Pacifika Hotel

I'm passing on a warning about Pacifika Hotel in Apia where I recently stayed.

First, I arranged with the hotel for an airport transfer, but no one was at the airport to meet me so I took a taxi instead. When I arrived at the hotel the staff at reception was not overly pleased to see me, but it was 2am so I guess they could be excused on that one.

My room was ok, although expensive compared to other places I stayed at in other parts of Samoa, and the hotel was quite noisy. The staff appeared friendly, one of which frequently talked to me. She was the one who saw me leave my room when I went to use the hotel swimming pool, when she also asked me where I was going. When I returned to my room, I checked my wallet and discovered 100 Tala had disapeered from it (not a large sum but still annoying). My room was still locked, although I noticed the lock in a slightly different position (I'm like that), and I knew how much I had left in the room while I was away so it was not a mistake on my part. I went to speak to reception, who was that same staff member who saw me leave my room. She behaved in a very strange manner, like she knew what had happened, and certain questions she asked made me think she had been in my room. She told me she had tried to contact the manager about it, as he was away from the hotel all day, but he was going to come to the hotel the next morning to talk to me about it. I reluctantly decided to stay at the hotel for the remaining night, as it was 5pm on a Sunday. The next morning when I was checking out the manager did not know that I had lost this money, he had not been informed. He was not very interested in this matter either, and just told me I should not leave valuables in my room as they have a safe in the office. I told him the hotel should have better security, and he said it did have good security, etc.

This was the only bad experience of my time in Samoa, and some of the people's attitudes in this hotel were very different to all other locals I met who were incredibily friendly and always willing to help.

The Pacifika Hotel is getting some bad reviews these last few years and I have heard some tales of unpleasantness about the place from fellow travellers whilst I was in Samoa the past 2 years. One of those places that have gone from good to bad.

They need to pull up their socks.

We stayed there a few years ago and all the guests congregated on the top front deck to swap stories and commiserate with each other on their choice of hotel.
We only stayed there because Aggie Grey's was booked out.

Oh, I wish I'd known this a month ago. I've booked 2 nights there in October. We're getting in at midnight and asked for a pick up at the airport - and they sent numerous emails requesting my credit card number before they would confirm a booking for us. OK - will secure all valuables; will not be surprised if they don't pick us up from the airport (I have their phone number so they'd better be there).

I don't suppose there's any dirt on the Virgin Cove Resort because that's where we'll be spending the following week in Oct. It looks good and their website is very nice... I guess that doesn't mean a lot eh?

Nell08

3---I seem to remember a bunch of posts several months about ago Virgin cove. Try doing a "search" for it and see what comes up. also, maybe wksamoa may have recent comments.