Samoa FAQ

Why choose Samoa for your next holiday?

Relatively untouched by tourism, Samoa offers everything from pristine beaches to astounding waterfalls and dramatic cliffs falling into the ocean. Discover the beauty of the landscape and the warmth of the Samoan people with a visit to this unique and special destination. Learn more about it below!

What’s the weather like?

Samoa has a wonderful location that keeps the weather warm all year round.  The temperature ranges between 24-30°C throughout the year.  From May to October is the dry season, which is the most popular time to visit Samoa due to less chance of rainfall. The wet season experiences rain on 15 to 20 days each month, however, they are only ever short spurts and everything on Samoa operates as per normal! Please refer to Accuweather for an up to date weather report

What’s the culture like?

Samoa has a history dating back over 3000 years and the traditional Samoan culture has been well preserved compared to many other South Pacific nations.  Fa’a Samoa, meaning “The Samoan Way”, is an intricate set of guidelines which help individual Samoans live their lives according to some traditional values and beliefs.  The key pillars of Fa’a Samoa include respect for the environment, family, community structure and religion.  Fa’a Samoa is probably the most important influence in Samoan life and is at the very heart of being a Samoan.

What are some Samoan etiquette tips?

Samoa has quite a conservative history and many of those beliefs and norms still exist, although Samoans are good at giving foreigners leeway.  The capital Apia is quite relaxed in many traditions perhaps because this is a tourist hot spot. While in Samoa it is culturally important to have good manners and be considerate of others. Conservative standards of dress are common in Samoa, in part due to the religious dedication of the population as well as the island’s strong family values.  Casual dress is very acceptable in this climate but the more flesh you show, the more it could offend.  Public nudity at the beach or otherwise is definitely frowned upon.  Traditionally Samoans always eat meals sitting down and doing so is still considered good manners.  Always excuse yourself if you are going to obstruct the view of others and remember to take your shoes off before you enter someone’s home.

What language is spoken in Samoa?

Samoa has its own native language, Samoan, which is still spoken by most of the population, however, English is the second official language of the country and is spoken in all parts of Samoa.  You’ll find communicating in English is perfectly suitable while you are travelling through Samoa.

What’s the main religion in Samoa?

Like most countries, a broad range of religions can be found in Samoa but Christianity is the most popular by a large margin.  Christianity was introduced by missionaries in 1830 and has become an important part of Samoan society with almost every village having its own church and the pastor being an integral part of community life.  Sunday is a day of rest in Samoa and very little physical work will be done. Instead, the day will start with a church service followed by family meals and events throughout the day.

Is it safe to drink the water?

While the water is generally safe in Samoa, it is recommended that you drink bottled water where possible and if it is necessary to drink tap water from a hotel or other source, you should boil it and allow it to cool prior to drinking.

Do I need a power adapter?

Samoa uses 230v power and the electrical sockets are the same as those that are used in Australia and New Zealand, so your appliances will work without any adapters.