Travel Warnings about Samoa

There is a Samoa warning thread here, which gets 'promoted' and linked to again and again by Laszlo in postings to almost every single other topic here. In that 'warning' thread it is suggested that travelers to Samoa should take special caution because of unusual high occurance of theft and dog attacks.

In contrary to that there are plenty of other postings reporting a safe and relaxed travel experience in Samoa. Nevertheless the repeated posting of always the same issue by always the same person outnumbers these positive remarks. It is obvious from new postings that this strategy works - many people get the impression that going to Samoa might be an unusually dangerous adventure, despite the numerous postings from always different people that clearly state it otherwise.

Therefore I checked travel advisories by some Government agencies on Samoa, Fiji and Hungary (where Laszlo comes from and what he should be experienced to). This is what I found:

Samoa

AUS: Be alert to own security (lowest warning grade)
Crime: Petty crime, particularly theft, is prevalent in Samoa. Burglaries, sometimes accompanied by violence, are becoming an increasing problem. There has also been an increase in drug-related serious crime, including violent assaults and shootings.

US:
CRIME: Overall, Samoa is considered a low threat environment. Nevertheless, visitors should remain aware of their surroundings, lock their doors at night, and not leave their belongings unattended. Incidents of petty theft/robberies of personal effects are common. While rare, violent assaults, including sexual assaults, have occurred in Samoa.

In Apia and many villages, stray dogs wander the streets. Visitors should not approach or feed them; they can become aggressive in the presence of food or if they feel threatened.
(BTW, this is the only remark on dog attacks in all travel advisories).

UK:
Crime
The level of serious crime is low, but incidents of petty theft are fairly common. You should not leave your belongings unattended and should use hotel safes for passports and valuables.

NZ:
Samoa
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is not issuing a specific travel advisory for Samoa at this time.

Fiji (I disregard all references to the political situation here)

AUS: High degree of caution
Crime
Robbery, theft and violent assault occur in Fiji, including against tourists and expatriate residents. Incidents occur more frequently in urban areas and at night.

US:
CRIME: Urban areas experience a higher incidence of crime than do other areas. Travelers should protect their valuables and be aware that theft from hotel rooms and purse snatching or pick-pocketing are the most common crimes against tourists. Offences against persons do occur, and visitors should remain attentive to their personal safety. ... Visitors are advised not to walk alone after dark and not to walk alone in isolated areas at any time. Due to crime directed against taxi drivers, travelers should not allow taxis to pick up other passengers while en route and should not enter a taxi that already carries other passengers.

UK:
Crime: Robberies, thefts and assaults have occurred against foreigners in Fiji, particularly at night, with most of the incidents occurring in urban areas. In early 2007, there have been reports of an increase in robberies and violent home invasions carried out by large gangs.

NZ:
There is some risk to your security in Fiji and we advise caution.
... There are indications that crime levels are increasing in Fiji. Robbery, theft and incidents of assault have been reported by locals and tourists alike, with most occurring at night and in urban areas. New Zealanders are advised to take particular care with cash and credit cards, especially when using Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs).

Hungary

AUS: Be alert to own security (lowest warning grade)
Crime
Petty crime is common, in particular on public transport and in railway stations, markets and other places frequented by tourists. Street crime, such as mugging, carjacking, and theft of and from vehicles, is common in large cities. Vehicles with foreign number plates are a prime target of criminal gangs. When travelling by overnight train, you should secure your compartment from the inside.

US:
CRIME: Hungary has a low rate of violent crime. However, street crime occasionally involving violence has been reported, especially near major hotels and restaurants and on public transportation. Theft of passports, currency and credit cards is a frequent problem, especially in train stations and on public transportation.

UK:
Crime
You should take sensible precautions against the sort of risks (such as petty crime) common in Western Europe.
... Bag snatching and pick-pocketing are common in Budapest in particular. Be particularly careful on busy public transport, in train stations, markets and other places frequented by tourists.
If you travel by overnight train you should, if possible, travel accompanied and you should secure your compartment from the inside.

