Payments made by partners impact the order of prices displayed. Room types may vary.
The listings of booking offers for each property take into account the compensation paid to us by our partners. Prices shown may be for varying room types. Prices displayed are the lowest available, corresponding to the least expensive room type available, as provided from our partners as of the time of the user’s search.
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
I took my two children to Joelan's and had the pleasure and privilege of becoming a 'part of the family' for the 6 days we were there. We travelled around both islands and yes, there are many beautiful beaches, lovely fales or lovely hosts - few have all three. Falesoa and Sione and wonderful hosts, the lovely girls, Moe, Joyce and Na'a - became firm and real friends... so gentle, kind and loving! It was school holidays when we were there, so there were always lots of lovely, cheeky, friendly children keen for a chat or kick around with a football - or a game of their all time favourite pass-time - volleyball! The fales are simple, mattresses on the floor with sheets and mosquito netting. If you want an extra mattress, just ask, I did as I was a little uncomfortable the first night, and it was no problem!! I love that the fales are totally traditional (apart from a light bulb!) with thatched sides, unlike a lot of others you will find with tarps or heavier (ugly) coverings for the sides. The thatched sides give very welcome air flow in the fales at night, and are easily lifted to give as much privacy/openness that you want. We had one night of a fabulous tropical storm with lightening and torrential rain, the thatched sides were perfect (I had even kept one up a little and the cool rain was delicious!!!). The tide comes right up under the fales which is heaven - the only downside to that is during the day, you run out of beach in front of the fales. Seriously, not a big deal, it's too hot to be lying in the sun all day anyway, and the sea is always perfect!! There is a shared toilet that flushes, and shower, of sorts, cold water, but that is all you need and an outdoor sink with tap for brushing teeth etc. (remember not to drink the water and I encouraged my kids to use bottled water to brush with, just in case). The dining area is fantastic, incredibly simple, but super - the food is served buffet style, and there is always plenty. If you are fussy eaters, take crackers, as the food is very Samoan and traditional (which we absolutely LOVED!!) - altho they do serve lovely fresh bread, scrambled eggs etc as well. Breakfast and Dinner is included in the price (WST$50 per night, if you can believe it!!!) - if you are around for lunch, you are always welcome to join, and one of the lovely ladies would even deliver it to us while we were lounging on the beach in the sun! Sometimes we were surprised with a chilled coconut, hole drilled and a straw, YUM!!! There are always plenty of DELICIOUS bananas and coconuts to eat - it really is just wonderful. The family and friends were all working on the dining area while we were there, and I can't wait to go back and see the progress. Buses run regularly from right outside and everyone is quick to offer a ride if they're heading in the same direction as you - I do insist that you experience the Samoan buses tho - they are just too cool! We hired a car (very cheap) for a couple of days to leisurely check out the island and to hunt out the 'best' beaches and snorkelling spots. Everyone raves about Manase... I think it didn't hold a candle to Lano...way less people too. We would often be the only people in the water - which is where we spent most of out time! Like I said before, there are definitely some gorgeous beaches on Savai'i depending on what you are looking for... but I loved Lano!! The other thing that won me over too was the lack of 'tourists'. The other people who were staying there became part of the family also, so by the end, there were big hugs and teary farewells all round. I think Joelan's is unique and therefore entices like minded people. Do not stay here if you are looking for a 'resort' holiday, altho, I would recommend you try it if you are vaguely tempted by what you have read, as you may surprise yourself. It is the simplicity, the traditional, REAL everyday life (no put on smiles or serving flash cocktails) and everything given with love. I love this place and all the people and I can not wait to go back. Must haves, sunblock - heaps of it in a mist sprayer that you can continually apply with no hassle, mosquito repellant, if you're like me and react badly to bites (altho this trip was fine!!) your own snorkelling gear, including fins, you will enjoy your snorkelling much more and finally - take plenty of drinking water with you, the more the better! The process of having to boil and cool water was a pain. There is a shop a couple of minutes walk away, but they were sometimes out of water, and sometimes no one to be seen - which I loved as it was just so honest!! If you love simplicity, no mirrors and want to totally relax in a healthy, happy environment - you have found the place. Enjoy and maybe I will see you there!
Read more
Date of stay: September 2012
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Unfortunately, there are dogs - which didn't bother anyone else, but their night time barking...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fa’afetai lava to hosts Falesoa, Sione and their aiga for helping to make our time in Samoa a wonderful one that we will remember fondly for years to come. Falesoa said from the outset that Joelan’s doesn’t have guests – she refers to her visitors as part of the family. Falesoa meant what she said, as we felt like we were part of her aiga, if only for a week.
Who are we? We are a family made up of 5 from Australia, with me, my wife and our three children (aged 16, 14, and 12). This was our third visit to Samoa within 10 years as a family, so yes we love Samoa very much and will definitely be back again.
With some previous experience with beach fales on Savaii, we wanted something simple, somewhere less crowded than the lovely but busy beach fales at Manase, and affordable with something for everyone in the family. We certainly got what we wanted and more from Joelan’s Beach Fales.
