The Benefits of Booking Via Text and Paying Cash on Arrival

For all accommodation in the Pacific, I recommend to contact the accommodation directly. They will usually give you a cheaper price than booking.com or agoda, as these websites take 10-25% for themselves. In the Pacific, small budget accommodations are usually locally owned, and these hosts usually are very happy to organise your booking via WhatsApp, text, for Facebook Messenger in order to save money on the booking platform commission. In addition, some parts of the Pacific are very remote and it is hard to get regular ATM access. For these communities especially, paying cash on arrival is drastically preferred over online purchases.

In addition, by booking via online messages, you do not have to pay a deposit beforehand and this gives you the freedom to cancel or request to change room if what you had booked wasn't up to standard. I have only booked online via Agoda twice in the Pacific, and both times I regretted it. The Pacific is home to the most welcoming and interpersonal people you will ever find. By booking via text, your accommodation host can also recommend you transport options, local guides, or local secrets of their own before you arrive. When staying somewhere particularly remote, I will always ask if the host needs me to pick something up in town for them (as remote areas can be hours away from shops). Usually, they request either rice, fresh vegetables, or meats, which they then deduct off the cost of my stay. In offering to collect groceries for them, you may be saving a member of the family potentially hours of travel, demonstrating yourself as someone who shares their community values, and securing fresh produce for their family to enjoy a healthy dinner that night. 

An Introductions to Fales: Traditional (And Affordable) Accommodation in Samoa

Fale (pronounced fah-lay) is the Samoan word for house of any size. Traditionally, a Samoan fale is an oval or circular shape, has a domed, thatched roof held up with wooden poles and has no permanent walls. Roll-down blinds, called pola, surrounded the structure.

You see Fales everywhere and they traditional building methods are still employed for modern houses. In front of most housing groups is the fale tele (big house), the most important house, is usually round in shape, and serves as a meeting house for chief council meetings, family gatherings, funerals or chief title investitures. The fale tele is always situated at the front of all other houses in an extended family complex.

There are lots of fales on the beach front that people stay in. This is Faofao fales, and I have a little foam mattress and my hammock set up in my one. It's pretty relaxing

Upolu

Faofao Beach Fales

This is my favourite place to stay in Upolu. It costs 80 tala for a fale on the beach (with mattress and mosquito net) or 100 tala for a room with an air-conditioning unit. Personally, I’d strongly recommend the fales – this is an experience you will never forget, and it’s amazing to sleep on the beach and wake up to the sight of the ocean. Fales will always come with breakfast and dinner included.

I booked Faofao because they were the cheapest I had found with a great location, but the family turned out to be incredible as well. Faofao is a lot less touristic and cheaper than the fales closer to Lalomano, and during the 10 nights I stayed here, there were only other guests on two of the nights – each only for one night. I loved this place so much that I went to Savai’i, then came back to Faofao!

The family at Faofao welcomed me in as one of their own, and I’m incredibly grateful to them and their hospitality. During my stay there was a first birthday, so all the family and friends from nearby villages came for the celebration. The family welcomed me into their community and I was grateful to have met them all. I was able to help with fishing, killing and gutting a pig, grating and preparing coconut for meals, and of course entertaining the many children!

Vavau Beach Fales (40 Tala, no power)

Taufua Beach Fales

Lalomanu Beach Fales

The best sashimi in the Pacific is here, absolutely delicious and only 18 tala for a bowl.

Savai’i

Joelan Beach Fale

Asaga River Pool and Beach Fale

Tailua Beach Fales

Stevensons at Manase

Satuiatua Beach Fale