NZ:
Samoa
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is not issuing a specific travel advisory for Hungary at this time.

I did not mention Germany (where I come from). It is similar there to Hungary. No dangers in trains at night though. Overall probably similar to most other Western countries anyway.

So - seeing all this in the right perspective - which place deserves a special 'warning'? Samoa? Least, I think ... It is not worse there than anywhere else, rather in contrary. There is some theft in Samoa and there are some unfriendly dogs. Where not?

You had bad personal experiences in Samoa, Laszlo - sorry about that. But talking about my experiences, when I visited Pecs (Hungary), somebody sneaked into my hostel room while I was sleeping, stole some items from the table and from my bags. In Suva (Fiji) I got robbed of my wallet at knifepoint. Quite disturbing experiences indeed. But do I choose to generalize that on the whole country and spice up every single posting on Thorntree about Hungary or Fiji with 'warnings'? Or on any other country where I was victim of crime while traveling (New Zealand, France, Italy). No, I don't, as it would be clearly out of proportion. Same as your leashing out on Samoa again and again is out of proportion. At least this is my opinion.

Not to be misunderstood: I mean that 'again and again', not the posting of bad expriences as such.

Laszlo, you do not like Samoa overall, everyone can see that? Well, I do like it but I really don't like Fiji which seems to be your favourite. So? Does this really say something important about these countries as such or more about your and my different preferences for a nice place to go to?

Turning personal, Werner?

Well, for a start, you certainly got Fiji as my favourite wrong!
As stated repeatedly on this forum, my personal favourite in the region is Vanuatu.
Despite that, I often recommend Fiji simply because I know it suits others' expectations more - cheaper, more accessible, more developed.

As for Samoa, it was not just me, but many of other posters reporting theft there - the very thread was posted by islandboi, a great fan of the country. I personally met two others who had cash stolen there in various places around the country just on a single day.

In fact you seem to be pretty much alone to deny that theft is an issue there.
Which is more understandable considering that you are not merely fond of Samoa, but are actually running a tourism business there.
Sorry if pointing out that that Samoa is not the perfect paradise you'd prefer prospective clients to see it hurts business. ;-)

Perhaps instead of denial and getting personal, you should campaign the local authorities to take the theft issue a bit more seriously.
If they did, Samoa would get that bit closer to "Paradise".

Interesting, Laszlo, I was about to ask wksamoa what he had been doing in Samoa for 10 years. Perhaps he could clarify it for the rest of us - in English.

I've only been to Samoa twice and stayed in resorts and had no major problems, probably because of where I was staying. But there were a couple of instances where we felt uncomfortable and somewhat unwelcome, but these were the exception. Still I was very cautious about dogs - there are certainly too many. And you're quite right that islandboi, a very measured poster indeed, has expressed real reservations about changes for the worse.

I've read, of course, that the authorities are taking action to reduce the dog problem prior to the upcoming Games. But these sort of measures are usually only temporary.

So wksamoa, tell us please what you are doing in Samoa and the nature of your business.

Even my German enables me to give you a taster:
<blockquote>Quote
<hr>Für Sie ...

... lassen wir uns etwas einfallen, damit Ihr Besuch in Samoa zum traumhaften und interessanten Erlebnis wird. Zwar können wir nicht die Palmen tanzen lassen, aber doch einiges möglich machen, was Sie in einem "normalen" Urlaub nicht erleben würden.<hr></blockquote>
<blockquote>Quote
<hr>For You ...

... we will add to making your visit to Samoa a dream-like and interesting experience. Although we can't can't make the palm trees dance for you, we can still offer you things that you would not experience on a "normal" holiday.<hr></blockquote>

And then you get to links offering the usual tour-operator fare.

I guess that's enough to explain Werner's attitude.

Surely warning of such nasties as savage stray-dogs and local hosts stealing from their guests doesn't quite match what he describes.

