Summerland Hagen's Travel Log

Meeting Jamaica

2009-11-17T00:43:00.000-08:00

The island of Jamaica is the third largest in the Caribbean. It is ideally located, capturing trade winds that assist in maintaining a near constant temperature between 77 and 82 degrees and which bless the mountainous island's northeast coast with abundant rain. Jamaica supports a wide diversity of plant and animal life. More than half the island is higher than 800 feet above sea level. The economy depends heavily on the tourism business, and some of the Caribbean's finest resorts and elegant boutique hotels are found on the beaches of Jamaica.
But Jamaica offers more than lovely beaches and crystal clear water. As wonderful as those things are, they are in plentiful supply in the Caribbean. Jamaica is more - much more. Jamaica is deep emerald green rainforests, waterfalls and mountain streams. Jamaica is an array of birds - colorful parrots, macaws, and hummingbirds with tails that curl three times their body length. Jamaica is reggae and intricate wood carving. Jamaica's culture does not lurk around its edges. You do not have to go looking for it in museums. Jamaica's culture permeates the island. It drifts through every breeze and wafts through every moment on the island, whether in the smell of roadside food preparation or in the rhythm and sound of the music present everywhere. Jamaica dances and invites you to dance with it. The Jamaican culture has endured slavery, oppression and bad times. Its culture, like its people, not only survives, not only endures, but thrives.
The island is not without its scars. There is poverty and the street and beach merchants can be aggressive in plying their trade. However, the population as a whole possesses a warmth and a humor that is characteristically Jamaican and visitors miss a real opportunity for adventure if they fail to engage the people beyond the boundaries of the hotels and resorts.

History and Culture
The English wrested Jamaica away from the Spanish in the mid-1600s and used the island as a base throughout the Caribbean. They permitted pirates to hold sway over some areas of the island like Port Royal to continue to threaten Spanish interests in the rest of the Caribbean. Sugarcane and banana plantations, worked by slaves, became the economic base of early Jamaica. But in the mountainous interior, free and runaway slaves, known as Maroons, lived and routinely attacked the British. Two great slave rebellions finally ended the ignoble institution of slavery.
Thus, the cultural heritage of the island has its origins in the slave trade. As the slaves learned the language of their colonial masters, they melded and mixed it with their own. African dialect and English flowed between Spanish and French to find expression in "patois" spoken with the distinctly Jamaican accent mimicked by so many but found only here.
The general consensus is that Jamaica has more churches per square mile than any other place in the world. Every denomination finds a home here, as well as Jews, Hindus, Muslims and Rastafarians. The latter group, the Rastafarians, first appeared in the 1930s, and worships the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie. The dreadlocks worn by the group is indicative of their belief that hair should not cut or combed. It is well known, and overly emphasized, that Rastifarians use marijuana as a sacrament, but the focus of the religion is on inward spiritual development.

The arts, woodcarving, music, and dance of Jamaica are uniquely distinctive and immediately recognizable. Reggae has found an audience worldwide, its beat a fusion of African and Caribbean rhythms. Its most famous artist, Bob Marley, achieved international fame and remains an influence many years after his death. Jamaican religions have greatly colored the folk music, and the lyrics express the deep spirituality of the people.

Jamaican cuisine is likewise unique and richly flavored with the fusions of tastes both familiar and strange. Jerk marinade, created from island spices, is added to fish, pork, chicken and beef. Seafood, breads and native fruits are island specialties: ackee and saltfish with roast breadfruit, peas and rice, escoveitched fish, and bammy, a pancake shaped, deep-fried cassava bread.
Seeing Jamaica
Surrounded by crystal blue and green waters with high mountain peaks and a lush jungle, visitors find much to do and see - layer on top the country's thick culture of food and music, and the temptation to shoot off in any direction in search of the authentic Jamaica is strong. Vacationers have the option of commanding their own transportation for day-trips to see the countryside up close and personal.

