Most visitors spend their time in independent Samoa, which is considerably bigger and less expensive than American Samoa. However rugged scenic beauty of Tutuila, main island of American Samoa, should not be missed. In recent years some of most strikingly beautiful parts of territory have been incorporated into American Samoa National Park. There's great hiking on Tutuila and wonderful snorkeling on Ofu in seldom visited Manua Group.

Traditional Samoan culture is largely based on oratory, and it's no accident that several literary legends originated here. Robert Louis Stevenson spent last five years of his life in Samoa and is buried on a hilltop above Apia, capital. His mansion is now a museum dedicated to author. Somerset Maugham's short story "Rain" about Sadie Thompson and repressed missionary thrown together in a guesthouse at Pago Pago, American Samoa, has been adapted by Hollywood several times. The original guesthouse still exists, now an upscale restaurant and inn. In "Tales of South Pacific," James A. Michener based prototype of his character Bloody Mary on an Apia hotelkeeper named Aggie Grey, whose family still operates Samoa's largest resorts. Michener's book was later made into musical "South Pacific."

Getting to Samoa is easy with direct flights from Hawaii and Los Angeles on Hawaiian Airlines, Polynesian Airlines, and Air New Zealand. Local ferries and small commuter planes ply frequently between islands, and getting around by public bus or rental car is no challenge. Visas are not required by most visitors for entry to either Samoa, although a passport and onward plane ticket are mandatory.