American Samoa Holidays & Hotels Guide

American Samoa, located in the heart of the South Pacific, is one of the most beautiful tropical paradises in the South Seas but it i mostly overlooked by tourists asn there are few golden beaches and just one beach resort in the capital Pago.

The beauty of these islands is its virgin forests and marinelands, protectedby National Parks. On Tutuila, huge volcanic calderas form one of the deepest and best-protected harbours in the South Pacific. Half the island chain is still covered with tropical forests and woodlands that are home to wildlife and birds, so there is ample opportunity for nature-lovers to hike deep into the primeval rainforests and search for some of the highest sea cliffs in the world on Ta'u, or a prehistoric star mound, used by ancient chiefs for pigeon hunting.

American Samoa Holidays Overview

An unincorporated territory of the United States since 1900, the largest island is Tutuila where most of the country’s population resides; the Manu’a Island Group, Rose Atoll and Swains Island comprise the rest of the territory of five rugged, volcanic islands and two coral atolls. The islands lie about 200-km to the east of Samoa to which it is culturally and historically attached to.

The only island in American Samoa with a significant population is Tutuila with the capital town of Pago Pago set in a beautiful deep water harbour on the south coast. By American standards, Pago Pago is a ramshackle place with seedy motels and brash American fast-food chains, although the harbour is significantly cleaner than during the 1990s when two massive tuna factories spoiled the environment.

Tutuila Island has a rocky and wild coastline and receives few tourists - those that come do so to visit its three National Parks. The most accessible of these is on the north coast of Tutuila, with a tar-sealed road leading into it from Pago Town, but although the park encompasses much of the north coast, there are only a few walking trails to explore. The park is filled with dense rainforests, populated with tall ferns and breadfruit trees, coconut trees and pandanus. More than thirty species of birds have been observed, including parrots, doves, wild duck and the tooth-billed pigeon, which is only found in American Samoa.

Even more stunning are the two National Parks of the Manu'a Group, with inspiring coastal scenery on both Tau and Ofu islands where razor sharp mountains tumble down to white sandy beaches. The group has only a few small villages and very basic guesthouse accommodation with unreliable communication.

American Samoa Hotels

American Samoa accommodation is aimed primarily at business travellers or visiting Samoans from overseas, with most hotels located in and around Pago Pago. Please view our recommended American Samoa hotels from the links below for detailed information including room interior photos and independent reviews.

American Samoa Accommodation Reviews

American Samoa Travel Info

You will want to time your visit to American Samoa, as it is sometimes hit by tropical cyclones between the months of November and April, especially between January and March. There are four airports, the main one – Pago Pago International Airport on Tutuila, services flights from both Samoa and Honolulu, Hawai'i and if arriving here there are taxis readily available as well as banks and ATM machines. There are also small airstrips on Ofu, Olosega, and Ta'u. You can hire a car on Tutuila, which will grant you the freedom to explore at your leisure, but do take the time to ride on a public bus at least once while in American Samoa – it's an experience that should not be missed.

Hawaiian Airlines operate a twice weekly flight to American Samoa from Honolulu. Otherwise, the only way to reach American Samoa is via its western neighbour, Samoa: Polynesian Airlines fly daily between Apia and Pago Pago or there's a weekly ferry from Apia Harbour which takes around six hours.

For sightseeing holidays in American Samoa, Tutuila Island is a very good option. Although there are no organised tours, car hire is inexpensive and it's easy to get around with two very scenic roads extending either side of Pago Pago Town which itself sits in a stunning bay. Highlights include the American Samoa National Park on the north side of Pago Harbour and pretty Leone Bay along the south west coast.