|
|
|
Low Airfares
Do you have a trip in mind? Looking for low airfares to get you there? All is not lost. You can find a great deal on airfare if you take the time to look for it. Low airfares are actually quite common right now, due to the sluggish travel industry. ...
Romania - Bucharest, Dracula and Transylvania
Mention Romania and people immediately think of Dracula and a mid-evil country. Recovering from years of economic misery, Romania is quickly becoming the hidden jewel of Eastern Europe.
Dracula v. Ceausescu
In pop culture, Romania is always...
Siberia, Russia Part 2 – Where Are We and What Day Is It?
Siberia, Russia Part 2 – Where Are We and What Day Is It? Standing in the airport in San Diego, I began to wonder exactly how long it was going to take to get to the city of Chita in Siberia. The combination of a vodka hangover, three flights,...
Travelling To Orlando With Children
Obviously for those travelling by car, you will have plenty of
activities at hand to amuse the children and play plenty of
games e.g. spying certain colours of cars etc. For those of you
flying a small bag for each child to carry on board with...
Vacations - St. Tropez
A visit to the French Riviera would not be complete without a
stop in St. Tropez. Renowned for its miles of glistening white
beaches, exotic food and as a playground for the rich and famous
- it is THE place to see and be seen.
A true jewel...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
South Pacific As A Romantic Getaway?
Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com, is pleased to have as a guest well known author, travel writer and expert on the South
Pacific, David Stanley. David is the author of Moon Handbooks South Pacific.
Good day David and thank you for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.
NORM:
Please tell our readers something about yourself, your expertise and the
books you have authored pertaining to the South Pacific.
David:
I've earned a living from travel guidebooks since 1979, when Moon Publications of Rutland published the 1st edition of SOUTH PACIFIC HANDBOOK .
In November 2004, Avalon Travel Publishing of Emeryville,
California, brought out the 8th edition of Moon Handbooks South Pacific. I've
also written Lonely Planet guides to Eastern Europe, Cuba, and Canada's
Maritime Provinces. Lately I've been exploiting the power of the Internet with
sites like SOUTH PACIFIC.ORG: MAP SOUTH PACIFIC and
CUBA PICTURES.
NORM:
When we talk about the South Pacific what exactly are we referring to and
where is it situated in relation to the USA or Canada?
David:
The "South Pacific" brochures printed by tour operators often focus on
Australia and New Zealand, but those countries are quite different from the
tropical Pacific islands. Moon Handbooks South Pacific covers 15 insular
countries and territories from Easter Island to the Solomons. People tend to
consider this region remote, yet it takes only two hours longer to fly from Los
Angeles to Tahiti than it does to fly to Honolulu. Fiji is midway between
Hawaii and New Zealand, to the west of Tahiti.
NORM:
Would you consider the South Pacific a good choice for a romantic getaway or wedding and honeymoon destination? Why?
David:
All of the main South Pacific destinations have attempted to market
themselves as wedding or honeymoon destinations. Fiji and the Cook Islands have
been the most successful as weddings can be arranged locally with little fuss.
In French Polynesia, marriages can only be performed for persons with 30 days
residency, which excludes most tourists. Instead, French Polynesia has
developed an active honeymoon industry with Bora Bora highly favored by bridal
magazine writers who enjoyed the hospitality of luxury resorts. In my opinion,
Moorea is Bora Bora's equal in all but name and is far less expensive. For a
romantic getaway, I recommend Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. There is a lot to
see and do within a compact area, and prices are fair.
NORM:
What is the best time to visit the South Pacific from the point of view
of weather, costs, crowds, and the availability of flights from the USA, Canada
and Europe?
David:
Officially, the hurricane season in the South Pacific is from December
to April, although with global warming it's starting earlier and ending later.
Winter (May to October) is generally cooler, drier, and less humid throughout
the region, the best time to go. May to August is the off-season in Australia
and New Zealand; hence Air New Zealand's low season South Pacific airfares
apply those months. So by a happy coincidence, you can enjoy the best weather
for the lowest price if you schedule your trip at that time.
NORM:
How safe is it to travel to the South Pacific?
David:
Very safe. "Terrorists" would stand out like sore thumbs on these small
islands. Violent crime (muggings, etc) is almost unknown, but petty theft does
occur. Nothing will go astray if a few simple precautions are taken. Contrary
to the image fostered by Hollywood and in the tourism brochures, the island
societies are socially conservative and scanty dress is frowned upon. Women
traveling alone should avoid staying in isolated bungalows or wandering off on
deserted beaches.
NORM:
Could you give our readers an idea
of the costs involved if travel
originates from the USA or Canada and how accessible is it to fly to the South
Pacific?
David:
One-month roundtrip airfares from Los Angeles or Vancouver to Tahiti,
Rarotonga, or Fiji start around US$1,250 in the low season, provided you book
at least 14 days in advance and are willing to accept a 35 percent cancellation
fee. If you fly on shorter notice during the high season (December to
February), you'll pay around US$2,000. The weekend travel sections of major
newspapers carry ads for discounted fares, and websites sometimes sell tickets
for considerably less than the prices quoted by airline agents over the phone.
