Where to Stay in Samoa: The 4 Best Areas, Beach Bungalows & Hotels

The good news is that there are accommodation options for almost every kind of traveller. You can sleep in a traditional beach fale with nothing between you and the ocean, stay at a stylish boutique resort, book a luxury beachfront villa or choose a comfortable hotel in Apia.

For most first-time visitors, I would split my stay between two or three areas rather than staying in Apia for the entire trip. Apia is useful for restaurants, markets, culture and convenience, while the coast is where you'll find the beaches and tropical-island scenery that probably brought you to Samoa in the first place.

After exploring Samoa, here's my guide to the best areas to stay in Samoa, including what each area is like, who it is best for and the hotels and resorts I'd look at first.

Where is the best place to stay in Samoa?

If you don't have time to read the entire guide, I would check out the three hotels below. They are my favourite stays in various parts of Samoa.

Litia Sini Beach Fales

The property combines traditional Samoan accommodation with a strong emphasis on local culture. You can stay in traditional fale bungalows, enjoy home-cooked meals and experience Samoan song and dance in the evenings.

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Seabreeze Resort Samoa - Exclusively for adults

This adults-only resort sits between a secluded beach and a crystal-clear lagoon. It has ocean-facing villas and suites designed around the tropical surroundings, rather than feeling like a large conventional hotel. There is an infinity pool, restaurant and bar, spa, private beach, kayaks and snorkelling equipment.

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Taumeasina Island Resort

Taumeasina is Samoa's only island resort, sitting on a private island connected to the mainland by a causeway. It's only around five minutes from central Apia, so you get the best of both worlds: you can easily go into town, but when you return to the resort, you're surrounded by ocean..

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Map of Best Places to Stay in Samoa

Below you'll find a map where I've pinned my favourite hotels in Samoa to make it easier for you to navigate when you're looking for where you want to base yourself.

Apia – Best for Practicality

If this is your first trip to Samoa, Apia is the easiest place to start. Apia is the capital of Samoa and the country's main hub. It isn't a traditional tropical beach destination in the way that Lalomanu or Manase are, but it has something those places don't, that is restaurants, cafés, markets, shops, cultural attractions and a much wider choice of accommodation.

The city sits around a natural harbour on the north coast of Upolu, and many of the main sights are within a relatively small area. You can visit the markets, explore the waterfront, visit the Museum of Samoa and the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, go snorkelling at Palolo Deep Marine Reserve and use Apia as a starting point for exploring the rest of Upolu.

I wouldn't necessarily spend your entire Samoa holiday here, but one or two nights in Apia at the beginning or end of your trip makes a lot of sense. It's also a particularly convenient choice if you don't want to rent a car immediately, as there are more taxis, buses, restaurants and services here than elsewhere on the islands.

Best Hotels in Apia

Taumeasina Island Resort

Taumeasina is Samoa's only island resort, sitting on a private island connected to the mainland by a causeway. It's only around five minutes from central Apia, so you get the best of both worlds: you can easily go into town, but when you return to the resort, you're surrounded by ocean..

Check prices and availability

Sheraton Samoa Hotel & Bungalows

The historic hotel sits on Beach Road close to the harbour and combines Samoan heritage with modern hotel facilities. There are spacious rooms and traditional-style bungalows, several restaurants and bars, pools, a fitness centre and plenty of space to relax.

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Tanoa Tusitala Hotel

This is one of the more practical choices in Apia. The hotel is set in six hectares of tropical gardens but is still within walking distance of the waterfront. Rooms are spacious, and the property has a swimming pool, gym, tennis courts, restaurants and a tour desk.

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Lalomanu – Best for Beaches and the Classic Samoa Experience

If you've seen photographs of Samoa and thought "That's where I want to stay", there's a good chance you're imagining Lalomanu. Located on the south-east coast of Upolu, Lalomanu Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Samoa. Think white sand, brilliant turquoise water, coral reefs and traditional fales right beside the sea.

