TANU BEACH FALES
Our Resort Report
OUR Thoughts on Tanu Beach Fales. Manase Village, Savaii
If you have visited Samoa you will have seen these rustic buildings on the beaches comprising natural wood construction on a raised platform with a Samoan-style roof and open sides with woven ‘blinds” for privacy and shelter from the elements. (If you haven’t yet ventured to Samoa you will have certainly seen pictures of beach fales). With the advent of village-based tourism, visitors can now enjoy the experience of staying in these remarkably comfortable and uniquely Samoan accommodations. The Tanu Beach Fales property offers such an experience.
The Tanu family provide a delightful Samoan experience to those travellers seeking a real break from a traditional resort-style South Pacific Island holiday. Those people who have experienced beach camping, as a child or adult, will have an inkling of the wonderful atmosphere and enjoyment factor of a beach fale holiday.
Tanu Beach Fales have a very welcoming central facility with an entertainment area, a family/guests dining area, a small shop and a more recent addition - a bar which opens in the evenings where Pina Coladas are the signature cocktail!. You will find clean and well-maintained communal showers and toilets and while the showers are cold water only, the water is not really all that cold. The fales come with sheets for the mattresses, but if you follow the “camping” analogy you will probably bring your own soap, towel, facecloth, dry and canned snacks, sun-screen, torch etc. Something to brush the sand off feet and legs before you get into bed is also worth including in your packing.
The modest tariff at Tanu Beach Fales includes tropical breakfast (lots of fruit) and dinner daily. Meals are taken communally seated at long tables with family members and fellow guests. Food is simple and plentiful and very acceptable. The fact that the meals are family-style with no menu choice adds to the relaxed, sharing atmosphere.
If you incorporate a Saturday night into your stay you get to experience one of the most enjoyable fia fia nights you will find anywhere in Samoa. You will probably want to “stay put” once you settle in to Tanu Beach Fales as the atmosphere and the surroundings are just so relaxing and inviting. Tanu Beach Fales provide options for excursions to nearby waterfalls and blowholes etc if you feel the need to explore. It’s also worth noting that staying here, you are in the middle of Manase Village which means there are opportunities to try local eateries – there are good fish and chips and pizza outlets nearby – and if you decide you need a change of main dining venue any time, Stevensons at Manase Resort is right next door.
What Tanu Beach Fales Say About Themselves:
“Located along the popular white sandy beaches of Manase village. A hostel in a family beach setting. Love of family and friends is the number one priority at Tanu Beach. Owned by high chief Tanu, visitors are treated to a wealth of Samoan cultural and traditional experience”
Your Accommodation Options
Tanu Beach Fales offer 38 Beach Front Fales and 8 “Units”. The Units are back nearer the road and in our opinion are mainly used when school groups stay during school holiday periods. If you are seeking a traditional “beach fale” experience, then staying in an actual beachfront fale is really what you come here for. The Beach Fales are spread out along the beach frontage – some a little further back than others, but all in good positions for the beach and ocean views. Like many natural beaches, the actual beach constantly changes year by year and season by season. The beach at Manase is a perfect tropical setting although the thickness of the sand varies with the seasons. Sometimes the sand is almost level with the land on which the fales are located and sometimes this amazing beach is accessed down a few wooden steps in front of the fales.
Fales are simply a raised beach platform with a high Samoan-style roof. Woven coconut frond panels, a natural form of blinds, fold down from the sides of the roof all around the fale for privacy. These woven panels are an open-style weave which lets in the breeze and keep out the rain when closed. Mosquito nets are hung over the beds and are needed, especially on calm nights. The platform on which the mattresses sit is raised above the sand so that air can circulate to aid natural cooling. There is neither electricity nor a bathroom in the fales, the communal shower and toilet block is located behind the row of Beach Front Fales.
Room Categories
Beach Front Fales
Maximum Occupancy: 3 Adults or 2 Adults & 2 Children
Existing Bedding: 1 queen mattress and 2 single mattresses or 3 singles.
Additional Bedding: No additional bedding is accommodated.
Getting To and From Tanu Beach Fales
Depending on your final itinerary, we will arrange transfers to suit between Upolu and Tanu Beach Fales on Savaii in your package arrangements.
Kids’ Policy
Little Kids Stay & Eat Free
Children aged under 4 stay/eat (breakfast and dinner) free of charge.
Children aged 4 to 11 years inclusive stay/dine (breakfast and dinner) at a discounted rate
Check-in/Check-out
Check in time is 1:30pm
Check out time is 11:00am
The information on this page is correct as at 17 February 2023 and is based on our supplier contracts which are valid for stays to 31 March 2024. All information shown is subject to change without notice.