Bucket list
Possibly the best
swimming pool in the
world, a visit to the To
Sua Ocean Trench is
a must. The naturally
occurring water hole
can be accessed by a
single wooden ladder
or foolhardy leap from the edge, and is truly a marvel to
experience. Definitely one for the Instgrammers.
Opposite page: Saletoga Sands
Resort & Spa. Above: Samoan
hospitality comes from the heart.
Right: Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa.
Getting there
There are three direct flights per week to
Apia from Sydney and one from Brisbane all
through Virgin Australia and Virgin Samoa. The
remaining flights stopover at Auckland. CIM
stayed at the Novotel Auckland Airport on the
return leg and loved it. It’s literally over the
road from the international airport and offers
a degree of comfort that will assuage even the
weariest of corporate travellers looking to put
their head down for a few hours. Being so close
it also means you don’t have to rush breakfast.
lagoons. The south coast of Upolu has
some stunning boutique resorts that really
let you “get away from it all”. Seabreeze
Resort, Aga Reef Resort, Sinalei Resort &
Spa, Coconuts Beach Club Resort & Spa
and Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa all offer
a slice of South Pacific magic in their own
way. Some are run by ex-pat Aussies and
Kiwis, some locally owned and managed,
but either way the facilities will please
even seasoned travellers looking to
unwind. Beachside bungalows abound, but
no matter where you unpack your towel
you’re never far away from the water which
is where most want to spend some of
their day. Water activities are a must, and
with the reef protecting most of the shore,
swimming, snorkelling and kayaking are all
an easy fit for any fitness levels. Adventure
seekers are also catered for with ample
diving and surfing opportunities in what
is for most unexplored territory. Hop on a
ferry to Savaii, which if possible, is even
quieter than its more populated neighbour.
Again there is plenty of accommodation to
unwind at such as Amoa Resort, and with
just one road you can never get lost.
The stunning natural beauty of Samoa
is enough of a drawcard in its own right,
but the Samoan culture itself is really the
hero of this piece. Stevenson clocked up
a fair few miles on his travels, spending
time in Tahiti and Hawai’i, but it was the
Samoans who won his heart. Life is still
lived in the traditional way here. Families
live together, often sleeping in the open
air under their ‘fales’. Children are happy
to walk unaccompanied, usually with a
wide smile only glance away, and Sundays
are a feast for the eyes as everyone
dresses up and heads to church. A “hello”
in Samoa comes from the heart. And
chances are it comes with a song. There
is no reason too small not to pick up a
guitar and serenade, and before you know
it 20 other people have joined in. Samoa is
about living in the moment. That’s worth
the trip on its own.
www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, Issue 3, 2017 21