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Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa combines luxury and comfort with the natural splendour of the beautiful island of Upolu, Samoa. A white, sandy beach and breathtaking, tranquil blue waters provide the perfect setting for this stunning boutique retreat surrounded by exotic tropical flowers and lush greenery. Nestled within a secluded sheltered bay just one hour’s drive from Faleolo International Airport.
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Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa is renowned for its unique atmosphere and cultural events, such as the highly regarded FiaFia night, which many guests feel provides excellent value. The staff receives accolades for their friendliness, although some travelers note occasional service lapses.
The resort's amenities, including a variety of rooms, outdoor showers, and a pool with a swim-up bar, are frequently praised, as is the overall cleanliness and maintenance of the property. While the location is celebrated for its scenic beauty, a few find it a bit isolated, and some services, like drinks, can be pricey.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Lively
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Well-appointed
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My family and I had a great 10 day holiday at the resort. We were fortunate enough to be upgraded to the Family Ocean View Bungalow with the outdoor shower (don't knock it until you try it). Positives from our holiday included, having Toga (Lou's cat) come and visit, feeding the fish under the jetty, the variety of foods available at the breakfast buffet, kayaking, snorkelling.
I would describe the resort as a boutique resort, it wasn't crowded whilst we were there. Not sure what the occupancy rate was at the time but neither the beach, pool or restaurants ever felt crowded.
We rented a car twice from the resort and found getting around the island easy. The speed limit is about 55kph and many of the locals drive slower so be patient. The road conditions are fine but it is only 1 lane each way outside the capital.
We also did a day tour out to Namua Island. We did see a turtle on the way across to the island, and the snorkelling was great as well as the BBQ lunch put on for us (additional $15WST/person).
For a family of 4 our bill at the end of 10 days was less than $5,000WST including all drinks, food, excursions, car hires. We aren't big eaters or drinkers though. Generally we would eat lunch from the snack bar menu, and dinners would be an entree/snack bar menu plus a dessert.
Tips if you do go to Samoa;
1) aerogard and stingose, it is the tropics and there are mosquitos. 2) when the path was wet, I had better grip with my bare feet than in my thongs. 3) take reef shoes, there is a lot of old coral in the lagoon (nice to see the new coral growing) 4) visit the To Sua trench, an amazing experience. 5) take a slice of bread from breakfast and feed the fish 6) try something new (I really enjoyed the poke, the lamb curry, and variety of different donuts for breakfast) 7) The cultural talk and Fia Fia night
Small things for improvement, the water park wasn't up and they didn't label the dishes at breakfast. For me it was fun to try new things but my kids wouldn't try anything that they didn't know what it was.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip 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.
Response from Lou562014, Guest Relations Manager at Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa
Responded 7 Feb 2020
Malo lava, First of all we would just like to say thank you so much for your warm tenderhearted care for Toga (Lou's Cat). Second of all we would like to thank you for your glowing and very informative review! Thirdly we would like to thank you for you constructive improvements! We will be sure to action the labeling at breakfast! We look forward to seeing you back here in the future! Kindest Regards, From you Saletoga Family, Toga, Spa and Sandy! (meeow) TDA-HR
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The kids pool and playground is excellent, so handy to have a full fenced area. It was great for our 13 month old.
A van with aircon would be great, the over hour long trip to and from the airport was sweltering.
The food and drinks at the restaurant are expensive, expect NZ cafe/restaurant prices. The food is similar to what you’d expect at a pub. Dinner service doesn’t start until 6pm which is tricky when you have a little one that needs an early dinner, this meant we ate off the all day menu the whole time which got a bit tired. The breakfast buffet is OK, nothing wow but was fine. The cocktails were very expensive and hit and miss, some of the team did not know how to make cocktails so they were very random.
My husband and I had multiple massages, they were outstanding, better than at home!
Excellent resort for families, we would not come here for an adults only trip.
Our luggage didn’t arrive with us and the resort was great at helping to sort this out and got our bags for us from the airport a few days after we arrived.
We stayed in a lagoon view family bungalow. We had a great spot with our own private beach access and the room had plenty of space. The aircon was god sent. The extra room was very useful so that we could put the baby down for naps and early to bed without disturbing him. The tiled floors were very slippery when wet, we had lots of near misses and almost nasty head knocks so be cautious of this, especially with little ones.
