To buy here or there

Kiaora fellow Travellers

We are off to the Samoas in August and i just wanted to know if we need to bring snorkel, fins and mask from home or do we hire them everywhere we go?

Also, do they sell sandals at the markets over there or likewise am i better off getting those before i leave NZ?

We will be bringing some relativley expensive camera equipment and i was hoping to leave it with trustworthy locals when we are not using it so as to avoid it going walkabouts from the fale when we are not around. Sounds bad i know, but ive had a wallet returned in an impoversihed part of Indo and money stolen from aflent parts of New Zealand - theres no boundaries to both kindest and thievery in this world.

My wife wants to know of any good recomendations for places to stay in Apia for 2-3 nights?

Ka kite ano

Hikoi

Snorkel Gear: Best to bring your own from home unless you are planning to go out snorkelling with a dive boat. If that is the case then they can provide the gear.
Some beach fale in Samoa rent out snorkels and masks, but most are pretty poor quality in my experience. I never saw any for sale there that I would want to use.

Sandals: I am assuming you mean thongs/flip flops. Yep, you can buy them everywhere and they're cheap.

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<hr>We will be bringing some relativley expensive camera equipment and i was hoping to leave it with trustworthy locals when we are not using it so as to avoid it going walkabouts from the fale when we are not around<hr></blockquote>

Interesting comment.

Place to stay in Apia: What is your budget? There are many places from backpacker hovels to relative luxury hotels.

I fully agree with #1.

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<hr>... expensive camera equipment and i was hoping to leave it with trustworthy locals .... ive had a wallet returned in an impoversihed part of Indo and money stolen from aflent parts of New Zealand - theres no boundaries to both kindest and thievery in this world.<hr></blockquote>

And that is just the same in Samoa. To make it worse the problem is always one of statistics as well: one single thief stealing your things completely outweights a hundred kind and honest people who gave them back.

Please regard that Samoans are very social people, meaning that your stuff would be literally in reach of many hands including children's. My (bigger) concern would be someone playing around with the camera and break it. So if it cannot be locked away properly (and you see that) better do not leave it.

If you would still consider it completely assess someone's trustworthiness on your impression of the person as such and not particularly on their role, social position, job etc. Why? Because in Samoa you still do not really need a job and a money income, so some people are not that afraid to loose it as it might be somewhere else in the world. Do not expect a Matai ("chief") to be more honest than others because of his/her position only. Most people over 35 are Matai, so that is not a distinctive criteria anymore.

Please consider too that you put a big responsibility especially on rather poor people by leaving something that might be worth more than a year's income for them ... They might be too polite to refuse but you scare them very much.

Apologies for any misunderstandings rgrding my comments abot about leaving our camera equipment with locals. Im talking from experience but trying to put a Samoa perspective on it. My thinking is more along the lines of "locals" meaning anyone close to the area we are at, at that particualr time when we maybe go for a swim or paddle or simply dont need a telephoto lens or a video camera. Jeez, i make it sound like we are the BBC ay???

The cameras are for nature photography and moving images which is a big passion of ours. In the past, i have had other travellers ask me to watch their "stuff" whilst they dissapear for an hour or so, to which i usually reply "sweet as, but im outa here within the hour so make sure your back".

Regarding the local people, i really hope we get to build some great relationships with Samoan families, but just like anywhere else in the World, i dont intend to embaress or make life uncomfortable for my hosts. Your words are taken wisely WK Samoa, thank you for that.

Yep islandboi, i meant flip flops or thongs so thank you also for your advice. The accomodation we are after would have to be maid service, ac, sky tv, mini bar, personal pool and heli pad so we can land al the BBC equipment!! Na, jokes aside, anything that is in the mid range budget and has that kind of "special" feel about. You know the type of place that when you think back about Samoa, that fale or room springs to mind and puts a warm smile on your face. Near the water and a friendly vibe would be bang on for us kiwi's.

Hikoi

Except on Sunday afternoons or some Public Holidays you will hardly find any local people at the beach in Samoa, only fellow tourists. Maybe Samaons from NZ or Pago ... Beaches usually are on private properties where you pay a fee and get a simple fale as shelter from the sun and to leave your stuff in. And of course you can ask your tourist neighbour to keep an eye on it as you would do in return. But most probably you will need to have a vehicle to get to the beach anyway - so just lock up your camera in there, covered with an old rug.

Mid-range accomodation in Apia with a "special feel" .. Near to the water .. Vaiala Beach Cottages might be a good option for you.