Vailima Botanical Garden Tours

Receptionist looked after our request for a quiet room

I recently stayed at Taumeasina Island Resort in Samoa. The island itself is absolutely stunning — I highly recommend visiting the ocean trench, cave pools, trying clam diving, and going snorkelling. The resort is probably the best on the island, but it doesn’t quite meet 4-star standards by European expectations. Our room was spacious and well-equipped, but it had a persistent damp smell and we were only provided with one towel per person. The beach area is lovely, but there are only a handful of sunbeds (six or seven at most), so we often had to lay towels on the grass — adding more loungers would make a big difference. The pool and restaurant areas could use better upkeep, with missing pool tiles, dirty chairs, and tables left unwiped — one night there was even a used child’s nappy by the poolside. The food was average, and the whole resort could benefit from a refresh. The views are gorgeous and the reception area is bright and welcoming, but service was slow and disorganised. Drinks sometimes didn’t arrive, and the bar would really benefit from a simple QR code ordering system. The staff were friendly, but the reliance on carbon paper for bills made everything feel dated and inefficient. On a positive note, the Fia Fia night was excellent and definitely a highlight of our stay. Overall, Taumeasina is a good base for exploring Samoa, but with better maintenance, more sunbeds, and sharper service, it could be truly exceptional.

Fabulous resort set in beautiful landscaped gardens right on the ocean. Staff were amazing especially Betty, Vini and Nella