Overall we loved our stay and highly likely we’ll be back as a family again!
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip 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.
Response from Gavin Brightwell, Owner at Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa
Responded 22 Jan 2024
thanks for the great responce
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We spent a wonderful time at Saletoga Sands. The New Zealand owners Gav and Lou, who are very concerned about the well-being of their guests, have turned this resort into a tropical paradise with very friendly staff. Unfortunately, the beach suffered a lot due to a cyclone. We can only recommend the very spacious and clean beachfront bungalow with an outdoor and indoor shower. From our terrace you had a wonderful view of the sea and the jetty, as well as the amazing sunsets, and you were just a few steps away from the crystal clear water. Unfortunately, there was no internet in the bungalows, so we were happy to be able to visit the beautiful pool area, which also offered WiFi, a few meters behind our bungalow. WiFi is also available in the lobby and restaurant area. The a la carte food was very tasty, and there were also various theme nights such as pasta night or the typical Samoan FiaFia night every Wednesday with a great buffet. Breakfast was included and good, egg dishes could be ordered for an extra fee. It should also be mentioned that all the garden lighting is turned off at 9:30 p.m. and after this time you need the flashlight on your cell phone to get to your beachfront bungalow, which is at the other end of the resort. There is also the option of renting kayaks, paddleboards and snorkeling equipment for free.
As Saletoga Sands is somewhat remote, we recommend renting a car to explore the island, which you can also rent on site, like the scooters. The infrastructure outside of Apia, however, leaves a lot to be desired in some parts. You have the opportunity to visit other beautiful beaches nearby, as well as the popular To Sua Ocean Trench. For souvenirs and other things, we recommend a visit to Apia, which is an hour away, as there is only a small mini-market in the resort and there are hardly any other shops nearby. Organized trips to Apia are also offered weekly at the resort. Due to its somewhat remote location, we decided to spend a few days in Apia, from where you can also take trips to neighboring islands, and to choose the Saletoga Sands in the south to relax. It was the perfect choice for us!
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Beachfront bungalow is beautiful!
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.
As returning locals taking visitors to lunch here was very disappointed in service and quality of meal.The restaurant boasted an all day menu however staff appeared totally disinterested in serving us while they set up for dinner around us.We had to ask several times for a table cloth,menus,drinks even glasses for our drinks that were given to us in bottles..When the meals did arrive some of the ingredients was missing from the nachos so when requested was brought out separately.The burgers (charged at $45) comprised of a chicken patty !!! and piece of lettuce (nothing else) and some very cooked fries.I would not recommend going all the way to this resort for a meal and those staying save up for your meals !!!
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Date of stay: December 2019
Location
Service
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.
Response from Lou562014, Guest Relations Manager at Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa
Responded 7 Feb 2020
Talofa lava, This is not our standard we pride ourselves on our friendly warm customer service. We will be sure to pass this feed back on to the team. Regards, From Management at Saletoga Sands Resort TDA-HR
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Attended this resort for our Wedding Anniversary and it was the most disappointing experience we have had in over 40 years of international travel. The food was not to that standard we expected and the resort was a long way from any attractions. Cost of tours was excessive and the hire of cars also expensive when compared to other outlets in Apia. The staff were friendly and helpful. The menu remained the same for our entire stay only punctuated by a local night on the Wednesday which was interesting. If travelling to Samoa which is a lovely island, Stay closer to Apia.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â Stay Closer to Apia
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.
