Samoa cycling in 2019

Hello,

With two weeks up my sleeve and cheap flights on, I'm thinking of heading over to the Pacific in mid-July. Looks like a lot of info on cycle touring Samoa is from 5+ years ago, and the more searching I do, the more questions I pick up.

Has anyone visiting the islands recently noted if there have been improvements to feral dog control on Upolu? Or a better question, if you've cycled Uplolu, how did you find the dog harassment? Should I bring a less-loved bike with me? Is Savai'i still pretty good for the cycle tour, following cyclone and flood events? Would you recommend booking fale's in advanced? And should I bring my own mosquito net?

And old threads on here imply Samoa is not as cool as my imagination tells me. I.e - angry locals. So, recent travellers: should I go ahead and ignore decade-old advice?

Hi there,

Samoa has put a ton of work into dog control, and we saw plenty of casual bikers on Upolu in October and December. I would be more concerned about road conditions creating an unsafe biking environment (bumpy asphalt) as well as somewhat crazy drivers, though they tend to drive in the middle of the road which creates difficulty for the opposing driver but perhaps not a biker!

Fales booking up ahead of time most likely cook be a problem in July. Look at your 2 weeks off and the timing of Pacific Games in Apia. Normally probably fine, but this is a huge event that is attracting many. Just with athletes/coaches/admin alone, our little country of American Samoa is sending 350 people. It could be an amazing experience to bike the islands during this time. I would also recommend checking on flight availability too.

Overall, not sure what has been said about Samoa in the past. We've just recently moved to this region and love our time when in Apia/Upolu. The country has spent a lot of money to boost their tourism, and that includes dog control.

Meredith

I lived in Samoa for several years and the last place I would bike is on Upolu.... ...those bus drivers will kill you. Better to do it on Savaii.

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