American Samoa notes

Hi there. I was on Tutuila a few days ago and thought I would share a few notes from my short stay there. I did some exploring by bus and would really recommend a local bus ride out to the end of the west end of the island. Most of the buses go as far Leone but there are also a few buses that go out to Amanave. There are beautiful little bays with small villages all the way past Leone. Another bus ride that is even better is to take the bus to Vatia. It leaves from the market place in Fagatoga and goes around the bay to Aua and then climbs up to the top of the mountains. From there you have a fabulous view back down to Pago Pago harbor. The bus then goes over the mountain and down to the north side of the island....ending in the village of Vatia right in the middle of the National Park. Dramatic mountain and coastal views....and a lovely village. Popular starting place for hiking. Just a few dollars each way.

If you are wanting a fabulous place to stay and willing to go beyound your backpacker budget.......may I suggest the new boutique hotel Moana o Sina. It is on the coast near the airport. New, very creatively decorated, right on the water edge in a garden setting. I had a peep in it and it looked fabulous. Rooms start at $130 a night. You may need to have a rental car to come and go though as it is a little off the main roads. A romantic hidaway.

Tutuila is a beautiful island with the most beautiful mountains of any of the Samoan islands. It is too bad that the beauty of the island is spoiled by lots of rubbish left all over the place. Plastic bottles and cans especially. My visit also finished with a negative experience. The womens bathroom in the waiting lounge of the airport after you have checked through immigration was a mess. Three toilets and only one was working. The bathroom stank and the final straw was that there was no water in any of the hand sinks! mmmmmm

We just got back from AM Samoa and CANNOT recommend the Moana O Sina. Unless you enjoy having a hotel get "mixed up" and lose your reservations TWICE within 2 weeks, DO NOT STAY AT the MOANA O Sina. It is no fun to arrive after a late flight to find that the hotel screwed up and even less fun to be stranded at the airport. VERY POOR SERVICE
Dec 11, 2010

No comment on the hotel. But the word 'filth' in the original post reminded me of another post on this branch (Vanuatu). Seems to be difficult to keep paradise clean.