Thanks, Laszlo, advertisers are a no-no on TT - maybe wksamoa doesn't know this. Alternatively he is trying to hide it.

I make websites for local organisations and I do computer trainings for schools and businesses in Samoa. My wife (and sometimes myself too) guide tourists throughout Samoa. We sometimes rent out one room in our house to overseas guests as well, about 4 months of the year altogether. All are Germans or at least German speaking guests, as my wife speaks German fluently. So we are involved in tourism but I would not really call that a tourism business -:) If there would be no more tourists here we would not suffer personally, when I take that as a criteria for my involvement.

I am far away from denying theft and dog attacks happening in Samoa. That is not the point here. They are mentioned too in all travel advisories I cited above. And the least thing I do is promoting Samoa as paradise, far from that. If you look at www.samoa-info.de you will find my thoughts about that - in German, but there is Babelfish. There is as much shadow here in Samoa as sun. But, there is shadow as well everywhere else and why Samoa shall be singled out here? And that is exactly what is happening. Fiji is a lot worse, regarding crime, for example.

I first came to Samoa in 1982 and believe me there was a lot more theft at that time than it is now. I could not enter a fale without being left without jandals when leaving (oops, sorry, they were 'taken'). Same with towels, T-shirts and such. The situation is much improved from former times regarding that. More brawls at nightclubs in the 1980s, when I never went out at night with at least two Samoan boys as 'bodyguards'. Much worse before than it is now. The situation is improving in Samoa, regarding personal safety.

Dogs are a more difficult issue. There are not held as pets here in Samoa. There are no pets at all here, no birds in cages, no fish in aquariums. The idea is unfamiliar to Samoans. So dogs are kept for protection and they are meant to scare people off your property (because of theft). That in return is rather unfamiliar to most tourists and that is where the problems come from. I do not enjoy not being able to walk around after sunset freely, because of the dogs, but that is how it is here in Samoa. As not being allowed to go to some beaches on Sunday or paying a fee when entering some villages. Different from where you (and I) come from. So if you keep that in mind and keep away from dogs, you will be pretty safe. Besides that - have a look at www.safety-council.org/info/child/dogs.html .

Yes, Laszlo, I get personal at you. To me it looks like 30 people are posting their positive experience in Samoa once and you are posting your one negative experience 30 times. That makes the number of postings even. But the 'score' is still 30:1 in favour of the positive and that is what I wanted to point out. I know, it might be 30:3 or even 30:5, when you look more thoroughly. But still ...

I see double standards being used here. In Fiji, Hungary, Germany and the USA you have to be a lot more careful about your personal safety than just in Samoa. But that is what you know and expect. Why not in Samoa? Is it because you (not me) still have that paradise idea in the background and blame Samoa now for not being that perfect as you assumed?

Let my cite from that first warning posted by islandboi, the one you link to, Laszlo. Islandboi urges to be aware of theft and dog attacks and closes:
'Please don't constre that Samoa is a dangerous place... far from it. It's just that I think many Palangi travellers are losing their common sense and being too relaxed. (Would you leave your open wallet on your kitchen table in your unlocked house?... Same idea.)!

I fully agree.

Thanks, wksamoa. I think that is a fair and measured response.

My Samoa paradise thoughts are at www.samoa-info.de/paradies.htm<BR>Sorry, all in German though.

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>Is it because you (not me) still have that paradise idea in the background and blame Samoa now for not being that perfect as you assumed?<hr></blockquote>Now, that's quite a silly assumption on your part.
You only need to read my profile to learn that before getting to Samoa, I had spent several years living in or visiting tropical island countries, and any idea of such islands being "paradise" was obviously long beyond me.
On the very same year-long trip, I visited 6 other Pacific island nations.
Sorry, Samoa simply came out very unfavourably in comparision with the others.

I can only wish that islandboi's thread (and the responses to it) had been posted before my visit - it would have made me more vigilant than elsewhere, and could have saved me an unpleasant and expensive lesson.

