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Vai Villas is a eco tourism spot in the heart of Lotofaga Village, your self-contained villa is overlooking a natural spring and marine life and only 600 m out to the Safata bay by Kayak. Villas have comfortable queen beds, with the coastal breeze. Or sleep on the open deck with your mossie net listening to the waves and viewing the night sky.
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The owners of Vai Villas Jill and Lua are your absolute quintessential hosts and of an establishment nothing short of an amazing breath of fresh air. If you're looking for something fancy like they have in NZ, the US or Australia, then it's best then that you go there instead. However, if you're looking for something unique, exquisite and exciting then you must not miss the opportunity of this particular fantastic experience. This I must say has got to be the real Samoan experience in every sense of the word.
Thank you so much Vai Villas.
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Date of stay: November 2015
Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Their chalets are perfectly placed on the embankment with a fantastic view
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.
Spent the day along with approx. 50 other people on a Cultural Day Tour, Biking, Kayaking and walking through the local Village watching a Emu preparation of food, Coconut de-husking and of coarse Climbing of the coconut tree was spectacular. Our host Jill and her husband were friendly and very help full. The food was excellent and the entertainment in the evening was some of the best I've seen and considering it was their first time for a large party made it even better.
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Date of stay: September 2017Trip type: Travelled on business
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 husband and I wanted an authentic experience within a village. We were pleasantly surprised by this simple but beautiful little Eco Resort set amongst the mangroves, extraordinary gardens and a natural spring. A priority for us was a comfortable bed. We were so relieved to have just that. It is a family run business and it has a warm family atmosphere. We became immersed in family life and the life of the village. If you are looking for a resort with all the bells and whistles, then you are looking at the wrong place. If you want to experience Samoa in its beautiful simplicity, then this place is for you. The rate in June was 90 tala per person, per night (which included breakfast ). Thumbs up for their meals.👌👍
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Date of stay: June 2016Trip 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.
Think Samoa is all about the beaches? Think again. And spend a day kayaking through the lush and thick mangroves around beautiful Vai Villa's. Truly a wonderful experience and something different and off the beaten track. Hosts Jill and Lua have set this up as a community-based social enterprise, creating new opportunities for the local youth and the village residents. Delicious food, locally sourced, can be prepared with a booking in advance. Accommodation is simple but clean and perfectly adequate. Every wooden villa has a balcony overlooking the river. Perfect for relaxing with a good book.
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Date of stay: June 2016
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Only four villa's available. All wooden with a balcony.
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.
Short version: this is a fantastic place to stay, you won't find a better value, and we are incredibly lucky to have found it. Thanks so much Jill and Lua!
The fales are several steps above the standard open beach fale. A private front porch with kitchenette and seating looks out over the waterway and bush beyond, where you can see beautiful sunsets and rare Samoan bird life. We saw the only Pasific ducks in Samoa, kingfishers, herons, an afogata (sp?), a white owl that flew in every night like clockwork, and many others. The bedroom and ensuite are fully enclosed, with a comfortable bed, mosquito net, and fan.
Our hosts, Jill and Lua and their lovely daughters, really welcomed us into the family. We happened to be there during the opening of a new church in town, which the usual cooks were assisting with, so both Jill and Lua took turns with the cooking. They are both fantastic cooks--some island favourites and some Kiwi favourites, excellent home cooked food that was much less deep-fried than a lot of what we found elsewhere. Their younger daughter gave us a great little tour of the village and both girls showed off their award-winning dancing skills on our last night. Jill and Lua both checked in frequently to offer food or excursions to all sorts of different places and activities, both in the village and further afield. Unfortunately my husband and I both picked up a tropical virus while we were visiting the area, but Jill (who is a nurse by training) was incredibly helpful both with treatment and with offering up different food options to bring us back to good health quickly.
Our favourite activity here: taking the kayaks out for a paddle through the mangroves and out to the beach. The reef is a bit too far out for snorkeling but the beach is very quiet other than a few fishermen, and the paddling is easy and fun. So much to explore. Also not to miss: a good soak in the fresh water spring near the main fale.
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Date of stay: February 2016
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.
We stayed with Jill and Lua back in August 2015 when they hadn't been open long. We loved it, it was great to see a different side of Samoa, in the mangroves. The ecological restoration and community buiding that is happening from the lodge is inspiring. My kayak paddle through the mangroves out to the sea was a trip highlight, as was the refreshing dip in the freshwater spring. But without doubt it was the family that made the biggest impression, we felt like we were among old friends. Can't wait to go back sometime. Kate and Jan
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Date of stay: August 2015
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.
A surprise find when looking for a place to rejuvenate after a day's driving. Friendly people, good food. Rates reasonable, comfortable accommodation. Unique setting. Family atmosphere, traditional fales.
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Date of stay: November 2015
Rooms
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.
Newly opened fituafe's indigenous vai villas is a hidden gem on Upolu's southern coast. We stumbled upon it looking for a place to hire a canoe and ended up staying for 2 days. It is amazingly cheap, has beautiful accommodation , amazing food, stunning scenery and wildlife, but what makes vai villas unique is how u are welcomed to engage in the village and the Samoan culture. you are made to feel part of the place. Highlights for us was paddling out to a deserted beach at dawn and making coconut cream for our dinner. visit before everyone else discovers vai villas!
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Date of stay: September 2015Trip type: Travelled with family
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 hotel is located on the fresh water with Mangrove Forest. The buildings and cottages are built with Samoan traditional architecture carefully arranged and spend the night in comfortable bedroom. From the balcony, we can observe fresh water fish and birds playing in and on the water. The hotel has kayaks for the visitors to go paddling in the Mangrove Forest to the beach where Turtle lay eggs. The owner family are most friendly and wonderful to talk with. We can experience Samoan dance night as well.
Relaxing atmosphere and food is great with Samoan tradition. Away from bustle and we can enjoy total relaxation and the nature.
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Date of stay: September 2015
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
Our family of 6 + baby stayed at Vai Villas for two relaxing nights. Lua provides excellent hospitality and the food he cooked us was delicious. The staff were very helpful, occupying our baby during mealtimes. We enjoyed sitting by the lagoon and kayaking to look for turtles. Thanks Lua!
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Date of stay: July 2018
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.
There are more places to choose from in the Upolu area.
LOCATION
SamoaUpolu
NUMBER OF ROOMS
20
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.
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