Talofa lava Samoa!
Seeking an escape from winter's chill? Vicki
Febery heads to sunny, tropical Samoa for the perfect
family-friendly getaway.
Winter 2007 was rather dire in
New Zealand, and, having had a month of head colds making our
family miserable, we were all in desperate need of some sunshine.
So I set out in search of the perfect tropical holiday for our
family.
After flicking through several brochures
and searching online, we deci
ded on Samoa - mainly because it was somewhere a
little bit off of the beaten track. Everyone seemed to have an
opinion on where to stay in Fiji and Rarotonga, but none of our
friends had been to Samoa.
With a 20-month-old son, Harry, my husband
Grant and I needed a resort that catered for children as well as
adults. With their enormous swimming pool, lush, tropical outdoor
spa complex, dive centre on site, Kids Club and safe swimming
beach, we chose the new Aggie Grey's Lagoon, Beach Resort and Spa,
just five minutes from Faleolo International Airport.
Flying with an over-excited
20-month-old was the one dampener on our trip. Other passengers on
our midnight departure were remarkably tolerant of our squealing,
excitable toddler as we tried valiantly to restrain him in his seat
for the four-hour flight. On our arrival at Aggie Grey's Lagoon,
Beach Resort and Spa, they took one look at our travel-weary faces
(by then, Harry was sleeping peacefully in his stroller with his
long blonde curls framing his face angelically) and showed us
immediately to our room - perfection. It was on the lower level of
the two-story complex and looked straight out to a lush green lawn
and the picturesque ocean, with a few palm trees and frangipani
outlining the view.
After catching up on our sleep, we
headed straight to the enormous pool in the middle of the resort,
which ended up being where we spent much of our time in Samoa.
Little Harry loved the swimming pool, which seemed to be made up of
five interconnecting sections of pool, all of varying depths, with
a nice cocktail bar located in the middle section, so we parents
didn't need to leave the pool area for refreshments.
The resort had a variety
of day trips each day, plenty of free activities on site and a
wonderful kids' club, so there was plenty to do - or you could
choose to do nothing at all. We opted for something in-between,
spending plenty of time as a family in the pool, or exploring the
mainland by hired car. We did take the free kayaks out one morning,
though, and used the babysitting service another day so Grant could
snorkel and I could dive.
My two dives with Dive Samoa were
the absolute highlight of our trip. Because of my lingering New
Zealand head cold, I had to wait until day five of our seven-day
trip before the pressure in my ears had equalised and I could dive,
so the anticipation to get out in the ocean had built until I was
practically bouncing with excitement. And I was not disappointed.
It was the best diving I have ever done. Diving is still a
relatively new sport in Samoa and, as such, the coral formations
are simply beautiful. There were stunning swim-throughs and
abundant marine life (including turtles), but the most amazing part
of the trip was my dive leader signalling to me to listen out while
we were under the water. A low, humming sound could be heard and it
sent chills (of a good kind) down my spine. Just beyond the reef,
the migrating whales were talking to each other. It was an awesome
experience, being so close and privy to these majestic creatures'
conversations.
The skipper on the dive boat had
seen the whales surfacing just beyond the reef. He told me his
family thinks he's crazy for going out on the water each day. He
was from one of the hill villages and the majority of the hill
villagers cannot swim. They were always asking him why he hasn't
been eaten by sharks yet!
I had assumed, as an island nation, that
swimming would be a daily part of Samoan life. Swimming may not be,
but smiling certainly was - he said everything with a beaming smile
on his face.
While I was diving, my husband was
snorkelling - and, like me, he was impressed with the sites we were
taken to. Meanwhile, Harry was having a wonderful time with his
babysitter, who had taken him to the Kids Club, where he played on
the outdoor equipment and made sandcastles.
We took a trip in to Apia one day
and checked out the local markets, bought some souvenirs and
wandered around town. Driving to Apia and around the mainland was
beautiful. I loved looking at all the candy-coloured houses… The
blues, yellows, and pinks they paint their homes. And the churches
were incredible. It seemed that each village's church was bigger or
more ornate than the last. Harry was delighted with all the animals
running around - little piglets, chickens and dogs.