Driving in Jamaica can be challenging, especially in rural areas. The roads are narrow and winding, often pitted with potholes half the size of the tire of any 4X4. Washouts and rockslides are not uncommon, and at night, the roads are pitch black in the countryside. Close encounters with pigs, cows and chickens are common. But the drive is worthwhile, especially through the Blue Mountains. The tropical rain forests of African tulips and the mango and breadfruit trees are amazing to behold.
If you decide to self-drive the island, ask your travel agent to rent a vehicle that is dependable in all circumstances, such as a good SUV 4x4. A U.S. or Canadian driver's license is valid in Jamaica, but the driver must be at least 21 years old to drive and 25 to rent a vehicle. Driving is on the left-hand side of the road in the British fashion. The speed limit is 30 MPH in towns and 50 MPH on highways. Drivers should proceed with caution and drive slowly until they get the rhythm of traffic flow.
For the most part, traffic in rural areas is light, but local drivers are fearless, so most visitors find it best to cede the right of way to others to be on the safe side. Cars frequently stop for pedestrians, animals or to hold a conversation, so drivers should travel slowly and be prepared for frequent interruptions and stops. Horn-honking is not unusual and is typically either a greeting or a warning of an upcoming traffic problem.
Rental car offices are common, and rentals can typically be arranged in advance. The local companies may be less expensive, but larger franchise operations will offer roadside assistance and other services to assist visitors, as well as more locations throughout the island for greater flexibility in returning the vehicle. You can anticipate a relatively large security deposit if you do not take out insurance. For driving directions, obtain a copy of the Jamaica Tourist Board's "Discover Jamaica" map. Finally, remember that many of the petrol stations in rural areas will accept only cash â?? no credit cards, so be prepared.
Of course, automobiles are not your only option. Renting a bicycle or motorbike provides a fun, easy way to explore. Jamaica requires the use of a helmet on motor bikes, and given some road conditions and the ever-present hazard of free-roaming livestock, this is a good idea in any event. Many vendors rent both bicycles and motorbikes at excellent rates.
In addition to driving, most resorts and hotels will arrange for guided drives around the island. It is a great way to get off of the beaten path, see the real Jamaica, and to slowly acclimate to a side of the island not found behind the gates. A visit to Jamaica stays with a traveler. Unlike other islands, the experience of Jamaica is somehow deeper and more transfixing. A longing develops deep inside that is curable only by way of a return visit.

Up the Nile - Mary Powell

2009-05-27T00:44:00.000-07:00

The plane has landed, the door opens and we walk down the stairs to the tarmac. There is a balmy breeze, un-expected but greatly appreciated.

We are in Cairo!!

Streamlined buses take us to the new airport terminal. We are met there by medical examiners, who check our temperature and on we go. There are counters to purchase our visas (15.00usd), then on to immigration.

I hand over my passport and visa and what is this? One of the guards has taken my passport and left! The other guard tells me to go down further to collect it.
Where?

As I am standing there panicking, a member of the police passes by with my passport in his hand and says he will be right back.

Am I to be deported?

Here he is! He hands over the passport, tells me to go on through and all is well again.
On to baggage pick-up where we wait at the carousel noticing members from our tour with Explore tags. We follow them and there is our group leader Wael, who is rounding us up like forgotten sheep. A few us use the washroom, a few buy coffees at Starbucks, and then onto the shuttle bus for an hour and 15 minute ride to our hotel in Giza “The Pyramids View Hotel”.

We are given our room keys, what time to meet (there will be a wake-up call) and off to bed! It is midnight! I fall asleep right away but awake at 4:00am to the loud calling to prayer. Rather than it being annoying, I find it quite comforting. Back to sleep for a couple of hours and then as the sun rises I look out my window to the sight of two pyramids.

Amazing.

The group has breakfast then an introductory meeting, and then we are off to the Pyramids, Sphinx , Mummifying Temple, papyrus workshop and museum, falafel lunch (never had one before), Cairo museum (containing the treasures of Tutankhamen) and then finally, after an extremely busy day, we stop in Cairo city centre for tea.

While there a hookah pipe is passed around. This is very common in Egypt. The sweet smell of apple is in the air.

One thing Cairo is full of is cars, cats, dogs and people. No problem!

Now it is on to the train station for our overnight trip to Luxor! There is a fairly lengthy wait as a number of trains pass through but finally in comes our sleeper train. Every cabin sleeps two and dinner and breakfast are included. They bring dinner to us and when we are done they make the sitting area into beds. As we move along I am lulled to sleep with the continuous rocking motion of the train.

We are woken with sharp raps on the door. A little unnerving as it is quite dark. They will not stop until you respond. I must find the door, undo the lock and open it. There, I did it! Thank God (or Allah, who’s name be praised)

Sunrise is spectacular and the Egyptian countryside beautiful!

