Earth Month with Planeterra

Earth Month with Planeterra – A 10% Discount on All Voluntour Travel Booked in April and Gold Sponsorship of 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards

Celebrating sustainable communities around the world and travelers’ opportunities to give back globally, Planeterra Foundation (http://www.planeterra.org/), a global non-profit dedicated to sustainable community development through travel and voluntourism, announced an Earth Month campaign that provides a 10 percent discount on all new bookings for its voluntourism programs made from now through April 30 for travel departing before Dec. 31, 2010.

The non-profit also believes in supporting organizations that foster the well being of global tourism. Planeterra was recently announced as the Gold Sponsor for the upcoming 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards http://www.tourismfortomorrow.com/ to be presented at the Global Travel & Tourism Summit in Beijing, China www.globaltraveltourism.com/Beijing2010 May 25-27.

In 2009, Planeterra, together with its founding organization, Gap Adventures, (http://www.gapadventures.com/), were finalists for the coveted award in the category of Global Tourism Business.

“We have tremendous respect for the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. With our ongoing mission to present our own triple bottom line business as a successful model that mainstream tourism can emulate on a larger scale, we’re continuing to reach out to the largest tourism organizations with that message through our major Gold Sponsorship this year,” said Planeterra’s Director Richard G. Edwards.

The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, now in their sixth year under the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) stewardship are aimed at recognizing best practice in sustainable tourism within the Travel & Tourism industry worldwide. Given the growing concern about natural and cultural resources, these Awards are particularly important to WTTC and provide the Council with the opportunity of promoting and partnering with the industry leaders in responsible tourism, highlighting the prime examples of best practice.

Each year, winners and finalists are honored at a special ceremony during the Global Travel & Tourism Summit – one of the highest-profile events in the industry, facilitating dialogue between decision-makers, and thus influencing future action in one of the world’s largest industries – Travel & Tourism.

In observance of Earth Month and to stimulate travelers to experience the benefits of voluntourism, Planeterra will be offering a special 10% Discount promotion for any voluntour booked during April.

A complete listing of the 19 global projects offered in 2010 can be found at: http://www.planeterra.org/pages/voluntours/4.php. Programs are offered in 15 different countries in the regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Planeterra Foundation is a global non-profit dedicated to sustainable community development through travel. It was founded in 2003 by Gap Adventures. Planeterra evolved out of a long history of travelers committed to finding ways to give back to the people and places they visit.

For information on Planeterra please visit: http://www.planeterra.org/ or call: 416-260-0999.

Ecoventura Creates DivEncounters

Small Ship Expedition Cruise Company Ecoventura

Creates DivEncounters Inc. for Growing Dive Market

The visionary, small ship travel company Ecoventura (http://www.ecoventura.com/) announced recently that it has created a new company, DivEncounters, Inc., to handle sales and reservations for the growing dive market in the Galapagos and elsewhere.

Allison Seymour who has extensive prior experience in the destination and live-aboard dive industry has been named sales manager to oversee marketing outreach for a company-owned dedicated dive yacht, the soon to be renamed and upgraded M/Y Galapagos Sky (formerly known as Sky Dancer).

Santiago Dunn, president and owner of Ecoventura and DivEncounters, Inc., said that his company for years has maintained a dive operation that was affiliated with Peter Hughes Diving, Inc., but that establishing DivEncounters, Inc. is in line with his company’s mandate to manage as many elements as possible of a sustainable-minded vacation in the endangered Galapagos. Dunn explains that, “Effective June 13, 2010 Ecoventura will no longer be affiliated with Peter Hughes Diving.”

M/Y Galapagos Sky will offer seven-night dive trips year-round to the northern islands of Wolf and Darwin. Cruise rates from $4595 per person (double) include cabin accommodation, all meals, snacks, beverages, filled tanks, weights, weight belt, up to four dives per day on 5.5 days for 7-night cruise, land excursions, service of naturalist guides/dive masters, transfers in the Islands between airport and dock (on cruise dates) and all other customary services and amenities.