I think other visitors can only benefit from knowing what to watch out for.
There have been a fair few posters writing on this forum how they excercised extra caution after reading that thread, and then had no problems whatsoever.
Which is very good, and the very reason warnings are posted in the first place.

As such, I think your personal attack was pretty silly, and can't think of any other reason for it besides the one outlined in my first reply. Of course we have no way of knowing quite how much you depend on income from tourism, but your website, which offers everything from arranging flights, hotels, holiday homes and car hires in partnership with other travel agents to fully guided tours, does make you sound more keen than you claim here.

Naturally, given that as we all know that travel agents of any sort are not welcome on Thorn Tree, I don't expect you to admit that.

@Laszlo

I do not know you as you don't me. So we both assume until we communicate. No, I am not a travel agent of any kind and when I forward people's questions to one I do not even get a commission. I do not need to hide anything here. And to make that very clear: you were the one to post a link to my Samoa website here on Thorntree. I never even mentioned it myself.

In fact I got quite a few problems with the official tourism people here just because I do not join their 'paradise' choir and openly tell German visitors, film crews and such that there are quite a few problems here in Samoa, i.e. domestic violence. And advise them to watch out for dogs and not to relax too much and become careless, as islandboi pointed it out.

So I fully agree that the possible risks in Samoa need to be addressed to avoid that over-relaxed attitude. As I said in my first posting up here - it is a matter of proportion. There are risks, but are there worse than elsewhere and need more than (at least) the normal common sense precautions? I do not think so.
I do not want people getting scared off from Samoa altogether and make them choose to go somewhere else where in real the risks are quite higher (like in Fiji). Do you warn them about the risks in Fiji and Vanuatu as well? And if not, why not? Because there are no risks there -:)?

Why I am a bit persistent in this? Not because of any financial interests as you assume. Well, in Samoa we do not like our country being let down unfairly. You certainly know that too.

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>Do you warn them about the risks in Fiji and Vanuatu as well? And if not, why not?<hr></blockquote>This is very simple.
Even though I spent longer time in both countries than in Samoa (because they are bigger and take longer to tour), I have not lost a thing in either, nor have I met anyone in person who encountered theft during their stay there.
Compare that to meeting 2 theft-victims in one day in Samoa (islandboi has met one of the same two, too).
Nor can I recall any theft-related post about Vanuatu here on TT. I am not sure about TT posts on Fiji, as it gets way too many to read them all, but the bottom line is that I mostly advise people based on my own personal experience.
OTOH I have experienced theft once in the Solomons, but as it happened only once and I didn't meet anyone else with the same experience, I wrote it off as bad luck and no reason to specifically warn others about theft for that country.

In fact the only time I advise based on info from elsewhere concerns my # 2 favourite country, PNG.
I never experienced any trouble there over several trips either, yet still do post warnings about having to be cautious about security there on threads like this, simply because I believe that warnings written up by others can't be baseless either, and I do more of a "service" to the country by ensuring others have as safe and enjoyable a trip there as possible by being aware of any potential risk.

BTW, feel free to view my list of top ten favourite countries, unaltered since last year, on this page.
You might be surprised to see that Fiji is not even in the top ten, neither as a country, nor as a region, nor as a specific island.
But that's no reason for me not to recommend it to others who are asking for things which I believe they can find there most readily.

At the risk of being the devil's advocate, I have to say that what I post is what I see and experience... Plain and simple. If I think there is a problem, I'll say there is a problem. If I feel credit is due, I will give credit.

I just call a spade a spade.

@islandboi

Before reading further on please keep in mind that I fully agree that you have to watch out for dogs in Samoa and better be careful to walk around after sunset because of that.

But, as much I agree with:

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>...I have to say that what I post is what I see and experience ...<hr></blockquote>
Fact is, that neither you nor anyone else did report here on TT a single case of being bitten oneself by a dog in Samoa and nobody reports having seen anyone being bitten. So far for personal experience regarding this.