The only drawback on the train was the communal washroom which was quite dirty and flushed directly onto the tracks. Ewww.

We have now arrived in Luxor. We are taken to our riverboat, the “M.S.Soleil”. It is lined up with many other boats and we walk through three of them to get to her. We dump our luggage in the lobby and go for a ride in a calesh (horse and carriage) to the Karnak temple. It is amazing.

Then back to the Soleil to check-in to our cabins. They are nice and fairly roomy. Showers can be tricky as I had flooded the bathroom before I figured out how to keep the water in the shower and out of the cabin. We have a nice lunch in the dining room then back to my cabin to rest my eyes. I promptly fall asleep for a couple of hours.

Next we go “walkabout” in town. We go to the “souk” were I find a great bookstore. I bought “Death on the Nile” by Agatha Christie and am a happy camper. Back to the boat for a view of the sunset from the top deck followed by a late dinner after which I stumble to bed to sleep before the 7am wake-up call the next morning.

We have a full breakfast then take a motorboat across the Nile to see “The Tombs of the Workers.”
The riverboat is our base for the next six nights and it is from there that we take tours to see some incredible sights. Life on board is easy-going and informal: a perfect base from which to explore the sites of the Nile.

Some of the highlights are: The Edfu Temple (you must go through the Esna lock to reach Edfu), Temple of Kom Ombo,Aswan (from here you would do a lenthy busride or short flight to Abu Simbel, a truly remarkable site reconstructed with amazing engineering) Also in Aswan we visit a Nubian Village.

From our riverboat we take tours to see the Philae Temple of Isis, Valley of the Kings (which is where King Tut’s tomb was found), camel ride to the deserted Coptic Monastery of St. Simeon, and a donkey trek to the temple of Queen Hatshepsut (Egypt’s only female pharaoh).

This was an extremely busy itinerary but thoroughly enjoyable. I will always remember the sunrises, sunsets (truly beautiful in Egypt), the feel of camel hair (very course), the smell of sandalwood incense, sailing on the Nile while passing tombs in the hillsides and temples right before your eyes, hieroglyphs in colours still vivid from 2500 BC and the first sight of the pyramids from my hotel balcony.

Interestingly even though the temperatures varied from about 28 degrees Celsius to about 42 degrees Celsius, I never found it unbearable. It is very dry heat. I never really noticed any bugs although some people on the tour did get bites. Food on the boat was very tasty and mostly European or American type fare. A lot of water had to be consumed to stay hydrated. Egypt has been a tourist destination for many years and is very organized and tourist oriented. At no time did I feel unsafe (annoyed occasionally but not unsafe).

The Egyptian tour leader was very knowledgeable. He used a few local guides who were okay to good. The group on the tour was a good combination of ages and was mostly British. Overall the tour was very well run and I would recommend Explore as they did a good job.

Las Vegas April 2008

2009-04-18T00:45:00.000-07:00

As we’re hanging out in the Air Canada lounge, drinking beer and soup, I’m wondering what the hell I’m going to do in Las Vegas in about 3 hours. Our friends will have been there for a day already, and will be deeply into the rum and Crown Royal by the time we land. I’m not looking forward to meeting them at the end of a rum, Crown Royal, Blackjack, slot machine binge. I can almost smell the stale smokes and booze from here.Ugh.At this point I’m still, mostly, looking forward to going and seeing long unseen friends from 15years ago.

I’m also looking forward to a quick drive or two out to Red Rock Canyon, to get away from the Strip crowds and enjoy the desert mountains for a few hours. With luck we’ll also get long drive over to the Grand Canyon.

Air Canada’s flight pulled away from the gate on time only to be stopped on the taxiway for an hour waiting for YVR’s permission to use a runway. You’d think they would iron out this kind of thing before hand?

Land in Vegas, still sober, and take the shuttle to the car rental depot. Strangley, I thought a car picked up at the airport would actually be near the airport. It’s much nearer the Luxor, our hotel, than the airport. I can’t help but think we should just walk from the depot. It looks so close.

