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