There are tropical holidays and there are tropical holidays………if your into 5 star resorts where no one knows your name except the account settling clerk at the front desk and you want your cultural experience rolled out to view while seated for a silver service meal……then Sa’Moana Resort  may not be for you

Here within 24 hrs most if not all of our staff will know your name, before you know it you have already been experiencing the culture as it surrounds you at every turn. And at the end of your stay you may or may not be surprised to realize you have happily swapped contact details with both staff and fellow guests !

Though we may not suit everyone’s idea of a holiday many have said we fit that mould comfortably somewhere in the middle……a typical quote….

“As a youth we did the backpacker thing and later in life we became successful and did the 5-star thing……And now we want to stay here at places like this, Sa’Moana Resort”

…..it has all the basic comforts, friendly helpful staff, good food and an atmosphere that feels more like home than anything else.

As you will see quite easily by clicking on the appropriate subject we have detailed information for a variety of interests. For eg, if it is our “Tours” you will find everything from pricing , approximate departure and duration times to a description of what might be seen or experienced.

There really is something for everyone…..from a town shopping and museum trip to snorkeling through caves, to chasing a big tuna or marlin……and yes we haven’t forgotten mum who might want a pool lounge chair or hammock to relax in between snorkeling straight out the front or floating in our infamous pool.

We hope that you find our web-site informative and easy to navigate and if for any reason more detailed information is required we’d be only too pleased to answer your questions.

If so please click here now

Articles

Check out what the Herald Sun had to say about us here.

Testimonials

Mark Stanek

Hi Sharron/Dave,

Thanks for the update.

I was in Samoana about a year ago with a bunch of fellas that had just finished school. Myself & another Dad decided to organize a “schoolies” trip for the boys instead of them going up to the Gold Coast. It turned out to be one of the best trips my son has ever had. Excellent accommodation, food, guides etc. Even though we didn’t score any big swells, the guides put us on quality waves every day. It was a trip to remember. My other son finishes his schooling in 2011, so we’ll definitely be back again with another group.

I might, hopefully, even be back before then !

Cheers, Mark Stanek

Karen McLean

Hi Rachael – you asked for some feed back on SaMoana so that you can pass this onto others who may wish to book……here goes!

Rooms: Very clean and tidy – great size – we were not breathing each others air and had plenty of room to spread our gear out. They were well serviced each day. There was plenty of ventilation via louver windows with fly screens on them. The best was the shower – this was out the rear door in an out door “room” which was enclosed by a high rock wall - no roof. (don’t think all fales had this). There is nothing like taking a shower under the stars with the waves crashing in the background – awesome! The view from the fale was exactly as the web site – white sand, palms and then the ocean – amazing!

Meals: Restaurant was open for decent lengths during the day. The food was excellent and there was a good choice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The portions were generous. It was great having the communal area for eating on the open deck of the main fale, this meant you got to socialise with the other guests. The staff are warm and friendly and the meals arrived in good time. The cost of the meals and drinks is spot on, we got good value for money and didn’t feel “ripped off” which can happen in an out of the way resort.

The Pool: It is fitting not to have some great big chlorine pool – the sea water pool right on the edge of the beach was magic – good depth and large enough so that you didn’t feel cramped with others in it at the same time. The view from the pool is wonderful.

The Staff: Terry and her husband (the mangers) are fantastic, the staff from the village were warm, friendly and courteous. Chris and Wes the two “surf guides” were amazing – they were equally attentive to us as they were to the younger guests who were there for the surfing. We wanted to do the kayaking trip but the surf guides said the day it was due to go would be too windy – then they said “let’s go now” All of a sudden we had 8 guests paddling up the coast line! You can snorkel right off the beach in front of the resort with their gear, just great.

We took an Island Tour via the resort, hosted by Andy, he was brilliant – willing to share local knowledge and customs, while he was obviously with the resort and from the local village, it felt as though a friend was showing us around rather than someone you had met that day.

Atmosphere: Terry and the team have managed to get the balance just right – the resort is relaxed and casual – which is what you want while on holiday, but at the same time very professionally run with great attention to detail – we didn’t want for anything. I think the maximum guests they can take is 27 – you are not one of the crowd – and there is plenty of space to get away from others if that was what you wanted. The grounds are extremely well kept.

Location: The resort is about an hours walk off the main road – or about a 15 minute drive. There is a bus stop at the top of the road, the bus trip into Apia is around 1 hour. Initially I thought I would feel too isolated but the resort has plenty of transport so they can take you into Apia or to the bus stop (for a fee). We did find it cheaper to catch a bus into Apia T$4.00 and then negotiate a taxi fare back T$60.00 4 pax rather than T$80.00 per pax by the resort).

Rachael – this is the first time I have been to Samoa – I would go back. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back to SaMoana and I would certainly recommend the resort to anyone looking for a place that is “away from it all” with a relaxed atmosphere that is professionally run. It delivers on what is promised on the web site 100%.

Overall I would give the resort and the staff 10 out of 10 – I can’t speak highly enough of it. Note – current management leaving in two weeks – I am sure the standards will remain the same!

Hope this helps and that it results in more bookings for SaMoana thanks for making all the arrangements.

Regards Karen

Chris Dedman

Paul, Brent, Shane & Clark

It has taken a while to get back into the swing of things since leaving Samoa, a testament to a great holiday, hence the delay in sending you an email. Thank you all for a fantastic time your friendliness, and eagerness to help & accommodate our needs was great.  You have a winning formula.

We will be back.
Merry Christmas to all and thanks again.
Regards
Chris Dedman

Grant Sutchbury

To all the crew at Sa'Moana Resort,

Thanks folks for the great time that you provided us. My daughter has not stopped talking about the trip since we got back and I have recommended Sa'Moana and Samoa in general to everyone that has inquired. Pass on my regards to both Clarke and Brent. These guys were so friendly and accommodating, it was unbelievable. I am still in awe of the day when Clarke was charging at Dragon's Breath, whilst I sooked it out in the channel. I will vouch for whatever size that he put on it, easily double-head high.

I am not a big fan of going somewhere overseas and then sitting in a resort doing stuff that I can be doing at home in Australia. Sa'Moana was a good mix of comfort and contact with the Samoan culture (the people were lovely). Whilst at the resort, I could do as much or as little as I wanted to. I felt that everyone at Sa'Moana were more like my mates rather than employees of the resort. Everyone had told me that Samoa was like Bali 20 years ago; I disagree, it is far better. Samoa is a lot prettier and cleaner and the Samoans are a lot friendlier.

The food at the Resort was fantastic; I have been bragging that I had sashimi and masi-masi so many times that I ate steak the last few nights for a change. My daughter was a big fan of the burgers at lunchtime and Faille's milkshakes.

My daughter really chilled out after such a demanding year at school and really enjoyed her experience at Sa'Moana. She even participated in some of the adventure activities (cliff jumps and waterfall slides) that I would not have expected her to have ever contemplated. She had a ball!

Her brother is very, very jealous of his sister and whilst my wife has put in a bid to go to Vanuatu, we have ganged up on her and said that we are going back to Samoa. So, all things equal, expect us some time this year. I am keen to have another crack at Cocos and Pebbles, and I would like to see Village Lefts and Tiavea firing. This time I intend turning up a lot fitter and not so run down. I got back to Australia to find that it had been flat for most of the time I had been away, so at least I scored some waves when everyone at home were climbing the walls.

Overall, we had a great time at Sa'Moana. I intend coming back.

Grant Sutchbury