Luxor hotel. Nice pyramid. If you like pyramids. Long check in line. Finally checked in, and up the inclinator, to our slope walled room half way up the building. Room is ok. Notably lacking a room safe, solved by using the safety deposit boxes a mile away in the lobby, and easy internet connection, solved by stringing wires around the room, a la tinsel, to the laptop. Open the armoir door with care or the computer goes flying…

The hallways are open to the large atrium inside the pyramid. It’s surprisingly quiet given the level of noise bouncing inside the lobby and casino. Strangley quiet. Too quite really. It’s then that it hits you. You’re inside a tomb. A big black, energy sucking tomb. The main entry way is a downward slope to the main lobby (crypt?) where you register for the afterlife. Natural light or air are not allowed here. No sir. They are kept outside for natural living things to enjoy. In here it’s only death and the walking dead. At 6am, on my way to Red Rock Canyon, I walked through the casino only to see zombies at the slots. Zombies at the blackjack tables. Zombies playing poker. Why aren’t they wrapped in gauze?

It’s all sureal in the big black tomb.

Further down the strip, in the Venetian, Belagio, or Caesar’s casino/malls the atmosphere is lighter, happier, in bright surroundings. The zombies don’t seem to come this far. At least not in the middle of day. Back in the tomb, the zombies are in control.

In off strip casinos there is feeling you are seeing something real. A real Las Vegas devoid of the fantasies of the strip. At the Super 8’s Ellis Island casino, steak and eggs were $4, with friendly, down home American service. The marketing MBA’s haven’t sunk their claws into this place yet. There’s a real sense that you are welcome. Come in, have a coffee. Relax. The MBA’s and polished scripts of the Strip hotels wouldn’t have a chance here. They’d be shown the door and told to piss off. No airs or fakery. (except the leather) Just a sleazy, friendly Vegas casino.

Buddies met and off we rush in a rum, Crown Royal haze. Dinner at the steak house. Then back in time for the show.

The Vegas shows are the Vegas shows. Every act seems to be the something of the year. Comedian of the year. Magician of the year. Freak act titty show of the year. You get the idea. No one can possibly be merely good. It’s all the best. The best in Las Vegas. The best in the world.

It’s all quite predicable.

As you stroll the strip looking at unbelievable copies of real stuff. (Venice, Paris, New York) you’re struck by how easy it is to enter any building and how hard it is to find your way out. Some places make the inside even seem like being outside. Except it’s a better version of outside. Always the right temperature, with a lovely blue sky. It’s the best in the world.

Except it’s really not part of this world at all.

To the west the mountains call me to something real and solid. Signs warn that you might die if you go too close to edge or if you hike in the desert without adequete water. The desert plants are thorny and tough. Here it’s the real deal. Life is hard and beautiful. Stark against the dry blue sky. The red rocks glow in the early morning light. It’s quiet. All this is only 45 minutes from your manicured, polished hotel and 6am zombies.

The contrast between this version of Las Vegas and the version on the strip, or the seedier version off the Strip is dramatic. Millions of people visit Las Vegas and miss the best part. Never seeing what’s outside the asylum. What’s real. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. A truer statement doesn’t exist.It’s too bad more don’t get out and experience something beyond the rye, green felt and breasticled cocktail waitresses.

The trip over the Hoover Dam, to the Grand Canyon West Rim is a dry 3 hour drive punctuated by a 13 mile gravel road to the crater rim. Reminder front wheel drive cars with bad suspension tend to push quite a bit when the road surface is loose dust and rocks. Gentle accelerations out of corners are lost in the lousy automatic transmission. The Dodge Caliber might look like a rally car, but…

To be continued…

Consumer's Choice Winners!

2008-11-08T00:46:00.000-08:00

Vancouver consumers have chosen Hagen’s Travel & Cruises as the proud winners of the 2008 / 2009 Consumers Choice Award in the category of Travel Agency.

Thank you Vancouver consumers.

A Honeymoon in Tahiti

2006-08-01T00:46:00.000-07:00

A Honeymoon in Tahiti

In a travel magazine, one day, I saw pictures of these incredible islands with ancient volcanoes covered by tropical rainforest, surrounded by turquoise ocean waters – that’s when I discovered Tahiti.

The moment I saw the pictures, I knew this would be the perfect destination for a honeymoon.

Vancouver – Papeete: Flights

We checked in at Vancouver Airport 90 min. prior to departure for the first leg of our trip: Vancouver to Los Angeles on Air Canada. After making it through US Customs & Immigration we witnessed first hand how disorganized Air Canada’s ground operation really is.

First, our gate was changed; then, there was no plane, and when the plane finally arrived, after passengers had deplaned and the cleaning crew did their thing, we finally left with a delay of at least 45 min. cutting our connection in Los Angeles in half.

