Manase Beach Fales Recommendation

I am looking to spend three nights and 4 days in Savaii and I was looking at either Janes, Regina's or Tanu beach fales. I would like recommendations on which of these three would be the better deal (hospitality, food, beach, atmosphere at night, etc). Definitely want a safe place to stay where I won't have a problem with my belongings being stolen.

Recommendations from fellow TT posters is welcome.

Well, 2 years ago when I stayed there, a German lady had both money and TCs stolen from the money-belt she had deposited with the owners of Regina's for "safekeeping".

I kept mine on me by that time (having experienced theft elsewhere on Sawaii before) so lost nothing.

It's a pity as otherwise Regina's was nice and good value - though it was the quietest one at night.

I didn't stay at the other two, but to me Jane's looked nicer than Tanu's.

The beach is one and the same in front of all three.

The 'problem' is that they are basically all the same which makes is almost impossible to single out one. For all three of them there are people who loved to stay there but only few who didn't. It changes over time as staff is changing, it depends on which other guests are there at the same time and it mostly depends on yourself.

Regarding theft: these are open fale settings and there is no way to make them safe as hotel rooms (and how safe are hotel rooms anyway ...?). Even when valuables are held at the reception - in most cases the reception is accessible to many people as well. Beach Fale Resort are like a camping ground. So have as few valuables as possible and keep them with you as much as possible. And do not assume that fellow travelers are better safekeepers than locals.

My advice: Go there, have a look yourself and make your choice on your own impression.

How about the Blue Lagoon near by. Would that be an alternative location as well or is it too couples oriented?

Since I am renting a Rav4, I will most likely carry any precious valuable in the car just in case.....

Blue Lagoon is not in Manase at all. It is very close to Salelologa, 5 min drive from the ferry. I have never been there and I never met someone who has. So I cannot comment on that at all.

If it must not be Manase you could have a look at Lauiula Beach Fales in Lano, about 20 min. from Salelologa. Just refurbished and under new management (former Vacations manager). Nice swim and lagoon, stunning views on Upolu ;-)

As you have a car why not go to Savaii early and check out these options? It is 1 hr drive between Manase and Salelologa only. Easy to go back if preferred.

Would I need to make any reservations in order to secure a place at any of these Fale establishments? I have emailed these places for booking a reservation and have not heard back. I'll be in Manase from Aug. 26 to Aug. 29.

One more question: Do I need to pre-reserve the ferry between Upolu and Savaii?
I'm taking it in the morning of the 26th and returning the afternoon of the 29th.
Any advice on this is appreciated.

You do not need a reservation. Even if one of the resorts is completely booked out, which is already very unlikely, you just take one of the others. As they are all about the same (as stated above) it does not matter.

You can book the ferry only at the wharves or at the Samoa Shipping Corporation Office in Matautu/Apia (near to the harbour). You go there in person, you book and you pay cash. No other options. So as soon as you are in Apia, go there and make your bookings. It will not be a problem for the 26th (Tues), but the boat on Friday afternoon (29th) will be more sought after. But as you will book that earlier that week already it should again be no problem.

Overall: Relax and do not make too many detailed plans. This is Samoa. Things go as they come and something always goes.

To wksamoa,

I have a dilemma now, budget car rental is renting me a rav4 or suzuki jimny for 6 days for 300USD inclusive but they dont allow their vehicles over unpaved roads and holiday rental is renting me a Tucson for 400USD inclusive with airport drop off fee with freedom to drive anywhere.......How much of Samoa's roads are paved and how much of it is unpaved?
and what would I miss if i cannot drive over unpaved roads?

Thanks

The paved/unpaved road is not an issue at all as nobody would ever know which road you are driving on (only in the very unlikely event that something happens). Everybody ignores that. Only Budget has that in their conditions as far as I know. Maybe because it is a standardized international form.

There are extremely few unpaved roads anyway where you are likely to go. One is the access road to the Blowholes in Taga/Savaii. The other one would be the access road to both Matareva or Lefaga Beach. There is only about 1 to 2 miles unpaved road each way (rough road but firm sand, no gravel). All Budget clients go there, be sure.

On the other hand a free airport drop-off might save you some money, so the difference might be not that important anymore. Personally I would always prefer a Tuscon and I would love an airport drop-off. But that depends ... When is the flight? How would you get to the airport otherwise? How much baggage you are likely to have? And how many of you are traveling? And such.

I'm traveling alone with one luggage and my flight is at 4:35am Aug. 30th
Actually Budget does not charge an airport drop off fee so in reality the diff. is 100USD
and one jeep is bigger than the other (but this is not important)
now the other car rental company, holiday-rental has already charged a 2 day deposit, so I hope I don't have problems getting it back

Yes, traveling by yourself with only one baggage even a Jimny is certainly big enough, lol. The only important thing is to have a vehicle with some higher heels, so to speak, to avoid problems on those very few unpaved roads.

I am very surprised that Budget does not charge an airport drop-off fee. There are no rental car counters at the airport, so they have to send someone there to pick-up your car. Better make sure that this is included (maybe it is because of international standardization of Budget conditions).

One important advice at last: Your flight is Aug30, 4.35am. The afternoon before you plan to come back from Savaii. Do not take the last boat (4pm) but the earlier one (2pm). And make absolutely sure that you are at the wharf early enough (1pm). Why? Because boats sometimes don't go because they are broken or the small boat at 4pm does not go because the swell is too high (the boat at 2pm is much bigger). Sometimes boats go earlier because they are full already ...

Because when you miss that passage to Upolu you are stuck in Savaii. There is no other transport to Upolu than these boats. So when booking the 2pm boat you have another option left.

wksamoa: thank you very much for your advise! I'll def. follow it.
Hey, do you know from where I can get a picture of this view of Fagaloa Bay?
http://www.spasifikmag.com/images/travel%20pacific/Samoa/New%20Pics/SamoaBay.gif

http://www.samoa.pictures-pacific.com/western-samoa/upolu-island/east-fagalua.html

Any hiking trails in specific?

Thanks

I doubt that you have to go trekking for those views. The first looks very much like the view from the outlook on the road from LeMafa Pass to Fagaloa Bay (where the road passes the mountain range). The other one seems to be taken around Lona at Fagaloa Bay, near to Akoi Beach Fales. Straight from the road again, at the beachfront.

I am planning to go to Samoa next year and my parents have been before and recomend Tanu's beach fales and I have had a couple of other people recomend it as well!

Just came back from Samoa. We stayed at Janes fale for one night. Jane has a bar where you can congregate and have a beer right next to the ocean. Their dinner chef was awful though. The potatoes were hard, the meat unapetizing and not much food variety was offered compared to other fales we stayed at.
We checked out Tanu's fales and thought they were a bit run down, but that's just our opinion. Nevertheless, we heard very good things about Regina's, although it tends to be the quieter place out of the three companies.

Just a note of warning: I just got back from Samoa and at stayed at Vacation Beach Fales in Savaii. The resort double-charged us. They requested for us to pay in cash at the start of our stay, and then charged the same amount to our credit cards after we left. We haven't gotten our refund yet. The resort owner, Leota, hasn't replied to any of our emails or calls.

Also, our credit cards were stolen from the fale. The resort was empty except for myself and my partner and the beach was more or less deserted since it's low season now. I can't say for sure that the thief was working at the resort but it seems highly likely since we hardly went far from our fales. The thief went on a shopping spree in Samoa with our card. Ouch.

That 2 experiences with this particular resort has left us with a really bad impression. So be very careful of where you stay in Samoa and hang onto those belongings!!!