You can get regular flights to Samoa from Nadi (Fiji), Brisbane, Auckland, and Honolulu. Thereās also flights from American Samoa, but people tend to go there from Apia and back, rather than the other way around.
Know before you go
Sim cards and money exchange are readily available in the airport, even if your flight lands at 3am! Digicell and Vodafone stores will take card payment. The Esims I bought for here (both a Samoa specific one and an Oceania one) did not work.
There are taxis available at the airport, but itās also super easy to book either a private or shuttle transfer through these AutoBots transport. I tried their online booking form and no joy, but they were super responsive on Facebook messenger. Their airport shuttle is 26 Tala ($9 USD), thereās only a short wait for other passengers at the airport, and they drop you direct to your hotel. They can also arrange car hire too!
I had heard everything was closed on Sundays, as is the case in some other pacific islands like Tonga and Tuvalu, but that wasnāt really the case at all! Some stores are closed, but lots of restaurants and convenience stores are open so you wonāt struggle to get food, water, or even a beer!
High quality Sheraton with super affordable prices. Has a pool, bar, cafe, restaurants etc. Really central for Apia town.
Restaurant has a great selection of both local and international foods, alongside cocktails, beers and wines.
A little more basic, but a nice, local run hotel. Staff are super helpful, can do late check-in if you message them in advance, and can help arrange tours. Rooms have fans and AC, and you can get triple rooms.
High quality Sheraton with super affordable prices. Has a pool, bar, cafe, restaurants etc. Really central for Apia town.
Restaurant has a great selection of both local and international foods, alongside cocktails, beers and wines.
Somewhere you must go if youāre heading to Lalomanu beach! Great fresh food, poke and fish and chips here are great. Beers and soft drinks available and direct access to the white sandy beach.
A fresh water cave pool just a 15 minute drive from Apia town. You can swim here in the cool water and admire the natural caves. Popular with local families so head here early to beat the crowds! Entry fee is 5 Tala ($2 USD).
Somewhere you must go if youāre heading to Lalomanu beach! Great fresh food, poke and fish and chips here are great. Beers and soft drinks available and direct access to the white sandy beach.
The main event! The famous To Sua Ocean Trench. The fee is 20 ($7 usd) and you can stay as long as you like. Youāve got to climb down a ladder to get to the water, and there a platform where you can story your stuff. The pool has currents so make sure you can swim!
A home for giant clams - go here at low tide as itās hard to see them at high tide, theyāre quite far out. Entry fee is 20 Tala ($7 USD), would recommend bringing your own snorkel and mask as they donāt have many. Thereās also a change area with a shower here, so itās a great stop if youāre heading straight to the airport after touring the island.
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Tours
If you donāt want to hire a car, there are plenty of tours to Samoa, though they can be a little pricey! Some hotels can arrange them for you, and suggested 300 Tala ($105 USD) was the most reasonable price.
This tour on Tripadvisor has similar pricing and great reviews, and includes all entry tickets to the above sights
I went with autobots who were way more expensive (500 Tala/$175 USD) and didnāt include entry, but I booked super last minute so paid for the convenience. They can do tours on Sundays too.
Hi, Iām Laurie! Iām originally from the UK, though living overseas for the last five years. Currently Iām based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
I am a self-described fast travel addict, and in the last few years Iāve been prioritising visiting as many counties as possible alongside my 9-5 office based job. So far Iām up to 89 countries visited, 60 of those in the last three years, and Iām still counting! This has meant Iāve spent a lot of time planning and designing jam-packed itineraries, and squeezing in as much as possible to weekend trips, public holidays, and multiple country vacation trips! Iāve gathered a lot of tips, recommendations, and google maps pins along the way, that can help other avid travellers save time, see the highlights, and get the best out of their trips.
Iāve gotten particularly good at bringing together info on harder-to-visit places like Timor Leste, Tuvalu, Tonga, and more, and my guides tend to (but not always) focus on these kinds of places. That being said, I do just love sharing great places to see/eat/drink( so youāll find the occasional restaurant/bar and sights guides in some bigger cities too!
