TAHITI TIMES

While Aude was in French Polynesia last week, she had an opportunity to eat at the Kaina Hut Restaurant in Bora Bora. She ordered from Tahiti Legends’ exclusive menu and had the crispy red tuna with foie gras (in the center of the tuna), accompanied by a sweet potato mash which she says was simply- “DELICIOUS!”

The Kaina Hut Restaurant is open every day at 6:30PM, except Friday. To pre-book your reservation during your stay in Bora Bora and sample Tahiti Legends’ exclusive menu, please call your preferred travel agent or call Tahiti Legends at: 1-800-200-1213.

To view more pictures of the cuisine available at the Kaina Hut- please click here!

We also have a video of the restaurant available on our Facebook.

With miles of white sand beaches and the crystal clear water of the South Pacific, Fiji is an ideal place for a Destination Wedding. Whether you choose to have a simple ceremony on the beach or an elaborate ceremony with traditional Fijian singers and dancers, Fiji will provide an ideal backdrop for your special day. Here are some of our favorite reasons to plan a Destination Wedding in Fiji:

-Your choice of beautiful locations
Each resort has unique wedding packages with a variety of ceremony locations to choose from. You can personalize your wedding as much as you like, and we can ensure your day is as special an event as you deserve.

-Fijian touches create a memorable ceremony
It is a Fijian custom to have warriors carry the bride up the beach to meet her groom. During the ceremony there is often joyful Fijian singing and the procession is accompanied by the blowing of conch shells and beating of Lali drums.

-Incredible photo opportunities
Close your eyes and imagine your wedding on a pristine, white sand beach, just before sunset…

It doesn’t have to only be an exercise in imagination; you can have the picture-perfect wedding of your dreams in Fiji!

- Filling out the same amount paperwork to marry in the US- and nothing more!

And last but not least-

-Not having to travel for your Honeymoon
There’s no flight to catch, and no bags to pack when you are already in paradise!

To find out more about having a Destination Wedding in Fiji, please contact your Preferred Travel Agent or contact Tahiti Legends at: 1-800-200-1213.

A Traveler’s Guide to Fiji

Bula Everyone! (Bula is Fijian for ‘hello’ or ‘welcome’)

We love Fiji, and this week we’ve decided to share with you why we’re so enamored with this magnificent South Pacific destination.

But before we delve into what makes Fiji so special, a brief introduction:

The Fijian Islands lay in the South Pacific approximately 2,775 miles Southwest of Honolulu and 1,100 miles North of New Zealand. The once volcanic mountains on these islands are now the home to tropical rain forests, coconut plantations, and a wide array of wildlife. The warm/nutrient-filled tropical waters of Fiji provide the perfect conditions for soft coral to grow and flourish. Diving/ecology enthusiasts come to Fiji from all around the world to witness the coral gardens in full bloom.

Whether you are looking to get away with your family, have a romantic honeymoon, enjoy the marine life, have an adventure in an exotic place, or explore the diverse environment and culture of Fiji, there is something for everyone here!

For more information on staying in Fiji- Please contact Tahiti Legends at 1-800-200-1213

Tomorrow we’ll go beyond the basics and explore other attributes that makes Fiji so special in our hearts, so be sure to come back!

Sure, Cocoa Island Resort in the Maldives boasts beautiful views of the cobalt blue sea and luxurious room accommodations, but what makes this resort unique is its dedication to wellness- both inside and out.

Starting with the menu, the food on the resort is created specifically to nourish the body by included organic vegetables and the fresh fish of the day.

Along with plenty of activities for the more active traveler, this small, private island resort also offers revitalizing wellness therapies such as: massages, facials for restorative skincare and authentic Ayurvedic (the ancient Indian tradition of healing) therapies. There are even complimentary classes in Yoga (six days a week!) and meditation (once a week).

“Couples Retreat,” the 2009 film featuring Jon Faverau and Vince Vaughn, takes place on an exotic resort called “Eden.” In fact, it was shot in a place many of us would consider Eden-like, the French Polynesian island of Bora Bora. And while there is no couple’s therapy resort on Bora Bora called “Eden,” you can stay where the film was shot at the St. Regis Resort and Spa.

Below we’ll give you a sample of how to Eat, Stay, and Play like the stars from “Couples Retreat.”

Eat:

St. Regis’ signature restaurant, Lagoon, is a shining star in celebrated chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s restaurant empire. Suspended over the water, Lagoon restaurant not only delights your taste buds, but also offers spectacular views of Mount Otemanu. Jean-George has created several signature dishes for the restaurant – including an appetizer of rice cracker-crusted ahi tuna with sriracha -citrus emulsion that is not to be missed.

Stay:

Mr. Vaughn and his sister (“Couples Retreat” executive producer) stayed in Royal Over-water Pool Villas which are 3,455 sq. ft., feature a private pool, 2 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, and 2 private terrace gazebos.

Play:

The beautiful, crystal clear lagoon of Bora Bora presented by “Couples Retreat” is not the work of technical cinema wizardry; you too can swim in the same pristine waters and meet the friendly marine inhabitants while staying at the St. Regis.

If getting up close and personal with lagoon inhabitants doesn’t suit your fancy, there’s a host of other activities to choose from such as: jet skiing, yoga, spa treatments, and more.

This exclusive tour of Bora Bora’s world famous lagoon is a private way for you to create everlasting memories with the one that you love. On the day of your excursion, you will be picked up at your hotel dock via a comfortable speedboat where you will circle the island taking in the beauty of Bora Bora. You will encounter: myriads of tropical fish, the beautiful sting rays gracefully dancing in the lagoon, majestic coral gardens and more. Your guide will stop at a quiet motu where a picnic will be set up for you. A shade umbrella, table and chairs will be set up for you in the warm shallow water of the lagoon- right alongside a beatiful white sandy beach. With majestic Mt. Otemanu in the distance, you will dine on barbecued fish, chicken, or steak, potatoes, salad, and an assortment of local fruits- all topped off by a bottle of champagne.

