| Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of and | | | | societies are socially conservative and scanty dress |
| Bookpleasures.com, is pleased to have as a guest | | | | is frowned upon. Women traveling alone should avoid |
| well known author, travel writer and expert on the | | | | staying in isolated bungalows or wandering off on |
| South Pacific, David Stanley. David is the author of | | | | deserted beaches.NORM:Could you give our readers |
| Moon Handbooks South Pacific.Good day David and | | | | an idea of the costs involved if travel originates from |
| thank you for accepting our invitation to be | | | | the USA or Canada and how accessible is it to fly to |
| interviewed.NORM:Please tell our readers something | | | | the South Pacific?David:One-month roundtrip airfares |
| about yourself, your expertise and the | | | | from Los Angeles or Vancouver to Tahiti, Rarotonga, |
| books you have authored pertaining to the South | | | | or Fiji start around US$1,250 in the low season, |
| Pacific.David:I've earned a living from travel | | | | provided you book at least 14 days in advance and |
| guidebooks since 1979, when Moon Publications of | | | | are willing to accept a 35 percent cancellation fee. If |
| Rutland published the 1st edition of SOUTH PACIFIC | | | | you fly on shorter notice during the high season |
| HANDBOOK.In November 2004, Avalon Travel | | | | (December to February), you'll pay around US$2,000. |
| Publishing of Emeryville, | | | | The weekend travel sections of major newspapers |
| California, brought out the 8th edition of Moon | | | | carry ads for discounted fares, and websites |
| Handbooks South Pacific. I've also written Lonely | | | | sometimes sell tickets for considerably less than the |
| Planet guides to Eastern Europe, Cuba, and Canada's | | | | prices quoted by airline agents over the phone.For |
| Maritime Provinces. Lately I've been exploiting the | | | | example, I recently flew from Vancouver to |
| power of the Internet with sites like SOUTH | | | | American Samoa for US$700 roundtrip on an Internet |
| PACIFIC.ORG: MAP SOUTH PACIFIC and | | | | special. Such offers are routinely announced in the |
| CUBA PICTURES.NORM:When we talk about the | | | | newsletter of the South Pacific Tourism Organization, |
| South Pacific what exactly are we referring to and | | | | available at SOUTH PACIFIC TOURISM |
| where is it situated in relation to the USA or | | | | ORGANIZATION.NORM:If you had to choose 6 |
| Canada?David:The "South Pacific" brochures printed | | | | unequalled venues in the South Pacific for a romantic |
| by tour operators often focus on Australia and New | | | | getaway, honeymoon or wedding destination, what |
| Zealand, but those countries are quite different from | | | | would they be and why?David:My first choice would |
| the tropical Pacific islands. Moon Handbooks South | | | | be:Tahiti and its neighbours Moorea and Bora |
| Pacific covers 15 insular countries and territories from | | | | Bora.The soaring green peaks and brilliant reefs of |
| Easter Island to the Solomons. People tend to | | | | these islands are unsurpassed, and the "exotic" |
| consider this region remote, yet it takes only two | | | | French atmosphere combines well with the charm of |
| hours longer to fly from Los Angeles to Tahiti than it | | | | Polynesia.Fiji is a very close second for its stunning |
| does to fly to Honolulu. Fiji is midway between Hawaii | | | | variety and friendliness.Then there's Rarotonga in the |
| and New Zealand, to the west of Tahiti.NORM:Would | | | | Cook Islands. |
| you consider the South Pacific a good choice for a | | | | This is long a favorite holiday destination for New |
| romantic getaway or wedding and honeymoon | | | | Zealanders. Rarotonga is small enough to explore in a |
| destination? Why?David:All of the main South Pacific | | | | week, and the facilities are excellent.My fourth choice |
| destinations have attempted to market themselves | | | | is Easter Island. Although for those into hiking or |
| as wedding or honeymoon destinations. Fiji and the | | | | archaeology, it should come first. Travel agents often |
| Cook Islands have been the most successful as | | | | book three-night stopovers on Easter Island, but only |
| weddings can be arranged locally with little fuss.In | | | | the highlights can be seen during such a short |
| French Polynesia, marriages can only be performed | | | | stay.Finally, I should mention Vanuatu for those |
| for persons with 30 days residency, which excludes | | | | looking for something really different. This little known |
| most tourists. Instead, French Polynesia has | | | | Melanesian country offers a colorful mix of scuba |
| developed an active honeymoon industry with Bora | | | | diving, tribal culture, active volcanoes, and the South |
| Bora highly favored by bridal magazine writers who | | | | Pacific's most beautiful capital city, |
| enjoyed the hospitality of luxury resorts. In my | | | | Port Vila.NORM:What resources are available on the |
| opinion, | | | | Internet pertaining to weddings and honeymoon |
| Moorea is Bora Bora's equal in all but name and is far | | | | vacations in the South Pacific?David:Obtaining |
| less expensive. For a romantic getaway, I | | | | independent information on weddings and |
| recommend Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. There is | | | | honeymoons isn't easy as resort and tour company |
| a lot to see and do within a compact area, and prices | | | | websites only promote their own products. That said, |
| are fair.NORM:What is the best time to visit the | | | | HONEYMOON FIJI and HONEYMOON VANUATU are |
| South Pacific from the point of view of weather, | | | | worth a look, and TRAVEL MAXIA is useful in that it |
| costs, crowds, and the availability of flights from the | | | | covers the entire South Pacific. It's also well worth |
| USA, Canada and Europe?David:Officially, the | | | | perusing the official tourism websites of the island |
| hurricane season in the South Pacific is from | | | | visitors bureaus, all of which are linked to SOUTH |
| December to April, although with global warming it's | | | | PACIFIC.ORGNORM:Is there anything else you would |
| starting earlier and ending later. Winter (May to | | | | like to add that we have not covered |
| October) is generally cooler, drier, and less humid | | | | pertaining to the South Pacific?David:The South |
| throughout the region, the best time to go. May to | | | | Pacific should be recognized as a straightforward, |
| August is the off-season in Australia | | | | trouble-free destination. None of the countries |
| and New Zealand; hence Air New Zealand's low | | | | included in my book require visas of North Americans, |
| season South Pacific airfares apply those months. So | | | | Europeans, Australians, New Zealanders, or Japanese. |
| by a happy coincidence, you can enjoy the best | | | | Obstacles like erratic pricing, corrupt officials, violent |
| weather for the lowest price if you schedule your | | | | crime, and security glitches are generally absent here. |
| trip at that time.NORM:How safe is it to travel to the | | | | This sprawling region is best characterised by its |
| South Pacific?David:Very safe. "Terrorists" would | | | | amazing variety, with many distinct cultures, cuisines, |
| stand out like sore thumbs on these small islands. | | | | histories, and environments to experience and enjoy. |
| Violent crime (muggings, etc) is almost unknown, but | | | | At US$24.95, Moon Handbooks South Pacific has the |
| petty theft does occur. Nothing will go astray if a | | | | potential to save vacationers hundreds of dollars, |
| few simple precautions are taken. Contrary to the | | | | while assisting them in making the best choices. It's all |
| image fostered by Hollywood and in the tourism | | | | in there.Thanks David for accepting our invitation to |
| brochures, the island | | | | be interviewed. |