Bob  and Jane Douglas are not new to the Samoan way of life. This is their second trip to the islands.

Their two children and Jane's whole family are accompanying the couple on this trip. 

"The first time (we came) was our honeymoon at Seabreeze Resort, and we heard lots about here, and our second time we had to come back; this one is stunning as well. The ground work they’ve kept it amazing and everyone is really nice," said Bob.

The family of eight traveled to Samoa for some quality time together and have been enjoying the comforts of Saletoga Sands Resort at Matatufu.

"Just like travelling with the family so the parents can hang out with the kids. We don’t live together. We live in different parts of New Zealand. 

"I mean, it’s within an hour and a half drive but it’s not like we can walk down the road and see them. And every time we see them it’s a long drive. So to come together like this is a nice thing to do," said Bob, 34.

The group includes Jane's "oma" (grandmother), whom Dear Tourist team also caught up with while she enjoyed looking over her family on the beach.

Originally from Holland, Elizabeth Scholde, 86, said Samoa is different from any other place she has seen before, "it's nice".

"I didn’t know what to pack. I got some warm clothes and some summer clothes. 

"First time in a Pacific Island [and it's] very nice. Only the rain; everything is fine, meals are good and staff is friendly," she said.

The family visited the big island of Savai'i among many other activities, within their seven days holiday in Samoa.

"We did go out to Savai’i. So that was beautiful and we did the trench, went up the coast and saw a slip up there. The clams and the waterfall, Togitogiga waterfall. 

"A beautiful waterfall, I could have stayed there all day. It was nice," Bob said.

When asked what was most striking about Samoa, he could not decide.

"The weather, the people, I mean, it’s not one thing to say its’ striking, it’s the whole thing, it’s the whole experience. 

"Even just seeing the trench is unreal and the waters are warm, the sands are nice, the foods beautiful. All the food from here (Saletoga Sands Resort), even the Samoan traditional food is very nice and seeing the cultural thing yesterday was amazing."

Coming from New Zealand, Bob said he has never participated in a hangi - traditional Maori method of cooking food underground - or even eaten from a hangi. But Bob definitely enjoyed witnessing the Samoan version of the hangi - umu.

"Seeing how they cook their food. Very good. It was the umu, it looked way bit too hot for me. Very tasty," he said.

Bob said although the sun wasn't out for most of their trip, he appreciated the cloudy weather, "I'll just get a tan next time," he laughed.

Youngest, three-year-old Arlo Douglas was seen enjoying digging into the black sands on the beach with his father, Bob, while everyone else was in the water, enjoying their last day on island before heading back home yesterday.