Whether you want to view the sunset from the deck of your overwater bungalow in Bora Bora, dive the awe-inspiring Great Barrier Reef, or hike The Great Walks of New Zealand, I can book your dream luxe island escape to the South Pacific. View our latest South Pacific package ideas for luxury travel inspiration and contact me for customized pricing.
I may be a little behind on blog posts, but I managed to find time to judge in FlightNetwork.com‘s World’s Best lists!
I was beyond excited to visit two of my favorite South Pacific destinations, and now that the trip is over, I can confidently say it lived up to all expectations. I spent time hiking and wine tasting in the Marlborough region of New Zealand followed by some rest and relaxation at The Brando, an exclusive resort on the island of Tetiaroa in French Polynesia. I had been wanting to personally visit and share my review of The Brando for quite some time, so this was truly a dream bucket list-type trip and it just continued my love affair with each of these destinations.
While not the easiest destination to get to, Bali is worth the long journey to paradise. Bali is perhaps the most well known island in Indonesia for a good reason. It appeals to a wide audience of travelers, from those seeking to reconnect with the spiritual world to those wanting to let loose and party. With its varied landscapes, it also appeals to the adventurous and the sun seekers alike. There is something for everyone, whether young or young at heart, but if you need to find a reason to add Bali to your bucket list, here are our top reasons to make it your next exotic escape.
Indonesia is as exotic as it sounds. Located in Southeast Asia, this nation of over 17,000 islands is a melting pot of culture, wildlife, plant life, and landscapes. While most tourism is focused on the island of Bali, there are many other islands that offer a slice of paradise and a sense of adventure. With some of the best diving in the world, long stretches of white sand beach, breathtaking cultural landmarks, and wild rain forests, Indonesia is the perfect destination for a luxe island escape. Connect in major cities like Singapore, Bangkok, and Hong Kong and experience the glitz of a major Asian city before disconnecting from the world in a truly serene and tropical paradise. The four luxurious vacation rentals in Indonesia below are the perfect way accent a lavish Asian holiday.
When I think of my time in Switzerland, I think of three things: cheese, chocolate, and tunnels. However, Switzerland is so much more than roads and carbs. It has magnificent landscapes of bright green fields, crystal blue lakes, which are framed by dark mountains with white snow capped peaks. There is a plethora of outdoor activities, with hiking, climbing and skiing being the popular draws. Switzerland has a unique cultural blend of German, French, and Italian influences, which you can see and hear as you travel throughout the country. Switzerland in a sense is magical – it’s one of those places that draws you in and makes you want to stay forever. While it might prove difficult to move there, why not get a taste of everything Switzerland has to offer and spoil yourself in the process?
Brides Magazine recently published a list if the best honeymoon resorts in the South Pacific. The list was compiled mostly from reviews on TripAdvisor, with a high percentage of those reviews being from honeymooners. As it turns out, we happen to agree with the list! Personally, we don’t need a special occaision to visit these properties. In fact, we’ve visited most of them already! Our only wish was that they had expanded their list to include resorts on other islands in French Polynesia. Oh, how we love Tahiti!!!
http://www.brides.com/honeymoons/2015/05/best-honeymoon-resorts-south-pacific#slide=1
This list is helpful when beginning to pack for your trip to Tahiti and her islands!
Below is our recommended packing list, based on a 7 day trip.
3-4 bathing suits
7-9 t-shirts/tanks
2-3 nicer tops
2-3 pairs of shorts
2 casual skirts
2-3 sundresses
long pants for plane ride
light sweater
1 pair of walking shoes/socks
all undergarments
2 pairs of flip flops
1 pair of coral shoes
hat
sunglasses
beach cover-up/sarong
sunscreen (and tons of it!)
Tylenol/Ibuprofen
bug spray
Allergy medication
Immodium
Band-aids
Antibiotic cream
Itch stick
Antacids
Urinary meds
Aloe
Vitamins
All prescriptions
Toothbrush/paste/mouthwash
Shaving cream/razor
Shampoo/conditioner
Q-tips
Hair bands for long hair
Toiletry bag
Contact lenses/glasses (if you wear them)
Chap stick
Feminine products
Brush/comb
Deodorant
Lotions
Kleenex
Face wash/acne treatments
Nail clippers/file
Printed travel itinerary
ATM card for cash
Passport/driver license plus photocopies
Credit cards and photocopies
Camera, memory cards, batteries
Converter/adapter
Underwater cameras
Travel guides
cell phone/ipad/tablet and associated chargers
Water bottle/collapsible cooler
Copies of itinerary for contacts
Sewing kit
Small flashlight
Binoculars
Snacks (cereal, granola bars)
Candy, gum
Powdered Gatorade
Beach bag (preferably waterproof)
Trash bag for wet clothes
Snorkel gear
Tote bag for souvenirs
Addresses for postcards
Journal
Books (if ipad/kindle is not used)
inflatable raft
Dos:
Don’t Bothers:
If you read my blog frequently, or are just glancing it over for the first time, it’s pretty obvious that I love traveling to the South Pacific. I have had the desire to visit the Cook Islands for some time now, not only because it’s a tropical paradise in my favorite part of the world, but also because it has always been billed as a more budget friendly alternative to Tahiti. I often get travel requests for Tahiti with a proposed budget in the $5000-$6000 range and, most of the time, it’s just not doable. However, would the Cooks be doable? And, if so, is it a worthy comparison? The answer is YES!
Photo Credit: Kellie Blinco Photography
Just one quick glance at my blog and you have probably figured out that I was recently married! We had decided early on that we wanted a destination wedding and ended up choosing Australia. It’s obviously quite a large continent, so to be more specific, we decided to get married and honeymoon in the State of Queensland, specifically, near the Great Barrier Reef. We had some time restrictions due to work, among other things, which limited our time, but in total, we were on the ground there for 14 nights. It sounds like a lot of time for just one area, but we didn’t even get to scratch the surface of the Reef!