Helpful Information
Beaches
Savai’i is a tropical paradise of sparkling blue lagoons and pristine white sand beaches. From sunbathing, swimming and snorkeling, to hiking or simply watching the sun set, there is always something to keep you occupied on the ‘big island’.
If you intend on swimming outside of your resort, check with the village you are visiting as there may be a small charge for non-locals.
Also, while bikinis and bathing suits are fine within your resort, you do need to cover up with shorts, a t-shirt and / or an ie lavalava when swimming in a village. Nude swimming, and topless swimming for women, is illegal in Samoa and would be regarded as highly offensive by locals.
Weather
Savai’i enjoys a hot, sunny climate all year round. The day time temperature usually sits at 28 to 32˚ Celsius and is slightly cooler at night. From December to February, the air is more humid and rainfall is higher. The beautiful lush vegetation would not survive without the odd tropical downpour — most of these are localised, last less than an hour or two, and tend to fall at night.
Click here for more information on Savai’i weather.
Food
Samoans love their food!
Most resorts and hotels use local ingredients and serve a mix of traditional and modern Samoan dishes, with international favourites thrown in for good measure. Visitors wanting to enjoy a local beverage should look out for niu — young coconut, vai tipolo — a refreshing local lemon drink, traditional Samoan coffee or a hot koko Samoa drink. Samoan coffee (known as CCK) or koko Samoa also make great souvenirs.
Dress
Samoa is hot all year round so you’ll only need light summer clothing.
If you wish to attend church, both men and women should cover their shoulders and knees — a tidy shirt and an ie lavalava are fine.
Bikinis and bathing suits are fine at resorts, but in town or in the villages; cover up with a shift, shorts, skirt or ie lavalava.
Fa’a Samoa — Samoan culture
Traditional Samoan culture — aiga (extended family), church and the matai (village chiefs) — is very much at the heart of life in Savai’i, and as a visitor, you will have the opportunity to experience this.
Visitors will find local people to be friendly and hospitable, and can show their respect for fa’a Samoa by following a few simple guidelines.
Sundays
Sunday is a day of rest, prayer and eating in Savai’i. Visitors are welcome in local churches and a Sunday service in Samoa is a great experience. If you are invited to a family toana'i (a traditional Sunday lunch held after church), don't eat too much breakfast — you are in for a feast!
Resorts operate as normal on Sundays but many tourist attractions and activities are closed making it a great day to chill out. If you are on a biking holiday, it is fine to bike on Sundays.
Money
Banks and ATMs
Outside of resorts, Samoa operates largely on a cash basis. Buses, taxis and most shops only accept cash. When you arrive in Samoa, there are BSP and ANZ ATMs at the airport. These are also the closest ATMs to the Mulifanua Wharf. There is a BSP and ANZ ATM located just opposite the resort.
Credit cards
Many resorts accept Visa and Mastercard, however surcharges normally apply. Most beach fales only accept cash. Credit cards are not widely accepted outside of resorts.
ATMs
There are two ATMs in Salelologa — one ANZ and one BSP, and a BSP and ANZ ATM is located across the road from the resort . These ATMs accept most international EFTPOS cards and are open 24-7.
Communications
Most of Savai’i has mobile phone and internet coverage-- Digicel andVodafone as the main network providers.
Mobile phones — voice and data
Sim cards for both networks can be purchased from Lagoto Shop across the road and easy to setup.
Wi-Fi
Internet access is available using pre-paid vouchers. BlueSky pre-paid internet vouchers for Bluezone are available for purchase from the shop across the road from the resort or can be purchased online.
Calling codes
The international calling code for Samoa is +685.
The international code for calls from Samoa to New Zealand is 064, from Samoa to Australia is 061, and from Samoa to the USA is 01.
Health and safety
Samoa is generally a very safe destination. Visitors should take the same common sense precautions they would take at home — look after your valuables, lock your car, and don't go places or do things you wouldn't at home.
Drinking water
Samoa is hot and visitors should drink plenty of water. Bottled water is readily available at shops and resorts.
Hospitals, clinics and pharmacies
The main hospital on Savai’i is at Tuasivi — approximately 15 minutes’ drive from Salelologa and 25 minutes’ drive back from Fagamalo.
Hospital clinics are at Safotu, Sataua and Maota.
Aiga Manuia Medical Centre & Pharmacy, the equivalent of a GP clinic with English speaking staff, is at Lalomalava, phone 8451203.
There is also a pharmacy on the main street in Salelologa.
Savai’i is a tropical paradise of sparkling blue lagoons and pristine white sand beaches. From sunbathing, swimming and snorkeling, to hiking or simply watching the sun set, there is always something to keep you occupied on the ‘big island’.