Coming from Australia where you pay a premium to stay anywhere near over-crowded beaches, at 60 WST per person per night and with a single row of about 15 well- spaced fales right on a gorgeous beach, Joelan’s was perfect for us.
Probably the best thing about Joelan’s Beach Fales was the staff. They were very friendly, eager to help and were so patient and generous with their time, especially with helping people like us that are keen to learn as much as possible about the language and culture. Even the dogs at Joelan’s were wonderful – you could tell they were well-loved and well-looked after by the family.
My wife and I were able to fully relax – the place was small enough so we could see the kids from wherever we decided to rest but big enough to have some peace and quiet. The water was shallow enough at low tide for some ‘serious’ Samoan soaking, with plenty of interesting coral and snorkelling for the kids, and deep enough at high tide for a swim out to the reef and back for me.
The food was excellent. I have read various reports of food quality at beach fales in Samoa and believe that it all comes down to how realistic your expectations are. We did our homework before choosing Joelan’s. We spoke to family in Samoa, read Trip Advisor reports, and also communicated with Falesoa as much as we wanted prior to making a booking. We were expecting Fa’a Samoa food, and that is exactly what we got. We were never hungry. In fact the food was so good we ate too much and at times we avoided lunch, just so we could take full advantage of the delicious ‘all you can eat’ breakfasts and dinners. If anything, the food exceeded our expectations in every way.
The fales were high and dry, bedding was comfortable, mosquito nets adequate, and the whole site felt secure with full-fencing. While I noticed that some of the blinds were in need of repair I also noticed that the aiga across the road were busy preparing new blinds for the fales.
Joelan’s seems to easily cater for a broad range of needs and comfort levels. There are a couple of closed-in fales that bookend the open fales. During our week at Joelan’s, Falesoa’s ‘extended family’ included young back packers, older and younger couples, families, singles, large groups, as well as day trippers and locals looking for somewhere to relax and have a few quiet drinks in the late afternoon.
The huge dining area made it really easy for the different groups to interact if they felt like it but with ample space to spread out if you wanted your own space.
So thanks again to Falesoa and Sione – we appreciate everything that you did for us and wish you all the very best, until we see you again, tofa soifua.
Read more
Date of stay: June 2014
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Winter is a fabulous time to visit (still very warm but slightly drier and less mozzies)
Bring...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The location of Joelan's is stunning - simple fales on a white sand beach overlooking a crystal clear lagoon. Waking up to the sunrise each morning is a pleasure (even for us non morning folk). Fale Soa, her husband Sione and her daughters are warm, friendly and generous hosts who make sure you are well fed and comfortable in your fale.
The food was outstanding - a lovely selection of Samoan food (oka, taro, fish, palusami, chop suey, coco ese etc) with plenty of familiar foods too such as papaya, pineapple, bananas, pancakes, bread and eggs. There was always plenty of it too.
The facilities are very basic, there are two toilets and two showers (cold water) and a bit dark and dingy though clean. There is a shop a short 15 minute walk away to buy cold beers and other snacks (though if you ask nicely one of the family will give you a ride there and back).
The only interruption to the blissful surrounds were the regular coming and going of family members and friends - not that this was a problem as they were all very friendly, but we were kept awake to the wee hours one morning as they partied in the main fale. However, we were more than welcome to join them but chose to retire early so we are not complaining.
This is a lovely place to stay if you are looking for a simple, relaxed and authentic stay in Samoa.
Read more
Date of stay: May 2014
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Â If you do have a choice I would recommend one of the outer lying fales (rather than the ones...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU to stay in Joelan Beach Fale! :) It runs by a Samoan couple Falesoa & Sione, they cook a very nice traditional samoan breakfast (contains many tropical fruit like papaya, pineapple, oranges, banana), lunch (many taros, fish & vegetable) and also dinner. The fales are placed right in front of the beach (yess, it's a white sandy beach with a sparkling blue sea! And most special about them is that they don't treat guests like customers, but they treat us like family! So you really get the paradise feeling and also get to know Samoan family & culture even more, and it all only costs 50 tala per night! What a great bargain :-D For full review about Samoa, visit ---> http://www.happywimmy.com/2012/05/samoa-beach-paradise.html#more
Read more
Date of stay: May 2012
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Â The open fale! :)
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were lucky to have been recommended by a local to stay here and by far it was the best place!! The beach, the view, the hosts, the food, the location and all the coconuts you can eat/drink was simply amazing! It's easy to find and not too far from the wharf. The taxi fare will cost you around $20-$30WST (always best to negotiate a price before you jump in). Buses are frequent and cheap so there is no need to rent a vehicle unless you plan on touring the whole island. For one night the charge is $50WST per person, can't get any cheaper than that especially when it includes yummy breakfast and dinner...lunch is not normally included but the hosts provided it for us anyway!! The beach fales were comfy (comes with mattresses and mosquito nets) and the shared toilets/showers were clean and the water doesn't run out! I would definitely recommend this place for anyone who is looking to stay in Savaii and we will definitely go back!
