The Islands of Tahiti recently launched a new brand campaign that asks: “When did you last Feel Treasured?” inviting travelers to experience Mana and enjoy dazzling white sands, pristine lagoons, and the warmth of the Tahitian people. The Feel Treasured campaign aims to capture the desire of pandemic-weary travelers: the message is that whether you come for adventure, romance, or relaxation, you will discover that the spirit of Mana that flows through the land, sea, culture, and people will make you Feel Treasured. The Islands of Tahiti have relaxed entry requirements, welcoming vaccinated travelers who have taken an antigen or RT-PCR test within 24 hours of departure and Read more
Polynesia
With Tahiti reopening for tourism today, here’s a post from a wondrous visit to Tahiti Iti in February. There’s no sign that says “Welcome to Another World” when you turn onto the section of Tahiti island called Tahiti Iti. I’m thinking there should be. A driver who makes the turn south on Tahiti’s main, road (there doesn’t appear to be a name or a number for this two-lane stretch of asphalt; the map I grabbed at the airport in Papeete didn’t provide a number, and the woman at the rental car counter merely called it “the road”) won’t notice an Read more
Tahiti opens for visitors on Wednesday, July 15. With that in mind I’m re-posting this blog on the tranquil island of Raiatea from earlier this year. RAIATEA – A quick afternoon rainstorm had ended, and it was getting close to the golden hour; that time of day that photographers adore for its soft light. I was staying at a family run lodge/hotel called Fare Vai Nui on the west coast of this beautiful, quiet island, which is about a 40-minute flight from Tahiti island. They have free bikes you can use and I wanted to see a bit of the Read more
TONGARIKI, EASTER ISLAND – The hour of 7 a.m. is still a nasty rumour. To the east, in a distant sky, the sun is rising over a deserted Pacific Ocean. I’m carefully making my way through a thick field of grass wedged with bits of lava rock, my iPhone flashlight helping point the way in the pre-dawn darkness. Horses that appear to come from a nearby ranch nibble noiselessly in the black morning. I get too close to what looks like a chestnut-coloured colt and it bounds skittishly to its mother a few metres away. The horses aren’t aware of Read more
FORT LAUDERDALE – I wasn’t sure about this. I generally trust tourism board folks when they suggest things for me to do in their area. After all, they’re the experts. Still, as a long-time lover of Hawai’i and Polynesian culture, I was a bit skeptical when the folks at Fort Lauderdale’s tourism office hooked me up with dinner, drinks and a show at a place called Mai-Kai Restaurant, a short drive from the city’s famous beaches. Having seen some pretty lame Hawaiian dancing in various parts of the world and having sampled a few too many too-sweet Mai Tai’s that Read more
