Asau, (Western) Samoa - 11-17 July 2011

NOTES FOR CRUISERS
(and anyone else who plans to visit or move to (Western) Samoa or who is simply interested in learning more about the country)

NOTE: The following notes and observations stem directly from our personal experience or those of our close friends or from official informational material acquired during our stay in Asau Harbor on the island of Savaii in Samoa during July of 2011. Others may have different experiences, and needless to say, THINGS CHANGE. The following information is meant merely as a starting point to give you some things to think about or to check into further as need be.

Currency: Samoan tala (WST)
Date: Same side of the International Dateline as the U.S. and Europe (but planning to jump over to the other side with Australia and New Zealand in the near future).
Time: 6 hours EARLIER than EASTERN STANDARD Time (7 hours EARLIER than EASTERN DAYLIGHT Time); 3 hours EARLIER than PACIFIC STANDARD Time (4 hours EARLIER than PACIFIC DAYLIGHT Time).
Languages: Samoan and English
Useful Phrases:
GREETING: malo / malo lava
PLEASE: fa'amolemole
THANK YOU: fa'afetai
BYE: fa

Entering the Harbor: Best to do this in daylight with good visibility. You will need to get on a course with the range finder. Stay in the marked channel as there are rocks very close to each side of the channel. When we came in, a fishing boat contacted us on the VHF and advised us to stay way over on the port side of the channel (which goes against natural urge as there are big breakers very close to that side) because rocks have shoaled up the starboard side. Once inside the harbor there is plenty of open space where you can anchor.

Clearing In: There is no clearing in process in Asau. One must clear into Samoa in Apia and get a letter of permission to visit the island of Savaii when clearing out of Apia. We were granted permission to stay one week in Savaii. There was no charge for the letter.

Driving in (Western) Samoa: Samoa now drives on the left-hand side of the road.

Dress Code: We were in an isolated rural resort area, and dress code for visitors seemed to be very casual (but not swimsuits in the restaurant or business establishments). Islanders also dressed in a fairly casual manner, which for them meant a lavalava and T-shirt when visiting the store.

Restaurant Notes: No taxes are added to menu prices and tipping is optional.

Va-i-Moana Seaside Lodge: This is the only restaurant/bar we visited, and apparently the only one within a short walking distance of where we anchored in Asau Bay. The restaurant is part of a resort and therefore, as far as I know, open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Servers are very friendly; prices are quite reasonable; food is okay; and there is often live island entertainment (music). The open air ambience by the beach with a view of the ocean and swaying palm trees is quite charming. Resort guests seem to be mostly from Australia and New Zealand, often include children, and on the whole are quite friendly.

Anecdote: While at Va-i-Moana restaurant on my birthday night, Jim shifted his chair a bit at our dining table out on the deck, and his chair promptly fell over sideways, dumping him onto his sore shoulder. Too late we noticed that some of the cracks between the boards in the deck are wider than the chair legs at the tables. So, a word to the wise: LOOK before you try to move your chair - especially if you are sitting in it!

Yachting Facilities: Basically none except for a dock or beach at Va-i-Moana Seaside Lodge where you may leave your dinghy while ashore. Also, if you ask, they may let you put your trash in their trash bins there. But do ask first.

Shopping: Star Trader near the resort is IT, apparently, unless you want to take a taxi into town, which we never did. Star Trader has some very basic grocery items (including bread), ice (sometimes), sodas, beer, liquor (Jim noted some cheap vodka in a glass case under the checkout counter), and a few non-food items. They are open till 7:00 p.m. but closed on Sundays.

Beer, Wine, Liquor and Mixers: Star Trader has beer, some sodas, and cheap vodka.

Ice: Star Trader. Also the gas station, but that is supposedly too far to walk.

Banks: There is a little bank right next to Star Trader (I think it is the Samoa Commercial Bank), but I did not see any ATMs anywhere we went. (Perhaps there is one inside the bank, but we did not go in.)

Communications: There is a SamoaTel office in the town of Asau.

Transportation To/From Asau: Samoa Shipping Corporation (SSC) in Apia operates regular ferry services from Upolu to Savaii. Polynesian airlines operates charter-only flights to and from Savaii. (Info obtained from Jasons Samoa visitor Map October 2010 - October 2011.)

Clearing Out: There is no need to clear out of Savaii as you should have already cleared out in Apia when you got your letter of permission to stop in Savaii on your way out of the country.