Read more
Date of stay: March 2012
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This place is great, we stayed there 5 days did plenty of snorkeling and hanging out. They have a nice reef, a volleyball net, yummy food and friendly service. The stay included a large fale with clean sheets and pillows, lunch and dinner for a very reasonable price! The fales were on the beach and as the tide rose and fell you could hear the water underneath you (at least at our hut). It was a very relaxing time, the owners even took us to the ferry the day of our departure instead of us calling a pricey cab. Overall, if you are looking for a cheap, relaxing tropical vacation this is the place. Keep in mind that beach fales are just outdoor huts and the restrooms and showers are about 100 feet away in a separate building with no warm water. This is just part of the fun and adventure when visiting the Samoan culture!
Read more
Date of stay: November 2010
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We arrived at about 5.30pm just when dinner had been served and asked if we could stay two nights-of course but first we must eat! The fales were comfortable and spacious, the scenery superb, the food was fantastic and plentiful (breakfast, lunch AND dinner included!), and the people wonderful. We met many people who had come for a few days and stayed a few weeks-for us we only had one unbooked night but we didn't hesitate to return to Joelan's. I would highly recommend it & we'll definitely be staying at Joelan's when we're next lucky enough to be back on Savai'i. We miss it already!
Read more
Date of stay: August 2015
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My dad and I had a wonderful experience at Joelan's. We chose it because it was the cheapest beach fales that we knew of in Savaii ($60 tala with dinner and breakfast) and not far from the ferry but were very pleasantly surprised and came back for two more nights after leaving for one night to drive around the island. The food was wonderful and there was so much of it. The fish was super fresh and tasty and caught by Sione, the husband of the family running the place. Falesoa, the wife, took wonderful care of us. When she found out that we were vegetarians she immediately had eggs made for as well that were delicious. On Sunday we were given a wonderful lunch with fresh coconuts to drink. At breakfast there was lots of fresh fruit, toast, and either crepes or fried pancakes with everything being delicious. As we were heading out we were offered more coconuts for the road and Falesoa wanted to make sure that we had enough food. We ran into Falesoa at the market before we took the ferry and she insisted on buying us ice cream and eating together which was very sweet. At Joelan's you are right on the water and it is very relaxing. It feels very safe and the whole family running the place is extremely friendly and hospitable. It was hard to stay other places after Joelan's because we just wanted to be back there.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2015
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â The open fales are great and really allow the breeze to come through and make it very...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
On Friday 30/11/2012 we arrived at Joelan Beach Fales and let them know that we want to stayed with them for 3 days.We were given the covered fales at the end,we stayed there as a base for us as we travel around Savaii. As a Samoa living in New Zealand for 22 years I found the place very affordable,beautiful on the beach and on top of that the service, the staff were very very friendly.We had a good time with everyone while we at Joelan B/Fales,we will be back at 2013 with our kids to stayed a bit longer.I recommend Joelan Beach Fales to anyone that look for a real Samoa experience.To the owners, ( Falesoa and Lilomaiava) well thank you for looking after and everything,may be next time I will have few more beers with Lilo lol. Faafetai lava,a couple from South Auckland New Zealand..Soifua.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2012
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed here for a week and had a really wonderful stay. Fales and facilities are clean and basic. Right on the beach with the ocean lapping underneath you which was the perfect lullaby to get you to sleep (although others there complained it was too loud and that they needed ear plugs!). The beach is short for walks but there are good sandy parts amongst the coral making it perfect for swimming.
Apart from a sight seeing trip around the island there isn't much to do which makes it perfect for zoning out from your own every day crazy life with swimming, sleeping, reading etc... People staying here were either basing themselves there for a week or so or stayed a night or two as they drove around the island.
Food is good - they mix it up a bit brekkie is fruit and bread or pancakes or eggs. If I had a sleep in they bought the food to the fale! They throw in lunch as well - usually soup and dinner was a mix of local dishes and Chinese. Other guests had dietary issues and they were very obliging with their requests. Bring your wine and beer (stop at supermarket near the ferry) and they'll pop it in the fridge. There are small shops in each direction from the property for snacks if you need them. Food in fales needs to be in sealed containers or you'll attract animals. The breeze off the ocean meant the mozzies weren't really an issue but I used the spray a few times and slept under the net.
We were treated like family and were very well cared for. We were invited to attend the grandfather's 80th birthday which was very special.
I'd recommend Joelan Beach Fales to anyone. I'll head back next year fore sure to say. Brilliant spot to do nothing but relax.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2012
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Â All rooms are good - and quiet. The ones near the big eating fale are quiet - it's a low key...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Auckland Central, New Zealand10 contributions1 helpful vote
Hi, other travellers that were at joelans had come there after having bad experiences at other places. We loved joelans for the beach and the family vibe with the best food 3 times a day included in cost. It was really cheap. I highly recommend . Give them a call on the landline +6857229588 . I booked a month before.
There are more places to choose from in the Savai'i area.
LOCATION
SamoaSavai'i
NUMBER OF ROOMS
8
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