So I do not accept being critizied for citing official travel advisories instead of personal experience only. You were not referring to your personal experience in your warning posting too.

My personal experience is:

I visited Samoa regularly since 1982 and I live here since 1997. Neither me nor anyone of my family here ever got bitten by a dog nor did I witness anyone else getting bitten. I met three locals altogether (no tourists) who told me that they were bitten though.
Unlike during my visits in the 1980s since I live here nothing got stolen from me outside my own house. However someone broke in into our small family store that we had in our house until 2000 and stole the cash box. That was the reason for me to have own, quite protective dogs (3 to 7) now myself and nothing like that ever happened again.

That is why I fully agree to better watch out for dogs after sunset. You might pass by my place -:).

@ Laszlo

Thanks for the link to your favorites page. That gave me a real impression about what you personally might like and expect when traveling. And now I fully understand as well why Samoa is not among your favorites. Even not Fiji or Vanuatu. There hardly is anything that Samoa has to offer you. Very obvious.

There are many reasons why I recommend to visit Samoa. But not to everyone. Like you, I often see good reasons to recommend to go somewhere else instead, i.e. Fiji, Cook Islands, the Seychelles, Thailand or Indonesia. If someone (not you), for example, wants nightlife (clubs and discos) near to their lavish beachfront resort I strongly advise not to consider Samoa as destination (for obvious reasons). But other people certainly find the absence of 'nightlife' and even lavish resorts just the best reason to go to Samoa.

So Samoa is a perfect destination for some people, but hardly a good one for some others. It all depends on the traveler's preferences. No way to generalize it. It is never "good place" or "bad place" overall, it is always "good place for me" or not.

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>Fact is, that neither you nor anyone else did report here on TT a single case of being bitten oneself by a dog in Samoa and nobody reports having seen anyone being bitten.<hr></blockquote>Sorry to be the first one then, but I did get bitten myself.
The reason I never bothered mentioning is that the dogs in question were quite small, the bite just a scratch, and really, I considered it a minor nuisance that may happen in many countries.
The worst part of it was not even the bite, but that these were not stray dogs but belonged to a villager standing just 30 metres away, who didn't even make an effort to call the mongrels back - now, that's unusual compared to other countries.
Accidentally (or not?) this happended in the very same village where I had the money stolen.

And in case you started wondering how I could experience both of these issues when many other visitors don't encounter either (good for them), I'd like to point out that while most visitors seem to fly to Samoa for a week or two at most, and spend much of that time sitting around in a beach resort with other tourists, maybe taking a round-island tour by car, I did spend sg like a full month in Samoa, touring both main islands by public transport and doing several hikes through villages into the mountains, which probably exposes one to these things much more than an average beach-holiday does.

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>Accidentally (or not?) this happended in the very same village where I had the money stolen.<hr></blockquote>

Maybe really not accidentally indeed. Do you remember the name of the village? To avoid it myself and recommend likewise to guests. Because the fact that the owner of the dogs did not intervene really suggests a quite detoriated state of order in that village.

You will certainly know it, but others might not: the central Samoan Government has hardly any authority in the single villages, very different from most other countries I know. So maintaining order is a matter for the respective village council (Fono) alone. And if they are lazy in that (and quite obviously they were in this case) the central Government has no way to intervene directly. Incidents like that should be reported to the Samoa Tourist Authority though. They visit the villages and talk to the Fono there when complaints accumulate. At least some effort to solve these problems.

But that is a reason too why it becomes more and more uncommon for visitors to stay with families and in villages - some village Fonos even do not allow it anymore by now at all! And the Tourist Authority encourages visitors only to homestay with selected families from their list. Too many problems occured, like yours on one side (theft and dog), like visitors going after young boys or girls in the village or clearly exploiting hospitality on the other side. Not you, I know, but sometimes it gets quite nasty with that.

