Meet Murray and Thea Price from Hamilton, New Zealand.

The couple arrived for the first time in Samoa last Sunday and already spent a week here.

Murray grew up in New Zealand and Thea has roots in Holland but lived the last 40-plus years in New Zealand. They are staying at the Taumeasina Island Resorts.

Murray and Thea ventured out of the resort to the north coast of Upolu as well as Apia. 

They have travelled the Pacific region before and visited Niue and Rarotonga in the Cook Islands and noted the difference to Samoa as the island is way bigger and its capital Apia more developed.

“I was positively surprised how big Apia is, people told me that there isn’t much in the town but for us as tourists we had more than enough there. It’s more than we expect it,” Murray said.

His wife Thea said: “Apia is a proper town absolutely.”

A highlight of their trip to Samoa is what they describe as “impressive locals” they meet around Upolu and the friendly staff at the resorts.

“The people are amazing so friendly,” she added. 

As a tourist they said they did not miss anything in Samoa and are finding enough attractions and activities to do to keep themselves busy. 

“The weather has just been so hot that we couldn’t do so much more than relax and enjoying the sea, which is fine we are on holiday,” Murray said.

But the risk of losing Samoan culture is not far from their minds. They mentioned the potential of losing the culture in future but hope there will not be too many changes.

“I would understand seeing it happen here but we like it now very much,” Murray added. 

They will travel to the south coast of Upolu Island this weekend and are keen to return to Samoa due to its natural beauty.