kids fly nearly free ... to Tahiti

Now's the time to plan your family's next vacation... Where? in Bora Bora! Air Tahiti Nui's Kids Fly Nearly Free promotion offers exceptional values for families. Up to two children up to the age of 15 pay only the taxes when flying with their parents. Round-trip fares from LAX start from $1,649 per adult and $101 per child from Los Angeles to Papeete, and the kids fare from LAX to BOB is only $131 round-trip.

Why Bora Bora? It's one of the most idyllic destinations on earth with the most beautiful lagoon anywhere. Imagine a week in your own private overwater bungalow with nothing but gorgeous shades of aqua-blue-green out your window. Slip off your own private deck into the warm, clear waters...

Picture Yourself Here! (c) 2018 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

We can make this so easy peasy for you... Our trusted partners will put together a complete package that includes "kids fly nearly free" on Air Tahiti Nui and our exclusive amenities at resorts throughout Tahiti. Is there any reason not to book that trip to Bora Bora today?

copyright (c) 2018 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Tahiti non-stops from San Francisco

picture yourself in French Polynesia (c) 2017 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Flying to Tahiti will get a lot easier beginning next October 30. United Airlines has announced nonstop Dreamliner flights from San Francisco to Papeete. Flying three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday), United plans serve this route from October 30, 2018 through March 28, 2019.

Why I'm excited by this news: 

You can avoid LAX, a monstrously inconvenient place to connect. Domestic flights arrive at one of eight terminals, and you have to schlep yourself and your baggage to the international terminal, check in again with Air Tahiti Nui (which means leaving airside), and go through security again (plan for a long wait in line). If you plan to check bags, you'll have to see if your domestic airline has an interline agreement with Air Tahiti Nui.

Flying through SFO will be a dream by comparison. Being a United hub, you'll have easy connections from all over the US with your bags seamlessly checked all the way through to PPT. Passengers can walk between United's domestic and international gates without having to go through security again. And SFO offers a choice of lounge experiences — the American Express Centurion Lounge or United's Polaris Lounge.

The timing of the flights is bit disappointing. The outbound flight departs SFO at 2:45 p.m., arriving PPT at 9:25 p.m. Because this is too late for connecting Air Tahiti flights onto Bora Bora or Moorea, you'll have to overnight in Papeete; I recommend the InterContinental Tahiti. The return, departing PPT at 11:45 p.m. and arriving SFO 10:50 a.m. the next morning, is fine.

However, the "season" for which United is flying the route makes no sense — from October 30 until March 28. This is "summer" in French Polynesia, the rainiest and most humid time of the year. The best months to visit Tahiti begin in April when you'll enjoy the driest weather and most comfortable temperatures. Oops! Guess someone at United failed to check the "high season" for Bora Bora and Moorea.

I've been twice ... so please contact us to plan your dream trip to Bora Bora and ask about the value-added Virtuoso and Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities. We can save you hundreds of dollars on your trip of a lifetime.

copyright (c) 2017 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Tahiti travel deals | combinable with Virtuoso

If you're planning to book a trip to Tahiti, Bora Bora, or Moorea, some extra value is waiting just around the corner. Tahiti Legends calls it their Twelve Days of Christmas offer. While the full details are here, these are the headlines.

Day 1 (Dec 8) — free airfare to Bora Bora
Day 2 (Dec 9) — free room upgrade
Day 3 (Dec 10) — free night in Tahiti
Day 4 (Dec 11) — free three-course dinner
Day 5 (Dec 12) — free shark and ray snorkel itinerary
Day 6 (Dec. 15) — free circle island tour by jet ski
Day 7 (Dec 16) — free dinner at Bloody Mary's
Day 8 (Dec 17) — free 30 minute spa treatment
Day 9 (Dec 18) — free sunset cruise
Day 10 (Dec 19) — free canoe breakfast
Day 11 (Dec 22) — free four wheel drive jeep safari
Day 12 (Dec 23) — free lagoon cruise and motu picnic

Hint: the biggest value, worth $500, is the free PPT-BOB round trip offer; this has to be booked next Monday, Dec. 8th.

