The 21-Hour Trek to Tahiti & Paul Gauguin Cruises

We are finally on our way to Tahiti and the Society Islands! It's going to be a long trip—about 21 hours from our door to our hotel in Papeete—but it will be well worth it. By this evening we'll be tucked in bed at the InterContinental Tahiti and on Saturday afternoon we'll board the m/s Paul Gauguin from Paul Gauguin Cruises.

There's no chance of an upgrade on the way to Los Angeles (too many Elites running that route from Newark), but our game plan is to sleep on that flight and then try to stay awake on the eight-hour Air Tahiti Nui flight. That way, we'll hopefully be able to sleep through the night once we arrive in Tahiti. Fingers crossed that our plan works!

Stay tuned to this blog for daily posts from the South Pacific. We promise to share all the details of the trip with you, along with tons of photos (Internet willing)! And, if there's anything you want to know about Paul Gauguin Cruises, the InterContinental Tahiti, Le Meridien Bora Bora, or the islands in general, please let us know!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of InterContinental Tahiti/Danee Hazama

Copenhagen Denmark

Denmark's capital rarely gets the attention it deserves, so it's been quietly focused on sensible city planning with comprehensive bicycle paths, free bikes, and a new metro line in the works to deal with the expanding city center. Residents are also trying on a host of new public buildings -- an opera house, a cutting-edge library, and a concert hall -- and an environmental program that's turning the rest of Europe green with envy. And despite the often gloomy northern climate, residents are routinely rated as some of the happiest people in the world. They'll have the opportunity to show off their city when it hosts the COP 15 Climate Change Conference in December 2009, a high-profile, international assembly of politicians looking for ways to reduce greenhouse emissions. They won't have to look much further than the host city for compelling ideas.

Copenhagen City

Copenhagen

Copenhagen

Copenhagen

Copenhagen

Copenhagen

Copenhagen

Travel To Tunisia

While northern Tunisia is a hot spot for European tourists, it's still new to Americans, who tend to visit Morocco instead. Tunisia -- and especially the areas around the capital Tunis -- are a microcosm of North Africa's charms: Islamic culture mixed with Mediterranean spirit and beauty, modern colonial remnants from the French and ancient colonial remnants from the Romans. The capital Tunis has the best of both local architecture, exemplified by its sprawling and bustling medina, and colonial remnants of wide boulevards and straight lanes that stretch eastward from the Porte de France.

Tunisia

Tunisia heritage

Tunisia heritage

tunisia beach

tunisia beach

Holidays in tunisia

Pre-Cruise Craziness—Looking Forward to Paul Gauguin Cruises

No matter how prepared I am in most aspects of my life, I always seem to race to finish a zillion tiny tasks the day before embarking on a cruise.

My bag has been packed for days, but I've got a list of minor details to tend to today before we can leave for our Paul Gauguin Cruises vacation...

• Download some new eBooks to my Kindle; I know I'll purchase Richard Clarke's new Cyber War: The Next Threat to National Security and What to Do About It and I'll have to pick a few others. I'd love to get a new Lisa Unger novel, but her next book (Fragile) isn't out until August. Darn!
  
  
• Get my hair done; I love the 24-hour beauty parlor in the Gramercy neighborhood of Manhattan. It's right near my office and I'll be in and out before 8am!
  
  
• Send out Mother's Day care packages. My favorite gifts to send include Belgium chocolates from Leonidas or cute "honeybee" bon bons from L.A. Burdick; clothes or fashion jewelry from Coldwater Creek; or pies from the Little Pie Company.
  
  
• Pick up some gourmet snacks for the plane. It's not smart to rely on the airlines to provide satisfying meals in the air so I'll be packing a picnic basket for the trip. For this, I head to Garden of Eden on 14th Street in Manhattan.

I'm sure I'll get it all done; I always do. But I can't wait until I can sink into my seat on the flight to Los Angeles and get some sleep! Now that you know my pre-cruise to-do list, share your last-minute travel traditions.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of LA Burdick

Packing for a Cruise: The Great Luggage Challenge

Leonard and I just finished packing for our South Pacific odyssey, which begins this Friday with our Air Tahiti Nui flight from Los Angeles to Papeete. We'll board the m/s Paul Gauguin on Saturday!