Upon arrival in Los Angeles, we were all set for a mad dash through LAX to catch our Air New Zealand flight to Papeete. To our surprise, however, Air New Zealand’s departure gates were right next to our arrival gate. So we were literally ushered from one plane to the next without any time to spare as the other flight was already boarding. Once onboard, my husband slipped me his Business Class boarding pass and whispered that he would fly in the back. Lots of brownie points for him!!!

Air New Zealand’s Business Class is absolutely superb. Dinner on board was excellent but most of all, I really liked the entertainment center which is installed next to every seat: Your own little monitor with remote control will give you access to approx. 8 different movies at any time during the flight. Furthermore, Air New Zealand’s incredible foresight in providing ear plugs in their business class amenity kit also deserves special mentioning. They single handedly saved my sanity on that night flight as it seemed half the other passengers in that business class cabin were passionately giving into their snoring habits.

We arrived in Papeete as scheduled at 03:00 am.

Papeete – Moorea: Transfer

Papeete’s airport is very small, possibly comparable to Abbotsford or Bellingham. Upon arrival of an international flight at 03:00 am, however, everything is open: Greeters welcome people with single orchids, flower leis, and ukulele music. The tourist office and a currency exchange booth open briefly for approx. 1 hr. and we found out that the first ferry to Moorea leaves at 05:00 am and approx. every hour thereafter.

We had breakfast at the airport and took one of the local cabs downtown to the ferry terminal (cab was approx. $ 15.00; the ferry ride to Moorea approx. $ 10.00 per person.). The ferry left right on time and we enjoyed the 25 min. crossing to Moorea. The ocean did get a little rough though at about the half way mark and quite a few passengers reached for the little white paperbags…..
Club Med Moorea

In Moorea we had no problem at all finding a local taxi to take us to Club Med, about 30 min. drive away on the southern shore.
The drive was very scenic and the taxi driver friendly and talkative (French, of course), stopping here and there for us to take pictures. There is only one small little road encircling the whole island with little quaint houses dotted alongside. Immediately behind the road the tropical rainforest starts and covers the whole island completely. Our cab fare, by the way, was approx. $ 50.00.

Accommodations
At Club Med Moorea we were greeted with a glass of mango juice and subsequently driven to our “fare”. The fares are quite spacious and clean, but very Spartan, without any air conditioning – fan only, TV or telephone. Instead, you do have absolute serenity, peace and quiet, and a little deck complete with chairs and a small table to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

Food
As we were very hungry, we proceeded immediately to the main restaurant for lunch and all my good intentions to stick to my diet crumbled within minutes. Who could resist row after row of delicious, sumptuous foods smelling so enticing and looking so nicely presented?

At breakfast, we had the choice between all kinds of dried fruit, fruit compote, vanilla and chocolate flan, bread pudding, rice pudding, fresh baked baguette, croissants, chocolate croissants, brioche, at least 15 jams, yogurt, fresh fruit, fruit salad, Japanese breakfast, eggs any kind, omelettes, bacon, sausages, French toast, American pancakes, and French crepes.

Lunch and dinner were usually along the same lines with an endless choice of salads, freshly grilled chicken, hamburgers, steaks, sausages, and all kinds of beef stews; a Japanese section with sushi, teriyaki dishes, tempura, noodles and rice; an Italian section with spaghetti, lasagna and usually at least two more Italian noodle dishes varying every day. Needless to say, my husband was in heaven.

Draft beer for lunch and dinner as well as French country wines were available (red, white or rose).

There is a Club Med G.O. on “hostess duty” when one enters the restaurant. He or she will seat you at a table of eight, where other guests speak your language. This way, we got to know a lot of our fellow vacationers very quickly. They came from all over the world: USA, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, as well as France, Italy, Germany, and Ireland. We also got to have some meals with the G.O.’s themselves as they constantly mingle with the G.M.’s and really try to get to know you. Both my husband and I enjoyed this aspect very much, as it added a more personal flair to our vacation.

For those guests wanting a little more privacy, there is an a-la-carte restaurant situated right by the ocean. Reservations are a must and the food is outstanding with a distinct French flair. At this restaurant one can also purchase premium French wines.

