When all is said and done, I am very glad that we went to this island. Not even Kauai matches Moorea’s beauty and people. There are two main ways to get to Moorea: fly or take the ferry. We took the ferry…Read More

When all is said and done, I am very glad that we went to this island. Not even Kauai matches Moorea’s beauty and people. There are two main ways to get to Moorea: fly or take the ferry. We took the ferry boat from Tahiti and were pleasantly surprised. The ship was large, with tons of seating both inside and out, and the ride gave us the opportunity to see a different side of both of the islands while getting some great pictures and paying ¼ of the cost of a flight. On the way out, we flew to Bora Bora and found the Moorea airport to be very small (what did you expect), with one runway, and still under construction. We also saw stray animals in the airport, like dogs and chickens (are you getting a clear picture yet?). Your luggage is actually weighed in front of you, and you are charged for all over-weight items. Again, open seating applies on these flights.

Once we got to Moorea, we were met by Albert Tours (who was booked for us by the Sheraton Tahiti, and subsequently, we booked our 4X4 trip with Albert once we arrived in Moorea). He was excellent, spoke perfect English, told us about the island culture, and even stopped at the local supermarket and allowed us to go shopping for water and such—at no extra charge. Thankfully, the hotel agreed to empty our mini bar at no extra charge, as well. Unlike Bora Bora, there is not one main city. That being said, shopping seems scarce because it is very spread out. If you go to Tahiti at all during your trip, I would get all of your shopping done there, as it is cheaper and a lot more convenient. Water shoes are MUST on this island. I don’t care where you stay or what kind of accommodations you choose—buy water shoes at home and bring them with you. They will make a huge difference in your trip, because it will allow you to enjoy everything. There is coral everywhere here, and near the hotels, most of the water is fairly shallow. If you step on it, you are going to cut yourself—sometimes badly—and why, when it’s so easy to prevent?

The water, the fish, and the coral are all delightful and very inviting, and it’s one of the main reasons you come to this island. Taxis, though available, are costly here. If you want to see the island, take the 4X4 tour or a circle-line bus tour. There is no reason to rent a car in advance for the length of your stay either. If you should decide when you arrive that you want a car for the day, that is a different story, and it’s easy to get through your concierge. If you rent a car for the full stay, I think you will be disappointed simply for the money you are wasting because of the lack of a need for it. If you should choose to rent a car and not book a tour, take a drive up to Belvedere Point. This is also a great island to rent bikes on, though it’s not cheap. For dinner, if you should leave your resort (and I suggest that you do), all of the restaurants offer a shuttle service. Some charge, but the fee is nominal compared to the cost of a cab.

If you are looking for nightlife, go somewhere else. The Polynesian islands are all about being one with the surroundings, the culture, and the person you are with. If you are interested in getting a tattoo and have been waiting to get one done, Tahitians take tattooing very seriously (since most of their tattoos symbolized their village or family). Typically their tattoos are done in black, but color may be requested. Pack film, suntan lotion, and bug spray; it is VERY expensive here if you run out, and you will need them all often. I would also recommend buying a disposable underwater camera—there are some great shots to be had while snorkeling. Keep in mind that just about everything, minus the fruit/veggies and black pearls, are imports, which means you will pay more—a lot more. That said, pack smart and think ahead.

Papetoai PK14, Moorea Phone: (689) 55 1111 Located at least 30 minutes from the ferry dock, this hotel is considered one of the nicer ones on the island (in terms of aesthetics, I would agree), and is also known to have the best snorkeling around…Read More

