Fiji Travel Contest
A new contest sponsored by TahitiHoneymoons.com for those longing to travel to the South Pacific Islands.
Tahiti Honeymoons is giving away a $1000.00 travel gift certificate!
There is no purchase necessary to enter, and the winners have the choice of traveling to Tahiti or the Fiji islands.
Best of all their gift certificate is transferrable too. Winners can use the South Pacific travel certificate or give it to friends or family. The travel certificate is good for one year from the date of the drawing.
It makes a perfect gift to for a romantic honeymoon, wedding destination, family vacation or solo travel to Tahiti or Fiji.
There is no purchase necessary and they are sponsoring two drawings per year.
This South Pacific destination travel gift certificate is perfect for honeymoons, weddings, romantic couples getaways, anniversaries’, family vacations and solo travel.
What are you waiting for? if you have always dreamed of visiting the South Pacific, now is your chance to win $1000.00 towards your South Pacific Island vacation getaway.
Tahiti or Fiji – Which will you choose?
- $1000 South Pacific Travel Giveaway – Winners Choose Between Fiji or Tahiti Islands
For more details on entering their South Pacific island travel contest, click here.
Tahiti Information
Great Travel Escapes to Tahiti and Fiji Islands |
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Currency in Tahiti – Learn About Conversion RatesThe currency in Tahiti is known as the French Pacific Franc, or the Franc of the “Compagnie Française du Pacifique”. Before booking travel packages to Tahiti, you should familiarize yourself with the currency. The abbreviation for the French Pacific Franc is CFP or XPF. When traveling from a European country, tourists should be aware that the exchange rate with the Polynesian currency and the Euro is at a fixed rate, and it doesn’t fluctuate because of changes in the economy. One Euro is equivalent to 119.33 Pacific Franc, or XPF. When you’re reserving all inclusive packages to Tahiti from the U.S., the travel agent can explain about the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the Pacific Franc. Currently the exchange rate is 1 U.S. dollar is equivalent to 86 Pacific Franc. It can further be broken down into 1,000 Pacific Franc is equivalent to $11.62 U.S. dollars. Bank notes for the French Pacific Franc are available in denominations of 500, 1000, 5000, and 10,000. The coins in the Tahitian currency are available in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100. Foreign currency is accepted in many places including some of larger resorts, but it’s recommended to exchange your local currency. When you stay at some of the smaller hotels or at any of the overwater bungalows, which are quite expensive, make sure to have your currency converted prior to checking into your accommodations. Plan to exchange your local currency and traveler’s checks you have. You can exchange them at the airport in Tahiti as soon as you arrive. They’re open later than many of the other places to exchange your currency, and you’ll get a much more reasonable rate. It’s not recommended that you attempt to exchange your currency at the hotel you stay at. The exchange rate won’t be as good and you’ll be charged much more. Make sure to have plenty of the local currency available because many of the smaller restaurants and shops won’t accept traveler’s checks. When paying for anything in the smaller establishments, always use the local currency. The exchange rate isn’t as good as using the facility at the airport. This is especially the case in places like Moorea. You should always make sure to have your passport available to use as proof of identification at any of the banks on the outer islands. Otherwise, you won’t be able to exchange your checks. Be prepared before you leave on your trip to avoid any unnecessary delays. |
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South Pacific Island Vacations
Rarotonga – Exotic South Pacific Island Vacations
Free Tahiti Nights Special Deals
Islands of Rarotonga – The Hidden Gem of the South Pacific
When people think of the South Pacific, their minds usually jump to Fiji or Tahiti. But few people have ever heard of the islands of Rarotonga. Rarotonga is the largest island of the Cook Islands, a tiny island nation off the cost of New Zealand. There is an expansive coral reef surrounding the island and protecting it from wild waves and breakers, which crash onto the reef and leave the waters directly adjacent to Rarotonga largely undisturbed. The calm of its adjacent waters set the tone for the placid pace of life in Rarotonga, making it one of the most relaxing vacation destinations in the world.
Thanks to the calmness of the waters, water activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling are extremely popular in the islands of Rarotonga. Many sea creatures take haven in the safety that the sturdy structures of the coral reef provides. The waters of Rarotonga are warm and tropical, and these waters teem with tropical fish and marine life. An astute observer can see all sorts of fish swimming in and out of the coral on any given day. And a night dive will reveal some of the rarer fish that live in this coral haven.
The beaches of the islands of Rarotonga are popular, as well. Rarotonga is ringed by lagoons and beautiful saltwater marshes. The waters are clear and are great for swimming in: calm and clean. The soft, white sand is a great place to bask in the sun, so even if you don’t feel like getting wet, you can still enjoy your time at the beach by soaking up the sun. Just be sure to wear adequate sun protection, though. A bad sunburn at the beginning of your trip is a quick way to turn the vacation of your dreams into a nightmare.