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>Fact is, that neither you nor anyone else did report here on TT a single case of being bitten oneself by a dog in Samoa and nobody reports having seen anyone being bitten. So far for personal experience regarding this. <hr></blockquote>

You're absolutely right. How foolish of me not to include the incidences that I personally have experienced.

Here are my experiences:

1) A young lady from the UK. Staying at Seipepa. Medical student. January of 2005. I personally saw the wounds on her leg from a nocturnal canine attack in the vicinity of Seipepa's neighbourhood. Her one wound had required extensive medical treatment.

2) I was with a group of fellow travellers at Georgie's Pizza one evening in January/February of 2006. There was a commotion on the street below (You know Georgie's location, wksamoa... It's right on the main drag... well travelled... well lighted) Easy to see down to the street to see what was happening.
Two woman, have no idea who they were or what nationality but were palangi, were being harrassed by a group of dogs. There was screaming and running. Some local boys chased the pups off. The ladies got a taxi. I and my party witnessed this.

No, I myself have not been personally been biten by a dog but I certainly have been in a few situations that could have become critical... Like walking in the Seipepa neighbourhood in the evening and also in the neighbourhood west of the port area around the Palolo marine reserve just this past winter. Having 2 or 3 snarling, drooling dogs come running up to you is maybe not as painful as being bitten but it is still as alarming... An unpleasant experience that one should think would diminish as the importance of the tourism industry of that country increases. I understand that Samoa is very unique in the fact that the central government has little jurisdiction over village affairs... Having said that, it is also this same government that has discovered that tourism is a crucial part of Samoa's economy. It is time for action on the dog problem... Now. I am just curious, wksamoa, to what your involvement level is, being in the tourism industry, in helping to alleviate the problem?

But you know what? I am TOTALLY responsible for my personal safety when I KNEW and was INFORMED by various hoteliers and restaurant owners in Apia. "Please take a taxi, there is a dog problem" or "Please watch your personal belongings". I am talking of my own experience... Maybe some people like that poor UK medical student didn't get or heed the warnings... Perhaps the warnings are not strong enough.

wksamoa: I don't think anyone is denying the fact that you probably have more "Samoa experience" than any other poster on this branch. There is one difference though... You live there and have for 10 years... We don't and are just travellers. Laszlo and myself were priveledged travellers who indulged in the country because we had the time... We did a bit more than just lie on the beach for a week or two... We explored, experienced and in my case, made many remarkable Samoan friendships. It makes our perspectives much, much different. It is a shame that more travellers to Samoa who have difficulties aren't more explicit in their "reports". It's human nature, I suppose, to just forget an experience if it was negative and just carry on. Most are just there for a week out of their lives anyways.

On the other hand, it is very easy for someone to say they had a bad experience and then report on the Thorntree "DON'T GO THERE" or "I GOT SICK AT JOE'S GUESTHOUSE" without some details, objective discussion or even further comment. I don't think anyone realises just how powerful a resource the Thorntree is... It can, and I assume has, broken/bolstered many a business and caused many a fluctuation, especially the smaller market countries like Samoa, of tourism numbers. All that someone has to do is post "I got sick from the food at such and such a beach fale or guesthouse" and guess what? They can be shuttered in months. Devastating in a small market like Samoa. Whether this was factual or not becomes moot.

Speaking of eating, we're going to have to meet for lunch at the Sydneysider next winter, wksamoa!! :)

That's all I have to say about this.

The village in question was Tafua on Savaii.
And there I stayed with the very family recommended by Lonely Planet: "chief Ulu Taufa'asisina and his wife Anita", in whose house the theft occured on my first night there! After me paying all quoted fees for staying, food, and guiding with not even an attempt at bargaining.

