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Hotels |
Pago
Airport Inn
- 20 rooms
- each room has a double and a single bed
- air-conditioner
- TV with cable
- 30+ channels
- CNN, CNNfn, BBC, CNBC, USA
- Lakbay TV (Philippines)
- private bathroom with HOT WATER and
great water pressure
- refrigerator
- phones
- carpeted
- all rooms NO SMOKING
- Nice balcony with free coffee
- About 1 mile from the airport (Probably
$1-3 in a taxi)
- Convenient to most restaurants including Mc
Donald's
- About 1 block from Friendly Rental Cars
- US $75 for single
- (684) 699-6333 Fax: (684)
699-6336
- pagoairportinn@samoatelco.com
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Rainmaker:
- Once upon a time this was probably a good
hotel. I was fooled by a photo of the place and booked
into this place.
- The Lonely Planet says "The
government run Rainmaker has a reputation as one of the
worst hotels in the South Pacific."
- Lots of rooms
- Single with TV is $85 per night.
- was discounted to $76.50 because they
had NO hot water
- Room had sliding glass door that would not
lock
- Central air-conditioning unit quickly froze
up and dripped/spit water onto the carpet and bed.
Never cooled the room.
- Swimming pool closed day & night.
Sign wired permanently to stairs.
- Reception said tap water wasn't drinkable
although the water supply on the rest of the island is
supposedly OK. Mineral water is not available at the
hotel.
- I did hear on the radio that a California
firm was negotiating to take over the hotel. If they
do it may be worth considering in 1-2 years.
- I'm not listing any phone numbers because
you should not stay here unless you hear it is under new
management.
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MOTEL
MOTU-O-FIAFIAGA
- Downtown Pago Pago
- air-conditioned
- Cable TV
- Exercise room
- e-mail services
- Mexican Food
- Cocktail Lounge
- 633-7777 Fax: 633-4767
- Above info from Phone
book.
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I believe this
is the correct photo based upon the description in the phone
book. It did not have a visible sign outside, just one
that said "Hotel"
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Herb
& Sia's
- 10 rooms (island style)
- In the heart of downtown (on the
hillside)
- phone 633-5413
- Above info from Phone
book.
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More choices
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| I
saw this in the airport on departure. It is just past the
golf course heading west. Nice area IF you have
transportation
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DINING:
DOWNTOWN:
All but
Val's close at 5 or 6 pm
BILLY'S
CAFE:
- Open early for breakfast. Closes at 6 pm.
- In big shopping center on the water in the heart
of downtown
- Decent meals, very big selection (lots of items
listed on the walls that are not on the menu.
- Friendly staff.
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VAL'S
- This was the only place I could
find open the night I arrived in Pago Pago. If
you arrive late and you decide to go into town, get
the taxi to stop at Mc Donald's if you are hungry.
- The food here was not too good!
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| MOM'S:
Closes most nights, except Friday,
by 6pm. Went by several times when it was open and
never saw any customers. |
| INTERNET
CAFE: Packed
with customers at breakfast time. Must be
good. Selections included omelets, ham & eggs,
sausages, steak & eggs, burgers, beef stroganoff,
and lots more. Never got a price for internet
use because nobody there knew when I asked. Closed
very early afternoon on Friday, not sure it that was
normal or not. |
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| FILIPINO
FAST FOOD: Small
diner located across the street from the bus terminal
(close to Val's). Also closed late afternoon. |
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| NEAR
AIRPORT: Most
of the better selections are closer to the airport than in Pago
Pago
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| GETTING AROUND:
Bus: Busses leave the bus
terminal near the market every few minutes. These are all trucks
modified into buses. The busses stop running before 6 pm.
Rental Car: I walked for the
first night and then decided to rent a car. One day is enough to
see most of the island. Highly recommend road from Aua to Vatia.
Great view of Pago Pago harbor from the top of the pass. Great
scenery on the north side near Vatia. See TAI at
Oceania Travel & Tours in the Rainmaker Hotel, Phone:
24443/22552. She gave me $65 a day including insurance on a fairly
new car.
NOTE: Almost
90% of the side roads that cross from the south side of the island to the north or the
center of the island are marked as AmSamoa 006. |
| INTERNET CAFES:
Only
found one internet cafe in building next to National Park Service
visitors center. The place is packed with people eating breakfast
until about 9:30 am. It has one computer and the first time I went
at breakfast time, nobody knew how much to charge. Went by again
on Friday about 3 pm and it was already closed for the day (or the
weekend?). (See photo above under DINING.) |
| LAUNDRY:
There are American style Laundromats
(with washers & dryers) all over the island. |
WHAT'S GOOD:
- Large french fries and the double quarter pounder @
Mc Donald's
- The American polish sausage and pizza at Dickie's
Diner (see above)
- an American Post Office to mail accumulated items
back to the USA
- Rental car from Oceania Rentals ($65 including
insurance). Goon new car with great mileage.
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WHAT'S NOT SO GOOD:
- Almost everything closes before 6 pm
- The Rainmaker Hotel
- The smell from the tuna processing plants.
Usually only near the plants except on "bad tuna days"
when the wind is coming across the bay.
- Walking/hiking. It is very hot and
humid.
- The lack of people/services at the airport upon
arrival from Apia. [Photo of
arrival area] Apparently due to the attacks in the USA
only ticketed passengers can go to the airport. When I went to
depart we were stopped 2 blocks from the airport and told we
couldn't take our car to the airport. When I told the police I
didn't want to walk he just said "OK, drive on in, but don't
stay long."
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WHAT TO DO:
- Sightseeing
- Snorkeling? Never saw anyone snorkeling or
swimming. Best areas looked like the beach between Vita &
Afono.
- Shopping at Cost-U-Less. Everything 30-40%
lower than the regular stores on the island, but no customers. No membership required, but
many items in large packages suitable for businesses. Snacks
not too big for tourists.
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[Photos
from around American Samoa]
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![[Photo of arrival area]](images/am_samoa/p1011303.jpg){kind=link}