Besides beach and water-related activities, the islands of Rarotonga also offer hikes into the lush, green rainforests of the island’s center. Rarotonga is alive with flora and fauna, and everywhere you look, you are looking at a living thing. You can hike the forests, ride horses along trails, or, if you want to explore its towns, you can rent scooters and zip around the island. You can also rent all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and follow the ATV trails and take your own tour of the island’s hot spots. Whether you’re looking to relax or explore, Rarotonga has a unique vacation experience for you.
Contact our Tahiti Travel Agents for Rarotonga and other South Pacific Island Vacation. We do not charge a fee or booking charges for our travel expertise. Call or fill out our Travel Quote Form by clicking on the link. Free Travel Quotes.
Tahiti Weddings
Weddings in Tahiti – How to Plan Them
As with any other kind of wedding, weddings in Tahiti will take some careful preparation. Begin with finding the best wedding package that Tahiti has to offer. This will take some research, but there are lots of different wedding packages out there. Once you have compared all possibilities, then you can begin to put your wedding together with the help of the planner that you choose – most packages come with a hotel wedding planner. Sine you will be planning your wedding from far away, it is important to think about a few crucial details.
First of all, make sure that you know all about weddings in Tahiti. Do you need a special license? Is this wedding recognized where you live? Don’t assume that your hotel will take care of all these details. Instead, make sure that you ask your planner about these issues. Next, look into practical details. How will you fly your dress and other important articles to Tahiti? Will all of your friends be able to come? What kind of flowers do you want? Did you check to see what the weather will be like during your wedding? This last detail is especially important – Tahiti is subject to various periods of rain throughout the year.
Make sure that you are in constant communication with the hotel and planner of your choice. If you feel that the planner you have been assigned to does not understand your needs, it might be time to look for another planner. However, you should know that most weddings in Tahiti go off without a hitch. Since so many brides say their “I Dos” in this tropical destination, most hotels and beaches are used to these affairs. The most important thing to do is to be sure that you get what you want.
Your wedding is the most important day of your life. Aside from the sun and sand, you want to make sure that all those small details are taken care of. Did you hire a photographer? What about a videographer?
Did you send those save-the-dates at least three months in advance? Do you know what your wedding venues will look like if it rains? Weddings in Tahiti can be amazing events if they are planned correctly. There’s nothing quite like getting married in the sunshine next to the person that you love, so make sure to do it the right way from the start.
South Pacific Vacation in the Southern Cook Islands
Manuae – An Uninhabited Beauty in the Southern Cook Islands
Manuae is a small atoll in the midst of the Southern Cook Islands in the South Pacific. Today, the atoll is completely uninhabited. In the middle part of the twentieth century, a copra industry was in place on the western islet of Manuae. Copra is the dried meat of coconuts from which producers can extract coconut oil. A settlement was in place to support this industry. However, by 1976, those that inhabited that island were gone. The island now has no human inhabitants. No boats or airplanes visit on a regular basis. To get there you need to hook up with a charter.
Manuae is now a marine reserve. Sea birds and turtles use the atoll for breeding and nesting. Sometimes, inhabitants of Aitutaki will charter a fishing expedition to take advantage of the rich fishing available off the coast of the atoll. There are dive operators in Aitutaki that will take diving expeditions to explore the lagoon waters as well as the reefs off shore. Since the human population left, the flora and fauna have thrived without them. Visitors can find some of the best fishing as well as the most beautiful scenery. Expeditions are available from Rarotonga as well for diving, filming, and eco-tourism activities. Its untouched beauty makes it an ideal day trip.
Manuae holds the distinction of being the first of the Cook Islands that Captain Cook encountered in 1773. The first name selected for this newly discovered island was Sandwich Island. However, that distinction eventually went to the Hawaiian Island. Instead, Captain Cook named it Hervey’s Island after Lord Admiral Augustus Hervey. In fact, he named all the islands in the Southern Group after Hervey. That changed in the early 1800’s when Cook became the island group’s namesake.
Sitting atop a volcanic mountain, Manuae consists of two larger islets on the edge of the lagoon. The one to the west is Motu Manuae. The one to the east is Motu Te Au Otu. Motu Te Au Otu is the larger of the two. However, the only known human settlement was on the smaller one to the west. The highest point of land is only about sixteen feet above sea level. A coral reef encompasses the atoll on all sides. This makes boat passage impossible. The lagoon, itself, is shallow with drifting sand banks. The atoll sits about half way between Aitutaki and Atiu. It falls under the legal jurisdiction of Aitutaki, however.