I find it interesting how Werner/wksamoa says he has never even witnessed anyone being bitten by a dog during his long stay in Samoa.
After all, just islandboi and myself, two short-term visitors to the country, experienced/encountered three cases of tourists being bitten! I wonder if has somehow simply "overlooked" all the cases of theft similarly... ;-)

And of course islandboi is totally correct when he says <blockquote>Quote
<hr>more travellers to Samoa who have difficulties aren't more explicit in their "reports". It's human nature, I suppose, to just forget an experience if it was negative and just carry on. <hr></blockquote> Obviously people prefer remembering and discussing pleasant experiences much more than nasty ones. Which is the very reason why I myself never got around to writing a detailed account of our unpleasant experiences either. There are so much nicer things to write about.

There is one thing I definitely have to be grateful to Samoa for: for making some great friends with a Niuean couple there!
Not only have they given me the idea to visit fantastically remote and unspoilt Niue instead of Tonga (which was taking forever to give me a visa) but they became something like an adoptive family looking after me in Auckland, too!

Give it a rest you guys... For heaven's sake.

wksamoa: If there is a dog attack and theft problem in Samoa, what are YOU PERSONALLY doing about it as a resident and business owner? You must have some clout with some matai somewhere.

Laszlo: Isn't it time to let this go?... You've said your piece on Samoa, we all know how you feel. Time to move on. You obviously won't be going back.

islandboi321: Is it possible you embellish things a bit? Is the problem really as bad you say?

<blockquote>Quote
<hr> Is it possible you embellish things a bit?<hr></blockquote>

Umm... No.

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>Is the problem really as bad you say?<hr></blockquote>

Umm... Yes.

@Laszlo

Tafua, hm. I had some bad experience there too, some years ago, when being heavily "overcharged" for just entering a beach and taking some photos with guests. I never went back there again after that - so I have no idea how it is now.

Did you inform Lonely Planet about your experience with these hosts they recommend? Myself I will check out if that family is on the list of recommended homestay hosts at the Samoa Hotel Association. If yes, I will tell them to read TT and to contact you ...

I honestly did not see or meet any dog bite victims which were tourists, but I know of course that this occured (I said that before). But I would never walk around at night in those backyard/backstreet areas of Apia where Seipepa was located. Well, islandboi is right - I do not have to be there anyway, unlike the tourists who stay there.
In the evening I always take my own vehicle or a taxi to go somewhere, especially in Apia. When I have to walk I look for company, the more the better. Like every other Samoan would do. And, to cite islandboi again, as any hotelier and host in Samoa advises their guest to do as well. More on that below.

And no, I am not ignorant on theft. But my bags got stolen once in a Youth Hostel in New Zealand and when I reported that to the police, they laughed "happens all the time ...". Yes, it does, especially (but not only) in low budget accomodation, everywhere in the world. In Samoa too. Not more, not less I add (again). So watch out and don't be too relaxed here.

@islandboi
<blockquote>Quote
<hr>I don't think anyone realises just how powerful a resource the Thorntree is... It can, and I assume has, broken/bolstered many a business and caused many a fluctuation, especially the smaller market countries like Samoa, of tourism numbers. All that someone has to do is post "I got sick from the food at such and such a beach fale or guesthouse" and guess what? They can be shuttered in months. Devastating in a small market like Samoa. Whether this was factual or not becomes moot.<hr></blockquote>
I fully agree and that even refers to a whole small destination country like Samoa altogether. What do you think why I am posting here?

I see my whole country being targeted, not only certain places here, maybe certain hosts as well. Which might be justified in some cases. Myself I have a short list only of very few places I recommend to guests for accomodation and food. A positive selection I made and monitor from my own and other's accumulated experience. And another list of places which I personally regard as "no-no". But I hesitate very much to publish these lists anywhere, not here, not even on my own website. Why? Because it would be very unfair to places I just do not know and which might be even better (or worse) than those on my list. Even more it is a matter of personal preferences.

