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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 Hanbooks 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’s 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 VANAUATU 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
About the Author: Norm Goldman is editor of sketchandtravel.com and bookpleasures.com.
Norm and his artist wife Lily meld art and words in order to create an unusual travel story, which generates interest, particularly because of the fact that each painting appears to have been ‘custom-made’ for the story-original story and original art. Combining the watercolors with travel writing provides a softer, more romantic look at the places we visit.
Their main focus is on romantic and wedding destinations.
As they specialize in web-based content, their articles are featured on their own site, SKETCHANDTRAVEL.COM, where you can find out more about them. They are also regular contributors to some of the most popular Internet Travel Sites: LOVETRIPPER.COM: THETIMESHAREBEAT.COM:TRAVELLADY.COM:BOOTSNALL.COM: Visit Florida Online: Tropical Island Weddings
Norm and Lily are always open to suggestions as to romantic and wedding destinations to visit, write and paint about.
Source: www.isnare.comGet Free Content at ContentMart.com
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Three Sure Ways To Find The Best Cruise Deals!
By Dean Caporella
Finding the best cruise deals involves patience and a little homework on your part. The truth is, cheap cruise deals are being offered all the time and it's just a matter of knowing where to look.
Let's examine the best ways of locating the best cruise deals. If you have never cruised before, then you'll get a heads up on your "virgin" trip with the following tips.
Ask Your Travel Agent
It's obvious isn't it. Travel agents are everywhere yet it amazes me why many people won't check with them first. These trained professionals know exactly where to look, they have access to information and cheap cruise deals not privvy to the general public and they are an valuable source of information and advice.
Even before deals are promoted to the general public, travel agents generally have a "heads up" on almost anyone else. It's important to remember many agents are seasoned cruise travellers with vast experience of holidaying on the high seas and can give you a host of suggestions on which cruise best suits your needs, when to sail and what time of the year is the best time to sail. They can even put you onto last minute deals depending on your flexibility.
Check With Cruise Lines
While cruise lines don't like to lower their prices, getting on their email and notification lists could prove more than rewarding. You see, they are not happy about having to leave port with empty state rooms and in order to fill them, can be more than generous with late special offerings. These will usually occur during the "slow seasons" so keep an eye out for these alerts.
Going Online
There are some wonderful opportunities online. Competition is fierce among online agents but who do you choose? One of the best ways to get value from online agents is to check and see if they offer a newsletter service and then subscribe. There are some excellent cheap cruise deals to be had from the information contained in these newsletters.
In many cases, you simply put in a description of what type of cruise you're after, where you want to go and when and then tick off how often you want to receive newsletter alerts. If you are frightened of being bombarded with emails then just by clicking how often you want to be notified should do the trick however, you should also be given an option of whether you would like to receive extra promotional information. If not, then just simply click "no."
Some Caution Required
While going online seems so easy for most people here are some precaustions you should take:
- If you're not sure about a site's credentials stick with the better known travel names.
- Check to see whether the site has endorsement banners from reputable governing bodies.
- Give a site preference if it has phone contact. Make sure you can speak with a live representative.
- Always check and ask if their are extra fees over and above the special deal being advertised
For many, cruising will be the holiday of a lifetime. Nowadays, it's not just the domain of the those well off; more ships and more competition means more state rooms to fill. These tips should help you finding the best cruise deals on offer.
Dean Caporella is a professional broadcaster. We'll tell you three guaranteed methods of findint the best cruise deals! Plus, read the latest cruise news and reviews at:http://www.cheapcruiseheaven.com
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