One of the most memorable vineyards in all of my travels is the tiny vineyard at the Bordeaux Airport - because whenever I see this vineyard I know I'm within a short drive to some of the most coveted terroir on the planet. And in all my travels around the globe - its not like I've seen very many vineyards planted at airports! The few people on my flight scattered as soon as we landed; I took full advantage of a totally empty airport to … [Read more...]
Mo’orea Highlights, French Polynesia
Mo’orea (Moorea) is only 30-45 minutes from the port in Papeete via ferry. And the port is only 10 minutes from FAA, Papeete's airport. Despite being so close, this island feels world's away from the often busy streets of Papeete. Need Internet access upon landing at the Moorea port? A Vodafone phone shop is within a short walk of the ferry terminal - located next to the gas station. SIM cards plus data plans can be purchased here. Often … [Read more...]
Tahiti & French Polynesia by Lonely Planet
Small but packed with information about this fascinating island nation, Tahiti & French Polynesia by Lonely Planet provides a wide range of information for both budget and luxury travelers and everything in between. Perhaps maintaining a reputation that is mostly associated with luxury resorts, Tahiti in fact also offers a wide range of other lodging options including AirBnB and family run guesthouses. This go to guide highlights the … [Read more...]
Top 5 Stunning Islands to Go Sailing Around the World
Islands are synonymous with dream vacations and out of the world experiences. For most people, when you talk about going on vacation on an island, the first thing that comes to mind is ‘paradise lost’. The escape from life’s reality to enjoy nature’s peace and quiet in the middle of the sea is more than blissful. It is therapeutic. In this article, we explore the top 5 stunning islands you can enjoy by boat to inspire your next vacation and … [Read more...]
A Visit to a Special Part of the World, The Tuomotos
We arrived at the tiny aerodrome on the island of Rangiroa in the Tuamotu archipelago of French Polynesia - marveling at the narrow air strip surrounded on both sides by aquamarine waters. Unlike all passengers we did not have any hotel reservations and we lingered around until all the passengers left and the steel gates began to close - completely locking down the small airport building. One guy walked up to us and asked us if we needed … [Read more...]
The Most Unique Vineyard & Winery in the World
In 2002, Oenologue, Sébastien Thépénie responded to an ad to work at a winery in French Polynesia. Wait a minute. There is vineyard and a winery in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean? The answer is yes - on the remote Rangiroa atoll, one of the world's largest coral atolls. And certainly one of the most isolated vineyards on the planet. Today Sébastien oversees the viticulture and winemaking for Domaine Vin de Tahiti. This extremely unique … [Read more...]
Tahiti, Exploring this Gem in the Middle of the Southern Pacific Ocean
I've wanted to visit Tahiti for years but the high cost of airfare has been a barrier to visiting the country. But with recent flights from the west coast of the USA launching earlier this year and prices much more affordable then in the years past, my decision to visit Tahiti became more realistic. The capital city of Papeete is by far the largest city in the country - and yes there is even traffic downtown. But as far as cities go, this is … [Read more...]
Club Med: An Unpaid Advertorial Paradise Lost: A Travel Survivalist Kit
Crashing a Club Med in French Polynesia, nonpaying guest intruder John M. Edwards discovers life is no picnic. . . . I awoke on the rooftop of Tahiti’s international airport with a heavy jackboot nudging me in my ribs--! “Monsieur, Monsieur, allons-y!” All of the other sleeping backpackers, alerted by a piping yelp evocative of a vicious French poodle being savagely rogered insensate, rubbed the sleepy seeds from their eyes and gloomily … [Read more...]
New Hawaiian Airlines Credit Card Launches with Bonus Miles and a Gift for Sustainability
Up to $100,000 Total Donation to the Polynesian Voyaging Society For All New Credit Cards Activated Between Today and May 31, 2014 HONOLULU - Hawaiian Airlines® with MasterCard®, Barclaycard US and Bank of Hawaii today announced the official launch of the richly rewarding Hawaiian Airlines World Elite MasterCard® for consumers and the Hawaiian Airlines Business MasterCard for small businesses. In celebration of the new card, new consumer and … [Read more...]
Bora Bora Named A Top Island in the World By TripAdvisor Travelers
LOS ANGELES March 1, 2014 The island of Bora Bora, one of the 118 islands and atolls that make up the Islands of Tahiti, was recognized as the number three island in the world in the Top 10 Islands in the World 2014 TripAdvisor Travelers Choice awards. The Travelers Choice Top 10 Islands in the World awards honor top travel spots worldwide based on millions of valuable reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor travelers. Award winners … [Read more...]