There aren’t too many places in the world that have blown me away quite like Samoa, the scenery is absolutely incredible. I’ve been to other islands in the South Pacific before, but nowhere is as special as Samoa. Travel to Samoa should be on everyone’s bucket list. This guide will talk about the sights, accommodation, transport, food & I’ll tell you about my local experience.

I was traveling with my husband Lawrence & his family, and Samoa being their motherland made this trip even more special. We spent a week exploring the Islands of Upolu and Savai’i and I found this the best to travel in Samoa.

Arriving into Apia international airport you’re greeted with a small group of locals playing music, that and the humid air made me feel instantly relaxed. Once you’ve collected your bags and cleared through customs, it’s about a 45-minute drive (allow an hour with traffic) to Apia.

The official languages are Samoan and English. On Savai’i, English isn’t as widely spoken but this was never a problem, Lawrence could speak a little bit of Samoan or there was always someone around to translate. Everyone we came across on Upolu could speak English. 

The official currency in Samoa is Tala, 1 USD is around 2.50WST. And there are currency exchanges right outside the airport.

The Samoan way of life is simple, peaceful, and very traditional. Locals live in close-knit communities and hold great respect for their elders.

Our week in Samoa:

We landed pretty late into Apia so spent our first night staying at Lawrence’s brother Hotel, Eden’s Edge. We got McDonald’s for dinner, just because it was quick and easy, but I couldn’t believe how expensive it was haha so it was Islander food from then on. 

The next morning we got the ferry over to Savai’i and spent a few days there before heading back to Upolu. We stayed with family for most of the week but did spend two night’s in traditional beach Fale’s (details below).

Compared to Fiji, Samoa is so untouched and not overrun by tourists. With the warm tropical climate, it’s easy to spend a week beach hopping, snorkeling and seeing the sights. We didn’t have access to WI-FI nor were we interested in getting it (local sims were widely available to purchase). One of my favorite things about travel in Samoa is that everywhere you go it’s just simplistically at it’s finest. The natural beauty of the islands is more than enough entertainment. It was easy to see how much pride the locals had for their land, clean beaches well kept gardens, and I very rarely saw any litter.

Travel in Samoa & The Sights To See. 

To Sua Ocean Trench (Upolu): 

Chances are if you’ve googled Samoa a photo of Ta Sua Trench was high on the search result. We spent hours here and it was as amazing as I had hoped. It’s about an hour and a half drive from Apia and cost 20T per adult (kids were cheaper). 

The whole area of To Sua is really big and runs along the coastline. It’s so beautiful with plenty of grass areas or Fale’s to relax on. The trench itself is incredible, to get down you’ll need to climb a very steep, long, and sometimes slippery ladder. Hopefully, you’re not afraid of heights, but I promise it’s well worth it. The water was clear and not too cold. It’s a big swimming hole but can obviously get very crowded, especially when big tour buses arrive!

Piula Cave Pool (Upolu):

Piula Cave Pool is a freshwater swimming hole located close to the ocean, so the whole area is really nice. The water was pretty cold but very refreshing and super clean. You should definitely take your snorkeling mask because the water is crystal clear and there are heaps of fish and a couple of big, friendly eels swimming around.

You may need a map to help find these pools, they’re located just off the main road but the signs weren’t massive and there weren’t any leading up to the turnoff. There is plenty of parking spaces and they charged 20T per car.

Alofaaga Blowholes (Savai’i):

There are heaps of blowholes along this lava shoreline. When the waves come crashing in, the water shoots up so high in the air (I’d say 100m).

Entry to the blowholes is in the Taga village and you pay them a small fee when you arrive. 

We had been told before we left, about locals throwing coconuts into the blowholes and when the water shoots up the coconut goes flying. We never got to see this and were told to stay behind the white line because that’s a safe distance (booo, maybe next time). It was really cool to see though. 

Beaches in Samoa:

Wherever you’re staying, a beautiful beach that is safe for swimming and snorkeling will never be too far away. In Samoa, the local villages own the beach. Once we’d park it wasn’t long before someone would walk over and be asking us for payment. It was generally 20T per car. When I told people back home about this some were really surprised. But I didn’t mind as you’re helping the local community and with the money, the villages always ensure that the beaches are kept clean and many had (working and clean) toilet facilities available.

I’d travel all the way back to Samoa just to visit Lano beach, it was stunning. This beach is on Savai’i.

Accommodation in Samoa:

Most nights we stayed with family in their homes, simple, charming, and comfortable. It was another way to experience the culture and I found it a really special experience.

