My perfect guide on how to spend 12 days in Samoa including accommodation tips and top things to do.
Read More: How To Travel Samoa On A Budget
Day 1: Olivia's Accomodation
On my first day I went directly to Olivia's Accomodation straight after arriving at the airport to spend a night there. That day I didn't do anything besides going to the supermarket to get some food and snacks.
Day 2: Jane's Beach Fales
Fortunately, I met two girls from South America at the hostel who rented a car and also wanted to take the ferry to Savai'i. We were there way too early so we went to the beach at the Sheraton Hotel and waited there until the ferry arrived.
The ferry takes about 1 hour 15 minutes until it arrives Savai'i. Friends I met in New Zealand during my work were already on Savai'i for a few days so I drove to their accommodation. Jane's Beach Fales in Manase.
From the harbour I took the bus to Manase. That was an adventure! The bus was so crowded that some of them stood out of the non-existent door and I eventually sat on the lap of a stranger. For 2 hours - soaked in sweat! Definitely take the bus one time on the island, but maybe if you don't have all your luggage with you!
Jane's was by far the most beautiful Fale in which I stayed during the two weeks - I spent two nights there! Like any other it is located directly on the beach, but with a real bed and a door. Most Fales are ususlly completely open.
Especially great was the snorkeling right in front of the Fales. There was a fish that tweaked everyone's foot, but there were also a lot of turtles! I can highly recommend the accommodation.
Day 3: Jane's Beach Fales
Today we only spent the day snorkeling and lying on the beach. From Jane's we took a taxi to the closest resort "Le Lagoto" for lunch. We went there several times during our stay.
Day 4: Falealupo Beach Fales
On the fourth day the three of us rented a car to drive clockwise around the island. Our first stop was the Afu Au Waterfalls. The entrance fee is 5 Tala/person and you can swim there. Afterwards, our next stop were the Alofaaga Blowholes which cost another 5 Tala/person.
We stayed that night at the Falealupo Beach and booked two Fales there. The sunset at the beach was absolutely amazing!
Day 5: Lauiula Beach Fales
Before we returned our car, we went to the Lava Fields. Again we had to pay 5 Tala/person entrance fee.
Day 6: Lauiula Beach Fales
That day was actually planned for the return trip with the ferry to Upolu, but since I got food poisoned from cooled tea water, we spent another night at Lauiula.
And as we’re already talking about it: don't drink tap water on Samoa! I have a sensitive stomach in general, but I really wouldn't risk it. I even used bottled water to brush my teeth.
Day 7: Fao Foa Beach Fales
Today we took a taxi and then the ferry back to Upolu. I was still not one hundred percent well again and the ferry ride was horrible. I stood outside for the whole hour and focused on the mainland - hoping not to throw up.
Arriving at the harbour we got our next rental car. This time we went around the island counterclockwise.
Our first destination was the Papapaitai Falls. Finally something that didn't cost anything, but you can also skip it. Unfortunately I don't even have a picture because the sun was so bad that you couldn't see the waterfall in it. But it was also not really impressive!
The Togitogiga Falls were a bit more beautiful, but also not really something special. But you can go for a swim there.
For this night we chose Fao Fao Beach Fales. The accommodation is recommended by many, but I found it the worst compared to the others. We first thought about staying there for two nights, but because we didn't like it at all, we left the next day.
Day 8: Namua Island
From the beginning of this trip I was looking forward to the To-Sua Ocean Trench. Already the pictures on the internet look fantastic and in reality it's epic! It costs 20 Tala/person entrance fee, but in my opinion it is worth it. You only have to be careful when climbing down, because the ladder is pretty damn slippery and wet.
Fuipisia Waterfall - actually 20 Tala/person, but we could bargain to 10. You walk along a muddy path to the waterfall and you can't even see it properly, because you can't reach the view in the front, because the earth is slipping. If you walk a little further you will come directly to the waterfall and can look down from above.
Lalumanu Beach is probably the most famous beach of Samoa. Here, there are also more tourists around and the accommodation is more expensive and booked out a little faster. As we wanted to have our peace we only had lunch there. We spent the rest of the day and the night on Namua Island. It is a small nice island to relax a little bit. There's not much to do, but it was still beautiful. If you do not want to spend a night there, it is also possible to visit the island as a day trip.
Day 9: Le Uaina Beach Resort
For the last night we booked two rooms in a resort. It wasn't even that much more expensive than the Fales and we finally had real beds again and could sleep through the night without being woken up by the breaking waves. We even had a nap at noon, we were so tired and exhausted from the days before.
Day 10: Olivia's Accomodation
We spent our last day together in Apia. We went to the two markets, wrote postcards and walked through Apia without any plan.
Day 11: Olivia's Accommodation
On my last day I just had a rest and stayed in the hostel.
Day 12: Departure
My last taxi ride to the airport was another adventure and I was quite annoyed in the end. Usually the ride takes less than an hour. But because for some reason the driver got a cake on the way, took his family with him, his wife suddenly drove me a bit - so that he could go somewhere and finally also said he took a shortcut to not have to drive the main road, it took a total of 2 hours until I was finally dropped off at the airport.
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xx
Nina