Papetoai PK14, Moorea
Phone: (689) 55 1111

Located at least 30 minutes from the ferry dock, this hotel is considered one of the nicer ones on the island (in terms of aesthetics, I would agree), and is also known to have the best snorkeling around due to its location between Cook’s and Opunohu Bay. The lobby is a normal-size, open, and filled with lots of fresh flowers, and the front desk staff I felt indifferent about. Although the porter staff was nice when we pulled up, no one offered to show us where or how to find our room (there are over 100 bungalows here, and they all look the same from the outside). We booked a garden view and were upgraded to an over water bungalow—what a blessing that was. We did, however, have to wait for it, so we ventured to the (one) pool, where we could not get towels for some reason. Of course, because our stint in Tahiti with the Miss French Polynesian contest wasn’t enough, the day we arrived at the Moorea Sheraton, there was a swimsuit model doing a photo shoot in the pool. My husband was happy to wait for our room and watch her work. The over-water bungalows (at that point our first experience with them) were incredible. We were given the first bungalow on the left, which was over basically shallow water and in an area that people didn’t congregate around. The bungalows closer to the center of the development faced a huge circular bar, and the horizon bungalows at the very end had a deck with benches where people went every morning to see the sunrise and night to see the sunset, so that took away from the privacy, I thought. Needless to say, we were happy with our location. The garden bungalows seemed to be very buggy, due to the fact they were surrounded by so many plants and trees, and they had no view.

Our bungalow had a huge bathroom with separate shower and tub, filled with lots of amenities, including monoi oil. The one downfall here was that the main separation between the bathroom and the bedroom was a large window with a wooden Venetian blind. Meaning, it was open – you could hear, smell, and if you forgot to close the blind, see everything that was going on inside the bathroom. Although I understand why it was done (to have a view of the lagoon from your tub), I didn’t like it. The bedroom was spacious and had a glass-floor viewing area under the coffee table, with a light switch that lit up the under-bungalow area at night so you could watch the fish. There were full-wall, sliding glass doors that led out to the lanai deck with a table and chairs, and three steps down from there to the dock, with a fresh-water shower. Our room offered great views of the lagoon and the very lush mountains behind the resort. It almost seemed as though we walked into a postcard every morning when we went outside. All rooms were equipped with snorkel gear, beach towels, and a PILLOW menu (16 to choose from) as well.

The housekeeping staff was okay. I found myself begging for towels and toilet paper a lot, even having to go to the front desk myself to get supplies in some cases (um, I thought this was a five-star resort?!). Had we not been upgraded, I would have demanded a partial refund for this stay, but considering the bungalow we were in was almost twice the price of what we paid, I was just annoyed in silence (okay, maybe Frank heard a complaint here and there). Another annoyance was that the housekeeping staff came around with large carts that really echoed on the wooden deck. This wasn’t an issue in Bora Bora but definitely was an issue here, since they started cleaning the rooms early. So most mornings, you heard clacking at 7ish.

Meals depended on where you ate. Rotui Bar and Grill, which was poolside, had meals that were very pricey; we paid about $50 a day for two sandwiches, a bottle of water, and a beer. The food there was your average hotel poolside food—simple. The restaurant Arii Vahine offers regional/international cuisine, with views of the lagoon. Although the service here was fine, the meal was downright awful and ridiculously over-priced. I think it was the first time my husband actually lost his appetite—I thought I was going to pass out. Although your fine dining restaurant choices are limited in Moorea, I would like to think they still have an image to uphold, but apparently not. If you are interested in room service and are staying in an over-water bungalow, I would suggest the canoe breakfast feast (although very expensive). Order this on one of your first days, because there is so much fruit, it will last for your whole stay. The way it is delivered (right up to your dock/hut) is beautiful, with gorgeous flowers, danishes, jams, fruits, breads, and an unbelievable presentation. Internet access was by the spa and was about $7 for 15 minutes. It seemed annoying to me that they had the nerve to charge for this, considering the cost of the stay and considering that the Starwood property in Bora Bora did not charge.