Samoa is simply stunning. It is
naturally beautiful and very relaxing. There 
are many natural
attractions to visit that cost virtually nothing. If you like
waterfalls or waterslides, you can't miss the Papaseasea Sliding
Rocks. The entry to the Sliding Rocks is in a small village between
the resort and Apia. On arrival, we paid our inexpensive entry fee
and headed along the walkway in the direction of the shrieks and
laughter we could hear. What a fantastic natural attraction. Over
time, a waterfall and rapids on the river have become smooth enough
for swimmers to slide down and into the water holes at the bottom
of each drop, without fear of scratches or ripped togs. Sitting at
the top of the largest drop, it took all my courage to let go and
drop around four metres into the pool below.
It was fantastic fun - although I did find
myself trapped like a limpet on the rocks when I tried to follow a
long-legged Samoan boy back up them, rather than finding my own
footholds. I didn't look overly graceful in my pink polka-dotted
bikini, clinging to the rocks with all my might… It took all my
effort to hold on, meaning I was unable to hold in that
post-pregnancy bulge! Ah, well - the beauty of an overseas holiday
means I'm unlikely to bump into those who witnessed my
embarrassment again.
After the energy and excitement of
the Sliding Rocks and diving, I felt totally justified in an
afternoon of pampering.
The Manaia Polynesian Spa (which
means "all good things" in Samoan), located among tall, swaying
palm trees at one end of the resort, was sheer bliss. The massages
and spa treatments are performed in huts surrounded by lush
tropical vegetation. It was so tranquil, and my therapist sang
beautifully throughout my Coconut Aura massage. I may have even
nodded off for a few minutes during my blissful pampering
session.
Aggie Grey's Lagoon, Beach Resort
and Spa has no less than five restaurants, and we tried almost all
of them while we were there - from BBQ evenings to pizzas to Asian
cuisine, they cater for all tastes. We were encouraged to try the
Samoan dish palusami (a delicious, coconutty concoction wrapped in
leaves) and we enjoyed the abundant seafood. Our favourite evenings
were spent dining to the sounds of local musicians playing a
variety of string instruments and singing well into the evening.
The cocktail list at the resort was extensive and I made it my
mission to try a different one each night. I put on a good couple
of kilos on the trip - and would gladly do so again to repeat the
experience. I look forward to returning to Samoa and the friendly
staff at Aggie Grey's Lagoon, Beach Resort and Spa - soon!
• Avoid a midnight flight - you'll arrive far more
relaxed if your child isn't keeping others awake for four hours of
air travel.
• The meal packages are great value if you are planning on
spending most of your time at the resort.
• Take portable snacks from home. Having ready-made juices,
jelly, and fruit pottles were great. It ensured that Harry stayed
well-hydrated
• Take resealable plastic sandwich bags. The slight time
difference meant Harry's routine was out, and he often didn't eat
at lunchtime. Having resealable plastic bags meant we could order a
sandwich for him at lunchtime and take it away with us for later,
when his appetite kicked in.
• Don't forget to take along a basic medical kit, and
sunscreen for everyone.
• An off-road stroller or backpack is a great idea for
transporting little ones, who tire much faster in the island
heat.
• Unless you're feeling like generously rewarding the
officials at Customs, drink all of your duty-free champagne before
you leave Samoa - or, at least, don't leave it in your carry-on bag
on your way home.
• The whale song on my dive trip
• My Coconut Aura massage, complete with traditional welcome
by a Samoan Warrior named Sven
• Papaseasea Sliding Rocks
• Having a "date night" with my husband, while Harry was
tucked up in bed being looked after by a lovely babysitter at the
resort
• Simply chilling out in the sunshine for seven days with my
family
Vicki Febery is OHbaby! Magazine's former marketing
manager and mum to two-year-old Harry
As seen in OHbaby!
magazine Issue 1: 2008
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