If you intend on swimming outside of your resort, check with the village you are visiting as there may be a small charge for non-locals.
Also, while bikinis and bathing suits are fine within your resort, you do need to cover up with shorts, a t-shirt and / or an ie lavalava when swimming in a village. Nude swimming, and topless swimming for women, is illegal in Samoa and would be regarded as highly offensive by locals.
Weather
Savai’i enjoys a hot, sunny climate all year round. The day time temperature usually sits at 28 to 32˚ Celsius and is slightly cooler at night. From December to February, the air is more humid and rainfall is higher. The beautiful lush vegetation would not survive without the odd tropical downpour — most of these are localised, last less than an hour or two, and tend to fall at night.
Click here for more information on Savai’i weather.
Food
Samoans love their food!
Most resorts and hotels use local ingredients and serve a mix of traditional and modern Samoan dishes, with international favourites thrown in for good measure. Visitors wanting to enjoy a local beverage should look out for niu — young coconut, vai tipolo — a refreshing local lemon drink, traditional Samoan coffee or a hot koko Samoa drink. Samoan coffee (known as CCK) or koko Samoa also make great souvenirs.
Dress
Samoa is hot all year round so you’ll only need light summer clothing.
If you wish to attend church, both men and women should cover their shoulders and knees — a tidy shirt and an ie lavalava are fine.
Bikinis and bathing suits are fine at resorts, but in town or in the villages; cover up with a shift, shorts, skirt or ie lavalava.
Fa’a Samoa — Samoan culture
Traditional Samoan culture — aiga (extended family), church and the matai (village chiefs) — is very much at the heart of life in Savai’i, and as a visitor, you will have the opportunity to experience this.
Visitors will find local people to be friendly and hospitable, and can show their respect for fa’a Samoa by following a few simple guidelines.
- Inside a fale, remove your shoes and sit down as soon as possible, particularly when elders are present. You should avoid pointing your feet at anyone (tuck your ie lavalava or a mat over them if you are uncomfortable with your feet tucked under you, yoga style).
- Avoid walking or biking through villages during the sunset curfew — this usually lasts between 20 and 30 minutes.
- Ask permission before taking photos in a village.
- Don't give money to children, even if they ask.
Sundays
Sunday is a day of rest, prayer and eating in Savai’i. Visitors are welcome in local churches and a Sunday service in Samoa is a great experience. If you are invited to a family toana'i (a traditional Sunday lunch held after church), don't eat too much breakfast — you are in for a feast!
Resorts operate as normal on Sundays but many tourist attractions and activities are closed making it a great day to chill out. If you are on a biking holiday, it is fine to bike on Sundays.
Money
Banks and ATMs
Outside of resorts, Samoa operates largely on a cash basis. Buses, taxis and most shops only accept cash. When you arrive in Samoa, there are BSP and ANZ ATMs at the airport. These are also the closest ATMs to the Mulifanua Wharf. There is a BSP and ANZ ATM located just opposite the resort.
Credit cards
Many resorts accept Visa and Mastercard, however surcharges normally apply. Most beach fales only accept cash. Credit cards are not widely accepted outside of resorts.
ATMs
There are two ATMs in Salelologa — one ANZ and one BSP, and a BSP and ANZ ATM is located across the road from the resort . These ATMs accept most international EFTPOS cards and are open 24-7.
Communications
Most of Savai’i has mobile phone and internet coverage-- Digicel andVodafone as the main network providers.
Mobile phones — voice and data
Sim cards for both networks can be purchased from Lagoto Shop across the road and easy to setup.
Wi-Fi
Internet access is available using pre-paid vouchers. BlueSky pre-paid internet vouchers for Bluezone are available for purchase from the shop across the road from the resort or can be purchased online.
Calling codes
The international calling code for Samoa is +685.
The international code for calls from Samoa to New Zealand is 064, from Samoa to Australia is 061, and from Samoa to the USA is 01.
Health and safety
Samoa is generally a very safe destination. Visitors should take the same common sense precautions they would take at home — look after your valuables, lock your car, and don't go places or do things you wouldn't at home.
Drinking water
Samoa is hot and visitors should drink plenty of water. Bottled water is readily available at shops and resorts.
Hospitals, clinics and pharmacies
The main hospital on Savai’i is at Tuasivi — approximately 15 minutes’ drive from Salelologa and 25 minutes’ drive back from Fagamalo.
Hospital clinics are at Safotu, Sataua and Maota.
Aiga Manuia Medical Centre & Pharmacy, the equivalent of a GP clinic with English speaking staff, is at Lalomalava, phone 8451203.
There is also a pharmacy on the main street in Salelologa.
