Samoa Longhouse at the Poly

[Star Wisher]

HI!

I have booked the DCL land/sea cruise for april 2003. I have reserved the Poly garden view for the land portion. I have found a wealth of info on this board and the links provided....TYVM!

On Tikimans site I have learned the location of the Longhouses and there descriptions . I would like to request the best location relative to the swimming pools as I will be traveling with 2 children who can't get enough of the water. From Tikimans information, it would seem that Samoa Longhouse (wedged in between the 2 pools) would be the best. I have also read that this building has been recently renovated. My question and concern is that it is also listed as a smoking building, while that does not bother me, I will have the 2 kids to consider and Tikiman's site mentioned the hallways as being smoky .

I am wondering if anyone has stayed there and there opinion and/or if anyone has an opinion of the best location for my 2 little mermaids?

Please forgive me if this is a redundant question , I am new here and can't seem to locate an answer with a search.

TIA

Deb

 

[zulaya]

Keep in mind that the layout of the Polynesian is deceptive. If you look at the layout, it looks huge. It actually only takes 5 minutes to walk from one end to the other.

I'd stay away from requesting Samoa as it is smoking and I completely trust Tikiman when he says the hallways are smoky. No amount of convenience is worth that for me at least.

I'd suggest Aotearoa. It's newly renovated and it has beautiful garden views. It isn't far at all from the Volcano pool and only slightly longer walk to the quiet pool. Plus, you are close to the GCH for monorail transport and the restaurants and Captain Cooks for those refillable mugs.

You can also suggest Raratonga which is on the other side of the GCH, but recent reports have been that it is showing it's age a little. I think Niue would be a good location for you, too, as it is currently under rehab and will be done before you get there.

ENd of story: Request Niue or Aotearoa.

 

[rgoble5972]

I have to agree with Zulaya. We stayed in Samoa a couple of weeks ago and even our room smelled of smoke. We were just there for one night so we didn't ask for a different building (I had requested a non-smoking room).

I have stayed in both Niue and Rarotonga and both are very convenient to the pools. In Niue, the rooms on one side face the volcano pool and the rooms on the other side face the quiet pool, so I would say it is slightly more convenient. Both buildings are non-smoking.

Our walk to the pool from Niue was about 20 seconds and our walk from Rarotonga was about 45 seconds--either way, they are very close! Also, both are very close to the Great Ceremonial House and Captain Cooks.

Have a great trip.

 

[CamColt]

In July we requested nonsmoking and ended up in Samoa. At first I was very upset, knowing it was smoking, but figured Id check it out first before complaining. We entered the room, never saw an ashtray or smelled a trace of smoke. I am very sensitive to the smell of it, so for it to not bother me, it couldnt have been bad at all. We were on the 3rd floor(with balcony) facing the volcano pool. Also had a view of the GF, Lagoon, and the Castle if we stretched(all for a garden view price). It was beautiful!
As for the hallways being smokey, we were the 4th room in. We walked up stairs outside and right into our room, so the time spent in the hall was probably about 10 seconds at a time. Not really even time to inhale, LOL! Again, I never noticed anything there, but like I said, we werent there for long.
With that said, I would be hesitant to request Samoa again, only because of how much smoke(even stale smoke on walls, etc...) does bother me, and Id be afraid to chance a very smokey room. However, if it doesnt bother you or your kids, I would say go for it! Samoa is a great long house.
We have also staed in Rarotonga & Tokelau...both were great too. I dont think you can have a bad longhouse there.

 

[Tikiman]

Samoa will be renovated in January 2003. They have not started on it yet. It was very smoky when ever we have been there. I try to go into every longhouse on our trips. They do a great job of de-smoking the rooms (as I have noticed in Tuvalu and the upper floor of Hawaii) but you never know how heavy the smokers before you are going to be on your trip. I think Niue would be good but Tokelau (that is on the other side of the quiet pool) is a great location with larger rooms. The walk from Tokelau to the volcano pool would take you about 2 minutes or less. Not far at all.

 

[Rellik01]

Last February my family and I stayed at Samoa and had a terrific time. Never saw or smelled smoke in halls. We were on first floor where we could walk right out to the ppol thru the sliding glass door in our room. We loved it and our two sons ages 3 and 6 had a ball.