So you’ve made the commitment to travel to a tiny slice of paradise in the middle of the South Pacific, and now it’s time to plan to maximize your time on island! Visiting American Samoa can take some extra logistical planning, but rest assured you will have a trip of a lifetime.
Take a look at the following guide for car rentals in American Samoa, but also alternative modes of transportation and some tips and tricks. While American Samoa is composed of 7 islands, this guide for transport focuses on the main island of Tutuila. If you are lucky enough to travel to the outer Manu’a Islands, your mode of transportation will be your feet on those much tinier islands!
Car Rentals in American Samoa
Let’s face it, American Samoa car rentals can get pricey and eat up a large portion of your travel budget. While there are alternative modes of transportation outlined below, if you’ve already made the financial and time commitment to travel to the middle of the South Pacific, let’s get you to all the best spots on island!
Quite a few of our absolute favorite beaches and hikes are not on the bus routes. While you could hire a taxi to take you out to the trail head, you may or may not have cell service when you want to call back for a pick up at the end of the day! A rental car will also get you to that perfect spot for watching a stunning South Pacific sunset.
Choosing American Samoa Car Rentals
There are a lot of car rental agencies on island, many of which are not online which makes booking tricky. Our favorite company to refer to is Coconut Car Rentals located in Pago Pago, but pick up at the airport is available if you coordinate ahead of time.
Alternatively, many of the hotels such as Sadie’s Hotels and Tradewinds Hotel offer their own rental fleet. There is also an Avis located at the Pago Pago Airport (PPG) that you will fly and out through.
Navigating the Island
We highly recommend either printing a map of the island ahead of time, or picking up a map of the island from one of the hotels. There are no addresses in American Samoa, and directions are often given using landmarks such as restaurants, coconut trees, or other natural landmarks.
Thankfully Tutuila Island is small, and very difficult to lost on considering there is just one main road that skirts the perimeter of (most of) the island. When asking for directions to a favorite spot, have a local point out on your map what village it is in or near. Couple that with their landmark directions, and chances are excellent that you will find that favorite beach.
Speed Limits, Pedestrians, and Other Words of Caution
When you visit American Samoa, be prepared to embrace the island life. Speed limit for the island is a maximum of 25 mph, with many parts of the main road at 20 mph.
Local police officers love to pull you over for even just a few mph over the speed limit. The slow pace will also help you see the local kids who often will cross the road without looking carefully for oncoming traffic. When traffic moves slower than 20 mph, there is just not the same need for using crosswalks as other parts of the world!
Aiga Buses of American Samoa
It doesn’t get much more island style than the island’s colorful fleet of Aiga Buses. Even if you rent a car in American Samoa, please take the opportunity for at least one ride on the local buses for a unique experience. Each bus is decorated inside and out in their own way, and you will likely have some island music blasting inside while your drive along with the wind in your hair.
With $1 pricing per hop on/off ($0.25 for kids!), the pricing of the Aiga buses can’t be beat if you are traveling on budget.
Taxis Around American Samoa
While not a sustainable form of travel, taxis are relatively cheap compared to other places in the world. If you are trying to avoid renting a car in American Samoa, a taxi ride or two to get to compliment the bus route might be the better fit for your mode of travel.
There are a handful of taxi stands around the island. Most people or hotels would be glad to call you a taxi if you don’t have a local SIM card while on island.
Travel by Foot
There are quite a few places on island very accessible by foot if you don’t mind a few miles throughout your day. The island is fairly small!
While planning for this option, remember that between the temperatures (high 80’s F) and humidity, it will fee HOT! Pack hats/sunscreen/water to help protect you from the tropical sun, and umbrellas help off some shade.
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