INF Samoa - an exciting opportunity to experience this amazing culture
Welcome to a wonderful INTERNATIONAL NETBALL FESTIVAL SAMOA TOUR.
This is a humanitarian and cultural netball tour. We don’t do 5-star Island Resorts. Accommodation is 3star on the beach nice and clean, Fijian Resorts.
This is a unique tour. We take you to see the grass roots of Samoa which so many people never see.
When travelling to Samoa we ask you to show patience, consideration and respect for their culture.
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Once you set foot in Samoa, it’s time to chill out, slow down and go with the flow, in order to enjoy and experience this country offers.
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From the team at International Netball Festival Inc
Things to know when you are travelling to Samoa
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Please arrive at your International Airport 2 ½ hours before the departure time. It takes longer to go through as a group.
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Please have a large NOTE on your BAG – TAKE PASSPORT TO THE AIRPORT!
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Everyone, please take a photocopy of your passport with you and leave another copy at home. Your tour manager can take the insurance policy number with them for the whole group.
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Money exchanged at your local bank is cheaper than exchanging it in Samoa. Call your local bank first to make sure Samoan dollars are at the bank or change at the airport. We suggest that you change approximately AU$200.00 per person
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There is not a lot to buy in Samoa.
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You can use credit cards in Samoa. Normal charges will apply on credit cards in Samoa.
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You can also get a cash passport where you put a set amount of money in it and transfer it as you require it. Ask your bank or post office for more details.
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You can change more money easily in Samoa if you need to.
No vaccines are required
Check out the website below for handy things to know whilst travelling in Samoa
What you can and cannot take on AIRCRAFT
Take a pen to fill out departure cards (collect at the airport at check in).
No more than 7kg in a carry-on bag plus your handbag and laptop.
You cannot take any fluid past Customs over 100ml.
All fluids under 100ml (even lipsticks) must be in a zip lock bag, like kids use for lunches.
Each person has the following weight limits for luggage:​
FIJI AIR 23KG
QANTAS 23KG
Air NZ 23KG
Most people only take between 15-17 kgs as its all summer clothes and netball gear.
EACH GROUP HAS ALSO BEEN ALLOCATED 1 x EXTRA PIECE OF LUGGAGE (20KGS or 23KGS). THIS IS CONFIRMED UNDER THE ORGANISER'S NAME
Drink bottles can be taken but need to be empty when we go through security. Once you have been through Customs, you can fill them at a water fountain before you board the plane. You will have plenty of time.
You can take food on board if your flight does not have full service.
Fiji Airways and QANTAS are full service with food and drinks provided.
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Do not lock your bags for the flight. If you would like to keep your bags locked in Samoa at the hotels you can. I never have, it has always been safe. There is a safe in all rooms to use for passports.
Meals on the airline
No special meals are available on these flights.
The airlines do have options on board, one being Vegetarian. However, they do not have any specific Gluten Free meals etc.
To give you an idea, we have 3 meal types on board (Hot Protein, Hot Vegetarian, Cold Salad).
As you can appreciate meals are subject to availability and therefore the clients' preferred option may not be available at time of service.
For anyone that is a Vegetarian, I would get them to have a chat to the crew before meal service so that they can do their best to facilitate this.
While you are in Samoa
Safety reasons always keep your handbag to the front of you when walking around - your Passport needs to be kept in safe place at all times.
Always put your Passport back in the same place in your bag when travelling. Leave it in your rooms in the safe.
It is recommended that the Tour Manager/Coach normally collects all Passports after you board the plane and keeps them safe until you get to Samoa. The Tour Manager/Coach will need to hand them out to the travellers for entry into Samoa.
Suggested Tour mangers collect passports once through customs and puts them all in the safe in the accommodation room.
Phones
Check out the cost for roaming with your phone provider before you arrive in Samoa.
You can clock up $100 without knowing it. TURN YOUR DATA OFF!!!