These offers are combinable with Virtuoso amenities when you stay at a Virtuoso resort and book your Tahiti Legends package through your Virtuoso travel consultant. If you've been thinking about a 2015 trip to Bora Bora, this is the time to get in touch. We can talk about the details now … then finalize your booking on one of the twelve days of Christmas.


the fine print (pretty reasonable)

Valid for travel: December 8, 2014 to December 30, 2015.

Must be booked by: December 23, 2014

Special Code: 12DAYS

Disclaimer for all: Special Christmas promotional offer is valid only for bookings made on specified dates, not combinable with any other promotions, may not be modifiable and subject to availability. Certain restrictions may apply. Christmas promotions must be redeemed for the dates listed, and not combinable with each other, i.e. only one Christmas promotion can be applied per booking, based on choice of island or hotel. Promotion not applicable multiple times. 

copyright (c) 2014 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

my stay in a floating hotel in Tahiti

Actually, the title of this article may be a bit deceptive. I was invited on a educational trip aboard the Paul Gauguin as it sails on a seven night Tahiti and Society Islands cruise. Actually, if anyone would like to take the same cruise and meet me, we'll be departing PPT on 13DEC and returning 20DEC, and fares are as low as $3,995 per person.

I've never been on a cruise before, although I did enjoy a barge trip in Southern France aboard L'Impressioniste. I'm frankly not a cruise person, but I'm willing to give it a try. I will of course share my impressions, comparing my experience aboard the Paul Gauguin cruise to the luxury hotels I enjoy frequenting.

So why this cruise? In addition to an opportunity to take my wife back to Tahiti (she loves snorkeling in the warm waters of the atolls), I'm looking it as an opportunity to do some site inspections of hotels I didn't get to see back in 2007. Here's my original site inspection report, very much out of date as a new hotel has opened (Four Seasons Bora Bora), two hotels have closed (Hotel Bora Bora, Bora Bora Lagoon), Bora Bora Nui is now a Hilton, and St. Regis Bora Bora is now Virtuoso (it wasn't in 2007).


Le Taha'a Island Resort. A Virtuoso property close to Bora Bora, I've booked it but never seen it. We'll spend a couple of hours there the morning of December 15th.

Four Seasons Bora Bora. This resort was still under construction during my last visit (click here to see a picture I took from the water), but we'll be spending a day there on December 16th. FS is picking us up at the dock at 10 a.m. and returning us at 4 p.m. We'll get to see rooms, enjoy the beach, have lunch, and we've even booked spa treatments.

InterContinental Thalasso (on Bora Bora) is owned by the same company that owns Paul Gauguin cruises, and we'll be seeing it on December 17th.

InterContinental Moorea also has the same owner as the Paul Gauguin cruises. We'll be visiting this property the morning of December 18th, followed by an afternoon site inspection of…

Hilton Moorea. There are really two recommended properties on Moorea, and this will give me the opportunity to see both in a single day — quite helpful in helping clients consider their choices on Moorea.


What about cruising aboard the Paul Gauguin as a way to visit Tahiti? It's certainly economical, as all meals and beverages are included in the price of the cruise — and you only have to pack and unpack once while you enjoy visits to Huahine, Taha'a, Bora Bora, Moorea, and Papeete.

copyright (c) 2014 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

The Brando | this place looks fabulous

The Brando, Tetiaroa

Just heard about this brand-new resort named after Marlon Brando. The Brando is set on the late actor's private Tahitian island, Tetiaroa, just a 15 minute flight from Tahiti. Small and intimate, guests stay in one of thirty-five luxury villas spread along the beachfront, each with a private plunge pool.

Environmentally sustainable, villas are powered with renewable sources of non-fossil energy. This is an all-inclusive resort with all meals as well as daily complimentary services including one excursion, a spa treatment, and laundry service.

Save 40% during the soft opening, now until the end of September, 2014.

copyright (c) 2014 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

full solar eclipse | July 11 in Tahiti

As if you needed another reason to visit one of the most idyllic spots on earth, French Polynesia will experience a total solar eclipse on July 11, 2010. A solar eclipse occurs when the new moon passes directly in front of the sun, blocking out its light and creating a mystical "twilight in the middle of the day" experience. According to Nasa's eclipse website, "the southern coast line of French Polynesia's Tahiti lies a tantalizing 20 km north of the eclipse path and experiences a deep 99.96% magnitude partial eclipse at 18:28 UT."

