r/Samoa • u/Threedawg • 12d ago

Trying to decide how to spend three days on American Samoa, Tutuila or Ofu

My wife and I are doing a South Pacific trip next year and we want to visit the national park in American Samoa.

We are wondering if we want to stay at a place like Tisa's Bar or just fly to Ofu on Tuesday and fly back on Thursday.

We really want to see and experience the national park, would love hiking and snorkeling. And honestly Vatoa lodge on Ofu doesnt look bad at all!

We only have a few nights as we will then be spending four more nights on Samoa and then another few on Fiji.

Is Tisa's bar a great time and is the national park great on Tutuila? Or should we skip Tutuila mostly and just go to Ofu?

9 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

2

u/colombian-neck-tie 12d ago

Go to Ofu, Tutuila is a shithole

1

u/Threedawg 12d ago

This would unfortunately mean missing the national park on Tutuila, is that part of the park better?

2

u/OrchidSea1836 12d ago

The national Park on Tutuila is underwhelming. You can extend you afternoon on Thursday after your flight back from Ofu and before heading to Western Samoa if you want to see the park office, but I cannot stress enough how everything you want to see and do is on Ofu. Been twice, going back in January

3

u/maverix2 12d ago

Come to the Cook Islands instead 🫡

1

u/Threedawg 12d ago

No american national park, otherwise we would! Next time!

2

u/OrchidSea1836 12d ago

OFU OFU OFU

And if you can, extend to Thu-Tue - you'll quite literally have the park to yourself. Vaoto Lodge has a new website and booking portal, too!

Buy your flights early! If you need to email, I had better luck getting an email reply from the Western Samoa office but better luck getting the American Samoa office on the phone

1

u/OrchidSea1836 12d ago

Just to clarify, both times I have spent time on Tutuila and have had good experiences, but I've never gone to American Samoa for less than a week and always spend at least four nights on Ofu. Favorite restaurant is at Sadie's (the new one, not the old one), Goat Island Cafe - really good Oka. Tutuila has it's charms, but everything you think you will see there you won't, it's all on Ofu. Best beach in the South Pacific, period. 

1

u/Threedawg 12d ago

Even though ofu is only a few square miles?

We would love to do four total days, but we only have three.

Also, how are the people/food options on Ofu? Is there going to be anything to do besides beach and snorkle?

Would we need to rent a car on Tutuila if we were there for three days?

2

u/OrchidSea1836 12d ago

All of American Samoa is extremely quiet and rural. But yes, you arrive on Tuesday morning and you already need to start exploring the park, because you leave early Thursday morning, you essentially have exactly 48 hours there. Most people's opinion of American Samoa and the national park skew negative precisely because they chose to spend either all or the majority of their time on Tutuila, which again, it has its charms but... just go look up pictures of Ofu and you'll see what I mean

1

u/OrchidSea1836 12d ago edited 12d ago

There isn't much to do on Tutuila besides hike TBH, so Ofu technically has double the attractions 🤣 

Also no there aren't any restaurants on ofu, but Vaoto can answer your question about how food works while you're at the lodge. The population of Ofu is like ~100. Have you read many reviews of the national park or people who have been to Ofu? 

1

u/Threedawg 12d ago

I have read a few, still in early planning stages for a trip in june/july

1

u/OrchidSea1836 12d ago

You're definitely ahead of the time curve then, but - to be a broken record - as long as you have a reservation at Vaoto booked, flights to Ofu booked, and your flight into Pago booked plus a hotel for that night (Tradewinds, book early!) you are truly golden!! Start planning Western Samoa!!

Last thing - the weight limit on the Ofu flight is no joke. It is a fixed wing plane. If you need, Tradewinds will store a bigger bag for you and you can take a small one to Ofu. 

1

u/Threedawg 12d ago

How worried should I be about flights to ofu getting canceled? Does that mean being stuck on the island until Tuesday?

1

u/OrchidSea1836 12d ago

It's an infrequent occurrence. There are something like 15 flights onwards to Western Samoa each day so if you did get delayed a day (cos they would probably send the Ta'u flight which goes MWF to pick people up) you wouldn't have trouble getting to Upolu. 

1

u/OrchidSea1836 12d ago

But also American Samoa is the edge of the earth. There are two our three flights to Hawaii a week, a few connections from Apia to Fiji, and one flight from Apia to Hawaii a week. If a plane gets cancelled, the whole island waits for the next one. That said, I can't think of anywhere better to be stuck :-)

1

u/684Inspired 11d ago

Don’t be worried but be very aware that it happens. And is not uncommon, though your flight into Pago likely has a higher likelihood of being delayed, possibly up to 24 hours. Don’t go to Ofu if you can’t fathom having your flight plans change without any control. 😊

1

u/684Inspired 11d ago

Yes you would want to rent a car on Tutuila otherwise you will only see what the guy trash talking Tutuila is talking about.

1

u/Choohooo 12d ago

Likely an unpopular opinion here but I’d skip American Samoa altogether. Upolu and Savaii are gems. Tutuila is what happens when American culture and welfare mix with a third world country. The park isn’t particularly special. It wouldn’t even exist if there weren’t a bat species to protect.

1

u/Threedawg 12d ago

I have heard this, but our main goal is to visit every national park, so it looks like we will he spending time in Ofu!