Samoa for 3 weeks

Hello again, after little specualation I have included also Samoa in my potencial travel itinerary.

What is Samoa like? People, price level, transport. Which places to visit... of what i am to be aware and so.
As indicated in my previous post i wanna get off the beaten tracks as i did in Fiji and at any cost intend to miss hotels or resorts in favor of living with natives.

I plan 2-3 weeks holiday and im sure its long or short enough??

I know, i can simply purchase the latest guidebook but i wanna hear some more opinions before i decide on the destination!

Thank you

Jirikoo

I'd rank Samoa FAR below any of the other countries you've considered - see the Samoa thread in my signo line on why.
Definitely remember the warnings if planning to "live with the natives", who are far less honest and trustworthy than Melanesians.

Also, quite how would you want to go "off the beaten track" in a country that only has two largish islands, and those two are still small enough for tourists to "see them all" on round-island tours in a single day?

Basically, Samoa tends to appeal to holidaymakers who just want to laze on a beach in cheap, low-key resort.
Theft apart, it is certainly cheap, and the small size makes getting around very easy.

Jarikoo, I've sent you a private message.

Samoa is not that bad. I spend three months there and had a great time. Most people are nice, price level is low and transport is relatively good.

I spend some of my time staying with Samoans and never had any problems with money being stolen or whatsoever. Samoans are NOT "less honest and trustworthy than Melanesians". You'll find a few nasty people everywhere you go (I had money stolen in Fiji and the Solomons for example).

I think you can call "staying with locals" a way of travelling off the beaten track, no matter whether there is a resort next to the village or not. Staying with local people is probably easier in Fiji, Solomon Islands and PNG though. When in Samoa, consider a side trip to American Samoa. Tutuila is an interesting mix of American and Samoan ways of life and Tutuila is a spectacular island.

Maybe you should get a guidebook from your library for orientation.

Wouter

I heard there are/were lots of dogs....some dead many not.

to copperspoon: thank you for very useful and relevant information :))

Jiri, I think CP was referring to the dog-issue much discussed on islandboi's Attention thread.

I loved the place!!

We were there in December just past for 2 weeks and stayed around the Siumu area.
I never had any problems with dogs at all, we had to stop the car a few times to let the odd Sow and her litter of piglets cross the road but i thought that was really cute.
I didnt have any problems with theft either, but i did read this thread before we went and it left me fairly cautious about leaving things lying around.
If you like thick jungle Jurassic style landscapes, water falls and watching life in slow motion, Samoa will impress.

American Samoa...Tutuila...is indeed worth a two day visit.

What do you mean by 'living with natives'? Is that meant literally or do you expect people to live in Samoa wearing grass skirts, hunting with spears, being illiterate and prone to superstition from ancient times, lol? You may still find those in parts of Melanesia, I don't know, or in PNG, but certainly not in Samoa (anymore).

So if you mean "off the beaten track" that far off, Samoa is not the right choice for you. Today you will find pipe water supply, electricity, TV, fridge, cell phones in virtually every house and hut throughout the country, even on remote Apolima island now where they just opened a state-of.the-art solar power plant. Samoa's infrastructure is far more developed overall than in any other independent Pacific island nation.

Regarding tourism Samoa (as a whole country) is "off the beaten track", so to speak, as there are hardly more than 500 real tourists here at any time altogether. Less than in one single big resort in Fiji, French Polynesia or Vanuatu. Tourism is not that important for the people here anyway - you won't find shows with 'village life', staged 'kava ceremonies' where the tourist gets a 'chiefly title' or even people selling souvenirs following you all the time like in Fiji. Sometimes you really have to search hard for offers for tourists (i.e. kayaking or trekking). So if you want to experience a place which is not overrun and made up for the tourist then Samoa might be the right choice. You can really be with the locals (instead of other tourists) most of your time. But do not expect them to be "native", lol.

Staying with locals is a different thing though as nowadays it is quite uncommon here to invite tourists to stay in the family or village. Too many problems (for both sides). The Samoa Hotel Association is offering a homestay program though, with selected families. You can contact them by email or in the Visitors Bureau Fale in Apia.

