Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Back packing in Samoa

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Samoa

Hi, I have been to most places in the world . As a Back packer this would be one place I would skip. It is quite expensive and has not a lot to offer that you can't get in other parts of the world at a fraction of the cost .
If you do go though this would be a cheap way to visit . 5 or 7 day max
Fly Upolu. stay 1 night Apia (or sleep in airport if late arrival ) .
Go to Vavaii
Bus to Ferry terminal from airport -10 mins .
catch ferry $ 12 t each way - 1 hour .
catch bus to Manase 2 hours or
Hire car $ 120 t per day

At Manase stay beach Fales ( you can walk to them all and there are plenty )
Beach Fales cost about $50 t per person per day,. often include breakfast (edible ) and diner ( let you decide )
If you stay only on Upolu then Beach Fales are on South East coast (1 -2 hours) .
Rarotonga is a better option .
Bali and the Gilli islands and Lombogan Islands (not Kuta) represent far better value for your $$$

Well, I think one really can't compare the Pacific island nations to SE Asia in terms of cost or sights, as most of Asia offers far better value in this respect.
However, I often found that the South Pacific offered a certain uniquely laid-back, pleasant atmosphere most of Asia does not, and this made it my 2nd favourite region of the World (after Asia, actually...).

Unfortunately, I also found that Samoa was the one country where I found people and atmosphere unpleasant, too. In fact I paid extra to be able to leave earlier than planned.

For cheaper prices and more things (certainly more islands) to see, Fiji or Tonga are better bets than Samoa, but Bali they surely aren't.

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Well at least the dogs are no longer much of a bother-that's something.

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Or stone throwing children.

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How boring. Nothing left to rant about ... So lets rant about that!

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