For example, I recently flew from Vancouver to American Samoa for US$700
roundtrip on an Internet special. Such offers are routinely announced in the
newsletter of the South Pacific Tourism Organization, available at
SOUTH PACIFIC TOURISM ORGANIZATION.
NORM:
If you had to choose 6 unequalled venues in the South Pacific for a
romantic getaway, honeymoon or wedding destination, what would they be and why?
David:
My first choice would be:
Tahiti and its neighbours Moorea and Bora Bora.
The soaring green peaks and brilliant reefs of these islands are unsurpassed,
and the "exotic" French atmosphere combines well with the charm of Polynesia.
Fiji is a very close second for its stunning variety and friendliness.
Then there's Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.
This is long a favorite holiday destination for New Zealanders. Rarotonga is small enough to explore in a week, and the facilities are excellent.
My fourth choice is Easter Island. Although for those into hiking or archaeology, it should come first. Travel agents often book three-night stopovers on Easter Island, but only the highlights can be seen during such a short stay.
Finally, I should mention Vanuatu for those looking for something really different. This little known Melanesian country offers a colorful mix of scuba diving, tribal culture, active volcanoes, and the South Pacific's most beautiful capital city,
Port Vila.
NORM:
What resources are available on the Internet pertaining to weddings and honeymoon vacations in the South Pacific?
David:
Obtaining independent information on weddings and honeymoons isn't easy as resort and tour company websites only promote their own products. That said,
HONEYMOON FIJI and HONEYMOON VANUATU are worth a look, and TRAVEL MAXIA is useful in that it covers the entire South Pacific. It's also well worth perusing the official tourism websites of the island visitors bureaus, all of which are linked to SOUTH PACIFIC.ORG
NORM:
Is there anything else you would like to add that we have not covered
pertaining to the South Pacific?
David:
The South Pacific should be recognized as a straightforward, trouble-
free destination. None of the countries included in my book require visas of
North Americans, Europeans, Australians, New Zealanders, or Japanese. Obstacles like erratic pricing, corrupt officials, violent crime, and security glitches are generally absent here. This sprawling region is best characterised by its amazing variety, with many distinct cultures, cuisines, histories, and environments to experience and enjoy. At US$24.95, Moon Handbooks South Pacific has the potential to save vacationers hundreds of dollars, while assisting them in making the best choices. It's all in there.
Thanks David for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.
About the Author
Norm Goldman is the editor of sketchandtravel.com bookpleasures.com.
Norm and his wife Lily are a unique husband and wife team who meld art with words focusing on romantic destinations.
Norm and Lily are always open to invitations to romantic destinations and hospitality properties in the USA.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Some
Frequent Keywords leading to this site: airlines singapore,airline network,alaska
airlines,us airways,american airline,malaysian airlines,malaysia airlines,air
canada airlines,charter airlines,sas airlines,airlines,flights airlines,air
lines,flights to orlando,airlines american,flights to goa,turkish airlines,delta
airlines,thai airways,easyjet flights,scandinavian airlines,cathay pacific,flights
to bangkok,thai airlines,flights new york,emirates airlines,flight status,business
class,klm flights,flights to new york,flights usa,flights to belfast,flights
to nice,cheap flights to new york,qatar airlines,british airlines,flights to
egypt,cathay pacific airlines,cheap flights to south africa,charter flights,flights
to geneva,thompson flights,flights to south africa,flights to usa,flights to
glasgow,flights to dublin,flights to venice,flights to cork,flights to madrid,airlines
schedules,flight airlines,air france airlines,cheap flights to usa,airlines
reservation,airways airlines,flights to prague,express airlines,america airlines,flights
to jersey,flights to valencia,internal flights,flights from bristol,flights
from belfast,flights to edinburgh,emirates airline,air canada,flights edinburgh,cheap
flights to dublin,flights to london,flights to thailand,flights to rome,flights
from glasgow,airlines fares,flights to budapest,flights to majorca,flights from
edinburgh,gulf air,airlines tickets,cheap flights to thailand,flights to paris,flights
to manchester,cheap flights to london,flights to palma,flights,air india,air
flights,flights to sydney,flights from birmingham,flights to athens,flights
to ireland,airtran airlines,flights to india,flights from newcastle,flights
from cardiff,business class airlines,travel airlines,flights from southampton,america
west,flights from manchester,flights to canada,flights to new zealand,cheap
flights to prague,iberia airlines,cheap flights to india,klm airlines,flights
to toronto,airlines flight schedule,phone number,domestic flights,cheap flights
to paris,flights to faro,flights australia,flights from gatwick,cheap flights