Response from Lou562014, Manager at Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa
Responded 7 Mar 2020
Malo lava, Thank you for your review. We are saddened to hear you didn't enjoy your stay. We are fortunate to be on the beautiful South Coast surrounded by beautiful attractions for example the To Sua Trench, Togitogiga Waterfall, Vavau Beach, Sopoaa Waterfall, Lalomanu Beach and more. That we hope you got out to see. Our Tours and Car Hire when converted in NZD is reasonable priced and on par with other places. We usually have such good feedback about our food. On top of our extensive menu we do run daily specials, as well as our themed nights for example the FiaFia Night on Wednesday and BBQ night on Saturday. We hope to see you again and that you enjoy your stay. Many Thanks, From your Saletoga Sands Family
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My husband and I started our holiday in Samoa with 7 nights at this beautiful resort. The gardens and resort grounds are immaculately kept. We stayed in a beautiful beachfront bungalow which had a large very comfortable bed, lots of room and a well appointed bathroom with a fabulous outdoor shower which we used every day. Amazing view from our lovely balcony and we snorkelled every day in the beautiful sea right in front of our room. The resort is also a very short drive to To Sua Ocean Trench which is a must see while in the area. The staff could not have been more friendly or helpful. The meals were lovely, though a change in the breakfast dishes every few days would be great. The massages I had were heavenly. Overall we had a fabulous stay and will definitely return here next time we are in Samoa and will recommend to our family and friends.
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Date of stay: November 2022Trip 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.
Response from Gavin Brightwell, Owner at Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa
Responded 8 May 2023
thanks for your great review , we are always trying to create new idea's for our breakfast menu , in fact we have had many additional items added to the breakfast table since your holiday , hope to see you guys again soon , cheers Gav
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There is much to be said about Saletoga Sands but a few things stood out.
On a positive note the staff were very friendly and always helpful, the grounds are well appointed and kept, the rooms are spacious and well equipped. The Fia Fia and BBQ nights were real treats and great entertainment as well as value for money. The snorkeling was amazing and the kids absolutely loved the pool and facilities. The spa treatments were also great.
On the flip side, I found the owner quite dismissive, even though the write up says to engage and strike up a conversation; I did not see this happen once while we were at the resort. The restaurants food is tasteful but extremely limited for choice and drinks are quite expensive for what they are. Especially since you are fully dependent on the resort as there are no other restaurants or supermarkets nearby. This could also be better managed by informing guests of this situation on their website. The gym had no AC even though it was a near constant 30°C and 80% humidity which made for an unpleasant workout. There were also no sweat towels available. Towels for the pool had to collected from reception on a daily check in and check out basis. Our Lagoon Charges for room service was unexpected.
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Avoid the owner as she can be a little dismissive. Take lots of sunscreen as there are no local...
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.
Response from Gavin Brightwell, Owner at Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa
Responded 8 Feb 2024
thanks for the possitive comments as to the negitive firstly we have quite an extensive menu , i am assumming you have just recently stayed as our second restaurant has just been closed due to low occupancy through end of jan ,feb and early march and resumes back in late march ready for high season ,as for drinks i believe are very resonable , from our shop it the same as local shopes $3.50 (aprox $2NZD)per can , a local beer from the bar is $12 (aprox $7.30NZD) , filtered water from our water stationns is free I won't go through the whole list but in my recent trip to NZ i was paying $12 NZD per beer , I think maybe you haven't taken into account the exchange rate . there are other resorts with in 10minutes drive if you prefer to dine elsewhere there prices are at least the same if not more , there are many small stores in the villages were locals buy their essentials some within walking distance or a $5WST ($3NZD) taxi fare . There is no A/c in the Gym and won't be in the future , there are towels in the rooms , the pool towels are collected daily unless guest choice to hang dry and re use , the reason for this is so our laudry staff can wash and dry pool towels over night so as the resort doesn't run out , bringing us wet towels in the morning and wanting fresh towels creates a nightmare for the laundy girls when they are focusing on room linen and room towel and end up with a 150 pool towels to do as well . If you are talking about me personally as manger/owner being dismissive I'm offended , I spend a lot of my time with guests helping out with any issues , i walk about 8.5ks a day around the resort and get to meet a lot of people . I was in NZ from the 30th jan until the 4th feb maybe I wasn't around ? when you were here , unfortunately theres no replacement for me , I built the resort from the ground up , sacrificed many years expanding from 25 to currently 76 rooms and are very passionate about what I have created , I would not jeopardize that . Gav
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Had a lovely 3 nights at this resort - one night in a beachfront villa and two in a garden villa. Beachfront is lovely but would get more people walking by, garden one was bigger and lovely as well, plus more private as no foot traffic going by. The villas are very nicely appointed with a big bathroom plus a very private outdoor shower (as well as the one inside and dual handbasins), rooms are a good size and have tea/coffee making and fridge. No wifi and TV is for running movies that are available at reception. Nice deck area with table at the front. Grounds are stunning and so well maintained. Snorkelling gear available to use in the lagoon and there is a large pool with swim-up bar though the bar was not open at the end of the day. Good shuttle services (extra cost) to/from the airport and good excursions provided to various places and activities of interest, including a day in the capital Apia. Cars and motorbikes available to hire. Fiafia night (buffet including Samoan dishes plus cultural show) is very good value. Helpful staff who work hard to keep everything looking spick and span. All in all, we had a great stay here.
