Rob Cooper and girlfriend Lish Nguyen were looking for somewhere beautiful to spend the holidays. 

They wanted somewhere close to home, and with beautiful beaches and natural surrounding. 

Which is precisely what they have found in Samoa.

Five hours away from Sydney by plane, Rob and Lish say they have enjoyed their time here.

“The main thing was one of the guys we know from Sydney who runs a game fishing charter we booked with him and which was one reason why we came.”

But there were also disappointing moments.

 “Our first experience was probably not great because our flight was delayed,” he said. 

“The flight was canceled and when we arrived, the hotel that we’re checked in to the guy who was supposed to let us in wasn’t there so we spent whole two hours walking Apia trying to find somewhere to sleep.

“But we managed to talk to a guy from another hotel who called the security and woke them up and we got in the room about three in the morning.”

But it’s been great since that experience.

“We’ve had a good time in Samoa, we meet good people on our way to Matareva, Saletoga Resort and all the places we have been to.”

Mr. Cooper said the laid back lifestyle of the island and the quietness are among the things they enjoy about Samoa. 

“This is our first time here in the Island and we’ve loved it,” he said. 

“We are thinking about maybe trying to live here at some stage. We definitely see ourselves coming back.”