Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Princess Tui - Samoa & destination

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea

I am visiting Samoa in a couple of weeks to take my mum, who's 55, for her 1st backpacking experience! Should be fun!!!

I wanted to book a reasonable but inexpensive hotel in Apia for our first night as we arrive at 2am. I have done a little research and the Princess Tui looks a friendly, authentic, reasonable located and fairly cheap. Has anyone stayed here before? Are my first impression accurate? Also, does anyone have any other recommendations?

From what people write & reading the LP I think she may like Upolo more than Savaii - beach, relaxation with a bit of culture. Can you recommend any places worth a visit - we will check out the accommodation ourselves when we get there (all part of the experience!) but recommendations about locations would be great.

Many thanks

Ps. Does anyone know of any nice walks/treks around Samoa - easy to moderate grade? And where to get information/maps about the walks.

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Princess Tui should be fine for the first night.
In Apia the walk up to Robert Louis Stevenson's grave on Mt Vaea is a good walk. Take the long track up and the short track down.
A walk out the Peninsular is also interesting to see the Parliament buildings and all the Royal tombs and Memorials, you can get a taxi out to the tombs at the end and walk back.
The Tourist office is on the Apia seafront just at the start of town, they may have some information on walks but I would not count on it. You will pass the office on your way back from the Peninsular walk to Princess Tui.

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