The Best Samoa Accommodation - International Traveller

From beachside camping (local-style) to luxury resorts, Samoa has accommodations for every type of traveller.

Samoa accommodation is as varied as the oceans here are blue (trust me, they’re VERY blue). No matter what type of holiday you’re looking for – adventure, family-friendly, boutique or luxury – there’s somewhere to stay with your name on it. That’s before you even add in the friendly staff who have an uncanny knack for making you feel at home.

Travellers tend to stay on the two main populated islands, Upolu and Savai’i, which is where you’ll find most of the accommodation options. From beach huts to one-of-a-kind resorts, these are our top picks.

1. Taufua beach fales

Best for: An adventure beneath the stars

Besides the clear, blue water and coconut trees, nothing screams ‘this is a Samoan beach’ more than a line of fales along the water. In fact, fales themselves are a pretty quintessential way of life here. Samoans typically live in family compounds, their homes side by side on one property with a large fale in the centre of it all where they come together to socialise or escape the heat.

Taufua beach fales, Samoa accommodation — Sleep under the stars in a beach fale on the famous Lalomanu beach. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

Sleeping in an open fale on the beach is a near-camping experience that you can’t have in many other places around the world. Taufua Beach Fales are some of the best, especially considering they’re located on (yes, literally on) the world-famous Lalomanu Beach. From a nightly rate of WST$130 ($71.63), you can book an open fale, or one with walls – you’ll be provided with a mattress, linen and a mosquito net. If you like the location but prefer brick and mortar, they also have brightly coloured villas and lodges just across the road.

Taufua beach fales, villas — Book a villa if you prefer four walls. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

2. Return To Paradise Resort & Spa

Best for: A unique Samoan experience

As the only Samoan-owned and operated resort left in the country, Return To Paradise Resort & Spa truly brings a unique flavour to the accommodations scene. Approved by the local village and using its profits to give back to local projects, you really get a feel for the community aspect of Samoan culture here. Vibrant owner, Ramona, welcomes guests into that same community with open arms, whether they’ve stayed once or a hundred times.

The resort also boasts a truly unique claim to fame: it was the setting for the 1953 movie of the same name, starring Gary Cooper and Roberta Haynes. The Hollywood blockbuster was so famous in Samoa that the beach was renamed Return To Paradise Beach, and Haynes even requested to be buried here – guests can visit her grave outside the onsite chapel.

Return To Paradise Beach — Relax on the beach that inspired a Hollywood blockbuster. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

Hotel rooms are large, with plenty of room to move and options for large families or couples. From WST$510 ($282) per night, guests can stay quite literally on the beachfront, or in rooms overlooking the striking Samoan-style garden.

Be sure to book in for the Fiafia cultural night, not only to meet Ramona and be welcomed to the resort but to also see an authentic performance by some of the best dancers and fire twirlers in Samoa – all while enjoying a buffet of tasty Samoan cuisine.

Return To Paradise Resort & Spa, fiafia night — Book a table for one of the best Fiafia nights in the country. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

3. Amoa Resort

Best for: Complete relaxation

It’s hard to stay tense as a visitor to Samoa, but nowhere invites you to relax quite like Amoa Resort on Savai’i Island. Not many travellers venture on the hour-long car ferry ride from Upolu, so those who do are already rewarded with an even more peaceful experience.

Amoa Resort, Samoa accommodation — Feel like Samoan royalty in these Amoa Resort rooms. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

Add to that the fact there’s no wifi, so you’re forced to disconnect and lean into the natural beauty around you. Rooms start from around WST$408.80 ($227.19) and feature beautiful traditional decor (fit for a Samoan Chief’s daughter), with space for couples or families.

You’ll want to spend most of your time across the road though, in the single most pristine section of the ocean, kept calm and flat at all times but a natural sea wall surround the island. It’s a public beach, but Amoa Resort provide kayaks, deck chairs and snorkels for guests, and they’re free to use.

Amoa Resort kayak, Samoa — Kayak, snorkel or swim across from Amoa Resort. (Image: Samoa Tourism Authority)

4. Taumeasina Island Resort & Spa

Best for: Knowing what you’ll get

For travellers who like to book a resort knowing they’ll get that fabulous, standard resort service, Taumeasina Island Resort & Spa constantly delivers.

Close to Apia and set on an island connected to the mainland by a short bridge, Taumeasina stuns from the moment you walk into the lobby – complete with high ceilings in the traditional style, and regular live music from local musicians. The friendly faces of the dedicated staff also help set the tone.

Taumeasina Island Resort Lobby — Enjoy the high ceilings and live music in the lobby. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

Rooms here are unique, in that they feel more like a Western-style hotel room than the other resorts. Be sure to ask for something with an ocean view to enjoy a complimentary tea on the balcony with lovely views. Prices start around WST$760 ($396.97) per night.

There are three dining choices here, all complete with outdoor tables overlooking the pool area – perfect for parents who want a drink or two while their kids splash around. Don’t miss the buffet dinner and breakfast in Lapita’s Restaurant, with Samoan and Western cuisine options. This is also where you’ll find the resort’s weekly Fiafia night.