This is much more of a beach destination than Apia. You won't find a huge selection of restaurants, shopping or nightlife, but that's exactly the point. Lalomanu is somewhere to slow down. It's also a fantastic base for exploring some of Upolu's biggest attractions, including To Sua Ocean Trench, waterfalls and the south-east coast.

There aren’t many hotel options in this area, and the ones you can choose from are on the more rustic side. However, if you stay here you get to wake up right next to one of the most beautiful beaches and also get a more local feel to your trip. We stayed parts of our stay in Litia Sini Beach Fales and it was an amazing experience.

Best Hotels in Lalomanu

Litia Sini Beach Fales

The property combines traditional Samoan accommodation with a strong emphasis on local culture. You can stay in traditional fale bungalows, enjoy home-cooked meals and experience Samoan song and dance in the evenings.

Check prices and availability

Taufua Beach Fales

The fales sit directly on Lalomanu Beach, and the experience is deliberately simple: you're staying right beside the ocean rather than inside a conventional hotel room. It’s perfect if you want the traditional Samoa experience. You can choose traditional fales or villas with more privacy.

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Aga Reef Resort and Spa

It’s not directly on Lalomanu beach, but if you want more comfort this is as close to the beach you’ll get. It’s built around a private ocean lagoon, with two swimming pools and a day spa. It has various villas and an on-site restaurant that serves Samoan and international dishes.

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South-East Upolu – Best for Luxury Resorts and Romance

If Lalomanu is the classic beach-fale experience, the south-east coast of Upolu is where you'll find some of Samoa's best luxury resorts. This is my favourite part of Samoa for travellers who want beautiful beaches but still want a little more comfort and privacy.

The coastline is dotted with secluded bays, tropical gardens and turquoise lagoons, and there are several excellent resorts where you can spend days doing absolutely nothing, or use them as a base for exploring the island. This area is more isolated than Apia, so I strongly recommend having a rental car if you stay here and want to explore independently.

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Best Hotels in South-East Upolu

Seabreeze Resort Samoa - Exclusively for adults

This adults-only resort sits between a secluded beach and a crystal-clear lagoon. It has ocean-facing villas and suites designed around the tropical surroundings, rather than feeling like a large conventional hotel. There is an infinity pool, restaurant and bar, spa, private beach, kayaks and snorkelling equipment.

Check prices and availability

Sinalei Reef Resort & Spa

The resort is tucked beside a sheltered lagoon on the southern coast of Upolu. They have garden and ocean-view villas and beachfront villas right beside the lagoon. The design combines traditional Samoan elements with modern comfort.

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Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa

This is a great middle ground if you want a proper tropical resort without going all the way into ultra-luxury. It's located on the south-east coast in a sheltered bay, surrounded by tropical gardens and a white-sand beach. The resort has a range of accommodation, a pool, restaurants and spa facilities.

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Savai'i – The Quieter and less Developed Island

Samoa has two main islands, Upolu and Savai'i, and Savai’i is the least developed and visited of the two.

There are fewer big resorts, fewer restaurants and fewer tourists, but there are also stretches of beautiful coastline where you can have the beach almost to yourself.

On Savai’i there are three main spots I would look at accomodation.

The first is Manase which sits on the north coast and has one of the best concentrations of accommodation on the island. The beach is beautiful, the water is excellent for swimming and snorkelling, and it's a good base for exploring Savai'i.

The second is Salelologa, which is the main arrival point on Savai'i and is where you'll find the ferry terminal, shops and some practical accommodation. It's not the most beautiful part of the island, so I wouldn't necessarily choose it for a long beach holiday. But it can be incredibly convenient if you're arriving on the ferry and don't want a long drive immediately afterwards.

The third is the central parts of Savai’i. This is great if you're looking for a quieter alternative to Manase and just prefer a slower pace. The island in general is much less developed than Upolu, and staying outside the main tourist areas gives you a better sense of everyday Samoan life. You'll also be closer to some of Savai'i's natural attractions, including lava fields, blowholes, waterfalls and rainforest.

