10 days in Samoa

Hi there,
I am looking to visit Samoa around mid September this year with my surfing boyfriend. I wanted to find out which island out of Savaii and Upulo is better for surfing and which has the most beautiful beaches. I originally wanted to stay on the main island but thought we might be missing out on the beauty of Savaii. I also wanted someone to recommend some resort (but not full on luxury) style accommodation around $150.00 Aus per night. Do both islands have a bit of a nightlife? I really hope someone can help me out, thanks so much in advance!!!

I actually found Upolu much the more beautiful island.
It also has the better beaches and I believe the better surf, too.
It would definitely offer more in the way of nightlife too, though that would still mostly be in Apia.

Accommodation recommndations will have to come from others, as I've only stayed at much cheaper places.

The type of accommodation your looking at with your budget may be nice places, but in my experience and from what I have seen, do not have the best beaches... In fact two of the really nice resorts in Samoa (Sinilei and Aggie Grey's) have absolutely awful beaches.
You want a really nice beach? Then you may have to suffer the indignity of staying in a beach fale.

I certainly don't think it's indignant staying in a beach fale as i've travelled all over Bali spending about a few aussie dollars on accommodation a bit nice, just looking for something a bit comfier this time as it's a pretty short trip. Can you suggest anywhere around the $150.00 mark with nice beaches on upulo?

Upolu is nicer.
Savai'i is better for surf especially off southern shore (in dry season - july, august).

In the wet season its by contrast i think - you had better surf in norther parts

The only really fine beach I've seen in Samoa was the one at Lalomanu in Upolu, though it was a "bit" too crowded/commercialized to my taste and only has much cheaper accommodation than what you want.

All the other beaches I've seen in Samoa were only so-so compared to many in the Pacific or even SE-Asia.

As a side-note, if we stretched boundaries "a bit", the beach on Ofu in American Samoa seems to be one of the very best in the entire South Pacific! Just getting there from western Samoa might help you spend some of the cash you may not be able to blow on accomodation! ;-)

so i ve found where i stayed last year - its the village Satuiatua in which is also fale accomodation. There is also a good wave...

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?messageID=13128043&#13128043

Try Coconuts Resort.. It sounds like its in your budget, but with a typically ratty beach here, why not rent a car and you can go spend your afternoons at Lalomanu? as Laszlo has said, it is pretty well the only really nice beach in Samoa.

I was about to mention Sa Moana Resort in Saanapu / South Upolu but I saw that they heavily raised their rates, starting at AUD 220 now. Nevertheless they offer good surfing opportunities; the beach is quite nice as well and the accommodation too. Only nightlife is a problem - but you would hardly find any of that all over Samoa anyway. From Saanapu you only have 40 minutes drive to Apia - from Lalomanu it would be 1.5 hours (all one way).

I forgot about Sa Moana... Wow, they are sure pricey.

wksamoa: Is this resort worth the rates? I've never been there.

They used to be worth the rates but that was when the rates were lower, lol. I have no idea if the higher rates reflect a further improved standard as well or only follow the example of others. In fact they charge about the same as Aggie's resort does.

BTW Coconuts and Sinalei have rates beginning at US$300 per night by now. Not that long ago it was just half of it.