Treatments are provided at Apia’s main hospital, there are also more than 30 other health centers, private practices and dentists. Taking out travel health insurance and travel repatriation insurance is strongly recommended. An individual first-aid kit should be taken with you and protected according to the temperatures on the way. Check findjobdescriptions for more information.
Notes vaccinations
[1] A vaccination certificate against yellow fever is required for all travelers who are over one year old and wish to enter the country within 6 days of staying in an infected area designated by the WHO. Excluded are travelers who have not left the transit area in the infected areas and transit passengers on Samoa. [2] Typhoid occurs, poliomyelitis does not. Typhoid vaccination is recommended for backpacking and long-term stays. [3] Because of the risk of possible intestinal infections (bacterial dysentery, amoebic dysentery, lambliasis, worm diseases), care must be taken to ensure careful drinking and food hygiene. Tap water is usually chlorinated and relatively clean, but may initially contain mild stomach upset occur. Bottled water, which is available everywhere, is therefore recommended for the first few weeks of your stay. Drinking water outside of the cities is not always sterile and should be sterilized or bought packaged. When buying bottled water, make sure that the original packaging is unopened. Milk is pasteurized and, like dairy products made from unboiled milk, meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables, is safe to consume. Caution should be exercised before consuming reef fish and seafood that is offered as a deli in dining restaurants because of possible algae poisoning.
Other risks
The standard vaccinations for children and adults recommended by the Robert Koch Institute (including against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), mumps, measles, rubella, pneumococci and influenza) should be refreshed before the trip if necessary. Dengue fever, transmitted by mosquitoes, occurs. An effective insect repellent is recommended. Filariasis caused by insects also occurs nationwide. Effective insect protection reduces the risk of transmission. Hepatitis A and hepatitis B occur. A hepatitis A vaccination is generally recommended. Vaccination against hepatitis B should be given during longer stays and close contact with the local population, as well as for children and young people in general. The Zika virus is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, joint pain and conjunctivitis. The infection often goes unnoticed or only has mild symptoms. The isolated deaths documented so far were mainly related to other pre-existing conditions. The Federal Foreign Office advises pregnant women against non-essential travel to areas with current Zika outbreaks because the virus is suspected of causing microcephaly in the unborn child. There is neither a vaccination nor a medicinal prophylaxis. Consistent compliance with personal mosquito protection measures is recommended.
Money
Currency
1 Samoan Tala = 100 Sene. Currency code: WS$, WST (ISO code). Banknotes come in denominations of WS$100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2; Coins are in denominations of 1 and 2 tala, 50, 20, 10 and 5 sene.
Credit cards
Major credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners are accepted in larger hotels and in some restaurants and shops. Details from the issuer of the relevant credit card.
ATMs
Bank cards With the credit card and pin number, money can be withdrawn from ATMs. The Girocard (formerly ec card) with the Cirrus, Plus or Maestro symbol is accepted worldwide. It can be used at ATMs with the Cirrus, Plus or Maestro symbol. To be on the safe side, travelers should always have an alternative source of money such as cash. Further information from banks and credit institutes. Attention: Travelers who want to pay with their bank customer card abroad and withdraw money should find out from their bank about the possibility of using their card before starting their journey.
Travelers cheques
Traveller’s checks are no longer available in Germany and Switzerland and are hardly available in Austria. Traveller’s checks can be cashed at the No1 Currency exchange office in Apia on Samoa.
Bank opening hours
Mon-Fri 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (partly Thurs and Fri until 4 p.m.). Some banks are open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Foreign exchange regulations
No restrictions on importing local currency, but exporting it is prohibited. Unlimited import of foreign currencies, obligation to declare from an amount equivalent to WS$ 10,000. Export of foreign currencies up to the amount declared upon entry, minus the exchange amounts.
Currency Exchange
Is possible at the airport and in banks. It is advisable to take US dollars with you.