Please refrain from buying a SIM at the airport on arrival as your transport will be waiting
TRY NOT TO USE PHONES SO YOU CAN ENJOY THE REAL SAMOA EXPERIENCE.
Meet and Greet & Team Acts
It is fun for teams to entertain at the Dinner
Team Acts can be anything so start preparing for a bit of fun.
Lip Sync to a song, choreographed dance, fun skit, traditional anything. There is always an entertainer in a team.
Use props or bring some dress ups with you.
Water
The water is safe to drink in Samoa.
Water will be provided at the tournament.
If you wish to purchase bottled water, please ask your bus driver and he will stop at the supermarket.
Transportation
For airport arrivals and departures, you will meet at the airport.
Once you have cleared Customs at the airport, please make your way to where you will be greeted and shown to your bus.
Sponsorship of Samoan Netball Teams - Giving Back
As part of your package, your travelling team will half SPONSOR a Samoan netball team
Wonderful benefits for sponsoring a Samoan netball team
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Help netball teams who don’t have the opportunity to play in this INF event.
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You will meet the netball team you sponsor for the Festival at the Meet and Greet.
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Exchange contact details. Be friends for life - send letters the old-fashioned way.
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Give them gifts and see their smiles.
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Get photos with them and maybe their families.
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Learn about their culture and let them know about yours. Take photos of your family and life in your home town.
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Support each other’s teams during the International Netball Festival.
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You will receive the sponsoring team’s information prior to departing.
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If you choose, you can purchase a souvenir International Netball Festival singlet to give to them.
The Samoan Netball Official will select teams for you to sponsor and arrange you to meet them at the Meet and Greet and give them gifts.
Remember to take lots of photos. This is an experience of a lifetime.
The International Netball Festival team will make this happen for your team.
Donations for Samoan netball teams
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Suggested gift ideas for these teams would be:
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pairs of white sports socks​
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netball
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Aussie souvenirs
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marker pens
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pens
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simple English reading books
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colouring books and textas
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old uniforms
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team bibs, whistles, cones
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training equipment
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good old sneakers
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good quality clothes. They wear white to Sunday Mass
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lollies from Australia
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pharmacies will often give you expired items. Adults love hand lotions, lipstick, hair clips and hair ties etc
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Samoan teams you also play against love little Aussie souvenirs​. Have fun handing them out. INF teams line up opposite each other on the mid court and walk up to shake hands which is where you can hand them a small gift eg pen or koala. You will play 7-9 games in the Netball Festival.
The smiles are priceless!
Things to bring to Samoa
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Passport & e-tickets
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Wallet. Samoan Money, credit card, passport credit cards from banks and post office are available.
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Insurance Policy
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Sunscreen
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Insect repellent
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Sunglasses
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Hat
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Water bottle
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Rashie
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Remember, medication if you take it. If it is a prescription medication take the prescription with you.
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Personal items such as strapping if you use it.
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Small first aid kit with plasters, Panadol etc. You can purchase supplies there but handy to have on you as we may not be near the shops often.
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Snacks – eg: biscuits, chips, muesli bars, coffee, vegemite, cheese, dips as long as they are not open and sealed in their packages.
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Umbrella for the rain and maybe the sun on game days
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Washing – if you wish to use the resorts laundry facilities, it’s a good idea to bring a large sack for washing so that items do not get lost. The accommodation will charge for washing machines. If you are handwashing, bring a snap lunch bag of washing powder or exit soap to do a little washing.
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Day pack or bag to take to the netball courts.
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Ball pump.
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Hand towel for game days – Beach/pool towels are provided by the resorts. Spray bottle to cool you down between games.
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Insect repellent - I have never found it a problem but best to be prepared.
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Phone charger - power points/plugs are the same as Australia.
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Gifts for villages, orphanages schools if you are visiting these places.
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Samoa time is 3 hours ahead of Queensland.
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There is limited Wi-Fi at all accommodation. It is not reliable and normally slow in rooms.
It is Samoa time so enjoy the relaxed manner they have.
You may need to ask twice or follow up on things if you make special requests.
