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About Samoa

Learn about Samoa. A Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands. Apia is the capital of Samoa.

Samoa Factsheet

Accommodation

The Samoa Hotels Association has an office in the STA Tourism Fale on Beach Road, Apia. The SHA Team provides advice on accommodation

About Samoa

Accommodation
The Samoa Hotels Association has an office in the STA Tourism Fale on Beach Road, Apia. The SHA Team provides advice on accommodation providers, tour operators and attractions in Samoa. They also book accommodation direct and have a database with information and photos of all member properties in Samoa. For more information, you can phone 30160 or visit www.samoa-hotels.ws

Airlines, Airport Bus and Ferries
For full details, see Upolu – Getting Around in the printed guide.
For all car rental, please visit our transport guide for Samoa.

Airports
Upolu: Faleolo International Airport (APW) is located 35km west of Apia on Upolu.
Savaii: Maota Airport (MXS) is located 10 minutes drive south of Salelologa on Savaii.

Climate

Monthly Average Temperatures
January 26.9°CFebruary 27°CMarch 27°CApril 27°C
May 26.7°CJune 26.4°CJuly 25.9°CAugust 25.9°C
September 26.2°COctober 26.6°CNovember 26.7°CDecember 26.8°C

Clubs and Organisations

Apia Bowling Club, ph 22 254

Communications

  • Bluesky Samoa on Beach Road offers the following services: Post Office, Mobile Phone Shop and Customer Enquiries. Monday–Friday, 8.30am–4.30pm; Saturday,8am–12pm.
  • Digicel sells SIMs and specialises in low international rates. They have several outlets available, including the Westpac counter at the Falelolo Airport and Aggie Grey’s Hotel, as well as directly from Digicel.
  • Please note that pay phones are located outside the Bluesky Samoa Building and various locations in the town area and rural areas. You can use a phone card to make local and overseas calls. Contact Bluesky Samoa phone (685) 67 723 and Digicel, phone (685) 842 8003 email hr@digicelsamoa.ws

Communications – Phone Provider

  • Cellular Phone Center, ph 28 899/772 8764 cloud9resort@samoa.ws
  • CellCity 21956 etuale@cellcity.cc
  • Comp-Tech, ph 26 612
  • Digicel Samoa Limited, 842 8003 customercaresamoa@digicelgroup.com
  • DY Brown Store, ph 750 0711
  • Go Mobile, Matafele, ph 29 133
  • HJF Electronics, Motootua, ph 20 261 hjfruean@ipasifika.net
  • HJF Electronics, Matafele, ph 30 478
  • HJF Electronics, Fugalei, ph 25 316
  • HJF Electronis, Taufusi Rd, ph 777 1111
  • Ipasifika, ph 24 747
  • Pacific Communications, ph 22 582
  • King’s Cellular, Saleufi, ph 21 193 kingsauto@samoa.ws
  • King’s Cellular, Moamoa, ph 32 636/7 kingsauto@samoa.ws
  • Lesa’s Telephone Service , ph 21 016 info@lesamoa.net
  • Michelle’s Mini Mart, ph 751 5502
  • Nokia Samoa, ph 757 2104
  • Pro-Com Systems, ph 24 453 procom@samoa.ws
  • V & F Store, ph 750 0706
  • VIP Cellphone Rentals, ph 21 415 apksb@hotmail.com

Currency
The Samoa decimal currency is based on the Tala (dollar) and Sene (cent):
100 Sene = WS$1 (Tala). All major foreign currencies are exchangeable in Samoa for Tala (Samoan dollars).
Notes: $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100
Coins: 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1

Dentists

  • Leavai Dental Surgery, Lalovaea, ph 20 172
  • Moto’otua National Hospital, Moto’otua, ph 21 212
  • Soonalole Dental Surgery, Alamagato, ph 21 145

Departure Tax
Departure Tax is WS$65 (pay in cash). Children under 12 years are free.

Diplomatic Representatives

  • Stephen Henningham Australia (685) 23 411
  • Nick Hurley New Zealand (685) 21 711
  • Marco Kappenberger Switzerland (685) 42 014
  • Steve Rogers UK (685) 27 123 / 773 3562
  • Chad J Berbert USA (685) 21 631

Doctors – Locations

  • Dr John Atherton, Matautu, ph 26 113
  • Dr Lance Eves, Wesley Arcade, ph 20 942
  • Dr Papalii Sam Petaia, Salelologa, Savaii 51 282
  • Enosa & Sons Health Consultancy, Nia Mall, ph 30 234
  • Le Fomai Medical Clinic, Moata’a, ph 32 196
  • Malaki Medical Clinic, Saleufi, ph 26 565
  • Metis Medical Clinic, Matafele, ph 30 550
  • Ola Fou Clinic, Apia, ph 32 318
  • Peters Medical Clinic, Pesega, ph 23 242
  • Potoi Medical Clinic, Chang Wai Bldg, ph 21 652
  • Tavana Nurse on Wheels, Vaivase-uta, ph 24 394/777 1571
  • T Medical Group, Moto’otua, ph 26 497

Dress
Light summer clothing is appropriate all year round, with perhaps a light sweater for the cooler evenings. Smart casual evening wear is appropriate for hotels and restaurants. Visitors are requested not to wear bathing suits in Apia or in the villages. No nude or topless (for women) swimming or sunbathing. Women are recommended to wear a lavalava (sarong) or dress, rather than shorts or trousers, if they attend church.