Beaches
Club Med Moorea does not have a pool, simply because it does not need one. The beaches of Tahiti are the best I have every seen: Forget the Caribbean, forget Hawaii, forget Cancun!!! What makes them so special is not the crystal clear, bathtub like water, or the fact that all kinds of tropical fish, including stingray come right to the beach; it is the fact that these islands are atolls.
The definition for atoll in the Webster’s dictionary is “a coral island coasting of a reef surrounding a lagoon”.

Outside the reef, the ocean swells are fairly high and comparable with those in Hawaii. However, the lagoon has hardly any waves whatsoever, nor riptides or dangerous currents. One can splish and splash to one’s heart’s desire without any second thought. Naturally, these gorgeous beaches are lined with miles and miles of white, powdery sand and lots of palm trees offer shady spots to relax.

Club Med Moorea has a beachfront of about 400 m, so it is very easy to find a secluded spot.

Activities
Sports are big at Club Med. And I mean B I G. In Moorea, you have the choice of waterskiing, snorkeling, scuba diving, beach volley ball, ping pong, gymnastics, glass bottom boat trips, tennis,water aerobics, stretch & strength classes and much more.

My dive crazy husband, of course, did go out diving twice a day and could not get enough. According to him, scuba diving in Moorea is among the best in the world with unlimited visibility and abundant sea life. He reported moray eels, lots of stingrays and lots of blacktip sharks. The sharks did make him a little nervous at first, but eventually he did get used to them. He encountered them on every single dive that took place outside the reef.

With regards to other activities, guests can rent bicycles at the Club, or little scooter cars from Hertz Rent-A-Car, directly across the street. Or book one of the many excursions offered at the Club’s excursion desk, such as a Jeep Safari to the interior of the island; shark feeding; a visit to an ancient Tahitian village, etc..

Entertainment
All of the excursions get back in time for guests to have a shower and relax a little before dinner. At happy hour, one of the GO’s organized a daily game of some sort at the main bar, which was always great fun, and around 9:30 pm the main show started. This show varied every day, from comedy to a lip sync competition, to an Irish “river dance” style production, to a talent show put on by guests, to an outstanding Tahitian dance show. Most evenings it was the GO’s of the village performing on stage and one has to bear in mind that they are not professional dancers or singers.

The shows were always great fun, very entertaining, and the GO’s would ensure that everybody understood what was going on by constantly talking in at least two languages almost simultaneously. Once the main show finished, guests were invited to the main bar of more entertainment, usually karaoke, or a singer, or some sort of another game. Around 11:00 pm the disco opened, which is the only one on Moorea, and one could dance the night away right until the wee hours of the morning.

Moorea – Bora Bora:

After a taxi ride back to airport, we boarded our Air Tahiti flight to Bora Bora. Please do not confuse Air Tahiti’s standard with the usual service we Canadians are used to: We used them twice, and both times the flights were delayed over 30 minutes without any explanation given. Their check-in agent in Moorea got almost angry because my husband dared to disturb his lunch to ask very politely when we might expect the aircraft to be ready for boarding. Once we were in the air, however, the flight was smooth and we landed safely in Bora Bora about 60 minutes later.

Bora Bora

James Mitchener’s enchanted island of Bali-Hai: “the most beautiful island in the world; pearl of the South Pacific”. These are just a few statements made about this magical island – and they are all true:

Upon arrival, you are greeted by majestic volcanoes, their tops covered by thin clouds, and a lagoon shimmering brilliantly in twenty different shades of blue.

One finds oneself immediately under the spell of the irresistible beauty of Bora Bora.
The airport is located on one of the little islets (called “motu”) which outline the lagoon. From there, visitors can take the Air Tahiti ferry to Vaitape, the main village on Bora Bora. The ferry ride is free. Or, for guests staying at the more upscale resorts such as the Meridian, the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort and Pearl Beach Resort; these hotels will send motorboats to meet you at the airport upon arrival.

All other hotels, including Club Med, will pick up guests from the ferry pier in Vaitape. If you are booked “land only”, as we were, Club Med will tag on approx. $ 17.00 p.pers. for roundtrip transfers.

Club Med Bora Bora:

Club Med Bora Bora is located in a private bay surrounded by lush gardens and an incredible beach which is not shared with any other hotel. This Club Med is rated higher than the one in Moorea and also has a very different ambiance to it. PRIVACY is the big word here. Nobody will introduce you to your fellow GM’s, so it is up to you to meet new people – or not. The GO’s are, of course, approachable; but they tend to blend into the background more. There are no children here, merely very few families with teenaged kids.