We also spent one night on each island sleeping in traditional Samoan Fale’s. Wooden structures that have no real walls (some had roll-down blinds), but they’re simple and comfortable. You’ll get a bed covered with a mosquito net and perfectly located on the beach, right next to the waves. 

Savai’i Beach Fale:

On Savai’i, we stayed at Tailua Beach Fales. This is a small family run business, located in the village of Manase. 

Our night here wasn’t pre-booked, another thing I love about travel in Samoa, you don’t need to be completely organized. Lawrence knew there were a few beach Fales in the Manase village, so we went for a drive and came across this quite little property. All of their Fales are beachfront and the staff was lovely and very accommodating. They charged 70T for adults and 35T for children under the age of 11. This price included dinner & breakfast and both meals were a set menu of local food.

It was super quiet when we were there, we had half the property to ourselves. The beach was great for swimming and snorkeling, even for the kids. 

Upolu Beach Fale:

For one night on the island of Upolu, we stayed at Taufua Beach Fales at Lalomanu beach. 

We didn’t pay for this, the owner’s friends with Lawrence’s brother Andy, so it was a beautiful surprise that we’d be spending the night. Taufua Beach Fales offers a number of different accommodation options, there was 5 of us and we all stayed in one beachfront open fale. There are also rooms with ensuite and air conditioning and all rooms included breakfast & dinner. 

We were lucky enough to be staying on Wednesday night, which was one of their Fiafia Nights. After dinner members of the local village perform traditional dances and music. They loved involving the audience so if you don’t want them to pull you on stage, hide up the back. A donation during or after the show was also appreciated as the dancers aren’t paid for this.

Lalomanu is a big beach with plenty of tourists and was absolutely beautiful. The snorkeling off the beach was also amazing. During our first day, the water was relatively flat. But then on our second day, I was snorkeling & thought I was going to die (slight exaggeration)!! I was out by myself and there was a strong undercurrent. It got to a point where I could hardly control where I was going. I got my legs moving and swam as hard as I could back to shore. So be careful! But in good conditions still go because it’s a beautiful spot. 

I loved staying in the Fales but couldn’t have done it every night. It’s very similar to camping and after a night or two, I like a room with walls and a proper bathroom (not a shower block). Also, waves in the dead of night are actually really noisy.

Transport in Samoa: 

I’d highly recommend hiring a car while in Samoa. Regardless of what island you’re on. The other options are booking tours or private transport to show you around or even public buses. But having your own car will give you the freedom to explore the islands. There are so many beautiful places to see and it won’t cost you too much. We hired an eight-seater van, for 7 days and it cost 840T, plus 60T for insurance. You’ll also need to get an international driver’s license, which costs just 21T (valid for one month) and the car hire company will be able to get that done for you. 

For travel between the islands in Samoa, ferries are a great option. To travel between Upolu and Savai’i there are a few different ferry options, the one we used was Lady Samoa. This cost 190T for 1 car & driver return / 24T adult return /12T kids return. We booked the tickets when we arrived at the ferry terminal. If you’re taking a car across with you, you’ll need to arrive really early, like a couple of hours before the departure time. The port requires all vehicles to park in a line and it’s basically first in best dressed. Once all the car spaces on the ferry are full that’s it! Everyone else can wait for the next one, even if you had a ticket.

It’s about a 1-hour trip and I’m very susceptible to seasickness but the boat was so big I hardly noticed the motion. Shortly before arriving they’ll make an announcement to advise people that we’re close and to start proceeding to your vehicle. Now I never actually heard this announcement in English but you’ll get the idea when most people start to get up.

Food:

In Apia food is easily available, restaurants, cafes, takeaway, and supermarkets, it’s never a problem. 

On Savai’i, it’s a little different and a lot fewer options. If you’re staying in a hotel the chances are you’ll eat there as they all have restaurants on site. If not, you’ll generally have to have dinner organized early-ish. One night we went driving at around 7 pm to find nearly everything closed! Eventually, we found an open takeaway burger place.

This holiday was more than just a holiday, it was a time to meet family and for Lawrence to relive childhood memories. I’m thankful for having been able to experience Samoa how I did and having a balance between village life and being a tourist. Anyone that loves the ocean and relaxed vibes, I’m sure you’ll love Samoa just as much as I do. 

If I had to compare Samoas beauty with other countries I have traveled to, I’d say it’s on par with the Seychelles, if you’re interested in another tropical paradise click here. 

Also, I’d love for you to join my mailing list, I’ll send you all my lasted travel guides & a printabel to-do list you’ll need before any holiday.

Thanks for reading,

Happy Travels.