Airports

Faleolo

The Faleolo International Airport, is the only international airport in Western Samoa. It's runway was upgraded by the New Zealand government and is capable of handling aircraft as large as a Boeing 747. There is a departure tax of 20 Tala for adults and 10 Tala for children over the age of 5.

It is also one of the few places in Samoa where there are public telephones, and is open 24 hours a day, although you have to pay to use the car park.

The airlines flying to Faleolo are Polynesian Airlines, Air New Zealand, Samoa Air & Air Pacific.

If you wish to travel around Samoa by plane it might be worthwhile investigating the Discover Samoa Pass offered by Polynesian Airlines for use by non residents.

Fagali'i

Five minutes from the centre of Apia is the airport of Fagali'i, from which Polynesian Airlines operates daily flights to Maota airstrip in southeastern Savai'i

Mo'ata

Located on the southern coast of Savai'i about 10 minutes drive from the wharf at Salealoga, this is the main airport on Savai'i. There are several flights a day from Fagali'i in Apia.
18th April 1998

Asau

Reopened last year after literally being washed out to sea, during the cyclone of 1991, this airport is located on the north western coast of Savai'i. We believe that currently there is just one flight a day in and out of this airport.
18th April 1998

Ports

The only port of entry for Western Samoa is Apia. If entering Samoa by boat you will need to to be in possesion of a Certificate of Clearance from your previous port of departure, five copies of a crew list and valid passports. If you wish to gain access to other harbours around the island you should contact the Prime Minister's Office, the Harbour Master will be able to provide you with details.

The are daily sailings between Mulifanua in Upolu to the Salelologa Wharf in Savai'i, a trip that takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, depending upon the weather conditions. A ferry timetable is provided for your information.
19th April 1998

Buses

Travelling by bus is an experience. The buses are brightly coloured and run by a timetable that is known only to thedriver and if you are lucky local police officer. They start running early in the morning but if you want to catch one after dark don't be surprised if you can't find one. If you are hoping to travel from or to a more remote area there may well only be one bus a day.

The buses have the name of the final village on the front so you will have to ask someone which bus it is you need to catch. Don't worry most Samoans understand and speak English, but it might be fun to try asking for directions in Samoan.

If you are in Apia there are two places where you should be able to find a bus, the new market (márketi fou)and behind the old market, marketi tuai.

The buses can get very full and you might find it necessary to si'i, that is to have someone sit on your lap or sit on someone's lap. The buses are not meant to travel with anyone standing, but this is frequently ignored. However buses can be pulled over by the police and people asked to get off and wait for the next bus.

It used to be possible to tell that a bus was coming by the noise it made, but it is now illegal for them to have the type of sound system that would blend in at the Notting Hill Carnival.

Click here for a bus timetable for some of the more popular destinations in Upolu.
19th April 1998

Taxis

All taxi charges carry a minimum of WS$2.00 within the town area. Taxis are not metered and it is advisable to agree on a set price beforehand, or contact the Visitors Bureau for assistance. The taxi fare from Faleolo International Airport into Apia is WS$30.00 one way.

Hire Cars

Samoa now drives on the left hand side of the road after changing from the right on September 7th 2009, but most of the cars are left hand drive, since they are from either American Samoa or America. Previously cars were imported from Australia and New Zealand but a change in legislation in the late '90s made it illegal for people to import right hand drive cars. It was to allow access to cheaper cars from Japan, New Zealand and Australia that the change was made.
18th May 1998: Updated October 1st 2009

The speed limit within the Apia area is 40kmph (25mph), and outside of Apia it is 56 kmph (35mph).

If you wish to take your hire car to Savai'i check with the agency you are hiring it from that you can take it over on the ferry. To the best of my knowledge there is nowhere that provides rental cars on Savai'i.

When travelling to Savai'i with a car it makes sense to book your passage before you arrive at the wharf. Tickets can be obtained from the Western Samoan Shipping Line offices, next to Evening Shades just off Beach Road, past Aggie Grays. The tickets will cost you 30 Tala each way. Although it may be possible to get on the ferry just turning up, there is no guarantee.
18th April 1998

If you find yourself involved in an accident that results in damage of any description and your car is still servicable DO NOT STOP. Drive to the next village and ask where the nearest police station is. Let the police negotiate a settlement with the villagers in question.

It has also been suggested that if involved in an accident you could possibly also stop at a pastors house. He may be able to intercede on your behalf. 28th June 1998

If you drive past an accident in which a pedestrian or cyclist has been injured it is advisable not to stop to offer assistance unless a number of villagers are already at the scene. There have been occaisions when well meaning passerbys have stopped to help and become the victims of mistaken villagers anger.

If you wish to find out more about driving, these lighthearted tips may give you an idea of what to expect. Tips for tourists, Tips for locals

Hotel Coach

If the thought of driving around Samoa seems to much for you, and you find it too awkard to get where you want to go by bus, it is probably worth contacting the more up-market hotels, such as Aggie Grays or the Vaisala. These companies organise trips around the island to some of the more popular destinations and you may well be able to book seats on them.

On Foot

Walking around Samoa should prove to be a very interesting experience. Samoan's are very friendly people. Don't be surprised to here shouts of "Hello Palagi" as people shout to you as you walk past their houses. You should be aware that at about 18:00 or 19:00 a number of villages have a Sa, a time for the family to pray together. In some of these villages it is considered very bad form to walk along the road during the sa.

Something else worth looking out for are the dogs. A general rule of thumb is NEVER TRUST A DOG. There's no need to worry about rabies, it's just that they are not very well trained and are not averse to taking a nip at someone. You shouldn't need to worry about the pigs though.