more questions

Hi again,

I've been trying to get some answers to some questions re Samoa, but that's easier said than done. Can anyone help re the following please?

Does anyone know if the Seaside Inn is open or not? Their website is down, and e-mails to them have gone unanswered (although they're not bouncing back).

Does anyone know if any accommodation places offer an airport pick-up, subject to a whatever minimum night stay?

Does anyone know if there's some sort of accommodation really close to the airport. The Fiji Airways flight from Nadi arrives about 4 p.m. or so, and by the time the customs stuff has been done, I suppose I won't be clear of all of that until 5 p.m. or so, which is, apparently, too late for the public bus. There is, apparently, some sort of airport bus for 20 Tala though, apparently.

What's the hitching from the airport and couchsurfing situations?

Thank you all in advance,

Peter

What are you actually trying to do?
If you want to go to Savaii you could stay at Transit (motel /lodge?) close to the airport, they have dorms for 50 tala ( I think) i have booked a single with them in July for 75 tala, I'm arriving after dark so will get a pick up from them ( i think they said 20 tala) but it doesnt look far to walk if its still daylight ( from what I can gather its close to the entrance to Aggies lagoon entrance, on the opposite side of the road)
The cheapest trip to Apia would be 25 tala on a shuttle (bout 40 mins) there are a few cheap places there around 50-60 tala (check budgetaccommodationsamoa.com)i have stayed at Hotel elisa for 60 tala- rundown boarding house with a pool right in town, taumesina hideaway 50 tala - fale on lagoon bit further out and lynn's at motootua, 60 tala share bath, share kitchen use of pool free breakfast.you can get a bus back to the wharf the next day for 5 tala- about an hour...
its probably more interesting to stay in town but easier out at by the airport, transit doesnt have a pool but you can use the pool and buy overpriced food/ drinks at Aggies lagoon a short walk away from Transit- not sure if thy do meals, but they are quite good at emailing and info
if that info doesnt help if you give us an idea of what you are trying to do we could probably help more
i havent seen any couchsurfing in samoa, you cant camp and the only wwoofing i have seen I have heard mixed reports from travellers who stayed there ...the airport is an open building and not suitable to stay over at. i have had some luck hitching when i have been stuck, people are helpful and friendly, just depends if they have room..

Thanks BudgetKiwi;

and thanks for that reply.

I'm trying to avoid getting into a taxi.

You wrote that you'd booked a room for that place by the airport. How did you do that? Online or by phone? Do you have a web address for them, or something please?

There is camping at campsamoa (www.campsamoa.com). But I've heard and read mixed reviews about it. Any thoughts?

Also, I have a small tent with me. Is it legal to put it up on public land/the beach/similar without getting permission ahead of time?

Thanks again,

Peter

Yep I booked the transit motel online- i got the email address through budgetaccommodationsamoa.com but you can probably google it.- i will email it later if i get a chance
campsamoa is the wwoofing place i was talking about, I met some girls at manase last year who said it was a bit odd, way out in the middle of nowhere with an atmosphere they didnt like, (although they said they enjoyed a homestay the place organised near Fagaloa bay that would have been hard to get to without their help) but basically they said they were kind of stuck there and eventually 'ran away'?
Outside of Apia most land is village owned (wether occupied or not) and even if you get one persons permission it can get complicated if others dont agree- when i first visited samoa years ago i was invited by a women my age to come stay by the airport at her village-but then ended up in the middle of a conflict where i felt uncomfortable and wanted to leave quite late at night because the matai (chief) didnt like foreign influences and 'freeloaders' as he saw travellers who didnt pay for accommodation....(-fair enough fales are cheap, its just a matter of finding them when you want them- there is a map with phone numbers of fales on the www.budgetaccommodationsamoa.com website you can print off that i use.)
Most of the beaches will already have fales on them and if you hang around someone will come up and ask for money, normally 5 tala for the day use, and about 30 overnight, then add on breakfast & dinner if you want it (about 15 & 20 tala) The touristy places already have a set price including breakfast & dinner (between 50-120 tala )and a phone number and sign etc but lesser known ones you just hang around and they will come and tell you what they charge.
i saw some people camping at a beach once years ago- but there are now fales there, so no need for your own tent..
if you take the attitude that there is no public land and everyone lives off their land to some extent and so you should expect to pay to go on all land (including beaches etc) you should be ok.

transitmotelsamoa@yahoo.com

Thanks again budgetkiwi. I appreciate your time.

Just to mention it: Seaside Inn is not there any more.

cheers again wksamoa.

btw: Camp Samoa wasn't thaat bad (although I didn't choose to camp. There are quite a few mossies there though. For some people, Camp Samoa would be great. It just depends on what people are looking for.