The Ultimate American Samoa List

One thing that stands between you and a vacation in paradise is packing. Whether you love it or hate it, packing needs to be done. But what do you need to pack for American Samoa?

In this complete packing list for American Samoa, we go through what clothes you need to pack, as well as toiletries, medication, travel accessories, essentials, things for kids, and even what type of luggage to use.

Before we dive into our American Samoa packing list, be sure to bookmark Arriving in American Samoa: Airport Customs, Biosecurity & Arrival Process for even more American Samoa preparation tips.

Table of Contents

5 Packing Tips for American Samoa

Before we get into what to pack for American Samoa, here are some quick packing tips:

  1. Be aware of what you need to declare when arriving at the borders of American Samoa - Write a list if you have a few things that are difficult to remember.
  2. Don’t overpack. If you are in American Samoa for five days or a week, pack clothes to wear for each day. If you are in for a couple of weeks in paradise, pack for a week and use your accommodation's laundry facilities or pack some handwashing detergent.
  3. If you are taking more than one flight to American Samoa, make sure to check the baggage allowance of all your flights and take the strictest one into consideration, like the 33 lbs (15 kg) limit for flights to the Manu'a Islands or coming from Apia. Otherwise, excess charges may apply, or your baggage could be moved to a later flight.
  4. Contact your bank to let them know you are travelling, just in case they block your card
  5. Use packing cubes to organise your suitcase – see our favourites on Amazon or these premium packing cubes to separate dirty from clean clothes.

Now, let's get into the full packing list for American Samoa!

Aerial Tramway Viewpoint Pago Outfit CREDIT AmericanSamoaPocketGuide.com
© AmericanSamoaPocketGuide.com

Clothes Packing List for American Samoa

American Samoa has consistently warm weather – an average high of around 30°C (85°F) in the day and lows of 24°C (75°F) – so light clothing is the way to go when packing for American Samoa.

But with tradewinds blasting the southern coasts between June and September, also the "cooler months", if you tend to feel the chill, you might want to have the odd extra layer.

Also, note that there are local customs when it comes to clothing, i.e. not wearing anything way too revealing, which is why we have included clothing items to "cover up" in the below packing list.

Learn more about the local customs regarding clothing in American Samoan Etiquette: American Samoa Customs & Traditions.

What Should I Pack for 5 Days, 1 Week, or 2 Weeks in American Samoa?

If staying in American Samoa for less than a week, we recommend packing enough clothes for each day. If in American Samoa for more than a week, then pack a week’s worth of clothes and make use of the laundry facilities in your accommodation.

If there are no laundry facilities available at your accommodation, you can use one of the many laundromats on Tutuila or pack some handwashing fabric detergent.

Now, here’s a quick overview of what clothes to pack for American Samoa.

American Samoa Casual Clothing

  • 4 Singlets/T-Shirts
  • 2 Blouses/Shirts to cover the shoulders for church, visiting villages and exploring
  • 2 Shorts/Skirts which are not too short, so you can enjoy wearing them at both your resort and when out exploring
  • 1 Light evening dress to impress at dinner
  • 1 Dress/Skirt below the knee for church, going to town or villages, etc. We recommend light fabrics such as the sustainable bamboo dresses and skirts by Moso Morrow
  • 1 Sarong (Lavalava) will be your best friend for hitting the beach and covering your swimwear in between swimming.
  • 1 or 2 Light sleepwear if you're against sleeping in your undies
  • 1 Light Cardigan/Pashmina/Poncho for windy/rainy days
  • 1 Sports shorts/Leggings for hiking/active activities
  • 1 Sports T-shirt/Singlet for hiking/active activities
  • 1 Outfit to travel between American Samoa and home
  • 3 Bras including strapless, sports and comfortable bras
  • 6 Underwear
  • 4 Socks.

American Samoa Swimwear

  • 1 Bikini for resort beach/pool
  • 1 One-piece for swimming tours/public beaches
  • 2 Boardshorts for guys
  • 1 Rash vest (we like sustainable Sharkskin rashies).

American Samoa Protective Clothing

  • Sunhat
  • Sunglasses
  • Light shirt to cover arms and back
  • Light rain jacket.