Accommodations include eight private en-suite cabins with two twin or one king size bed with window view or port light, private head/shower, mirrored cabinet and wardrobe, bathrobes, hairdryer and toiletries. M/Y Galapagos Sky is fully air conditioned and features a spacious lounge area and fine dining. Please see http://www.ecoventura.com/dive_live_aboard.aspx.

“We’re looking forward to announcing a number of vessel improvements and upgrades to M/Y Galapagos Sky,” said Dunn, adding that other comparable live-aboard and destination resort dive and snorkel offerings are also being developed.

DivEncounters, Inc. plans to exhibit at three upcoming major consumer dive shows: May 15-16, Scuba Show in Long Beach, CA; May 21-23, Dive & Travel Expo in Tacoma, WA; and Nov. 17-20 DEMA in Las Vegas, NV.

About Ecoventura: Ecoventura is a family-owned company based in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with sales offices in Quito and Miami. In operation since 1990, the cruise company transports 4,000+ passengers annually aboard its dedicated dive yacht along with their fleet of three expedition vessels; identical, 10-cabin, superior first-class 20-passenger motor yachts. All of its vessels have been purposefully retrofitted to meet or exceed the highest possible environmental standards.

For information on M/Y Galapagos Sky please email ali@divencounters.com. To receive a copy of Ecoventura’s 2010 catalog, including dive trips, please call toll-free 1.800.633.7972, or e-mail info@galapagosnetwork.com.

To access current rates, schedules and itineraries you can log onto:

http://www.ecoventura.com/.

PAN PACIFIC SERVICED SUITES BANGKOK OPENS

Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Bangkok celebrated its Grand Opening in Bangkok, Thailand today.

Offering premium accommodation and quality services that will ensure a luxurious stay with the privilege of instant local connections, the property is the first in Thailand that features unique 24-hour Personal Assistants (PA) who will help residents make local connections instantly in their new city.

The first Pan Pacific Serviced Suites to open outside of Singapore, Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Bangkok enjoys perfect location in the Eight Complex in the heart of cosmopolitan and trendy Thonglor.  Surrounded by chic shopping malls, a wide selection of restaurants and trendy nightspots, it also offers easy access to the downtown business district via the Bangkok sky train system which lies a stone’s throw away.  

The property features  148  fully-furnished luxury suites comprising 36 executive suites, 67 one-bedroom suites, 42 two-bedroom suites and 3 three-bedroom suites are designed specifically to ensure guests enjoy all the creature comforts of home during their overseas stays. Upon checking in, guests can look forward to personalised welcome hampers, airport transfers, grocery shopping and delivery services, pillow and bath menus and complimentary laundry and pressing services.

In addition, Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Bangkok boasts excellent leisure facilities. A swimming pool on the 11th floor offers spectacular views of the city while a Pacific Lounge, a fully equipped gym, spa and sauna rooms offer facilities for entertainment and relaxation.

“Our unique Personal Assistants (PA) service is what sets us apart,” said Mr Danny Lingham, General Manager of Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Bangkok. “Our PAs provide all the local connections for residents, helping them navigate their new surroundings and easing them into their new lives. Whether it is scoring an invite to an exclusive party, getting a table at the best restaurants, or organising special tours of the city – name it and it will be yours, thanks to the unique service our PAs provide.”   

Added Mr A. Patrick Imbardelli, President and CEO of Pan Pacific Hotels Group, “ Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Bangkok is truly a great product and together with its sister property Pan Pacific Bangkok, it will create memorable experiences for guests and visitors to the city, raising the profile of the Pan Pacific brand to greater heights in Thailand and beyond.”

Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Bangkok is located at 88/333 Sukhumvit 55, North Klongton, Wattana District, Bangkok 10110, Thailand Tel: 001 800 7722 4342 Fax: (66) 2 763 9090

***

About Pan Pacific Hotels Group Limited
Pan Pacific Hotels Group Limited is a listed hotel subsidiary of Singapore-listed UOL Group Limited, one of Asia’s most established hotel and property companies with an outstanding portfolio of investment and development properties. Based in Singapore, Pan Pacific Hotels Group owns, manages and/or markets over 30 hotels, resorts and serviced suites with over 10,000 rooms in Asia and North America including those under development. The Group comprises two acclaimed brands: Pan Pacific® and PARKROYAL®.

