Wedding & Honeymoon

Hi, we're holidaying/getting married/honeymooning in Samoa in October. At this stage we're intending to spend a couple of days in Apia organising wedding stuff followed by 3 days/nights peace and quiet on Savai'i before friends and family start arriving. Is this enough time to get around the whole island? I'm not sure of driving times but have estimated first night at Manase/Fagamolo. After that there's a big gap (if travelling anti clockwise from Salelologa). I believe there are some fales at Falealupo and would welcome any info on these. Otherwise it looks like a bit of a trek to Satuitua which I hear is nice. Our last stop will be a night at Lusia's which looks lovely. We're not fussy travellers but I'd like to be comfortable and safe.

Also any recommendations on hire cars? Is it worth hiring from Apia and taking over. I imagine it's more expensive due to ferry cost but less hassle as we'll be able to just hit the road upon landing on either island.

Driving time all around Savaii is 4 to 5 hours (nonstop). So you could easily visit most attractions on one single day-trip. Timewise. I would prefer that instead of changing base every night but of course that is a matter of personal preference. The Beach Fales in Falealupo (very basic) are in no way comparable with those in Manase, so I recommend not to consider them at all. Satuitua and Luisa's might be safe but they are not really as comfortable as well. Beach fales usually are camping ground style accomodation. And as you mention Fagamalo - you might refer to the Le Lagoto, which is not a Beach Fale Resort like all the others, but a well run high class resort with fales on the beach (very comfortable indeed). The only other accomodation comparable to that all over Savaii is the Siufaga Resort in Faga.

My advice: stay in Manase, do one long day-tour to the farer away places to visit, spend one day visiting those near to your resort and give one whole day for the beach and relaxation.

Yes, it is recommendable to hire your car in Apia. There are very few rental cars in Savaii only, quite hard to book reliably too, and the rent is higher than in Apia. That easily outweighs the extra cost of the ferry already. And how do you get to the ferry with your luggage? Bus, Taxi? All extra costs and don't be sure that your rental car will wait for you in Savaii. Better take it with you.

A convenient way to see the sights on Savaii and end up at a nice place to stay is to take an early ferry over from Upolu (with a car you've rented in Apia - just make sure you get a ticket for the ferry for your car well in advance at the Samoa Shipping office in Apia), then drive clockwise around the island. Pick up something at one of the stores or the market in Salelologa to take along for lunch later. You can stop at the O le Moe waterfall (also called Afu Aau) and the Pelemei Pyramid Mound (more mound than pyramid), the Taga blowholes, the Falealupo canopy walk and, a lesser known but interesting spot, the Pe'ape'a Cave just before the village of Letui (just off the road on the right side). By late afternoon, you'll arrive at Manase where you can choose from any one of a number of accommodations, ranging from more basic open fales at Tanu's, to better fales at Vacations or Janes, to so-so hotel style accommodations at Stevensons, to very neat concrete bungalows at Savaii Lagoon (further up the road in Fagamalo) to the top end on Savaii, Le Lagoto (also in Fagamalo). Assuming you stop for a bit at each place, that's a full day, and you'll be ready to relax on the very nice Manase beach for the next couple of days. On your way back to Salelologa, or as a short day trip one of the other days, stop by the lava fields in Saleaula. Very interesting and friendly tours led by the women's committee there.

If you choose to stick to your original plan, Satuiatua has both open fales and a few enclosed ones. Vaisala hotel has a couple of okay rooms down the south end of the property, but the rooms in the main, two story block are pretty tatty. Luisa's in Salelologa is a bit of a disappointment. The fales at Falealupo are VERY basic.

you can hire a car very easily from p.k rentals in salelologa (savaii) for 150-200 tala a day, depending on size. they are five mins from the ferry (on the right) and very friendly and efficient.