American Samoa Footwear

Camera Snorkel CREDIT AmericanSamoaPocketGuide.com
© AmericanSamoaPocketGuide.com

Travel Accessories Packing List for American Samoa

From the absolutely essential travel documents to the not-so-essential-but-good-to-have e-reader, this list of travel accessories has something for everyone but not necessarily everything for everyone.

While we all have our preferences, here are some ideas on what travel accessories to pack for American Samoa.

Pick and choose what applies to you!

American Samoa Travel Essentials and Paperwork

Head to What Documents Do I Need to Travel to American Samoa? for all the details on this all-essential paperwork.

American Samoa Travel Accessories and Electronics

American Samoa Travel Accessories for Kids

See the 15 Tips for Your Family American Samoa Vacation with Kids for more information on some of the items mentioned.

American Samoa Food Packing List

While we don't generally recommend that you pack food for American Samoa, if you have dietary needs that are often hard to cater for abroad (aside from vegan/vegetarian and gluten-free - we've got you covered), then you may want to bring a few essential ingredients.

Toiletry Bag Packing
© AmericanSamoaPocketGuide.com

Toiletries and Medication Packing List for American Samoa

Everyone has their own morning routine and different toiletries they use, so this list may well have a few things you don’t use, as well as a few things missing.

If you’re trying to pack light and are staying in resorts and hotels, know that many accommodations in American Samoa provide shampoo, conditioner and soap in ensuite bathrooms.

A first aid kit is also important to address medical problems that commonly occur when holidaying in American Samoa, such as sunburn, heatstroke and mosquito bites. For more information on packing your own first aid kit, see What Medication to Pack in Your First Aid Kit for American Samoa.

American Samoa First Aid Kit

  • Travel vaccine passport (vaccinations record)
  • Paracetamol
  • Antihistamine pills or cream
  • Oral rehydration sachets (medical electrolytes)
  • Baby electrolytes
  • Antacids
  • Antidiarrhoeal pills e.g. loperamide
  • Nasal drops
  • Band-aids/plasters
  • Butterfly closures
  • Disinfectant wipes
  • Gauzes
  • Gloves
  • Tweezers
  • Thermometer
  • Elastic wraps
  • Flight socks
  • Antiseptic cream/spray
  • Hydrocortisone cream
  • Aloe vera soothing cream
  • Hand sanitiser
  • Multivitamins
  • A copy of the emergency numbers in American Samoa
  • Antibiotics if recommended by your GP.

For information on what each medication is for, again, check out What Medication to Pack in Your First Aid Kit for American Samoa.

American Samoa Toiletries and Other Medication

  • Reef-safe sunscreen
  • SPF lip balm
  • Insect repellent
  • Seasickness pills
  • Prescription medication
  • Shampoo/conditioner (if not staying in a resort/hotel)
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Soap (if not staying in a resort/hotel)
  • Razor/hair removal
  • Glasses/contact lenses
  • Hairbrush/comb
  • Tweezers
  • Nail clippers
  • Deodorant.

For more health tips for travelling, see American Samoa Safety Tips: Is it Safe to Travel to American Samoa?

Baggage Luggages Flight Packing (2) CREDIT AmericanSamoaPocketGuide.com
© AmericanSamoaPocketGuide.com

What Type of Luggage to Use for American Samoa

Finally, what are you going to pack it all into? Everyone has their preferences for luggage, but for American Samoa, your choice depends on your route and destinations.

If you're travelling via Hawaiʻi and only visiting Tutuila, a wheeled suitcase is usually perfect. Most surfaces are sealed where you're going in American Samoa, making wheels practical.

However, if you're coming via Apia or travelling to the Manuʻa Islands, choose the lightest bag possible. The luggage restrictions are strict: 15 kg (33 lbs) for Samoa Airways and 20 kg (44 lbs) for Talofa Airways. Your bags will only go onboard if there's room on the flight and may be put on the next flight, which can be quite a pain.

If you prefer travelling with a backpack, we don't need to convince you how versatile they are—they'll certainly work in American Samoa.

Luggage to Take to American Samoa

More About What to Pack for American Samoa

That's it for our complete packing list for American Samoa! If you want to dive into more about what to pack for American Samoa, just check out our other guides:

Finally, be fully prepared for American Samoa with The Complete Travel Guide to American Samoa.