Pan Pacific ® is a leading brand in Asia and the Pacific Rim situated in key cities of distinguished destinations offering premium accommodations and services. PARKROYAL® is a regional Asia Pacific brand which promises a lifestyle-approach to hospitality that will leave guests with an experience to remember. For more information, visit pphg.com

Mozambique Safari Created Around National Geographic Film

Africa Adventure Consultants Launches Mozambique Eco-Adventure Safari

To Coincide with National Geographic’s Newest Documentary,

Africa’s Lost Eden - Gorongosa National Park Airing April 12, 2010

Denver-based Africa Adventure Consultants, Inc. (AAC) http://www.adventuresinafrica.com/ announces a new green safari itinerary in Mozambique to compliment National Geographic’s new film “Africa’s Lost Eden – Gorongosa National Park” television debut April 12 on National Geographic’s Wild Channel.

AAC’s new 11-day safari, Mozambique Eco-Adventure, follows in many of the same footsteps as the film in celebrating the diverse wildlife and mythical landscapes of Mozambique. It includes Gorongosa National Park and the country’s remote and unspoiled coastline and deserted beaches. See http://www.adventuresinafrica.com/adventures.trips.aspx?trip_id=210.

This is one of several carefully crafted, low-impact “green” safaris utilizing small-footprint camps and lodges that have innovative eco-friendly programs and social projects that AAC will launch in 2010, noted owner Kent Redding.

Another new eco-friendly program is the Tanzania Green Safari, a 10-day eco/socially responsible safari to Tanzania’s best parks. See: http://www.adventuresinafrica.com/adventures.trips.aspx?trip_id=204.

The National Geographic film produced by James Byrne is all about Gorongosa National Park, a fragile and very special national treasure of Mozambique that after years of ruinous civil wars is now being restored to its former glory. The film debuted at the Berlin Tourism Film Festival where it was honored as the Best Film in all Categories. The Berlin Tourism Film Festival is considered by many as the most important tourism film festival and its awards are the equivalent of the Hollywood Oscars for this kind of film.

“As a responsible travel company Africa Adventure Consultants wanted to introduce travelers to the wonders of Mozambique but in a sustainable way by incorporating innovative eco-lodges and tent camps that have minimal impact to the environment and benefit the surrounding communities,” said Redding.

The all-inclusive ground rate for the Mozambique Eco-Adventure is from $5,012 per person, double occupancy (Low Season) and includes internal transportation, accommodations in tented eco-camps and deluxe eco-beach lodges, all meals, guide services and park fees. In addition, ACC will offset 100% of all carbon emmissions through the purchase of carbon credits.

Park explorations are on foot, by boat and on game drives with the region’s top guides. Guests are introduced to the Carr Foundation who has teamed with the Government of Mozambique to protect and restore the ecosystem of Gorongosa National Park and to develop an ecotourism industry to benefit local communities. The rehabilitation of Gorongosa represents one of the greatest conservation projects active in the world today.

The first of two beach experiences is at Varanda, a privately owned nature reserve with dunes, beaches and mangroves. Varanda lies at the tip of a peninsula and is only a short distance from Ilha de Moçambique (Mozambique Island), the former capital of Mozambique and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The second is at the Guludo Beach Lodge located on one of the top rated ‘deserted beaches’ on Earth. The Lodge was created as an innovative and sustainable model to relieve poverty and to protect the environment. The Lodge’s foundation, Nema, is funded by the Lodge’s donation of 5% of all profits and currently works with 12 local communities funding and administering various projects including hunger relief, clean water, mosquito net distribution and funding local schools.

About Africa Adventure Consultants

“We have an edge doing business in Africa as an American company because we serve as a bridge between these two distinct cultures. Our staff knows what North American travelers expect and can deliver on target. We know the travel obstacles and best practices as well as those very special places off the tourist track.”

—Kent Redding, Africa Adventure Consultants

Denver-based Africa Adventure Consultants, Inc. (AAC) organizes exclusive, customized, 100% carbon-neutral safari adventures throughout East and Southern Africa. The company conducts business only in destinations they know intimately and offers Africa’s best local camps, lodges and guides. They are definitive experts with years of relationship building and travel in the countries where they orchestrate safaris. This in-country expertise and depth of knowledge differentiates ACC from other safari providers. AAC offers full service trip planning, from flights and safaris, to travel insurance and safari gear.

