This hotel is approximately 5 years old. It has all the modern comforts that a typical US hotel chain would have including an outdoor pool, internet cafe, on-site ATM bank machine, laundry, gift shop, hairdresser, spa/massage, on-site restaurant except the hotel has ZERO personality. It would be a lovely place to stay if the rooms weren’t so expensive and the front reception staff were professionally trained and actually provided customer service. Unfortunately that is not the case.
PROS
* Complimentary internet - There are also computers available to use in the hotel cafe. Alternatively you can access free wireless internet in the hotel cafe or lobby area. In the hotel rooms you will need your own computer and access is via Ethernet cable
* Complimentary airport shuttle pick up/ drop off service (anytime) – Be warned, arrange your airport pick up time with the hotel well in advance otherwise you could be standing around waiting for the shuttle service for some time! The hotel is approx 2-4 min drive from the airport (20 min walk)
* Close proximity to the airport, public bus stop (very cheap) and a variety of grocery style stores e.g. Trader Johns. It is also a short walk to a Costco style large supermarket (Warning - US sized everything i.e. large, large, large!)
* Self serve laundry room with coin-operated washing and drying machines (as at 10 Sept 09, $1 USD per load) – either bring your own washing powder or buy some cheaply from the store across the road. The hotel front reception does not stock washing powder/ liquid to sell to hotel guests.
CONS
* Overpriced rooms (internet rate in Sept 09 = $150 USD per night)
* Tired and worn furnishings including in the fitness centre (hotel in need of refurbishment)
* Poorly trained, inexperienced and sometimes rude front of house staff
* Inefficient hotel internet booking system – Q: How are you expected to make a hotel room booking if (i) your internet booking system doesn’t work and (ii) the hotel reception staff refuse to make a booking over the telephone?
* Limited selection at complimentary self-serve style breakfast. For $150 USD per night rate, you’d expect a bit more than a small packet of cornflakes, juice concentrate, coffee, toast and canned peaches
* Overpriced “optional” breakfast menu and poor food presentation ($10 USD = x3 thin strips of bacon and x2 fried eggs that looked like they had been run over by the hotel shuttle van)
* Limited food selection in the hotel restaurant. For an island country with coconut trees in abundance, it is astonishing that Samoan oka (traditional raw fish dish) is served with canned rather than real coconut cream.
SUMMARY
Memorable for all the WRONG reasons. Avoid it like the plague, unless you really have no other place to stay in Pago Pago.