How to Find Hotels in Samoa

Composed of two midsized volcanic islands, the island nation of Samoa features gorgeous landscapes and beautiful beaches that make it a great place to escape the world for a while. Here are some things to remember when planning your next visit there.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Passport

Find Accommodations in Samoa

1. Visit the Samoa Tourism Authority's Web site for more information about accommodations on Samoa (see Resources, below), or phone them at 011 ([phone] from inside the U.S.

2. Meet other travelers at a resort. There are a few exceptionally nice resorts on Samoa. While a little expensive, they are great places for meeting fellow tourists and maybe making some new friends. Look for a resort with organized social activities and plenty of bars and shops for nonstop fun during your stay.

3. Experience local tradition. All across Samoa private families who regularly turn their modest lodgings into guest house accommodations for visitors to the island. You can find these places through online message boards or by asking other travelers. The accommodations will be inexpensive and you will have a unique opportunity to spend some time living with the locals.

4. Head to the beach. As one of Samoa's primary attractions, the beach is where you will find plenty of options for accommodations. Whether you are looking for a straw hut with a hammock or want 5-star accommodations, you will find it at the beach.

Navigate Samoa

5. See Samoa by bicycle. This is an increasingly popular way to traverse Samoa's islands, and it is great exercise to boot. Enjoy the fresh salt breeze as you pedal through the streets and along the sunny shores.

6. Employ the services of a taxi. Taxi service is available throughout Samoa. Be aware that Samoan taxis do not have meters, so it might be a good idea to negotiate a fare with the driver before taking your ride to avoid any unpleasant surprises later on.

Explore Samoa

7. Swim with the goldfish. The pale green waters of the bottomless crater lake of Lake Lanoto'o are filled with schools of wild goldfish. And how deep is the water? No diver has ever touched bottom in this lake. You can hire a guide to get you there and take a dip if you are feeling adventurous.

8. Soak up some history along with the sun. Samoa has several museums that display artifacts and art from the nation's history. If you enjoy literary interests, you might visit the Robert Louis Stevenson museum and burial place, located just outside the town of Apia.

Tips & Warnings

• The dialing prefix 011 is used for telephoning abroad from the U.S. If you're calling from another country, check which international dialing prefix to use.
• Everyone except citizens of China will be provided with a visa upon arrival in Samoa. Chinese citizens will need to apply in advance for a visa.
• Watch out for bugs! Insects can be a problem on Samoa and occasionally carry disease, so make sure you wear protective clothing at night and have some bug spray handy.
• Marauding packs of stray dogs roam the streets of Samoa and will sometimes attack pedestrians. Be on the lookout for them, and do not approach any dogs that are traveling in a group.