to canada,flights to greece,flights to australia,flights to crete,schedule airlines,cheap
flights to australia,cheap airlines,flights to naples,flights to america,cheap
flights to faro,cheap flights,flights to malta,flights to dubai,airlines ticket,flights
to portugal,low cost airlines,flights to italy,flights to barcelona,flights
only,airlines flight schedules,direct flights,flights to france,flights to lanzarote,flights
to germany,cheap flights to dubai,uk flights,florida flights,cheep flights,cheap
flights to florida,low cost flights,flights to alicante,flights to murcia,flights
to ibiza,budget airlines,flights to florida,china airlines,cheap flights to
alicante,flights to cyprus,czech airlines,cyprus flights,flights to gran canaria,flights
to dalaman,flights to malaga,flights malaga,flights tenerife,airlines offices,flights
to bulgaria,flights to tenerife,budget flights,cheap flights to barcelona,cheap
flights to tenerife,air travel,flights to spain,cheapest flights,bangkok airlines,cheap
flights to malaga,cheap flights uk,flights to jamaica,cheap flights to rome,cheap
flights to cyprus,flights to paphos,discount airlines,flight schedule,cheap
flights to spain,bargain flights,airline tickets,airlines timetable,flights
to turkey,flight schedules,america west airlines,aeroflot airlines,zoom airlines,air
india airlines,cheap flights to turkey,cargo airlines,airlines fare,passenger
airlines,airlines booking,domestic airlines,gulf air airlines,air france,flight
information,dubai airlines,spirit airlines,airlines fleet,frontier airlines,airlines,delta
airlines,emirates airlines,klm airlines,thai airlines,british airlines,china
airlines,flights,flight airlines,schedule airlines,cargo airlines,flights airlines,travel
airlines,airlines american,airlines ticket,iberia airlines,malaysian airlines,sas
airlines,airways airlines,domestic airlines,airlines fares,airlines singapore,american
airline,charter airlines,discount airlines,airlines booking,bangkok airlines,dubai
airlines,aeroflot airlines,america airlines,gulf air,airline tickets,airtran
airlines,air india,gulf air airlines,spirit airlines,air india airlines,passenger
airlines,cheap flights,air france airlines,business class airlines,cathay pacific,thai
airways,airlines tickets,air france,cathay pacific airlines,air canada,flight
information,air canada airlines,airlines reservation,us airways,flight schedules,air
lines,airlines fare,air travel,airlines routes,express airlines,alaska airlines,america
west airlines,flight status,airline network,flight schedule,airlines departure,cheapest
flights,flights to australia,flights to new york,airlines schedules,flights
to malaga,flights to tenerife,flights to cyprus,business class,flights to dublin,frontier
airlines,flights to spain,charter flights,flights to alicante,america west,flights
to canada,flights to barcelona,flights to paris,budget airlines,low cost airlines,cheap
flights to new york,turkish airlines,flights to florida,cheap flights to malaga,airlines
fleet,flights to faro,flights to turkey,cheap airlines,flights to prague,cheap
flights to australia,flights to orlando,airlines timetable,uk flights,flights
to dubai,flights to rome,flights to india,flights to usa,cheap flights to tenerife,flights
to lanzarote,flights to thailand,cheap flights to spain,flights to new zealand,airlines
flight schedules,cheep flights,flights to south africa,air flights,flights to
edinburgh,zoom airlines,czech airlines,flights from manchester,flights to malta,cheap
flights to cyprus,flights to america,low cost flights,flights to london,cheap
flights to alicante,malaysia airlines,flights to nice,flights australia,flights
to ibiza,flights to palma,emirates airline,phone number,thompson flights,cheap
flights to dublin,flights to jersey,airlines flight schedule,flights from bristol,budget
flights,flights to belfast,flights to goa,flights to murcia,scandinavian airlines,cheap
flights to barcelona,easyjet flights,flights from birmingham,direct flights,flights
to bangkok,cheap flights to paris,flights new york,cheap flights to canada,flights
to ireland,airlines offices,cheap flights uk,flights to paphos,flights to glasgow,flights
to portugal,internal flights,flights to dalaman,flights to italy,flights to
athens,flights to bulgaria,cheap flights to india,flights to geneva,flights
from newcastle,flights to france,flights tenerife,flights to crete,flights from
edinburgh,flights from glasgow,flights usa,flights to madrid,cheap flights to
turkey,flights to manchester,flights to venice,cheap flights to prague,cheap
flights to usa,bargain flights,flights to egypt,flights to toronto,flights to
gran canaria,cyprus flights,flights to jamaica,flights from southampton,domestic
flights,flights to naples,cheap flights to faro,flights to greece,cheap flights
to dubai,flights to sydney,florida flights,flights malaga,flights to majorca,flights
edinburgh,flights to valencia,flights from belfast,cheap flights to rome,flights
only,flights to germany,cheap flights to florida,cheap flights to south africa,flights
from cardiff,flights to cork,cheap flights to london,cheap flights to thailand,flights
from gatwick,klm flights,qatar airlines,flights to budapest