Accommodations
Rooms are very modern, with balcony, telephone, air conditioning and a fantastic walk-in shower. Our “garden view” studio is located on the upper floor of a two-story building with a wonderful view of the lagoon. Club Med Bora Bora also offers oceanfront bungalows, some of them are actually somewhat comparable with over water bungalows at other hotels.

Food
Getting back to the eating thing again: The food at Club Med Bora Bora is even better than at Moorea. The discriminating taste of worldly gourmets is catered to through meals such as lobster, oysters St. Jacques, rack of lamb, foie en pommes et calvados, frog legs, etc. etc.. Every Tuesday and Friday, Club Med offers a lunch BBQ on a motu directly across the lagoon. This is an absolute must. The water is so incredible and one can walk for miles and miles along the sandy powdery beach. Or, play a little bit of “survivor” yourself and climb a coconut tree for fresh coconut (my husband did !!!).

Entertainment & Activities
The shows in the evening are of the same caliber as on Moorea. However, there is hardly any other entertainment going on besides the nightly shows and there is no disco.

Sportswise, Club Med Bora Bora offers windsurfing, catamaran sailing on small two persons catamarans, kayaks, tennis, beach volleyball (if anyone shows up), jetskis, snorkeling and swimming. For excursions, one can rent again the little two person scooters or bikes. There is also a shuttle into Vaitape twice a day.

Other excursions offered are a helicopter ride of the island, shark feeding, horseback riding, scuba diving (through a local diving outlet) and catamaran outings.

As a matter of fact, my husband and I decided to take a full day excursion on a catamaran exploring the lagoon of Bora Bora. First we were snorkeling at a spot known for manta rays, and we really did come upon two of these graceful creatures. It was quite a magical moment.Afterward, we dropped anchor at one of the motus for a wonderful BBQ lunch followed by a stop to feed the local stingrays. Within minutes of the boat’s arrival, there were so many of them that one had to watch one’s step to avoid actually stepping on a stingray.

Our stay on Bora Bora went much too quickly and in looking back what I enjoyed the most was the nice restaurant situated right next to the beach. This island is absolutely perfect for honeymoon couples seeking serenity and intimacy in an incredibly romantic setting.

Papeete – Los Angeles & Vancouver

Our flights back to reality, Los Angeles that is, with Air New Zealand were absolutely fine. My husband enjoyed his a little bit more, than I did mine, as he got the Business Class seat this time. I was amazed, however, to find footrests even in Economy Class and this enabled me to sleep at least a little bit, as we had a 03:00 am departure from Papeete.

Back in Vancouver, I am thinking often of the wonderful time I had in Tahiti and I cannot wait until the day I will return.

Travel Tips

If you plan on going, here’s a few things to consider:

Valid Canadian passport is needed for entry into Tahiti.
Local currency is the French Pacific Franc (CA$ 100.00 =approx. XPF 8,000).
Official language is French, however, English is spoken in all resort areas.
Just as in France, e v e r y t h i n g closes for lunch from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm with the exception of restaurants.
Tahiti is in the same time zone as Hawaii, i.e. 3 hrs. behind PST.
There are lots of airlines flying from Los Angeles: Air New Zealand; Air Tahiti Nui, Air France, and AOM French Airlines.
Best deal is a Club Med package as it includes food and beverages as well which can be quite expensive.
If you go for scuba diving, book your dives when you book your Club Med. It will save you money and your space is guaranteed.
There are no poisonous snakes or spiders in Tahiti.
Locals are very friendly to visitors and there is not a lot of crime in Tahiti. However, it is recommended that visitors do use their safes in their hotel rooms and please, do avoid quiet side streets in Papeete at night.
Practically all local doctors and dentists have studied in France and many of them speak English.
Tipping is considered offensive in Tahiti, as hospitality is almost sacred to the locals.
When using Aeroplan points one must book at least 12 months ahead to get the seats.
Contrary to what is stated on the Internet: Canadian bank cards do not work from Tahitian ATMs. Local banks, however, will be happy to give you an advance on your creditcard.
Best luxury hotel on Bora Bora: Le Meridien
Worst luxury hotel on Bora Bora: Sofitel Marmara (has “Overwater Bungalows” situated right next to the main street of the island – same goes for some garden view units at the Hotel Bora Bora.