AAC organizes safari adventures in 13 countries across East and Southern Africa: Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, and The Seychelles.

For more information please go to: http://www.adventuresinafrica.com/ or call 303-778-1089, toll-free at 866-778-1089 or email info@adventuresinafrica.com.

Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort Opens

Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort opened its doors last week in Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia. 

Owned by PT Bali Nirwana Resort (PT BNR), the expansive 103-hectare integrated resort is located on Bali’s magnificent southwest coast and features spectacular views of the island’s volcanic mountains and the Indian Ocean. With 278 rooms including luxury suites and villas, the resort offers recreational and banquet facilities including indoor and outdoor meeting spaces for up to 300 guests.

Its lush 18-hole world class Greg Norman golf course has also won acclaimed honours including “Best Course in Asia” and “Best Course in Indonesia” and the resort has been named by World Travel Awards as ‘Asia’s Leading Golf Resort’.

As part of opening festivities, guests enjoyed a celebratory champagne toast at breakfast while a colourful Balinese Gebogan Hindu ceremony with offerings of flowers, fruits, and cakes took place on resort grounds to commemorate the special day. An evening cocktail was also held on the resort’s picturesque lawn with business partners, guest, hotel associates, local community representatives and government officials in attendance. 

Over the next 12-18 months, Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort will undergo a series of enhancements to its rooms, restaurants and landscaping. Pan Pacific’s signature Pacific Club, an exclusive, premier executive club where guests can enjoy butler service access to a Pacific Lounge and its amenities, will also feature at the resort.

“Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort will be a brand-defining resort for the Pan Pacific brand as we seek to expand the resorts segment in our portfolio,” said A. Patrick Imbardelli, President and CEO of Pan Pacific Hotels Group. “With the various resort enhancements, the focus is on providing an integrated holistic guest experience for anyone who walks through the doors of the resort, thereby fulfilling our vision of creating memorable hotel experiences.”

Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort is Pan Pacific Hotels Group’s second hotel in Indonesia. The Group also operates the award-winning ski resorts Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre and Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside in Canada.

Peter’s Island

Business executives looking for a “covert spot” to host a top-secret meeting can easily do so at Peter Island Resort and Spa. This spring the resort is launching a new package, Executive Retreat to be hosted in the uber private villa Falcon’s Nest.  This 22,000 sq-ft. villa (estate) becomes operation-central as it’s private location perched 360 feet above the beach shorelines offers the utmost in bespoke services, even a ‘no-fly-zone’ amenity for the utmost in privacy.  The Executive Retreat package offers a fabulous stress release workshop, one massage per guestroom (6 in total) chef-hosted grill night and a champagne reception. Falcon’s Nest executive guests will be hosted by a villa manager who will help them plan their stay pre-and onsite, a villa chef, driver, and butler who will cater to their every need.  This package is priced at $8,000 a night plus an 18% tax, requiring a four-night minimum.  Executive guests will of course have access to the resort restaurants, non-motorized sports program, spa, and more.

About the Spa

The Spa at Peter Island is a sanctuary in its own right. It has become a must stop for yachters sailing in the British Virgin Islands. The spa, located beachside is far removed from the resort’s main pavilion, ensuring a tranquil and blissful experience. The spa encompasses 10,000 sq.-ft., is casually, elegant and located on Big Reef Bay offering guests two-private bohios (suite-retreats) for couples.  Bleached-white beaches, dotted with seashells, plus sky-scraping coconut palms, verdant mountains and in the foreground uninhabited islands (Salt and Cooper)is a rarefied scene and a site to behold. The spa beach is a top choice for destination weddings, and is perfect for private yoga instruction, brisk walking, sunbathing and/or a day of total rest and relaxation.  The spa at Peter Island in the only one in the Caribbean to offer Ayurvedic (in Sanskrit the term means science of life) treatments in the British Virgin Islands, boasts two on-staff Ayurvedic doctors, Dr. Santhanam and Dr. Chinnamanar who inspire guests with anti-aging, nutritional approaches, preventative health treatments, and other lifestyle/wellness programs. Recently introduced; Iridology, a non invasive diagnostic treatment that assists the onsite doctors to develop personalized wellness and lifestyle programs for guests.