Tahiti and Moorea will experience a 98% eclipse of the sun. There is room availability on both islands that evening, and you can spend the rest of your Polynesian holiday on Bora Bora. The warm waters of its lagoon are the most incredible shade of aquamarine, and this is one of the best places on earth to snorkel. My recommended places to stay? Four Seasons Bora Bora (the ultimate five star resort with a distinctly Polynesian flavor) and Bora Bora Lagoon Resort (an Orient Express property with reasonable prices and the best snorkeling anywhere).

Never look directly at the sun. The only time that the Sun can be viewed safely with the naked eye is during a total eclipse, when the Moon completely covers the disk of the Sun. It is never safe to look at a partial or annular eclipse, or the partial phases of a total solar eclipse, without the proper equipment and techniques.


Bora Bora (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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South Pacific cruises | 45% off + free air

Tahiti is one of my favorite destinations on earth, and Paul Gaugin Cruises is offering 45-50% off its 2010 cruises. And if you book by March 31st, you will receive free airfare from Los Angeles to Papeete on cruises 10 nights or longer. Book a 7 night cruise, and receive two-for-one airfare. A third person in your stateroom sails free (for designated staterooms).

Why consider a South Pacific cruise? The South Pacific offers some of the clearest, most inviting seas in the world, and you'll enjoy fabulous snorkeling and beautiful sunsets. Cruise options include the Society Islands (Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, etc.), the Cook Islands, Figi, Tonga, and more. One cruise even visits New Zealand.

Paul Gaugin has all oceanview staterooms and suites (no windowless inside cabins), and nearly 70% provide private balconies. With only 332 guests, you'll enjoy gracious service, and virtually everything onboard is included: all onboard gratuities; complimentary beverages including fine wine and premium spirits; free in-suite mini-bar; complimentary 24-hour room service; lectures and entertainment. Enjoy fine dining at one of three onboard restaurants — L'Etoile, Le Grill, and La Veranda.

Planning a honeymoon or family trip in 2010? Get in touch to plan your luxury cruise with Paul Gaugin Cruises.

South Pacific cruise (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2009 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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how to plan a romantic honeymoon

So you're engaged, and now you're planning a romantic honeymoon to begin your married life together. You may find that planning this trip is very stressful because there are too many choices! Do you want to take a cruise or spend a romantic honeymoon at a beach resort in a tropical paradise?

Where do you want to go? The world offers so many honeymoon destinations: Hawaii. Capri. Costa Rica. Tahiti and Bora Bora. Fiji. The Maldives. Mexico. Jamaica or the Caribbean. Do you want an all inclusive vacation? Do you want a totally flexible package?

This is perhaps the one time in your life when all these choices are not welcome. You're in the midst of countless decisions about your wedding, and you're getting frustrated by them. You are discovering that the two of you may have different decision-making styles, different priorities, even different expectations. You've had to deal with disagreements and conflict around your wedding ... and now you have the trip of a lifetime to plan. Both of you want it to be the most wonderful, romantic honeymoon ever, but you can't agree on anything. What's a happily engaged couple to do?

Here are some tips on how to plan a romantic honeymoon and keep your love intact!

1. Keep it simple. You'll want to avoid frequent packing and unpacking. Who wants the hassles of traveling to a dozen destinations on your honeymoon? This is a time for you to be together and enjoy each other. Talk about this question: What do we like doing for fun? Brainstorm destinations that would be fun to visit. Come up with separate lists, then compare and see what you have in common.

2. Set a budget. If your vacation costs more than you can afford, the expenses will add to your stress, both during the trip and afterwards (when the credit card bills come in). You can have a romantic honeymoon that stays within your budget and enjoy your memories forever (and avoid the debt).

3. Ask for help. Planning any kind of travel can be complex; if it were simple, you wouldn't be reading this blog! A good travel consultant will listen to the dreams you have for your honeymoon, respect your budget, do all the research, and offer you a few choices that you can talk over together. Whatever you may pay as a consulting fee, you will reap many times that investment in mistakes avoided, real value found, and a bottom line that you can afford. And, most of all, you will have a romantic honeymoon that's been planned by an expert so that all you have to do ... is enjoy it!


copyright (c) 2007 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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