Samoa on the cheap - some advice

dreamingtraveller01:00 UTC17 Aug 2014

Hi guys

Just back from one week in Samoa and I must say... I left a piece of my heart in this incredible country!

Anyway, we did Samoa on the cheap (not too hardcore, but spending wisely) and thought there was some advice I could share as I couldn't find too much infomation when researching the country

INTERNET: get a simcard from digicell at the airport, where they give it to you for free (in Apia is 9 tala). Do not expect your mobile provider to work (both Telstra and Virgin mobile weren't) or for your accommodation to offer free wifi (ours in Apia offered wifi for 18 tala per hour!!). Digicell will give you 1 week worth of internet for a few tala

SUNDAY: do not spend your Sunday in Apia, there is absolutely nothing to do. If you are stranded there, and hungry, the only place that we found open for lunch was hotel annabel (or something similar), on the way to the palolo reserve

MOVING AROUND: Buses are plentiful (apart from Sundays) and cheap. You need to have a lot of time in your hands though, as they run when they please and may not be very frequent. Hiring a car is the best option if there is a few of you. Hitchhiking feels very safe, and it didn't take much to find a friendly Samoan willing to give us a ride

ACCOMMODATION: We stayed in Hotel Elisa in Apia (budget room), and for 70 tala p/n I really can't complain. On Savaii we stayed in Joelan's Fale... Which I highly recommend! Falesoa will do anything to make your stay comfortable, as well as book cheap car rental for you (she's got a deal where she can get a car for 115 tala per day). For 60 tala each she throws in accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner and as many coconuts as you can drink. In Upolu we stayed at Taufua beach fales... At 90 tala each it is still very good value for money, although it's a bit more resorty looking and the other guest will more families/ other kind of travellers than budget backpackers

Overall Samoa is an extremely easy country to travel, everyone speaks basic English and will go out of their way to help you. No need to practice your bargaining skills as everything has got a fixed price, and they always quote the price fairly (a relief after our latest stunt in the middle east)
The country has also got plenty to do and see, and 1 week is definitely not enough to 'do Samoa' and recommend you spend at least 2 weeks to soak it all in!

Happy travels!

Eli

tilos00:51 UTC06 Sep 2014

Thanks for the report! Did you have any trouble with wild dogs? I went there in 2003 and had no issues, but heard they had gotten worse over the years.

mattlv01:16 UTC06 Sep 2014

I was in Apia a few months ago for two days, did a fair bit of walking, had no problems with wild dogs.

Samoa on the cheap - some advice Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Samoa
dreamingtraveller01:00 UTC17 Aug 2014	Hi guys Just back from one week in Samoa and I must say... I left a piece of my heart in this incredible country! Anyway, we did Samoa on the cheap (not too hardcore, but spending wisely) and thought there was some advice I could share as I couldn't find too much infomation when researching the country INTERNET: get a simcard from digicell at the airport, where they give it to you for free (in Apia is 9 tala). Do not expect your mobile provider to work (both Telstra and Virgin mobile weren't) or for your accommodation to offer free wifi (ours in Apia offered wifi for 18 tala per hour!!). Digicell will give you 1 week worth of internet for a few tala SUNDAY: do not spend your Sunday in Apia, there is absolutely nothing to do. If you are stranded there, and hungry, the only place that we found open for lunch was hotel annabel (or something similar), on the way to the palolo reserve MOVING AROUND: Buses are plentiful (apart from Sundays) and cheap. You need to have a lot of time in your hands though, as they run when they please and may not be very frequent. Hiring a car is the best option if there is a few of you. Hitchhiking feels very safe, and it didn't take much to find a friendly Samoan willing to give us a ride ACCOMMODATION: We stayed in Hotel Elisa in Apia (budget room), and for 70 tala p/n I really can't complain. On Savaii we stayed in Joelan's Fale... Which I highly recommend! Falesoa will do anything to make your stay comfortable, as well as book cheap car rental for you (she's got a deal where she can get a car for 115 tala per day). For 60 tala each she throws in accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner and as many coconuts as you can drink. In Upolu we stayed at Taufua beach fales... At 90 tala each it is still very good value for money, although it's a bit more resorty looking and the other guest will more families/ other kind of travellers than budget backpackers Overall Samoa is an extremely easy country to travel, everyone speaks basic English and will go out of their way to help you. No need to practice your bargaining skills as everything has got a fixed price, and they always quote the price fairly (a relief after our latest stunt in the middle east) The country has also got plenty to do and see, and 1 week is definitely not enough to 'do Samoa' and recommend you spend at least 2 weeks to soak it all in! Happy travels! Eli
tilos00:51 UTC06 Sep 2014	Thanks for the report! Did you have any trouble with wild dogs? I went there in 2003 and had no issues, but heard they had gotten worse over the years.	1
mattlv01:16 UTC06 Sep 2014	I was in Apia a few months ago for two days, did a fair bit of walking, had no problems with wild dogs.	2