About Peter Island

Situated among a plethora of exotic Caribbean resort destinations, Peter Island Resort & Spa’s intoxicating combination of natural wonders, privacy, and luxury convey a distinct persona among the glitterati and seekers of authentic posh experiences. This award-winning private island getaway is steeped in intriguing pirate lore and unspoiled landscapes. Breathtaking deep blue seas, meet bleached-white beaches and lush palm groves while verdant tropical mountains add to the majesty of the island. Charming beachside suites and oceanside rooms with their own waterviews are remarkable, while the three villas are extraordinary; Falcon’s Nest Villa the most recent addition of the island’s villa program is styled from the pages of Architectural Digest.  The resort offers a guest to staff ratio of 2:1, no-fly zones for Hollywood and Fortune 500 listers alike, and new this spring, Island Host.  England may have invented the butler, but Peter Island has invented the Island Host program, an intuitive guest services program.  From the moment you arrive until the moment you depart your personal Island Host will tend to your every need, from unpacking, island itinerary, assuring every in-room amenity is to your liking, private island picnic lunches, candlelit beachside dinners and more. Today, island buyouts and villa stays have become an enchanting journey for land lovers while yachter’s find this island paradise a great respite for their water travels. From Hollywood elite, to noted CEO’s, destination weddings, generational travel, special anniversaries and birthdays this private island offers an unparalleled Caribbean escape. Celebrity spotting is optional – a private island beach escape is yours for the taking.  Visit www.peterisland.com

Get Married at Valentin Inperial Maya Resort

Located along a pristine stretch of white sand beach aptly named Playa del Secreto (the Secret Beach), Valentin Imperial Maya Resort offers couples an idyllic backdrop for a romantic destination wedding or honeymoon. From unique ceremony locations such as a multi-religion wedding gazebo, beautiful beach area and the only Catholic chapel in Riviera Maya to an on-site wedding concierge available to ensure perfection to the last detail, Valentin Imperial Maya Resort offers couples a complete, luxury wedding experience from start to finish.

Valentin Imperial Maya Resort has created several special packages to help engaged couples  achieve the destination wedding of their dreams. Below are some of the components included in the amazing “Once In A Lifetime” package currently available at the resort: 

• Choice of wedding ceremony location: chapel, gazebo or the beach
• Boutonniere for the groom and bridal bouquet
• Complimentary room for the groom the night before the wedding
• Make-up & hair styling for the bride
• One-hour cocktail party with hors d´oeuvres
• Wedding dinner party, wedding cake and sparkling wine for the toast (for 25 members of the wedding party staying at the hotel)
• Photo package and edited DVD
• Floral centerpiece for the sweetheart table and petals for aisle runner
• Live Mexican trio or Marimba (45 min)

Special amenities for the bride and groom include couples spa treatments, private airport pick-up service, late checkout, complimentary room upgrade (subject to availability upon arrival) and champagne breakfast in bed the morning after the wedding. This package is available for $2,599.00 USD. For more information on the “Once In A Lifetime” package as well as other wedding package information, please visit the Valentin website.

The Cayman Island Submersion Experience

Families looking for a different kind of vacation that will leave their children with memories of more than just sand castles and sunburns should look no further than The Reef Resort’s new Cayman Island Submersion vacation experience. For every package booked, The Reef (thereef.com) will donate $25 to the Cayman National Trust, a non-profit with the mission of “preserving natural environments and places of historic significance in the Cayman Islands.”

Guests will have an opportunity to visit some of the island’s most historic sites both on land and under the sea with excursions to Pedro St. James, Mission House and Wreck of the Ten Sails. Animal lovers will relish a snorkel trip complete with a fish recognition card and a behind-the-scenes tour to see the critically endangered Blue Iguana in its natural habitat at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. A special volunteer morning is also on the menu, allowing guests to get involved in the local community through different weekly activities such as beach cleanups and the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme (cleaning up, building cages, feeding, and more).