On the top - things change. Places get recommended and quickly become lazy in their efforts because now they are very popular. I saw that happen quite a few times already, i.e. in certain resorts in Manase. Other places try harder and get much better than those popular places within even a short time. But it takes many years before that change gets through in Thorntree and guide books. When I read some guide books I see a lot of places being mentioned and/or recommended which do not exist anymore or which I would never set a foot in. Even on Lonely Planet. They clearly do not go everywhere again before a new edition is published.

What I personally do about these issues? On TT as well as when I talk to tourism or village people here in Samoa I advocate the other side and try to raise awareness and understanding on both sides. I know both sides quite well so that seems to be an appropriate role for me.

Therefore I tell Samoans about the pet dog we kept in our appartment in Germany, years ago. Show them a photo of that dog laying on an old armchair in our sitting room. They laugh their heads off, they do not believe it, think I faked it. How could someone keep a dog IN the house? Or a bird or a fish!! Crazy!

Please realize that: they are not aware at all about the "dog problem" as you see it as they do not have a clue about the tourist's experience and attitude towards dogs. When a tourist feeds a dog and gets bitten because the dog sees there is food left most Samoans would blame the tourist but not the dog. The dog is just a dog but the human certainly should know better. How could someone stretch out a hand to touch a dog? Unbelievable. A Samoan would never do that because of the fleas and because they clearly know that they will get bitten.

As soon as my Samoan counterpart realizes that tourists do not have (and cannot have!) any idea of what dog means in Samoa, it is already a big step forward. They realize that they have to help these people and that they have to warn them. Strongly! More than just saying 'Watch out for the dogs'. Because now they realize that the tourist does not understand what they really mean with "Watch out!" and with "dog".

So - in reverse - now you hopefully understand a bit better yourself too how a Samoan sees this issue. Do not expect them to abolish their dogs though. They are needed. Or to teach them to be less vicious. There are needed to be like that. But they will hopefully watch out more carefully for their dogs, help to warn and to protect the guests and accept that real stray dogs get killed (because those are not needed).

Coming to theft it is different. Theft is theft and the Samoan language had a word for it (gaoi). And when someone tells you that it is a cultural thing and has something to do with 'sharing', that is a lame excuse (if not deceipt). The thief did not adopt the victim -:) Because 'sharing' refers to family only. Strictly. Nothing else. And even then it is not sharing but a clear hierarchy of who may make demands or even take from whom. Elder or higher ranked to younger or lower ranked. Not really 'sharing' as we Europeans use that term anyway. Just recently a young man was sent to jail because he took things away from his father. That was not 'sharing' as it would have been regarded the other way around, but theft.

So do not allow anyone to fool you about this. There is no "culture" in stealing from you. It is an offence or a crime, gets prosecuted and the thief goes to jail if caught. In Samoa as anywhere else (seldom enough unfortunately though, but again as in most other countries as well). And regarding this I do not have to mediate and to explain anything to a Samoan. They know that all too well.

There is a custom though of giving gifts, which is stronger and more common than in Western countries nowadays. Not that different in principle though. You are invited to someone's house - you bring something as a gift. You are being shouted a drink - you shout one back, of course. The difficult thing here is that usually you are expected to give at your ability (and Samoans do hardly have a real estimate about that). So some people might shout you a bottle and hope for a crate in return, Literally, of course. They might be disappointed when their hopes are not fulfilled and they might get angry at you. But still - that as well is no excuse for theft. Gifts have to be given not just to be taken secretly -:) In Samoa too. But be advised to be a bit reluctant in accepting gifts and only give back as much as you got to avoid encouraging greed. (I use to explain that to Samoans as well regarding their expectations.)

So you have an idea now about what I personally do to help tourism in Samoa. Thanks for reading this far.

Interesting conversation that didnt difuse my growing worries about my upcoming trip to Samoa. Today I should go purchase my ticket.
Even though here some good points to have been made, nothing is that black and white.
Anyways, I am grateful for Laszlo puting warning on Samoa [every particulars are useful], however he had better take off the negative tag, which is the pain in the neck for wksamoa, because not everything had been so disastrous in Samoa, had it, Laszlo?