All this is (even more) valid for American Samoa.

|"Samoa's infrastructure is far more developed overall than in any other independent Pacific island nation."

"Regarding tourism Samoa (as a whole country) is "off the beaten track",..."

This is called 'sucking and blowing at the same time' -make your mind up!

Okay, English is my third language only. But I checked dictionaries and found as definitions:

"Remote from populous or much-travelled regions"
(worldwebonline.com)

'Somewhere that's off the beaten track is in a remote location'
(usingenglish.com)

So a place ' off the beaten track' is defined to be remote or not much-travelled to. Both is clearly valid for Samoa. Regarding tourism it is the latter (not much-travelled to).

But it does not mean in any way that it might be not developed regarding infrastructure. Many Western Countries too, i.e. Canada, have regions that are very well developed in infrastructure but still are quite remote and hardly visited by anyone. So off the beaten track by that.

At least that is how I understand (and use) that term. Am I wrong?

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>|"Samoa's infrastructure is far more developed overall than in any other independent Pacific island nation."<hr></blockquote>

...i would also say those two statements dont separate out.

thank you all for your opinions!

#11 - Your usage is correct and I get your point.

I do want to note that French Polynesia has no 500 room hotels (or anywhere near that size).

Kia Ora Jirikoo,

Here's a tip if you decide to travel to SAMOA!! catch a bus the bright colourful one's, it's really cheap & hardcase. Ensure you ask the driver if they stop at your destination. If you catch a taxi always ask how much?? even better call a taxi company;-)

I for one.. LOVE Samoa.
I have been there 26 times.. and hope to one day own a home.
If you know where to go.. and what to avoid, you will have
memories to last a lifetiime.. (that is.. if you don't decide to just STAY!!!)

Re: biting dogs... They bark.. but I have NEVER been bitten.
Re: being overcharged.. if you know where to go and have a few names to throw around you will be fine
Re: traveling in Samoa.. IF at all possible rent a car. Taxi's are great for town.. but to get around a car is the best
(make sure it is NOT a convertible. The car is great to get around, great to lock up your belongings.. *thus no convertible...) and you will have the freedom to move at a moments notice if it begins to rain.
Re: the food.. It's awesome.. Expect to gain 10lbs
Re: the dancing.. so beautiful... especially if you go to a smaller village
Re: the singing.. Some of the most moving singing.. (in churches) you will hear
Re: abuse of children.. like anywhere else in the world.. if you look for it.. you will find it.
Re: downtown being dangerous... If you are hanging out in a club where there is drinking... you may find yourself
in the middle of a brawl.. (as with any other bar in the world)
Re: things to do... the best thing to do.. is find the best beaches... fia fia's... resturaunts... tiny shops.. and good people.. and you will never want to leave
Re: medical treatment. If you are a palagi.. you will want to go to Medcen.. (we are too spoiled and are used to a certain type of care. You will find that at Medcen)
Re: Savaii... bring your own first aid kit.. because quite often, you will be too far away from the hospital to bother going. Great things to bring..(super-glue.. use your imagination... duct tape... same thing... Baggies and lots of them, a cooler as a piece of luggage.. ,so you can use it for everyday) etc...

Re: all the negative things you have heard.. with re: the the culture/ the dogs/ etc.. As with any nation... you need to have a good idea of where you are going, how you are going to get there, how much it will cost and what to bring with you.

People who show up in countries that are up-n-coming... You can't expect to go the Walmart and solve all life's problems.. or turn on the tv and ignore your mate...

Get out in the rain.. and go for a swim
Read that book you always wanted too, but never made the time
Teach a child to count to ten.. and try and learn some Samoan
Ask the village matai.. if you can watch the preparation of the umu or go fishing with them
Ask them to teach you how to weave a basket or make a pale (head band of flowers) and if they do.. just gift them something.. a bit of money.. a nice t-shirt..etc..

You can't help but love your time.. if it's well spent.

Kristin