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
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.
Beautiful rooms and grounds well looked after. The snorkeling around the reserve is wonderful and very safe. Most of the staff are great and do a good job. Couple of minor let downs was not being able to get an additional pillow for the room even after requesting it 3 times. The cars that are available to hire are ok, but need some work eg new tires, window wipers etc. The biggest let down was the dinner with show performance. The food was average and barely showcased any local food items. The show was average, biggest problem was that it was impossible to understand the explanations as it was not loud enough. Large parts of the performance is on the floor, so unless you are seated right next to the dance floor it's impossible to see and watch it. The fire dancing was nice but extremely short. It would be a good investment to get a portable stage that can be put up on these nights. A stand out was the restaurant manager Inah, who did an outstanding job leading her team, leading by example and providing excellent service every night. Overall we had a nice time and I would come back and recommend to others.
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip 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.
Response from Gavin Brightwell, Owner at Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa
Responded 8 May 2023
Thanks for the review , yes the show was not to the same as pre covid , I think only 2 of our original dance team were in that show , our MC and many of them went off to fruit picking in NZ , but the show is amazing now with our new MC and polished team , took a while but they are back , the food is amazing as well with some additional chefs , we had limited chefs and have only recently been able to open up both restaurants , finding staff has been a nightmare for us but we are back to 110 plus staff although more than 70 are new recruits they are pulling their weight and are full of enthusiasm , Gav
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Pros: Resort and garden were beautiful, Room was big and clean, Pool bar and happy hours each day, Free gear to hire, Tours on offer were awesome,To Sua trench tour was a highlight for us! Our 4 year old was able to get down the ladder and swim so would highly recommend for kids, BBQ night was the best meal wish I got some of those salad recipes!
Improvements: No info on the island, needed a resort map and pamphlets, towel replacement I had to chase the ladies down a few times for clean ones, meals were average but good (could be more authentic, more fresh fish etc)- I’m a foodie lol, staff could be a bit more informed as well I’m not sure if it was the language barrier (eg we hired a car on a Sunday and then found nothing was open anywhere on the island, Maybe staff could have given us a heads up? just seemed a waste of money) Just the little things could be improved to go from good service to great service;
Overall this was an epic holiday for. Our little family! Lots to do for those that like to adventure. Lagoon room was perfect for us
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Date of stay: November 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Don’t hire a car on Sunday, take snacks, don’t miss BBQ night or Fiafia (we missed FiaFia as we...
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.
Response from Gavin Brightwell, Owner at Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa
Responded 8 May 2023
thanks for the great review , yes we are still doing the fine tuning , the team has improved immensely now and we are happy with progress but won't drop our guard and keep lifting the bar , cheers gav
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Christchurch, New Zealand2 contributions4 helpful votes
Hiya - Saletoga sands emailed me a menu prior to arriving. You could email them for the latest menu? From memory around $20-$35 per meal. Similar to NZ prices. The Fia Fia night is more like $80 as it includes the show & large feast.
We are at a few other resorts and Salatoga Sands had more reasonable pricing!
Lower Hutt, New Zealand223 contributions38 helpful votes
Apia Cultural Village: Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 10:30 am, there is a free cultural show and lunch here. There are several stations of traditional craftsmen and workers. The highlight was watching local Samoans get traditional tatau. Cost: Donation-based
There are more places to choose from in the Matatufu area.
PRICE RANGE
$153 - $347 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
SamoaUpoluMatatufu
NUMBER OF ROOMS
25
Prices are provided by our partners, 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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