Samoa

Hi, looking at taking 2 adults and 3 kids (all male aged 7, 11 & 13) to Samoa. What are your recommendations for everything. Accommodation, the best places to stay (any budget), must seek swimming holes etc. This holiday is about the kids (and a little mum and dad time).

As always it depends on your expectations, budget, length of time in Samoa etc.
The choices are resorts, which can be expensive when you have kids who eat a lot and normally there are only resort restaurants nearby ....most resorts are on their own so you tend to eat in and very few places have kitchen facilities in Samoa.
If you are happy with fales - a bit like camping...ablution blocks, foam mattresses but right on the beach and includes breakfast and dinner. The south coast of Upolu or the north coast of Savaii have some good options.

On Savaii look at Vai Moana Seaside Lodge,( a mixture of accommodation)
Or at Manase, Tailua, Tanu,Jane,Vacations,
Reginas ( for fales) or a few k's along The Savaiian Lagoon Resort for nicer units with kitchens...

South coast of Upolu check out Taufua & Faofao & Manusina for fales around Lalomanu and MoegaAmanaia and Vaiulas for fales around Tafatafa beach..
.Return to Paradise further along for Resorts....
Or LeUiana on the topside of Upolu isn't too bad for families and if you rent a car it's not too far to pop into Apia
Or of course Aggies has a great swimming pool that kids love but it is out by the airport by itself...
Nor row it down a bit for facilities and prices and maybe we can help....
Have a look at budgetaccommodationsamoa.com if you want to find out about fales or the Samoan Tourism site Samoa.travel for a lot of options.

Hi budgetkiwi! Thanks for your reply. We are looking at spending about three weeks there and want to do a bit of a wonder around thing, sort of make it up as we go. Love getting to spend time with locals and really getting and idea of how the locals live rather than being in a resort the whole time. My 11 year old says we are travellers not tourists lol.

Well staying in fales you will definitely feel like you are living with the locals. Reginas in Manase is normally pretty good, a real family place, on the water, good ( local) food, they have their own plantation and will take you up and show you the different plants etc. you can go to church with them and join in on Sunday with the family umu ( they only thing about giving this advice is places can change their personalities and facilities when different members of the family run them for while)
There are a few fales in a row in the village of Manase ( they are actually all pretty good) and you can FALE hop, eat or drink at different places and there is a shop ( at the local garage) and an ATM .
I think hiring a car is easiest with a few of you and so you can easily do a circuit of both islands ( about 250kms each ) and stay at fales along the way.....I do recommend one or two nicer places for the parents to shake out the sand and have a more comfortable bed.Amanaki at Apia , The Savaiian Hotel near Salelologa and VaiMoana near Asua would be some of my favourites.
On the south coast of Upolu the fales near Lalomanu and Saleapaga are good for a visit- Faofao and Manusina are worth looking at. Then Tafatafa beach is worth a look, moeagaamanaia has better food (imo) and Vaiula more activities. Stop in at Lupes down the road by Coconuts Resort for lunch if you are down that way ( Sunday lunch is famous) and the cultural display in Apia is very good, last I heard it was on Thursday morning but check with the info centre on beach Rd (Samoa.travel) it's free and covers a lot of Samoa life and culture.

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