Stevenson's at Manase

The location is beautiful and the resort workers were nice, but the place needs major work. Our room smelled so bad it put us off, and the smell wouldn't go away. Cockroaches were crawling in the beds, on the walls, and in the cupboards. The resort itself was only okay and badly needs an upgrade, maybe even to close for repairs. I wouldn't recommend staying here, especially with young children.

The food was average, though there are other places to eat nearby. We stayed for a week and the location was great. It must have been beautiful when first built, but now it needs fresh paint, and the pool needs a proper clean and some tiles put back.

Snorkelling right out front was amazing, and we got to swim with two turtles. There are lots of places to snorkel, so bringing your own gear is a good idea since hiring it from the hotel is expensive. The natural setting and traditional fales made our time enjoyable, but not for the price we paid. The resort is run down and needs a lot of work, even though our room was clean. We had no hot water, and some of the supplied mosquito nets had holes. The food was okay but far too expensive. It might be all right at a lower rate, but it isn't good value at top price.

The friendly, helpful staff and beautiful setting were the best parts. The meals cost a lot and weren't especially traditional Samoan, though the fish crepe entrées were a bargain, delicious, and nearly as big as the mains. The beach was awkward to reach over slippery rocks. A floating pontoon made from a few mussel buoys could help. The place is well past its heyday and badly needs maintenance. While we were there they were replacing part of the deck, so hopefully that's a start. It felt more like staying in a NZ bach than a 3 star hotel.