For this trip, we challenged each other to pack only what we need. I have to say, I think we were successful. We have one large suitcase, a small carry-on, my backpack/purse, and Leonard's camera bag. Not too shabby!

Of course, it's easiest to pack for a warm-weather cruise. After all, we're not going to need any cable-knit sweaters on Bora Bora! Instead, here's what we each packed:

• two swimsuits (two-piece separates for me and the bottoms do double-duty as shorts)
• three pairs of shorts
• two pairs of long pants
• four mix-and-match casual tops
• three country-club casual tops for evenings (plus a light wrap for me and a jacket for Leonard)
• shoes: one pair each of dress sandals, sneakers (to wear on the plane), and reef slippers
  
• one hat each

We generally send our laundry out once during a cruise, so this should get us through the seven-night itinerary with no problems and I'm sure we'll both pick up a T-shirt or two on the islands.

The toiletry bag was tougher to cull since we'll need copious amounts of insect repellent (I'm a mosquito magnet) and sunscreen (which can be expensive in Tahiti).

I have friends that can't believe we can make it all the way to Tahiti with just one suitcase and a small Vera Bradley rollerboard! (I'll have to handle that bag since the pattern is a bit too girl-y to expect Leonard to carry around; it's the carry-on bag I usually use during overnight business trips.)

It will be interesting to see how I feel about our luggage selection once we return. But, I'll say this, there have been plenty of times that I've come back from a cruise with outfits in my suitcase that never saw the light of day. I've never returned wishing I had brought more clothing.

I like the fact that we won't be bogged down by suitcases, since our camera gear is heavy enough as it is!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

3 Things I Didn't Know About Silversea's Silver Spirit

Guess what? We've just booked passage on the June 5th sailing of Silversea's new Silver Spirit from Venice, Italy to Athens, Greece. This is a ship we've been itching to try, but the itineraries just weren't meshing with our schedules. But, when we saw a small window in which we'd be available, we investigated the options and Silver Spirit's itinerary fit the bill nicely.

That being said, I now need to learn everything I can about the ship—quickly! I'm just scratching the surface, but here are some things I've discovered that surprised me:

3 Things I Didn't Know About Silver Spirit

1. Silversea Loves Fine Chocolate as Much as I Do!
   Finally, a luxury cruise line that leaves artisan chocolates on your pillow during evening turn-down service. I love chocolate far more than I should (I know, it's an addiction that I really should seek help to overcome) and Silver Spirit will cater to my sweet tooth. They purvey handmade chocolates from Pierre Marcolini of Brussels. These treats will eventually make their way to Silversea's other ships during select itineraries this summer in Europe.
   
   
2. Silver Spirit's Been on TV
   Plum TV reporter Alex Miranda filmed a short segment aboard Silver Spirit. Check out this Silver Spirit clip, which includes an interview with Silversea's VP of Sales, Stephen Tucker.
   
   
3. How the In-Room Mirror TVs Work
   I knew that this ship had installed unique mirrors that double as a TV. What I didn't know is how they work. Check out this video for the details.
   
   
   
   I'm excited to learn more about this beautiful new ship and I'm curious to match up what I've heard and read with my own personal experience. Just 39 days until we board Silver Spirit!
   
   
   —Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com
   
   
   Photo courtesy of Silversea
   

BENIRRAS Beach is Favourite Holidays in Ibiza

Benirras, in the north of Ibiza, is about as far as you can get from the fevered fleshpots of San Antonio. Here, at the end of a long and winding mountain road, lies a perfect slice of sand, bookmarked by cliffs and overlooking a deep, calm bay. In the 1960s, Benirras became infamous as the scene of drug-fuelled orgies. Today, it attracts a stylish mix of young Spaniards, Italians and Swedes, though the hippie vibe remains; each day, the mellow sunset is hailed by a chorus of bongo-players. Benirras has been protected from hotel developers, but there are several upmarket villas nearby, including one owned by a DJ, which has six bedrooms, a private pool, a music room and a sundeck.

Holidays in Manuel Antonio , Costa Rica

Between the main town and the national park, there are several world-class beaches in the area. Here, you can enjoy the wide variety of activities such as swimming, hiking the Manuel Antonio National Park, surfing, or simply relaxing while watching a vibrant sunset.