The Cayman Island Submersion Experience includes:
a 5-night stay for two in a beachfront Studio Suite
a 5-day car rental

a guided ocean tour to the Wreck of the Ten Sails with White Sands Watersports
 a behind-the-scenes Blue Iguana tour at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park
a guided tour of East End/Bodden Town/Savannah, including Pedro St James, Mission House and other East End attractions

a morning of assorted volunteer activities
a 
daily snorkel rental with fish recognition card

dinner for two with the acclaimed Barefoot Man
Rates: Winter 2010 — US $1,995 – through April 10, 2010
Summer 2010 – $1,695 April 11- December 20, 2010
Packaged is priced for two including taxes (Sunday/Monday arrivals only)

For more information about this package, please visit The Reef — www.thereef.com.

Pandas Need Love Too!

Endangered Species, Ancient Culture and Voluntourism

Combine in Planeterra’s New-for-2010 Project China

With fewer than 1,000 giant pandas left in the world, travelers on Planeterra’s new Project China voluntour will have an opportunity to directly participate in efforts to protect this endangered species. Voluntourists at the Bifengxia Research Centre will work with trained conservationists in meeting the day to day needs of its resident bears, many of which were relocated from Wolong Center, previously the world’s largest panda conservation center. Wolong was badly damaged by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. New for 2010, Project China is one of 11 new programs Planeterra has added to its range of over 20 voluntours in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Planeterra’s Director, Richard G. Edwards sees this tour as an unusual opportunity to be able to conduct this kind of voluntourism in China.

“This voluntour will give our travelers a chance to work in China at the largest panda reserve in the world, while also visiting many highlights of one of the most culturally rich nations in the world. It’s an unparalleled reward, knowing our volunteer work is helping preserve these animals for the future.”

The 14-day adventure

(http://www.planeterra.org/pages/voluntours/18.php?id=25) begins in Shanghai and ends in Beijing, with visits to the Great Wall, the Song Dynasty capital of Luoyang famous for its fighting monks and home of kung fu, the terracotta warriors of Xi’an, the cuisine of Chengdu and the Bifengxia Panda Centre. Volunteer duties include gathering bamboo and supplementary foods for the pandas and helping to keep the areas and enclosures clean.

Identified by need and then targeted for volunteer support, Planeterra has expanded its voluntour offerings in 2010 to include a number of new and exciting destinations. The 11 new programs include:

Project Argentina

http://www.planeterra.org/pages/voluntours/18.php?id=31

Project Cuzco Kids

http://www.planeterra.org/pages/voluntours/18.php?id=35

Project Ecuador Family

http://www.planeterra.org/pages/voluntours/18.php?id=33

Project Ecuador Highlands

http://www.planeterra.org/pages/voluntours/18.php?id=34

Project El Salvador

http://www.planeterra.org/pages/voluntours/18.php?id=27

Project Galapagos

http://www.planeterra.org/pages/voluntours/18.php?id=30

Project Peru Amazon

http://www.planeterra.org/pages/voluntours/18.php?id=23

Project China

http://www.planeterra.org/pages/voluntours/18.php?id=25

Project Nepal

http://www.planeterra.org/pages/voluntours/18.php?id=26

Project Cambodia and Laos

http://www.planeterra.org/pages/voluntours/18.php?id=18

Project South Africa

http://www.planeterra.org/pages/voluntours/18.php?id=21

Planeterra Foundation is a global non-profit dedicated to sustainable community development through travel. It was founded in 2003 by Gap Adventures, the largest independent adventure travel company in the world. Planeterra evolved out of a long history of travelers committed to finding ways to give back to the people and places they visit.

For information on Planeterra’s year-round voluntour programs please go to:

http://www.planeterra.org/pages/voluntours/4.php or call 416-260-0999.

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Planeterra-Foundation/54886669998?ref=ts

Twitter Page: http://twitter.com/PlaneterraCares

Tahiti on Sale!

