Shopping in Samoa - outlets, shopping streets and boutiques

Samoa is a small country in the center of the southern part of the Pacific Ocean. It is not easy to reach it simply because you need to take a long-haul flight to Samoa. A flight from Australia lasts 5 hours. If you travel from North Europe, the journey time can be up to two days because you will need to take connecting flights. Naturally, no one wants to leave such a distant country without souvenirs that remind of the unusual vacation and bring back many good memories. Having arrived at Faleolo International Airport on the Samoan island of Upolu, tourists need to make a 34-kilometer ride to the capital city, Apia.

The first thing that many tourists do after leaving their luggage at the hotel is to visit the Tourist Center (tel. +685 63500) and grab free maps, schedules, and excursion routes. These free brochures are also memorable souvenirs. Rent a car and take a ride to the road that goes along the coast of the capital island. On Upolu and Savaii, it is not rare to see small stalls along the way. These roofed stalls have tables with different fruit. There are no sellers, but the fruits are available for sale. Take the fruit you like and leave some money on the table. This is a local tradition.

What items should tourists bring from Samoa? First of all, buy coffee and think of other items that are small enough to fit your free luggage space. As a rule, tourists enjoy buying baskets made of pandanus, bags, fans, and textiles made from mulberry bark. Wooden items such as weapons, traditional ritual cups, canoe models, figurines, and vases are also very popular. If you like eatable souvenirs, take a look at avocado oil, honey, coffee, and noni juice. By the way, noni juice is an interesting and exotic drink. It has a soothing effect and helps to treat a hangover. The majority of local shops work from 8 am until 4:30 pm. The open hours are shorter on Saturday – many shops work until 12:30. Private shops can have a different schedule, but all shops share the same rule – Sunday is a day off. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Tourists can notice flea markets on some streets of Apia. These markets usually work until noon. Sellers put their items right on the asphalt. If there are paddles after a recent rain on the road, they do not pay much attention and can put their items like vegetables into water. The packaging is eco-friendly only – pandanus or screwpine leaves are big and strong enough to hold even a piglet. Palm tree leaves are a popular material on the islands. Local craftsmen use them to make baskets, all kinds of bags, and even carpets. Many Samoans are skilled in traditional crafts.

Samoan tala (WST) is the official currency of the country. The name of the currency is derived from the word “dollar” and was transcribed in such an unusual way because of the local pronunciation rules. One tala is equal to 100 sene. This name also derives from the American “cent”. In Samoa, there are banknotes in the following denominations: 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 tala. Coins are available in the following denominations: 1 tala and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 sene. Tourists can exchange money in banks in Apia only. Banks charge a commission of 5 dollars for the exchange service regardless of the exchanged sum.

Do not worry if you couldn’t exchange money on the arrival day. All hotels and shops in the capital accept New Zealand, Australian, and US dollars. Euro is also widely accepted. A visit to a local market is a great way to know the country better. Life never stops here, and visitors can choose from a range of crafts and items made by local companies and individual masters. The Flea Market in Apia is one of such places. It is possible to buy virtually anything here. There is also a fish market in the capital but it is open only early in the morning. Local fishermen come to sell their catch and leave. After that, the market is empty.

The Fugalei Fresh Market offers a broad range of fresh vegetables and fruit (coconuts, bananas, avocado, pumpkin, taro, breadfruit, cabbage, and more), as well as ready to eat local delicacies. Besides them, some sellers offer souvenirs and household items. Farmer Joe is a supermarket with a broad range of items for sale at reasonable prices. It accepts Visa cards. Farmer Joe has a bakery and offers bread and pastry varieties that are ever-popular with locals and tourists. It is better to shop for fresh bread in the morning because it is sold out quickly.

Eveni Carruthers offers casual and office clothes, sports clothes, shoes, and accessories. The shop sells some exclusive goods that attract tourists, for example, female tights with the ornaments that precisely copy the tattoos of indigenous Samoan women. Some guests say that male shirts by Eveni are the best on the islands. The shop is big, so it is not hard to find souvenirs that will remind you about your vacation in this tropical country. The unusual tights are an original gift for friends.