimming and snorkeling in front of. Thanks again to them.

My stay at Papaya Villa was nothing short of magnificent .Located right on Eton reef with so many places to swim, snorkel, and explore the crystal blue blue waters of the South Pacific. Marcus and Shoran Xavier are excellent hosts, who are so welcoming, warm and engaging. The private studio, separate from the house with its own veranda overlooking a large tropical garden, is beautifully appointed and has most luxurious bed, I slept like a baby with the lulling sound of the ocean. And then to my delight my stay got even better, to discover that Marcus skills as a chief par excellence. With breakfast of fresh local fruit, croissant and coffee served in the large Nakamal with views over the ocean. I booked into the Papaya Loco Cooking School and where Marcus taught us how to make a Paella from scratch and Churros for dessert, all served with great wine, much fun and laughter. The meals during my stay were consistently delicious prepared by Marcus and with Sharon providing such considerate and gracious hosting making sure I was so well looked after. It was hard to say good bye to such a beautiful location and to my warm and generous hosts. Highly recommend a stay and to joining the onsite cooking class.

I’ve procrastinated in writing this review – because I didn’t want to do any less than what is deserved. You have to stay with Marcus and Stoney! It’s more than accomodation. It’s a wonderful and gentle experience. The place was magical. Its position, meters away from some of the most stunning and beautiful reefs, was perfect. The bungalows was cosy, clean and super comfortable. The location was ideal – away from the intrusion of cars and crowds. But above all, Marcus and Stoney are the most gracious, genuine and helpful people who will ever host you! And this is coming from someone who has been using Airbnb exclusively for the past 5 years. So before I get into going how great these guys were and how wonderful our stay was, I want to address some of some of the practical and logistical questions things you (other visitors) might have. 1. This place is definitely on the most beautiful part of the island. The east side of the island is where the land immediately meets the water via beautiful sandy reefs and deep blue lagoons. Marcus and Stoneys bungalow is located on a beautiful tropical state, meters away from crystal clear reefs perfect for swimming and snorkelling. 2. Yes it’s 40minute drive from Port Vila but that’s exactly where you want to be – most of the attractions and activities are spread around the island so being a little further out from Port Villa is not only ok, it’s ideal. 3. Yes you will need definitely need to hire a car on the trip regardless of your location, so it’s best to stay on the east side where the landscape is much more beautiful. 4. The west side of the island is hilly and elevated. I wouldn’t stay on the other-side. Marcus and Stoneys place is by far on the most beautiful part. We did spend a day driving around and stopped to check out various parts of the island. 5. You’ll only need to stop at the shops once a day to stock up on whatever you might want (ie snacks or specific essentials) – but Marcus and Stoney have you covered for whatever meal of the day – just give them notice. With all the practical questions out of the way, I have to tell you that hanging out with Marcus and Stoney by the fire or at breakfast etc. was a big part of this amazing experience. They are two of the most inspiring and authentic people you’ll ever meet. Me and my fiancé came back home from our trip, with new fire in the belly for the future. Observing these two wonderful humans reminds you of how two individuals absolutely dedicated to one-another through love, respect, humility and trust can stretch their reality far beyond the ordinary norms of ‘life’… how they can imagine and dream as one, then realise them by working together as a powerful team. Your stay here, will be unforgettable, I promise.

Our stay with Marcus and Shoran was the best we had on our recent trip to Vanuatu. The vila we stayed in was beautiful and very clean and comfortable. There were great amenities and personal touches. The food Marcus provided was 5 star restaurant quality and they were great company, a super lovely and down to earth couple. Their house is right on the water with a stunning reef. There are great places to walk and swim right next to their house as well as opportunities to snorkel and reef walk. We would highly recommend staying at Papaya Vila.

We chose Papaya Villa to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary, we wanted to escape somewhere tropical to relax and unwind. From the moment we arrived we knew we had made the right choice. We instantly fell in love with the surrounding and hosts Marcus and Stoney went over and above to make our stay comfortable and memorable. During our 5 day stay we got a real understanding of the culture of the village. We cooked lap lap and tuluk with Anies and Sammie, had a tour of their village and garden and visited a school. Our anniversary was made extra special with a candle lit dinner in the Nakamal by the fire, very romantic. Marcus and Stoney provided us with restaurant quality meals daily. We chose to participated in two cooking classes which were a lot of fun and tasted amazing. We made good use of the surroundings we walked, snorkled, swam, beach combed, made a coral stack and enjoyed the sunsets and one sunrise. On the last day we organised Stoney to wake us for the sunrise and for a final touch she delivered coffee to us what a legend! We followed our heart and it lead us to Papaya Villa.

Hidden Gem We spent three days at the wonderful Papaya Villa.  Stoney (our host) picked us up from town and drove us to the villa, providing us with information about the local area and places to visit. Upon arrival we were shown around the beautiful property and welcomed by Marcus. During our stay we were able to borrow some snorkeling gear and explored lots of amazing coral reefs and beaches all within a close walk to the property. We also loved being able to walk around the bush at night. Stoney and Marcus were kind and generous hosts, who we enjoyed having a chat and drink with. The breakfasts provided were fantastic and the lunches/dinners we had cooked were delicious and very good value. We also took part in a cooking class at the property with Marcus. He was an excellent chef and teacher – and the seafood paella and Spanish churros he taught us to make were delicious! Thank you Marcus and Stoney for an incredible experience – we will be back.

This is the perfect mix of air bnb and resort, you get all the bonuses of a resort with snorkeling spots and loads of space but also the personal touches from Stoney and Marcus

The hidden gem of the island… Great experience, great hosting. We couldn’t have asked more. We are definitely coming back! Waves crashing, breakfast on the beach … amazing food and great chats. We will miss all this! Thanks to give us the chance to live such experience during our honeymoon.

We have both enjoyed travelling around the world – we have never experienced a more beautiful, relaxing and peaceful place than Papaya Villa! The delicious meals, combined with stunning secluded beach spots, a comfy and cosy bed and the most friendly and generous hosts make Papaya Villa Vanuatu’s best secret spot.  Thank you Marcus & Stoney… we will definitely be back.