AIR TAHITI NUI HAS “MAY MADNESS”: FLY TO TAHITI FROM 91 CITIES

IN NORTH AMERICA AND MEXICO FOR THE SAME LOW PRICE OF $1,226

Choose From Nine Tahitian Islands: Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea,

Bora Bora, Rangiroa, Fakarava, Tikehau or Manihi

Think a Tahitian vacation is out of reach?  Take a look at Air Tahiti Nui’s “May Madness” special and you’ll think again. Between April 20-June 15, 2010, travelers can fly roundtrip Moana (economy) class air from 91 major cities in North America and Mexico to a choice of nine islands in French Polynesia – all for the same low price of $1,226, including fuel surcharge.  This is possible because Air Tahiti Nui has partnered with domestic airlines for connections to Los Angeles International Airport – the gateway to Tahiti – at no extra add-on cost.  From Tahiti, travelers can opt to connect seamlessly to Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Rangiroa, Fakarava, Tikehau, or Manihi.  Bookings must be made by April 9 and government tax will apply.

Less than eight hours nonstop from Los Angeles, Tahiti is a dream vacation, unspoiled and lush, with azure waters and year-round sun.  Never rushed nor hurried, you can do as much or as little here as you please.  Explore beautiful flora and fauna via easy walking trails or expeditions to the island’s volcanic center, or hop over to the heart-shaped island of Moorea to enjoy leisurely catamaran rides and shopping for famed Tahitian black pearls.  For solitude and rich culture, a visit to Huahine, also known as the “Garden Island”, or to Raiatea is in order.  Here, archaeological ruins and local ancient maraes abound, and horseback riding beckons for magnificent scenic views.

With its deep lagoon shading from azure to turquoise and surrounding emerald green mountain peaks, Bora Bora is indeed a fantasy fulfilled.  The dramatic scenery is a natural playground for snorkeling and diving in waters teeming with tropical fish, turtles, dolphins and coral, as well as for inland hikes to prime viewing spots.  Rangiroa, a string of coral encircling a jade-green lagoon, is another of the world’s greatest dive destinations.  Exactly 240 tiny islets, each no more than three feet in elevation, are sprinkled across 110 miles of ocean.  Further up north is Tikehau – considered one of the most beautiful atolls in French Polynesia – where fish outnumber people one-billion-to-one!

One of the newest islands to welcome visitors in Tahiti is Fakarava, an untouched world where life revolves around quaint villages and old coral churches.  Stroll isolated beaches or dine under the stars – where moonlight is unhindered by manmade light.  Those who have dreamed of being stranded on such a deserted island, but with all of the modern conveniences, can find this on tiny Manihi – known for its abundance of palm trees, white sandy beaches, and spear fishing.  Visit fish parks, savor a motu picnic, or try a hand at line and spear fishing.   

• U.S. departures include multiple cities in: California, Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, Tennessee, Idaho, Illinois, Colorado, Ohio, Oregon, Florida, Washington, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky, Utah, Missouri, Oklahoma, Georgia, Massachusetts, Montana, Rhode Island, Maine, and Washington D.C.
• Canada departures include: Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary
• Mexico departures include: Cancun, Guadalajara, La Paz, Loreto, Mexico

        For more information on Air Tahiti Nui and a complete listing of departure cities, or to book this special, visit http://www.airtahitinui-usa.com/maymadness or call 1-877-824-4846.

About AIR TAHITI NUI
Air Tahiti Nui, with a route network linking the South Pacific to four continents, is the leading carrier to French Polynesia featuring daily nonstop service from Los Angeles. Air Tahiti Nui was named the “Best Airline – Pacific Region” and recognized as having the “Best Cabin Staff – Pacific Region” in the 2009 Skytrax World Airline Survey® for the seventh consecutive year; it was also named one of the “World’s Best” international airlines by Travel +Leisure in 2008. The airline has headquarters in Papeete and operates from Faa’a International Airport on the island of Tahiti. The company was founded in 1996 and commenced flight operations in 1998.

The web site www.airtahitinui-usa.com helps travelers plan and book flights and vacation packages to Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a, Rangiroa, the Marquesas, and Tuamotu.  In addition to featuring special honeymoon, cruise and diving packages, flights to Paris, Auckland, Sydney and Tokyo are bookable online or by calling Air Tahiti Nui toll-free at 1-877-824-4846.