How to Find Luxury Hotels in Samoa

Once called "the cradle of Polynesia," Samoa is 2,300 miles southwest of Hawaii and 1,600 miles northeast of New Zealand. Samoa comprises the two large islands of Upolu and Savai'i and seven small islets. Upolu and Savai'i are sovereign, while the other Samoan islands are US territories, including the island of Tutuila. The "Samoan way" refers to the chieftain system of hereditary rank that the island natives abide by.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer and telephone access for making reservations

Get to Know Samoa Before You Go

1. Learn the official language of Samoa, called Samoan. There are only 370,337 speakers worldwide, half of whom live in Samoa.
2. Buy souvenirs with Samoan Tala (ST $100 equals roughly US $30). It is prohibited to use foreign currency in shops.

Plan Your Arrival in Samoa

3. Fly into Pago Pago International Airport to arrive in American Samoa or fly into Upolu's Faleolo International Airport.
4. Walk around Samoa. People are very friendly. Just remember not to walk down the street during Sa, the family prayer time, as it is considered rude.

Obtain Luxury Accommodations in Samoa

5. To book accommodations, contact the Samoa Tourism Authority at 011 ([phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources, below). Stay in fale beach front accommodations. You get a beach hut constructed of wood, two or three meals prepared by the host family and a shared toilet and shower with cold water.
6. Contact the luxury hotels--most prevalent in Western Samoa--ahead of time. These hotels organize popular destination trips around the island that you may be able to book seats on.
7. Read online reviews at a travel Web site in order to get the best feel for levels of luxury at specific Samoan properties.

Observe Local Customs and Traditions in Samoa

8. Watch 'Fia Fias' at night. This is a local traditional dance with performers wearing colorful costumes and singing to traditional Samoan music.
9. Swim with turtles on the island of Savai'i. Request fruit to feed them.
10. Attend traditional Samoan mass on Sunday. Samoans sing with exuberance.

Tips & Warnings

• Americans are required to carry a valid passport and an onward or return ticket to travel to Samoa.
• American Samoa uses US currency exclusively.
• Visitors must pay a departure tax of 40 tala (approximately $16).
• Samoa has many lava tubes near the ocean that create amazing geysers. Keep a safe distance away and never stand between the opening of a lava tube and the sea.
• If you choose to walk around Samoa, watch out for stray dogs. They bite.
• The Ferries linking Upolu and Savai'i are sometimes overloaded. Ride only in the passenger compartment of a ferry to avoid injury from shifting vehicles.
• Driving in Samoa is not for the faint of heart.
• All phone numbers include the international prefix "011." When calling internationally but not from the United States or Canada, substitute that "011" with "00." All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.
• Samoans dress up and wear white to Sunday mass.