Manuel Antonio is one of only two locations in Costa Rica where you can see all four types of monkey; spider, howler, white faced and the endangered squirrel monkey, many of which can be visible from your hotel window. The area is also a prime destination for spotting sloths, both in and outside of the national park

This once tiny town has blossomed into the most popular Costa Rican beach destination. Available are all the amenities you would come to expect as well as a jumping nightlife.

Access to the area is possible along Coastal Highway 34 from either the north or south. The drive itself is popular among tourists as pronounced steep cliffs crash into the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. There is also a domestic airstrip in Quepos, just 7km away.

Be sure to keep an eye on your valuables at all times. Theft is a significant problem on the beaches, not just by humans but also by white faced monkeys looking to steal a quick snack.

Tybee Island, Georgia...TOP FAMILY HOLIDAYS

Welcome to Tybee Island.Tybee means "salt" to Native Americans, but the name of this low-key seaside resort now brings to mind words such as "sun", "surf" and "fun". Located 18 miles east of Savannah, this small barrier island boasts a wide, 3-mile long beach that's backed by sea oat-covered sand dunes and is perfect for sunbathing, people-watching and frolicking in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

"Dining with the Captain" Story in My Cruise Magazine from Thomas Cook

If you're not from the United Kingdom, you may not be familiar with a terrific travel magazine called My Cruise (formerly Cruise). The tagline says it all: "The magazine for people who see the world by sea." The publication is sponsored by Thomas Cook, a well-regarded travel company that sells vacation packages and publishes its own series of guidebooks.

There's a very interesting feature package in the February/March 2010 issue called "The Ultimate Guide to Cruising." Cruise experts, like yours truly, shared their expertise on a variety of subjects.

Here are the pieces you can read at the My Cruise website:

• How to Get on the Captain's Table by Andrea M. Rotondo (my article!)
  
  
• How to Meet People on Board by Jennie Bond
  
  
• How to Pack for a Cruise by Esther Rantzen
  
  
• How to Celebrate Onboard by James Dunn, assistant cruise director, Carnival Dream
  
  
• How to Pick the Best Shore Excursions by Ann Elsten, shore excursion manager, Grand Princess
  
  
• Five Ports to See Before You Die by Carolyn Spencer Brown (Cruise Critic)
  
  
• Five Must-Have Cruise Apps by Anisha Patel
  
  
• Five Onboard Options That Aren't Publicized by Fran Golden
  
  
• How to Pick the Best Cabin by Jane Archer
  
  
• How to Get an Upgrade by Anisha Patel
  
  

There are a ton of other good reads in the magazine as well, including a hefty feature about Silversea's new Silver Spirit. That story was particularly timely for me since I'm booked to sail Silver Spirit this summer.

Check out My Cruise magazine and bookmark its website. The magazine is definitely worth reading.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of My Cruise magazine

Perhentian Islands

Located on the eastern coast of Malaysia, the Perhentians are two islands. Both are stunningly covered with a lot of palm trees, wide beaches, and crystal blue water. There’s not much to do here, and visitors typically lay on the beach all day, resting from the night’s drinking before. It’s the perfect place to put up a hammock. A strong monsoon season limits when to go to between March and October. During the other times, it’s best to head to Thailand where the weather is nicer.
Perhentian Islands
Perhentian Islands
Perhentian Islands
Perhentian Islands



The crystal clear water and bright white sand beaches of the Perhentian islands in Malaysia for many years captured the hearts and imaginations of backpacking tourists and travelers. But recent years have seen a different type of travelers who arrives at Perhentian Island, like his reputation as a diving destination of the first has slowly between the diving communities. Actually, it would be fair to say that a large part of the success of the Perhentian Islands as a dive site should be in neighboring countries Thai country, diving resorts and Koh Tao, Koh Samui and Phuket.
A large number of travelers have learned to dive in the major Thai resorts are often gravitating to the natural beauty of the islands of Perhentian. Looking for a last dive before the bustle of the city Kuala Lumpur and Singapore! Perhentian Kecil islands Pulau Perhentian and Pulau Perhentian Besar, and are located about 20 kilometers off the coast of Malaysia. With what can only be described as a piece of paradise, the beaches lined with palm trees with these tropical islands, while the clear blue waters hide a wealth of coral and marine life below. Perhentian diving in Iceland is a highly, and a large number of dive sites has meant that the islands have become a popular destination for people looking for a diving course.
Some ten largest dive sites, regularly visited by diving centers Perhentian Islands According which Tokong (Temple of the Sea) is widely considered the best dive site on the islands. A large rock boulder directly off the North West coast of Perhentian Kecil offers some of the best examples of soft coral formations in the region. This impressive carpet of soft coral provides a home for a wide variety of marine creatures, including Kingfish, barracudas, nurse sharks and black tip sharks.
For fans of shipwreck diving, there are two excellent dive sites Perhentian Islands. The decline of sugar, 90-metre ship that sank in 2000, and the Vietnamese are still possible wreck diving inside the wreck. If you plan to go diving in Perhentian Islands, the best time to visit is from April to October, when the visibility and weather conditions are more favorable. November to March, the monsoon season, when the weather is poor and access to and from the islands is limited by rough seas.
Perhentian islands offer excellent diving, and the superficial nature of the dive sites here, this is a good choice for most beginners or inexperienced divers. But what makes the islands so special is its breathtaking natural beauty and landscape underdeveloped. You really feel as if you were diving into own piece of paradise!

