August 2, 2004 -- It's balmy winter everywhere south of the equator, and seemingly always summer in French Polynesia. Whether you're going to see the Land of Oz (as the Aussies like to call their continent), or escaping your own environment for a bit of Paradise (which, Tahitians will tell you often enough, is a synonym for their home), there are bargains to be had.
Tahiti
If you remember to mention Travel Zoo when you book, Tahiti Vacations will take you to the French Polynesian outpost for prices starting at just $799, including air and five nights in a lanai bungalow at the Hotel Kaveka on Moorea. The price includes roundtrip air from Los Angeles on Air Tahiti Nui, five nights in the hotel, hotel taxes, ferry transfers between Papeete (where the airport is located) and the island of Moorea, plus a "Meet & Greet" flower lei on arrival. Moorea, about 12 miles from the island of Tahiti itself, is ringed by white sand and blue lagoons, and framed by tropical mountain ranges. The Kaveka is an oceanfront property with great views. To book, you must phone Tahiti Vacations at 800/803-6359 and mention Travel Zoo as the source of your information. The Tahiti Vacations website is www.tahitivacations.net. The site for Travel Zoo is www.travelzoo.com.
Pleasant Holidays is also offering two packages to Tahiti featuring discounted room rates and two meals daily, good for travel completed by September 30, 2004. One package is to Moorea and features six nights at the Sheraton Lagoon Resort & Spa there, with free breakfast and three-course dinners daily. The cost begins at $2169 per person, which they say is a savings of $1079 per couple. A second package is a two-island combo featuring one night at the Sheraton Tahiti Hotel on Tahiti and six nights at the Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa, including breakfast and a three-course dinner daily in Bora Bora only. This promotion starts at $3685 per person, which they say is a savings of $820 per couple off usual rates.
Prices for both deals are based on double occupancy and include roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles on Air Tahiti Nui, airport/hotel transfers and free flower lei on arrival. Contact them at www.pleasantholidays.com or by phoning 800/448-3333.
Australia
Two more packages are being offered by Pleasant Holidays for Australia. The first is a five-night package at the InterContinental Sydney, which begins at $1647 per person, with air from Los Angeles and airport/hotel transfers. A second deal takes you to Hayman Island resort, a posh spot right on the Great Barrier Reef, for five nights at $3071 per person, also including airfare from LAX and transfers, as well as domestic transport within Australia.
Finally, there's a combo for six nights, with three nights in Sydney and three at the island resort, starting at $3205 per person, with airfare and internal Australian transport. Contact Pleasant Holidays at www.pleasantholidays.com or by phoning 800/448-3333.