QUICK decision b/w Samoa vs Fiji for a scenery and culture junkie w/ budget

I was planning on doing a free stop in Fiji for a week this May on the way to Australia. However, I just found out for $400 less I can do Samoa instead if I travel a different airline. I only have 30 hrs to decide, so I don't have time to do much research (long story). I am a gregarious female traveling alone. My main interest is beautiful scenery and cultural experience. I love beautiful beaches, but I am definitely NOT the resort type. Also, money is a big issue. Which island is more affordable to travel and stay? So, basically should I save the $400 and go to Samoa (only if the island is affordable), or would Fiji be much better for what I want. Advice is much appreciated.

I forgot to mention I would be flying into Apia if I went to Samoa

i'm in nz on a working holiday visa and went to samoa for 10 days with the girlfriend last october. i haven't been to fiji but have spoke to a lot of travellers here who have. everyone tells me all fiji is is resorts, while apart from an expensive resort by the airport samoa is all private little family run places, a much better travel experience. samoa was great and really not expensive at all to stay in the little fales (traditional beach huts) and we often spent days on lovely white beaches with no one else there. i would pay extra to go to samoa personally and if like me you prefer to see a place rather than a resort that could be in any one of a hundred places in the world. like i say i've never been to fiji and i'm sure ot has a lot to offer but i would save the cash and go with samoa. it's also only a couple of pound or few bucks to get the ferry to savaii, the other island, we hired a car and drove right round in a day.

Fiji has more variety but in one week only you would not be able to experience that. And with the $400 (US) saved on the flight you might already be able to cover most of your expenses for a week in Samoa when you stay in Beach Fales (i.e. Taufua Beach Fales in Lalomanu/Upolu and/or Lauiula Beach Fales in Lano/Savaii). These family run places let you get an idea about culture as well without additional effort or costs. Join others on a tour around the islands for more of the scenery - one day is enough per island.

just to add to wk's point, Lauiula Beach Fales in Lano/Savaii seemed to be a newer place next door to a place in LP that was closed in october. the staff were amazing and the cost including breakfast and dinner was about 8 pound or 12 us bucks a night per person with 2 of us. the food was great and it was right on a lovely little quiet beach.

samoa-pics

this link takes you to a few of my pics, the last 4 are taken from Lauiula Beach Fales, pics 3 and 4 are from Taufua Beach lalomanu beach, also highly recommended by myself and wk

a final point, vailima, the local beer, is great. almost worth going only for this! the beer laos of the south pacific lol

Anyone who says Fiji is nothing but resorts has not taken a good look at Fiji. It's a silly and incorrect generalization.

That said, if you have only a week, then take your savings and go to Samoa, for all the difference it will make. If you had at least a couple of weeks, I'd suggest you go to Fiji.

I agree with oldpro - the claim of Fiji being all resorts is plain ridiculous!
Pricewise, both countries are similar, though you could spend more on transport if heading to Fiji's far-flung islands.
You'll be lucky to experience much of the "culture" (other than presentations for tourists) in a week-long stay in either country, though perhaps the open-sided fales of Samoan villages are a more visually obvious aspect of an "exotic" culture than most Fijian villages would be.
So indeed, you might as well take your savings to Samoa!