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