The famous Scottish writer and poet Robert Louis Stevenson is a part of Samoa’s history. He is now remembered in everything from a pleasant low alcohol beer to the Tanoa Tusitala Resort.
By Roger Childs
The Tusitala Resort came highly recommended and lived up to expectations. Behind the reception is a portrait of Stevenson and a staff member readily obliged in posing beside it!
The location of the resort is very central, being close to the waterfront and to the right out the main gate is just 1.5 km from the centre of Apia.
Turning left from the entrance there are at least three eating places with 300m and across the road there it is a 100 — 150m walk across the grass to the seawall and the main bus station. A pathway by the seawall of about 3km in either direction, takes you either into town or past a number of historical memorials.
Comfortable with highly accessible facilities
The rooms at Tanoa Tusitala are spacious and comfortable. You get a king size bed and plenty of space around it for storing your luggage and clothes, and relaxing. There is a safe, should you need it, and a deck which is very handy for quickly drying clothes in the tropical temperatures. There are also a number of television channels including SKY Sport.
The staff are very friendly and obliging, and appreciate a Talofa greeting.
It is a short walk from the apartments to reception, the breakfast area, the bar and the 15m swimming pool. The pool area is occasionally used for wedding photographs, There are attractively presented gardens alongside the covered ways and excellent examples of the distinctive Samoan carving above you.
Breakfasts are served in an area close to the pool and are excellent. There are plenty of cooked dish options and different tropical fruits like the delicious papaya and finger bananas to go with your cereal and yoghurt. The service is first class and people like the friendly Imo circulate with top-up coffee.
Evening meals can be obtained from the bar area.
A range of amenities
There is shop selling local craft items close to reception and an office where you can book tours around the island and organize transfers. There is even a small gym.
In the front grounds there is a large flat area available for receptions and while we were there a marquee was erected for a farewell to the Manu Samoa rugby team prior to its departure for the World Cup in France.
There is also a large indoor reception area available too.
Tusitala is a very comfortable base with all the facilities for a holiday on the island of Upolu.