Alternative Ways to Travel Around Samoa
Don’t be that guy that rents a car to get around Samoa “just because it’s the easy option”. And don’t be that plonker that gets to Samoa with no plan for travelling around either! Enjoy an experience that’s cheaper yet culturally and environmentally richer than being cooped up in your own car. Be more mindful of the way to explore the beautiful islands of Samoa by choosing one of the eco-friendly alternatives to renting a car. We have a few suggestions listed below!
1. Bicycles
No charging, no emissions; just putting power to the peddle! Bicycles/pushbikes are certainly worth considering for a multi-day cycling holiday in Samoa. In fact, Outdoor Samoa has designed trips to do just that; with full bike-touring gear on high-quality bikes available to hire and a self-guided cycling itinerary to follow should you need some guidance.
Learn more about renting a bike in Cycle Samoa: Where to Rent Bikes & E-Bikes, as well as cycling times in The Cycling Times & Distances in Samoa.
© Samoa Tourism Authority2. Electric Bikes
In the same vein as bicycles, electric bikes (e-bikes) might prove to be the more comfortable option for peddling in the Samoa heat if you’re not a regular cyclist. With the e-bike rentals in Samoa lasting around 100 km (60 mi) range, the carbon cost of recharging the battery is minimal. E-bikes use peddle assistance to take the exertion out of cycling, which is ideal if you’re looking for an eco-friendly way to travel around Samoa without too much effort.
Learn more about planning a cycling holiday in Samoa in The Ultimate Guide to Mountain Biking in Samoa.
© SamoaPocketGuide.com3. Take the Bus
Despite the age and therefore questionable efficiency of the engines of Samoa’s local buses, taking a public bus has much lower carbon emissions per head compared to driving a rental car (which is also usually pretty old) around Samoa all to yourself. Samoa’s buses are an iconic part of the travel journey on the islands, offering quite the experience! It’s also the cheapest way to travel around Samoa. Find out more about catching the bus in our guide, The Bus in Rarotonga: Bus Fares, Timetable & More.
© SamoaPocketGuide.com4. Scooter Rental
If you’re looking for the flexibility of a car rental experience but want to do it more fuel-efficiently, then why not hire a scooter instead? Scooters produce less carbon than cars because their small size means they use less fuel. They are definitely not the most eco-friendly on this list, but they are a slightly better alternative to renting a car all to oneself.
Check out the Scooter Hire in Samoa: Where to Rent, Cost & More for advice on visitor driver’s licenses and where to rent a scooter.
© SamoaPocketGuide.com5. Hitchhiking/Ridesharing
Hitchhiking is legal in Samoa with the “ridesharing” aspect of travelling producing fewer carbon emissions per head compared to renting your own vehicle, it could be worth trying! However, hitchhiking is one of the least reliable forms of transport in Samoa, especially if you’re trying to cover longer distances.
In a similar vein, if you hire a rental vehicle, you could offer to give lifts or travel with fellow travellers staying at your resort, hotel, hostel or beach fale. Offer your own rideshare!
Learn more about hitchhiking in A Travellers’ Guide to Hitchhiking in Samoa.
© SamoaPocketGuide.comMore Eco-Friendly Ways to Travel Samoa
That’s it for our list of eco-friendly alternatives to renting a car in Samoa. Want some more sustainability tips? Check out these:
Finally, check out all of the options for travelling around Samoa, other than just renting a car, in our Samoa Transport Guide: 10 Best Ways to Get Around Samoa.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across Samoa and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Samoa Tourism Authority (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Tourism Authority Corporate (Tourism news - Updated [2024])
- Land Transport Authority (Tourist driver’s license info - Updated [2024])
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2024])
- Ministry of Customs & Revenue (Border restrictions advice - Updated [2024])
- Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Meteorological Division (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Bureau of Statistics (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2024])
- SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Hotels Association (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2024])
- Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2024])
- Travel.State.Gov (U.S. travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2024])
Our editorial standards: At Samoa Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
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