Sadie's by The Sea

Sadies is the best option when vacationing in American Samoa. Their beach is excellent and being close to the ocean with a spectacular view of rainmaker mountains is what we came to AS to see. The room was adequate dize and clean with some conveniences to make simple meals, mini fridge, microwave, toaster and dishes. The attached restaurant had decent food right on the water for reasonable prices. However everything on the property was run down and frumpy. Like much of AS it seems that no one on the island really wants tourism there and everything needs maintenance in what is a very nice building on a beautiful location. Our room developed a leak in the plumbing on the third day and sewage from other rooms filled the floor. Unfortunately this was Sunday so no maintenance person could fix it. The hotel staff offered to move us to another room but it was a double queen room do they constantly reminded us how gracious it was of them to waive the upgrade fees. Grateful not to have an inch of sewage in our room we didn’t complain. We rented a car from the hotel and they picked us up from the airport which was convenient. $95 / day seems the going rate on the island but the car was infested with cockroaches which crawled on your feet while driving and got in our luggage. The car had low pressure in one tire which they told us to fill ourselves at the station and the check engine light was on as well.

We just wrapped up a lovely stay at Sadie’s by the Sea. The staff were friendly and helpful, the restaurant delicious, the second floor views of the harbor and location unbeatable. Contrary to other reviews here, our room was clean and we encountered no questionable fees. In fact, we had to move to the Tradewinds after 4 nights at Sadie’s due to business, and our bathroom at Sadie’s was much cleaner. The airport shuttle was there when we exited customs. The driver was very nice, sharing local places of interest as we drove by and sharing bits of local cultural information. If you want to feel like you are experiencing more of the real island life, stay here. It’s an easy walk to the NOAA Ocean Visitor Center for the Marine Sanctuary and about a mile walk to the National Park Visitor Center. With a car, it’s an easy drive to National Park trailheads and amazing snorkeling. I rated 4 instead of 5 due to 3 issues. First, we did not use their beach. They do not keep it clean from trash people leave behind or that washed up, so it wasn’t very pleasant. The views of the harbor and seeing turtles swimming by were a definite advantage to being near the water. For snorkeling, we instead went to beaches in the National Marine sanctuary where you simply ask permission from the locals who happily agree to let you use the beach as long as it’s not a Sunday. The second issue was that the room was dark. This was probably the biggest issue for me. The lamps provided simply didn’t give enough light, and there are no overhead fixtures. Third, they should state upfront if there is no hot water. We aren’t sure if this was a temporary issue or they don’t have any. It was fine; it’s really hot and humid on the island and a cool shower can be nice after a hike. But it would have been nice to know. If you need a fancy hotel with a lot of amenities, you may want to stay in Tafuna. But if you want a more scenic experience where you can talk to locals and enjoy the island, go with Sadie’s by the Sea.

My recent stay at Sadie’s Hotel in American Samoa was disappointing, mainly due to poor room service. I was surprised when they tried to charge me for “dirty towels and blankets.” This raised concerns about how they handle customer service. When I asked to see their policy on these charges, the staff didn’t provide a clear answer at first. After some back and forth, they eventually refunded me, but the experience was frustrating and showed a lack of communication. Because of this, I can’t recommend Sadie’s Hotel to anyone visiting. The hotel seems to impose questionable charges, which takes away from the overall experience. There are likely better options in American Samoa that focus more on guest satisfaction.

You'll need to temper your expectations if you plan on staying in American Samoa. Sadie's By The Sea is an older property, but it is conveniently located close to the port and about a mile walk from the National Park Visitor Center. The rooms are older and not quite up to modern standards, but the AC worked very well, which is a necessity. The first floor rooms have a porch door that opens directly to the pool and beach area, which aren't quite as nice as in the photos, but still nice amenities. The hotel shuttle (make sure to mention you'll need it when you book) to/from the airport was great - they were waiting for us right outside customs. The entire staff were very friendly and extremely helpful. We were able to add a late checkout for a fee since the Hawaiian Airlines flight leaves just before midnight. The on-site restaurant was a huge highlight with great food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. As long as you aren't expecting a five star resort, you can definitely enjoy your stay here.

Sadie's is an older hotel that needs some TLC. Since your flight to American Samoa arrives at 9:30 at night on Mondays and departs at 11:30 pm on Thursdays, they pick you up and drop you off at the airport. Everything closes down on Sundays in Samoa, so don' t call, no one will pick up the phone. Sadie's is the only hotel on the island that has a private beach and a pool. The beach water was very warm. There is also a restaurant on the premises. Most of the beaches in Samoa are private, if a beach is a must, stay here. Is this a 5 star resort, no, there aren't any in Samoa. Most visitors visit American Samoa to visit the National Park, the island is not set up for tourism. We enjoyed our stay here and would recommend it. Stay on the 2nd floor for a better view of the ocean. There are not any elevators.

Ratings from cruise ship travelers appear to be higher than those who have actually stayed here. Pros - 2nd floor rooms have a great view of the bay. The beach gives good access to a good snorkeling reef. The onsite restaurant is good with prices not unreasonable for the island. It is close to the NP visitors center and closest access to the park. Rooms are decent size and ours was very functional and reasonably clean. Cons - No elevator to second floor if that is an issue. The hotel is an older facility and has not been well maintained. It is clearly in need of renovation. If you are like most National Parks visitors who are used to rather rustic accommodations, you will be fine here. If you aren’t, stay at Tradewinds in town and enjoy your city experience and traffic.

It’s a short walk from the cruise terminal to Sadie’s by the Sea bar and hotel. Cold New Zealand Steinlager or local Samoan Valimia beers were $5 each in February 2024. Food looked tasty but we didn’t try it. Both locals and tourists were eating and enjoying drinks and food in the restaurant. Both indoor and outdoor seating with views of the harbor are available. A public beach can be accessed a short walk further down the road from Sadie’s. To access Sadie’s from the cruise pier, turn left from the cruise port along Route 1. Google maps indicates it’s a 5 minute walk from the cruise terminal. You can also ask to stop here if you are taking a taxi tour of the island.

Most horrible!!! Stay AWAY!!! Mold around the bathroom sink, toilets were NOT cleaned, no pressure in the shower… smell of mold and mildew… to say it was horrible, it was disgusting!!!! On the wall was some splattered liquid… just plain YuCK… can’t believe what they charge and the WiFi, SUCKS!

Mostly, the staff was fine, however we weren't provided fresh towels the first time we requested them. Everything about the facilities is worn and dingy. There is bug spray provided in the room. Overpriced (our local guide named a suggested price rate and we were paying $50 over that) with trash and litter around the premises. Rooms aren't that large and everything's at least 30+ years old. The experience is somewhat sad and depressing as this was likely a nice facility when it was new. Restaurant portions are generous, food is fine but not anything special. Prices not terrible considering you're in a remote location. Stay here as a last resort if you can't find anything else.