Curacao Island

Located in the Caribbean Sea, this Dutch owned island is perfect. Voted one of the best in the Caribbean, Curacao is like being in tropical Holland. The town is built in the Dutch style, but the surrounding areas are all tropical. Hit the beaches, lay in the sun, and party the night away. This may not be Gilligan’s Island, but what it lacks in privacy, it makes up for in romance and fun. The weather is pretty stable here year round. It’s always hot and usually sunny. If it rains, it’s between November and January. Don’t worry about hurricanes- it’s below the hurricane belt!

The Cook Islands

Another south pacific island group (see a pattern here?), the Cook Islands are pretty far off the map. OK, not too far, but they are considerably less visited than some of its neighbors. These tiny islands are named after James Cook, the intrepid man who discovered them. With few amenities, this is the best place to find your inner cast away and escape modern life. The islands see similar weather to the rest of the area with temperatures hot and humid all year round.
South Pacific vacations Cook Islands
The Cook Islands
The Cook Islands
The Cook Islands
The Cook Islands
The Cook Islands
View Of The Cook Islands

T-Minus 10 to French Polynesia and the m/s Paul Gauguin

I know the economy is recovering because I haven't been this busy in nearly three years. I'm working on nonfiction book projects, guidebook updates, magazine and website articles, and even an iPhone app! Every minute of the day seems to be spoken for so I am quite literally counting down the minutes until our French Polynesian vacation. Paul Gauguin Cruises, here we come! I can't imagine a better place to unwind.

Next week we'll make the long trip from New York to Tahiti. We've got a one-night pre-cruise stay at the InterContinental Resort Tahiti. We're IC Ambassador members so I'm hoping for an upgrade from a panoramic room to an overwater motu bungalow. To be honest, the upgrade probably won't matter much. We'll roll into Papeete a little before midnight and will be very, very tired! Our plan for the next day is to sit by the pool and relax until it's time to head to the m/s Paul Gauguin.

The seven nights aboard the the ship will be heaven. We're also looking forward to shore excursions, like the Dolphin Watching Expedition in Moorea lead by marine biologist Dr. Michael Poole and Shark and Ray Watching by Glass-Bottomed Boat in Bora Bora.

Leonard will also spend plenty of time at the aft Watersports Marina, where he'll kayak, windsurf, and maybe even try water-skiing.

The only bag we've got packed so far is Len's camera gear. He's carrying the new Canon EOS 5D Mark II these days so we'll be posting tons of photos and high-definition video while we're away and upon our return.

If there's anything you want to know about the new Paul Gauguin Cruises, please let us know!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Big Island Hawaii

Hawaii’s biggest island has everything you could ever want to do and more. But what separates it from the other islands is Volcano National Park. Explore volcanoes, climb through old lava tubes, and watch as new lava oozes into the ocean. Then there are all the waterfalls on the island, too. Big Island has it all. I mean it’s Hawaii- how could you go wrong!? The wet season is from October to March, though the weather is cooler. However, despite being located near each other, weather conditions on each islands can vary greatly so you never know what to expect!

Big Island Hawaii

Big Island Hawaii

Big Island Hawaii

Big Island Hawaii

Big Island Hawaii

Big Island Hawaii

Big Island Hawaii

Big Island Hawaii