Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# Samoa - Coconuts vs Sa Moana Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Samoa
strayamate 03:27 UTC 13 Feb 2007 | Hi anyone stayed at either Coconuts or Sa Moana (next door) and can espouse on virtues or otherwise (accom, food, tours, facilities, activities, etc) How do the Garden Studios compare with Treehouse rooms or beach fales, apart from price Sa Moana looks more budget accomodation than Coconuts although the prices aren't that different? Anyone help? |
mange 10:48 UTC 16 Feb 2007 | A few years ago we washed up on Coconuts doorstep soaked to the skin and "Fale'd out" just wanting a bit of comfort and a dry bed. We looked like drowned rats, aged hippies in dirty lava lava, driving a rented jeep but carrying a credit card. They gave us a lovely luxurious beach fale for the night at a locals' discount. It was bliss and worth blowing a bit of our research budget on. Enormous bedsitting room and romantic outdoor (private!!!) shower & bathroom. The chilled complimentary Chablis in the mini bar went down very nicely. The breakfast was also excellent, and they seemed like very pleasnt, unjudgmental people. We had the impression that Coconuts was a very well-run, above board establishment. Preferred it to the Sinalei if you are talking luxury. A lot of mosquitoes though! | 1
agingaquarian 03:10 UTC 17 Feb 2007 | Can only comment on Coconuts as I didn't look at Sa Moana. Stayed in a downstairs Treehouse room last August. The room was OK, but one could clearly hear footsteps upstairs, but not voices. There was a huge bath/shower, but the shower was impossible to control - either boiling hot or stone cold! There was a view of the water, but obviously it would have been much better at the upper level. The covered verandah suffered a little from bugs or rotting wood falling from the upstairs deck. We looked at one of the garden studios and were impressed. A little further from the water, but the one we looked at (something Nui I think) did have a reasonable view. It had 2 bathrooms and a lounge separate from the bedroom - there was also a day bed in the lounge which could be used as a bed for 2 couples. Didn't look at the beachfront fales, but they didn't look that great from the outside. There is a large communal lounge/library and a film is shown a couple of times a week. There is also a fiafia once a week performed by the local village, including children. We thought it very good. The food - well we had the meal plan and the menu was extensive, but no lobster while we were there. We felt there was a lack of fresh fruit, particularly at breakfast. The menu was a little dated and got a little monotonous after a few days, but was good nevertheless. It was a very relaxed, laid-back resort and we enjoyed it. We would go back, but probably either to an upstairs Treehouse room or a garden fale. Hope this helps. | 2