Drawn by the islands' beauty and charm -- as well as their reputation as a safe haven in this time of international terrorism -- record numbers of visitors are discovering this vast and varied paradise. This is especially true of Australians and New Zealanders, for whom the islands are as convenient as the Caribbean is to Americans and Canadians, or the Greek Isles are to Europeans. The tourism boom is bringing new airlines, resorts, tours, and other facilities. In other words, change is in the air out here. Now more than ever, wise planning is essential to get the most out of your time and money in this vast and varied modern paradise.
Fiji, Tahiti and French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, and the Kingdom of Tonga have their own sources of information, entry requirements, currency, government, customs, laws, internal transportation, styles of accommodation, and food. In this section I give a brief description of the islands and tell you how to plan your trip in general.
Getting Hitched in the Islands -- The South Pacific islands are marvelous places to get married, and most resorts have romantic wedding packages including traditional ceremonies, often right on the beach. Getting officially married in the islands, however, is easy only in Fiji and the Cook Islands. It is impractical in French Polynesia, where a 30-day residency is required. Legal or not, many couples still opt for island wedding ceremonies during their honeymoons. The resorts will tell you what documents you need to bring and what local formalities you need to execute before your wedding.
