Is it worth visiting American Samoa?

My girlfriend and I are stopping in Samoa on the way to New Zealand. We have a
couple of weeks and wonder if it is worth visiting American Samoa while we
are there? Also, if we do go, how do we get between the two? Dan
Baxter, London

Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green responds: American Samoa is a
very underrated group of islands, just 90 miles from its neighbouring, and
better known Samoa.

But it is easy to get to and I’d say a visit is well worth it, especially if
you are the sort of travellers that are always curious about what is just
over the horizon. That said, the laid back lifestyle of Samoa is so
contagious that you’ll be amazed at just how difficult it is to do anything
other than relax.

Compared to the delightful sleepiness of Samoa, you might find the
marvellously named capital of American Samoa, Pago Pago, a tad
disappointing. Certainly the country’s ties with the US (it is an
unincorporated territory) means that you’ll see some jarring American
imports, like LA style police cars and pick up trucks, which look rather out
of place in the South Pacific.

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