After enjoying this relaxing meal, you may enjoy the motu at your leisure while the guide stays and cleans up the picnic area.

For more information on this experience please call your Preferred Travel Agent, or call Tahiti Legends at: 1-800-200-1213.
www.TahitiLegends.com

Reminder: Book any trip with Tahiti Legends today and receive a free upgrade up to $500 at your choice of one hotel!

Tomorrow’s Offer:
Book any trip with Tahiti Legends today (December 15) and you will receive a free bottle of champagne at each hotel you book with minimum 3 nights.

To find out what the special offer of the day is, please visit our website-http://www.TahitiLegends.com/ and scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the “12 Days of Christmas” link.

*Special Christmas promotional offer is valid only for bookings made on specified dates, not combinable with any other promotions, may not be modifiable and subject to availability. Certain restrictions may apply. Christmas promotions must be redeemed for the dates listed, and not combinable with each other, i.e. only one Christmas promotion can be applied per booking, based on choice of island or hotel. Promotion not applicable multiple times to booking, except for pearl promotion.

Spend 5 days at Le Maitai Polynesia where your only concern will be to enjoy the majestic scenery of Bora Bora. You will have a breathtaking view of the emerald lagoon that teems with brightly colored fish with the neighboring islands of Raiatea and Taha’a on the horizon. Your meals are all inclusive as well as the beverages and wine with all meals- which is a fantastic savings in French Polynesia

Your all-inclusive package to Bora Bora includes:

-Roundtrip economy class airfare from Los Angeles to Bora Bora
-5 Nights Le Maitai Polynesia - Ocean View Room
-Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner for two persons
-Beverages and wine with all meals
-Non-motorized activities
-Hotel room tax and VAT
-Leather wallet/bag tags,
-Welcome flower lei
-Inter-island transportation and baggage handling
-Valid: April 1-May 31, 2011 & Nov 1-Dec 15, 2011: $2499 per person, share June-October travel: add $300 per person

You may also choose to include these optional tours/excursions in your vacation:

-Shark & Ray Safari
-SCUBA Diving
-4X4 Jeep Safari
-Dinner at Bloody Mary’s

For more information on our packages to Tahiti, please call 1-800-200-1213 to speak to one of our Tahiti Experts.

To request more information about this package, please click here.

http://www.TahitiLegends.com

The Sofitel Bora Bora Marara & Sofitel Bora Bora Motu Private Island have merged into one resort becoming one luxurious and expansive resort featuring 95 bungalows in a variety of styles. At the Sofitel Bora Bora you can enjoy many amenities such as: enjoying a drink at the bar, indulging yourself at the day spa, smoking a cigar in the hotel’s cigar cave, having a glass of wine in the wine cellar, or swimming in the infinity pool. Sofitel Private Island is only a 4 minute boat ride from the Marara Beach and is at your disposal to come and go as you please.

Your Sofitel Bora Bora Bliss package includes:
Valid: Jan 10-May 31, 2011: $2199 per person, share

-Roundtrip economy class airfare from Los Angeles to Bora Bora
-5 Nights Sofitel Bora Bora Resort - Luxury Garden Bungalow
-Daily breakfast for two persons
-Hotel room tax and VAT
-Leather wallet/bag tags
-Welcome flower lei
-Inter-island transportation and baggage handling

You may also choose to include these optional tours/excursions in your vacation:

-Shark & Ray Safari
-4X4 Jeep Safari
-SCUBA Diving
-Dinner at Bloody Mary’s

For more information on our packages to Tahiti, please call 1-800-200-1213 to speak to one of our Tahiti Experts.

To request more information about this package, please click here.

http://www.TahitiLegends.com

Good Evening ,

As I promised I would write about our 4×4 Jeep Safari experience. It was on this excursion that we really felt that we got to know Moorea on a much more personal level- outside of the resort, away from it all. We were picked up in the morning by our lovely guide and headed straight to what Moorea locals call “Magic Mountain”. Our trusty 4×4 jeep took us up the steep incline (which was a one way dirt road). If you are afraid of heights, this is not the excursion for you. You are sitting on a bench seat in the back seat of a truck, wearing a seatbelt as you turn around corners and head higher and higher up the mountain. It was exhilarating and we felt completely safe.

Once we made it to where the mountain came to a plateau we got out of the car and hiked up to the very top where the viewpoint is. There is only word that came to our minds when we gazed upon this view: spectacular. At the top of this mountain you can see every color of the turquoise blue lagoon as it shimmers below. As if this was not beautiful enough in unto itself, you are fully surrounded by lush tropical forest. After we pried ourselves from this view we were taken to a second Belvedere that boasted equally as stunning views of both Cooks and Opunohu Bay.

As the tour progressed we were taken to a gigantic pineapple plantation that no matter where we looked there were bushes of pineapples growing. At the risk of displaying our own ignorance, everyone on our tour assumed pineapples grew from trees- turns out, we were mistaken. After the pineapple plantation we arrived at a local agricultural school where Tahitian vanilla is grown/harvested. Smelling true Tahitian vanilla beans was just heavenly, as was sampling the local jams made from fresh fruit grown on the island. Our next destination was a stop at a open air ancient Marae (temple) where our guide spoke to us about ancient Tahitian culture and how they used these grounds for ceremonies and rituals. As I said above, after this three hour tour and our wonderful stay at the Intercontinental Moorea Resort and Spa, we both felt that we saw the true heart of the island- and it certainly did not disappoint.