Best Hotels on Savai’i

Tailua Beach Fale

For a more traditional Samoan experience, this is a lovely option in Manase. The simple beachfront fales sit directly overlooking the clear water, with breakfast and home-cooked meals available on-site, making this a great choice if you want a relaxed stay that feels more local.

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Amoa Resort Savaii

This is a relaxed beachfront resort surrounded by tropical gardens on Savaiʻi’s north coast, with Polynesian-inspired rooms and villas spread throughout the property. They have a swimming pool with a swim-up bar, a restaurant, kayaks and snorkelling, while the lagoon and beach are just across the road.

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Savaii Lagoon Resort

This is a small, intimate beachfront property in Fagamalo, with just 10 rooms and a beautiful lagoon right outside your door. It’s perfect for those who want to spend their days swimming, snorkelling, kayaking or simply relaxing on the beach.

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Should You Stay on Upolu or Savai'i in Samoa?

This is one of the biggest questions when planning a Samoa trip. If you only have a few days, stay on Upolu. Upolu has more accommodation, restaurants, attractions and things to do. You can combine Apia with the south coast and see a lot of Samoa without spending too much time moving around.

But if you have ten days or more, I would absolutely add Savai'i. Savai'i feels quieter, wilder and more traditional. It has fewer visitors and a much slower pace, which is exactly what makes it worth the ferry ride.

What Type of Accommodation Should You Choose in Samoa?

One of the best things about travelling around Samoa is that you don't have to stay in conventional hotels all the time.

Stay in a beach fale at least once. These traditional open-sided structures are one of the most distinctive accommodation experiences in Samoa. They are usually simple, with a mattress, mosquito net and woven mats, and often sit directly on the beach.

Some have walls or curtains that can be closed at night, while others are completely open.

They're not luxury accommodation, but that's not really the point. The whole idea is to wake up with the ocean right outside your fale, eat meals with other guests and experience a much more traditional style of Samoan hospitality.

The best areas for beach fales are Lalomanu, Manase and other coastal villages on Upolu and Savai'i.

Where Should You Stay in Samoa Without a Car?

If you're not renting a car, I'd stay in Apia. You'll have much easier access to restaurants, taxis and buses, and you can organise tours from the city.

You can stay on the south coast without a car, but you'll be much more dependent on taxis and organised transfers. The same applies to Savai'i.

If you want to stay somewhere remote and beachfront, that's wonderful, but I'd factor the cost and inconvenience of getting around into your budget.

If you are renting a car, however, I'd absolutely leave Apia and explore the coast. Having your own car makes Samoa dramatically easier to experience independently.

Final Thoughts on Where to Stay in Samoa

Samoa isn't a destination where I think there is one single best place to stay. Instead, the best area depends on what you want from your trip and the it might end up being a combination of various areas. You probably have to stay a night or two in Apia when you land or leave, but I honestly think that’s enough and would focus on other parts of the country instead.

Head towards Lalomanu and the south-east coast for amazing beaches and resort and add a couple of nights in Savai’i if your itinerary allows it. However, a combo of Apia and a beach destination on Upolu is the perfect introduction to Samoa in my opinion.

Plan Your Trip to Samoa

Hopefully this guide has given you everything you need to plan where to stay in Samoa. To make planning the rest of your trip even easier, I've included all the resources I personally use when I travel.

Find the best hotels and compare prices on Booking.com

Find the best hotels and compare prices on Hotels.com

Compare flight prices on Skyscanner.com

Book buses, trains and ferries with 12Go

Brows the best tours on Viator here

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Compare eSIM plans with Airalo here

Get travel insurance from SafetyWing here

Every recommendation is based on tools and services I genuinely use and would recommend to friends and family.

By using these links you help me continue to create free travel guides like this one.

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-Ingrid

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