Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa

Snorkelling starts a few steps from the door here. Saletoga Sands sits on Samoa's south coast, its beach shielded by an offshore reef that quiets the surf to a background hum. The resort grew from an old coconut plantation, bought by a New Zealand couple who still run it, and their hand shows in details like locally crafted furniture and mahogany floors. Twelve beachfront villas stand right on the sand, each with an outdoor shower and a deck that opens straight onto the view. Ten deluxe family villas offer nearly 60 square metres of living space, split into a lounge and a separate bedroom, with a private courtyard shower behind. Fifteen adults-only exclusive villas sit further back among coconut palms and frangipani, reached by a garden path that runs to the sea. For those wanting value, fourteen hotel rooms and ten lagoon-view bungalows sit on the calmer lagoon side, near the pool slides and the Landing Bar. Two pools, three restaurants and three bars cover the rest of the day, and a Samoan-style chapel hosts weddings under its open timber roof. A gym and a spa round out the grounds, the latter built around Polynesian massage. Tours run daily from reception, and a handful of resident cats have become part of the furniture. Car hire is available on site.