Samoa vacation and visitor guide with hotel, airport, airline and travel information. Compare Samoa vacation packages, hotels and cruise deals. Talofa and Welcome to Samoa, formally known as Western Samoa, The Treasured Islands of the South Pacific. Come and explore our islands that are rich in culture, unspoilt environment and home to the friendliest people in the South Pacific. Experience a holiday destination like no other, full of adventure, natural beauty and pure relaxation.
Samoa is served by Faleolo International Airport (Airport Code: APW) near Apia. Samoa's national airline, Polynesian Airlines, operates services to Samoa from New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, Fiji, Tonga, American Samoa and Tahiti. Polynesian Airlines also operates regular domestic services from Fagalii Airport (Airport Code: FGI) near Apia, to Maota and Asau on the island of Savaii. Visit our Airports & Airlines section for more information.
Samoa is a kaleidoscope of things to see, from the home of Scottish author of Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson, to the Royal Tombs at Mulinuu. Apia, the capital, is vibrant by day or night, where villagers sell their wares at the marketplace, and where each working day, the Police Band marches down Beach Road to raise the flag and play the national anthem at the Government complex. Venture into the villages, and see how we live in open sided fale, cook in umu, harvest each day from the plantations and catch fish from the sea for our sustenance. Visit the Official Samoa Tourism Site for more information.
RESPECT THE SAMOAN WAY
Always ask villagers for permission before taking photographs, using the beach, or engaging in other activities, however unobtrusive your actions may seem. Permission will almost certainly be granted.
In a traditional home, called a fale (fah-LAY), sit down on the floor before talking, eating, or drinking. Cross your legs or pull a mat over them; it is impolite to stretch out your legs uncovered.
Sunday is the day for church, for rest, and especially for quiet around the villages. Activities that are acceptable on other days, such as swimming, may not be permitted on Sunday.
Each evening around dusk, villagers observe a time for prayers called Sa. If you are entering a village during Sa, stop and wait quietly until Sa ends. You may even be invited to join in a family prayer. It is not necessary to stop for Sa on the main roads.
It is considered an honor to be asked to share kava (a local drink made from the root of the pepper plant). To show respect, spill a few drops on the ground or mat in front of you, then raise your cup and say "manuia" (mahn-WE-ah) before drinking.
Do not eat or drink while walking through a village
Passport, Visa & Embassy Information
Visitors to Samoa do not require an entry visa for stays of up to 30 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 30 days. Nationals of China (People's Republic) are now required to obtain a visa prior to travel to, and transit of Samoa. Visas can be obtaimed from your nearest Samoa Consulate General, High Commission or Embassy to apply for one.
Samoa United Nations Mission is located in New York, USA. Phone 212 599 0797 Fax 212 599 0797
The U.S. Embassy is located on the 5th Floor of the Accident Compensation Board (ACB) Bulding, Beach Road, Apia. Its mailing address is P.O. Box 3430, Apia. Phone: [685] 21631. Email: usembassy@samoa.net.
Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings also are available on the Consular Affairs Internet home page: http://travel.state.gov. Consular Affairs Tips for Travelers publication series, which contain information on obtaining passports and planning a safe trip abroad, are on the Internet and hard copies can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, telephone: 202-512-1800; fax 202-512-2250.
Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. A hotline at 877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) and a web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm give the most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements, and advice on food and drinking water safety for regions and countries.
U.S. citizens who are long-term visitors or traveling in dangerous areas are encouraged to register their travel via the State Department’s travel registration web site at https://travelregistration.state.gov or at the Consular section of the U.S. embassy upon arrival in a country by filling out a short form and sending in a copy of their passports. This may help family members contact you in case of an emergency.
