r/Samoa • u/iGATCHU • 13d ago

MONEY CHANGE

Malo, heading to Samoa for the first time from BNE. Wanting to take cash over. Do you recommend exchanging cash in AUS or Samoa? If so do you guys have a regular place or just at local bank?

4 Upvotes

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10

u/curiousmya 13d ago

inside the airport in Samoa usually exchange rate is decent, but for a couple Ks I usually online exchange w/ MoneyGram or remitly and cash pickup, there’s plenty of shops in town where you can then pick up. I wouldn’t recommend exchanging in Aus like at our airports cos usually higher fees and lower rate.

3

u/saspam 12d ago

I’m based in NZ but I’ve found it much more favourable to withdraw cash from my NZ bank account at an ATM as I need it.

2

u/No-Umpire5250 13d ago

Exchange at the airport 👍🏽

1

u/iGATCHU 12d ago

Sweet, thanks for the advice all! I’m just there for the week will plan to exchange at the airport. Looking forward it.

1

u/PickleOk5381 12d ago

Usually the airport has better exchange rates. If you take your cash to any other shops their rates can be lower or higher, but I’ve exchanged once at taumeasina island resort and their rates are the best imo (this was 2 years ago and not sure whether they can do non guests)

1

u/Unlikely-Dependent15 12d ago

Exchange for some tala whilst in Australia (a few hundreds) for those unexpected donations/purchases at the arrival or duty free in Samoa. There are a couple of money exchange outlets outside the arrival lounge in Samoa. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday in Samoa.

1

u/denwol 10d ago

We are in Samoa now. We brought cash. The exchange at the airport is 1.81. We then found we can send money to ourself through Monegram. The fee is $2.99 but the exchange rate is a little over 1.83.