Weather

This region of the southwest Pacific is typically tropical. Conditions are almost perpetually hot and humid - the average annual temperature is 26.5°C (80°F) in coastal areas, with a decrease in temperature as the land rises inland. But the even temperature and fresh sea breezes means conditions are never too stuffy. The region's wet season (ostensibly its low season) lasts from November to April. December and January are normally the wettest months. Remember, though, that most precipitation occurs at night and the main discomfort will be caused by a rise in the lethargy-inducing heat and humidity.

The Samoan islands unfortunately lie squarely within the South Pacific's notorious cyclone belt. The season for tropical storms and cyclones is between November and March. Cyclones seem to occur, on average, every 10 to 15 years. The last big storm to hit the region was Olaf, which blew across the islands in early 2005.