Palikulo Bay Airfield serves Espiritu Santo Is., VU.
Palikulo Bay Airfield (VU-0003) in Espiritu Santo is a former World War II airfield and is not an active commercial airport for travelers. It is largely overgrown and abandoned, with parts of its former perimeter track now forming a coastal road and one dispersal area used as school grounds. Recent traveler reviews and experiences are therefore not available for this historical site.
Travelers visiting Espiritu Santo Island utilize Santo International Airport (SON), also known as Santo-Pekoa International Airport (formerly Bomber Field No. 2 during WWII). Overall traveler sentiment for Santo International Airport is mixed, often appreciating its functionality for its size but noting significant shortcomings in facilities and amenities.
What Travelers Love
- Functional and Efficient Arrivals: The airport is generally considered functional and the arrival process is often described as efficient.
- Pleasant Staff: Staff are frequently noted as pleasant and focused on their duties.
- Reasonable Cafe Prices: The small cafe within the terminal offers reasonably priced food and drinks.
- Relatively Short Wait Times: Security wait times are estimated to be around 29-30 minutes, and immigration around 8 minutes.
Common Complaints
- Limited and Basic Facilities: The single terminal building offers only basic passenger facilities, with a small number of shops and restaurants, and insufficient seating in the cafe.
- Lack of Air Conditioning and Cleanliness: There is generally no air conditioning outside the customs area, leading to hot conditions, and not all fans are operational. Toilets have also been reported as dirty.
- Slow Departure Process and Inconsistencies: Departure check-in can be slower, sometimes involving handwritten boarding passes. There have been isolated complaints of "selective scales" or refusal of service to tourists at check-in.
- Needs Investment: Travelers often suggest the airport requires significant investment to meet modern modest standards.
- Parking and Transportation: While taxis, rental cars, and shuttle buses are available, advance booking for parking is recommended.
In summary, Santo International Airport is a basic but generally functional gateway to Espiritu Santo, adequately serving its purpose for the volume of traffic it handles. However, travelers should manage expectations regarding modern amenities, air conditioning, and potentially slower departure procedures.
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Where is Palikulo Bay Airfield located?
Palikulo Bay Airfield is located in Espiritu Santo Is., VU, at an elevation of 43 ft. Its IATA code is — and ICAO code is VU-0003.