Samoa: Transport
By Air
Faleolo International Airport is 35km away from the capital of Apia
on Upolu.
Air New
Zealand
Air Pacific
Polynesian
Airlines
Royal
Tongan Airlines
From American Samoa:
Samoa Air
Samoa Air and Polynesian Airlines operate small aircraft between
Fagalii Airport in Apia to Savai’i and to American Samoa several
times a day. Discover
Samoa Pass.
Island
Hopper Vacations offers well-priced all-inclusive packages including
accommodation, transfer and flight.
Bus, Taxi
The colourful public busses are part of the unchangeable Samoan
image. They offer a slow and bumpy ride through the countryside
during which you’ll observe a lot of Fa’a Samoa. But
don’t use them, if you’re in a hurry. The route network
on both islands is well organised. The buses stop wherever the commuters
want to get on or off. There are fewer buses after 5pm, on Saturday
afternoons and on Sundays. The Green
Turtle Bus drives once a day around Upolu with stops at interesting
places and beaches. It is possible to stop and stay overnight at
one place and continue next day when the bus comes again.
Taxis are everywhere. They are cheap, but have no taximeters. A
copy of the bus and taxi fare rates is available from the Samoa
Visitors Bureau.
Rental cars/Traffic rules
There are several rental car companies in Apia and a few on Savai‘i.
If you want to take your rental car on the ferry across to Savai‘i
you have to ask the company before, otherwise you won’t be
covered by insurance.
For renting a car, you have to get a Samoan driver’s license.
It’s easily available from the Transportation Department at
the Central Police Station in Apia on Ifiifi Street and will cost
you WS$ 10.
Drive on the right-hand side and no faster than 40km/h in residential
areas, and 60km/h elsewhere. Samoan driving style is very slow and
defensive. There are only a few petrol stations outside of Apia,
so you should fill up on petrol before you leave.
In case you run over domestic animals like pigs or chicken, don‘t
stop and don‘t try to negotiate compensation with the villagers.
Instead ask for the nearest police station or drive to the next
police station.
Upolu
AAA Rentals
Apia Rentals
Autopro Rentals
Blue
Pacific Car Hire
Budget Rent-A-Car
Funway
Rentals
Southpac Rentals
Victor's
Car Rentals
Savaii
Savai'i Car Rentals
Ferry
Samoa Shipping Corporation
in Apia, ph. 00685-20935/6 run the car ferry service between
Upolu and Savai’i and the boat to Manono Island. They also
run a weekly service with Lady Naomi to Pago Pago in American Samoa.
The crossing to Savai’i takes a maximum of 65 minutes and
should definitely be pre-booked from Apia if you’re wanting
to take a car.
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