Taumeasina Island Resort room — Sit on your balcony after a swim in the pool and enjoy the ocean views. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

5. Saleatoga Sands Resort

Best for: Group getaways

There’s no denying the beauty of Saleatoga Sands Resort. With spacious rooms that either sit directly on the beach or are tucked away in a tranquil garden, there isn’t a bad view in sight.

The rooms themselves are very spacious, and decorated with the high wooden beams of the traditional Samoan styling. The outdoor shower area is worth a visit on its own. Prices start from about WST$676.79 ($373.80).

Saletoga Sands Resort room — Spread out in the spacious rooms. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

It’s a resort that attracts groups of friends and families, or couples looking to get social (other guests are louder and clearly in more of a party mood than anywhere else I stayed).

Head to one of several bars (including a swim-up bar at the pool), book into weekly day trips organised by the staff to local attractions (tours to nearby To Sua were particularly popular) or jump into the glistening private beach.

Saletoga Sands Resort beach — Enjoy a drink and chat with other guests as you watch the sunset. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

6. Seabreeze Resort

Best for: Adults-only luxury

If you are looking for decadence and no children, then Seabreeze Resort is an absolute must. Luxury is their love language, and the owners take pride in fulfilling as many guest requests as possible (just let them know when you book).

Particularly popular among couples, particularly Honeymooners, the 11 exclusive villas and suites mean that guests maintain their privacy and tranquillity. The hotel is perched on a clifftop, surrounded by coconut trees and overlooking the clear, turquoise ocean – this is what you imagine when you think ‘island getaway’.

Guests arrive and depart to greeting songs from the staff (apparently a good singing voice isn’t a prerequisite to work here, but they all have one), and are treated like friends.

Settle into the adults-only Seabreeze Resort. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

Relax with an in-room massage, sip champagne by the pool, hire a car to explore the island by day and be sure to dine at the onsite Waterfront Restaurant and Bar any chance you get. Not only is it perched over the water, but the menu is second to none, prepared by an award-winning local chef.

There’s a minimum two-night stay here, with rooms starting at around WST$879.17 ($534.61) per night. Prices include free transfers and a bottle of sparkling wine with canapes, and there are also pre-paid meal plans and spa packages available.

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7. Dave Parker Eco Lodge

Best for: An eco-friendly stay in the rainforest

While most Samoa accommodation is seaside, Dave Parker Eco Lodge has clued into a different type of natural beauty in the centre of Upulo island: the rainforest.

Dave Parker Eco Lodge view — Marvel at sweeping views over Apia.

Just a 25-minute drive from the centre of Apia, check into your very affordable room (starting at WST$133.55 ($73.83) and fitting at least three guests) nestled in the tropical hillside of Tapatapa’o. You’ll be rewarded with spectacular viewpoints over the rainforest, town and ocean (that also means you’ll get the best view of Samoa’s stunning sunrises and sunsets – not to mention the abundant bird life, which provides the only soundtrack you’ll be subjected to.

Include a Sunday in your booking to be involved in a proud Samoan tradition: a Sunday feast cooked on the traditional open-fire umu. Hotel staff will even show you how to weave your own flax plate to eat it from.

Dave Parker Eco Lodge umu Sunday feast — Join in a Sunday feast cooked over the traditional *umu*.

8. Ifiele’ele Plantation

Best for: A self-catered stay

Samoan hospitality is incredibly friendly and efficiently laid-back, but if you prefer a self-catered stay (while still enjoying cleaning staff), a holiday spent at the organically certified Ifiele’ele Plantation is perfect.

Ifiele'ele Plantation guest room — Find plenty of space in the stylish rooms.

With a feel more like a farm stay in the mountains than a hotel, married hosts Fogalepolo (Paul) Lepou and Joan Macfarlane are renowned for their friendly welcome. You will find a restaurant on site, but rooms also have kitchens if you prefer to cook for yourself.

Relax the day away under the pool fale between dips, book the tennis court, stroll through the beautiful gardens, have a go at feeding the goats or hang out with the family duck.

Ifiele'ele Plantation pool — Cool down in the large pool.

9. Coconuts Beach Club Resort & Spa

Best for: Sleeping over the water

Images of hotels sitting over the water are quite synonymous with other Pacific Islands, but in Samoa, the exclusive Coconuts Beach Club Resort & Spa provides the only over-water fales – and they give everywhere else a run for their money.

A popular spot for weddings and honeymooners, the romantic vibe here can’t be denied. Spend the day with your own private view of the sea, book into the spa and enjoy dinner by starlight in the innovative Mika’s Restaurant. They’ll also organise tours and activities for guests to visit local highlights, like an Apia City Tour, visiting the best beaches and waterfalls and even a day trip over to Savai’i island.

Rooms start from around WST$962.16 ($539) a night, but you’re looking at closer to WST$1867.71 ($1043.23) for an over-the-water fale.

Coconuts Beach Club Resort & Spa over water fale — Stay in Samoa’s only over-water fale accommodation. (Image: Samoa Tourism Authority)

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

The best Samoa accommodation: from camping to luxury