Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Buses in Samoa

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea

Hey everyone

Im travelling to samoa in june/july this year for about 2 weeks with some friends, we are all 20 and therefore wont be able to hire a car while we are there (as far as i believe you have to be 21 to hire a car.) We are hoping to explore both Upulo and Savaii. It looks as though getting round Upolu will be fine by bus, but im not sure about savaii. If anyone could help me out as to the extent of bus services on savaii that would be great!

cheers

There are buses on Savaii......they leave from the wharf at Salelologa and go up each side of the island. How many etc somebody else will have to answer. It used to be one a day for the far distances but maybe that has changed now that the roads are sealed and faster, Am not sure about Sunday buses either. Aloha

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thats why i rented a motobike for almost three days in Savai'i. the buses are on irregular basis there and virtually run when a ferry arrives. Having said that, buses on this island are good only if you wanna get somewhere from ferry or from a resort to ferry. Doing other kinds of trips is impossible... without your means of trasport in Savai'i you are lost, in my opinion

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Jirikoo is right. Buses are not an option in Savaii.
You can only hire a taxi then, which should not cost more than 300 Tala for a trip around all Savaii. That is not very much more than a rental car fuel (165approx.75=240 Tala).
Furthermore there are guided tours which should not cost more than 120 to 150 Tala per Person.
I would take a tour. The taxi driver will most likely speed to be back home asap, which is neither safe nor the right way to enjoy sightseeing.
You might probably not be allowed to rent a car because in Samoan law you are still a minor as long as you are not 21 years old ...

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