Aga Reef Resort & Spa

Snorkelling starts steps from the villa door at Aga Reef Resort, on the south coast of Upolu near Lalomanu. Lupe's Lagoon, the resort's sheltered marine reserve, holds parrotfish, clownfish, octopus and turtles over beds of coral, while the outer reef draws snapper, trevally and the occasional eagle ray or reef shark. Guests borrow kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to work the lagoon and coastline, and two resident turtles are often spotted along the way. It is an easy paddle. For those who prefer land, bikes are available for the short ride to Lalomanu beach, three kilometres off, or a complimentary shuttle covers the same ground. Anglers can cast from the ocean side of Meti's Island for bluefin and giant trevally.

Rooms run from Ocean Breeze doubles to waterfront and island villas built with timber walls and private decks; several villas sit directly over the water. All accommodation has air conditioning, a private balcony and kayak use included. The restaurant deck looks over the pool and the reef beyond, and the bar keeps a daily happy hour timed to the sunset. A Samoan Fofo massage, done with coconut oil, rounds out the spa. The resort also runs a coral restoration project in Lupe's Lagoon, begun after the 2009 tsunami damaged reefs along this coast, and guests can join in or visit the local primary school.