Talofa Lava

The Independent State of Samoa, formerly Western Samoa, is a true South Pacific Island paradise. Samoa is a group of small islands that lie halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. This scenic anthology has inspired literary classics such as Robert Louis Stevenson's, 'Treasure Island' and cinema at its very best in James A. Michener's masterpiece, 'Return to Paradise' starring Garry Cooper.

With nine islands to choose from, there are a lot of things to see and do in Samoa on and around the islands. The largest island Savaii has been called ‘Polynesia at its truest’ and offers an authentic look at the beauty and life of Polynesia. The second largest island is Upolu, which is the most populated island. The capital Apia is located on its northern coast. Nearby is Vailima, where Scottish novelist and poet Robert Louis Stevenson built a house and lived from 1889 till his death in 1894. Apia has a rich variety of places to stay including Samoa hotels, guesthouses and hostels. You can also find the main offices of most local Samoa tour operators, car rental companies and banks.

Samoa’s most beautiful part is Aleipata, where you will see both incredible waterfalls and beautiful white sand beaches. Driving from Apia, you’ll find about 65 km (40 miles) away the Falefa Falls, Fuilisia Falls and Mafa Pass, all of which have stunning beaches and freshwater swimming spots. A great way to explore this area is on a tour in Samoa.

If you’re interested in snorkelling or diving, Samoa has a wonderful range of locations to offer – Palolo Deep Marine Reserve located on Upolu Island, the beaches along Safotu and Manase, and those between Lesolo Point and Tuasivi located on Savaii Island. All equipment including boats, nets, spears etc can be hired for snorkel fishing or for deep sea diving.

This being an island paradise, you can travel to Samoa any time of the year. December - February is usually the rainy season, but with the effects of Climate Change, there have been years where we have not seen any rain or if we are lucky, some scattered showers. From November to April, the humidity might be a bit too much to handle as well. Isolated Tropical storms visit the islands usually from November to March. The best time of the year to visit Samoa is between May and October, which is the high tourist season, though there isn’t a difference in prices charged at other times of the year.

Hotels in Samoa outside Apia, around Upolu and Savai'I, lie mostly along the coast and are quite scattered. Booking a hotel in Samoa, if only for the first night, is highly recommended so you don't end up in a small community with only a hand full of Samoa hotel providers to choose from! You can even use our Samoa map to book your hotel based on its location. And with many budget airlines now operating within the Pacific - a holiday to Australia, Fiji or Vanuatu is a great addition to any holiday to Samoa.

The Samoa Hotel Association which owns and operates this site has accommodation ranging from budget Samoa hotels, guesthouses and traditional beachside fales to the best resorts and hotels in Samoa. Browse through the hotels Samoa has on offer and call on us for the latest travel information from our local Samoan team.

If you haven't booked accommodation around the islands before your arrival in Samoa, you can drop by the office of the Samoa Hotel Association in down-town Apia. Our friendly staff would be happy to help you out with useful information and could easily book accommodation for you around this beautiful country. Samoa Hotel Association will make sure your Samoa island holiday is a breeze.

Give Samoa a try and experience fa’a Samoa or the Samoan way, which remains the most vibrant culture in Polynesia!