EFTPOS
There are at present over 300 Eftpos outlets found throughout Upolu and Savaii for easy payment, which accept the following cards – Visa, MasterCard, Cirrus, Amex, JCB & Plus Cards and Access International Debit Card.

Electricity
240 volts/AC 50 cycles, but can be converted to 110 volts in most hotels. Power-points can accept three-pronged plugs as used in Australia and New Zealand.

Entry Requirements
Visitors to Samoa do not require an entry visa for stays of up to 60 days, however you must have an onward or return ticket and valid passport (six months or more). An entry visa is only required for visits longer than 60 days. Visas can be obtained from your nearest Samoa Consulate General, High Commission or Embassy. For more information, contact the Immigration Department; phone (685) 20 291 or (685) 20 292, email immigration@samoa.ws or visit www.samoaimmigration.gov.ws

Health & Hospitals
A vaccination for yellow fever is required if arriving within six days of leaving or transiting infected areas.

Upolu

  • Tupua Tamasese Meaole II Hospital, Motootua, ph 21 212

Savaii

  • Maleitoa Tanumafili II Hospital, Tuasivi, ph 53 511

Internet Cafés
Upolu – Location

Savaii- Location


Newspapers

  • Le Samoa, ph 23 827, Weekly
  • Le Samoa Post, ph 28 802, Tuesday
  • Newsline, ph 24 216, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday
  • Samoa Observer, ph 21 099, Monday-Saturday & Sunday
  • Savali, ph 26 398, Thursday
  • Talamua Publisher & Media, ph 23 827, Daily (online www.talamua.com)
  • Tapu Magazine, Monthly

Pharmacies

  • Apia Pharmacy, Matafele, ph 22 703
  • Marias Health Care Pharmacy, Taufusi, ph 29 834
  • Niu Pharmacy, Saleufi, ph 22 420
  • Samoa Pharmacy, Sogi, ph 22 595

Post Office
The Post Office is part of SamoaTel and is located on Beach Road in Apia. Opening hours are Monday to Friday 8.30am-4.30pm and Saturdays 8.00am-12.00pm. Stamps and Philatelic Bureau Monday to Friday 8.30am-4.30pm and Saturday 8.00am to 12.00pm. Fax 24 333.

Post Restante
The Post Restante office for receiving mail is located in a separate office, in the main SamoaTel office on Beach Road, behind the main lobby. If you wish to receive mail while in Samoa, have the mail addressed to you with your surname underlined and sent to the following address: Post Restante, Chief Post Office, SamoaTel, Apia, Samoa.

Religion
The main religious denominations in Samoa are Congregational, Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Seven Day Adventist, Assembly of God, Bahai, Latter Day Saints and Jehovah’s Witness. Sundays in Samoa are dedicated to God, with families usually attending church in the mornings followed by a family to’onai (lunch) and another service in the evening. Sunday is considered a day of rest for everyone. You are welcome to attend the services. Please ask at your hotel reception for service times.

Taxes (VAGST)
Tax is charged on accommodation, food and drinks. For details, contact Samoa Tourism Authority, email info@visitsamoa.ws

Time Zone
Samoa is 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Tipping
Tipping is not expected in Samoa. However, if you have received good service a small gratuity will not offend.

Useful Contacts

Visitor Information
The Samoa Tourism Authority (STA) is located in the fale in front of Government Buildings on Beach Road in Apia. Open Monday to Friday, 9-5pm and Saturday morning, 8am-12pm. The information booth at Faleolo International Airport is open for all international flight arrivals into Samoa. For more information contact the Samoa Tourism Authority office Matafele, phone (685) 63 520 or (685) 63 521, Faleolo International Airport phone (685) 42 099.

Yacht Services
Visiting yachts are required to contact the Samoa Port Authority to notify them of their ETA, at least two days prior to arriving in Apia for immigration, customs, health and quarantine clearance. Permission must be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Apia if you wish to sail to other islands in Samoa. For further information, contact the Samoa Port Authority, phone (685) 23 552 or fax (685) 25 870.

Read More at Wikipedia <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samoa>

Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands (Savai’i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands (Manono and Apolima); and several smaller, uninhabited islands, including the Aleipata Islands (Nu’utele, Nu’ulua, Fanuatapu and Namua). Samoa is located 64 km (40 mi) west of American Samoa, 889 km (552 mi) northeast of Tonga (closest foreign country), 1,152 km (716 mi) northeast of Fiji, 483 km (300 mi) east of Wallis and Futuna, 1,151 km (715 mi) southeast of Tuvalu, 519 km (322 mi) south of Tokelau, 4,190 km (2,600 mi) southwest of Hawaii, and 610 km (380 mi) northwest of Niue. The capital city is Apia. The Lapita people discovered and settled the Samoan Islands around 3,500 years ago. They developed a Samoan language and Samoan cultural identity.

Samoa is a unitary parliamentary democracy with 11 administrative divisions. The sovereign state is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Western Samoa was admitted to the United Nations on 15 December 1976. Because of the Samoans’ seafaring skills, pre-20th-century European explorers referred to the entire island group (which includes American Samoa) as the “Navigator Islands”.[14][15] The country was a colony of the German Empire from 1899 to 1915, then came under a joint British and New Zealand colonial administration until 1 January 1962, when it became independent.

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