House of travel Samoa & Vanuatu Brochure 2017 | Page 13

Upolu Accommodation
Return to Paradise Resort
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The name says it all! The resort has a dream-like setting by a famous
beach and coral lagoon – a location chosen many years ago for a
romantic film starring the legendary Gary Cooper.
The resort was planned to blend into the area’s natural beauty and
provide top standards of accommodation and service. Rooms feature
hand-carved poles and mouldings, hand-smoothed marble tiles and
luxurious silks. Each has a private balcony, deck or verandah, angled to
catch every one of those stunning South Seas sunsets.
The resort was selected for MasterChef 2014 and the main restaurant,
Paradise Kitchen has international chefs and has won the 2016 Prime
Ministers cup award for culinary excellence – best new dish. The “Gary
Cooper Lounge” is a fully air-conditioned meeting/board/function
room. Two of the three bars also serve food and there is a wide range
of leisurely activities to enjoy including snorkelling, weekly cultural
evenings, a traditional village walk, and star gazing – just to name a
few. There is also an 18-hole golf course 30 minutes away, picturesque
villages and caves to explore. Apia is 40 lazy minutes away, while the
airport is 20 minutes.
Beachfront Units
The area around Return to Paradise is home to some of Samoa’s most
ancient banyan trees; you’ll see them towering above the rainforest
canopy. There are mineral pools, masses of lush gardens, and a lagoon
teeming with colourful reef fish. The sands are silvery, the water is
warm, and the service is superb; yes, this resort wants its guests to
experience true tropical heaven.
And the name of that romantic old Gary Cooper film? ‘Return to
Paradise’, of course.
There are a multitude of activities at this resort, but one thing not to
miss is the guided snorkelling tour to see the colourful giant clams
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