The Mandara Spa was nice, very simple. We chose to have a moonlight couple’s massage on our lanai deck. That was incredible. I think it’s safe to say it was the best massage either of us have ever had. A large Tahitian man massaged my husband and at one point jumped on the table to hurdle him for the deep-tissue massage—it was hilarious. The concierge was pretty bad—somewhat rude and only slightly knowledgeable, which struck me as odd since she was a native. It was also slightly disappointing, considering this was our first visit to Moorea and we didn’t have a clue. It was like pulling teeth to get her to give us good information, ideas, suggestions, or to even get things done that we requested, and they charged a 10% fee! At the end of the day, we ended up booking our own 4X4 trip (with the company that picked us up from the ferry—Albert Tours) and our visit to the Tiki Village, and we confirmed our dinners on our own.

The hotel offered free activities such as kayaking, paddle boats, tennis, and volleyball. I found there were a lot of children here, and we went in May. Although they were relatively well-behaved, it wasn’t exactly what I was planning on after traveling halfway around the world. I mean, kids are kids, and they want to play in the pool and run around the beach, etc. It was slightly annoying, not that it was the hotel’s fault. The bottom line with this resort is that it has a premier location, unbelievable surroundings, and well-maintained bungalows—probably the nicest on the island—but the service stinks, so if that is an issue for you, it’s something to think about.

Albert Tours, 689-55-21-10 Being that Moorea is one of the lushest islands in the South Pacific, I think the best way to experience it is by taking this 4X4 tour. It is a half-day trip that cost us about $50/pp, and we were picked…Read More

Albert Tours, 689-55-21-10

Being that Moorea is one of the lushest islands in the South Pacific, I think the best way to experience it is by taking this 4X4 tour. It is a half-day trip that cost us about $50/pp, and we were picked up and dropped off at our hotel for no extra charge. The vehicle is a four-wheel drive, but it looks more like a pickup with wooden slabs on the side for "protection", so that you don’t fall off. Not the most comfortable, but that’s not why you are taking this tour; if you want comfort, take the circle island bus. Our stops included Cooks Bay, Opunohu Bay, Belvedere Point, a pineapple field, the pineapple juice distillery, an old Tahitian religious site, a waterfall, and a black pearl shop (one of his friends’, no doubt).

An incredible trip with a crazy tour guide, but very memorable nonetheless. So great, in fact, that I recommend Albert Tours to anyone I know who is planning a trip to Moorea. Cooks and Opunohu Bays are located on the other side of the island from where we were staying. We had a nice ride there (beautiful weather) and were afforded unbelievable views of the water, mountains, etc—absolutely stunning. From there, I felt like we took a short cut (but that was part of the plan) through a very wooded area with a ton of weeds and overgrown bushes. Our guide just drove over it all with not a care in the world. Needless to say, the pickup was shaking back and forth, and I thought we were going to flip. At one point, I questioned why we took this trip (that’s because I am a chicken). That road took us to Belvedere Point, where you have unbelievable views of both Cooks and Opunohu Bay. Postcard-like pictures are taken here, and on the way to the mountain from Toatea Lookout Point, which is just above the Sofitel Hotel. This was definitely a point in the trip where we just stood there and took a deep breath (sort of like when you are at the top of the Eiffel Tower). From there, we went to an abandoned Tahitian temple. I found it very interesting that any garbage the tour guide saw, he stopped the tour to go and pick up. These people take such pride in their land, it’s heartwarming.

The site was an old "temple" of sorts, and we were given the opportunity to learn about the ancestral ways of the Polynesian people—very interesting. The next stop was the 200-foot waterfall. This required us to hike a bit. Of course, if this isn’t something you’d be interested in, you could sit it out, since the truck doesn’t move. I recommend water shoes if you have them, or sneakers at least. The rocks are very slimy and slippery, and the water shoes give you some traction. Of course, no one told us this in advance, but to my surprise, the guide had an extra pair that he lent me. The hike was quick, maybe 30 minutes round-trip for the slow pokes. The waterfall was beautiful and worth the hike. When we returned to the truck, the guide had cut up some fresh and very ripe fruit—all sorts—and had it displayed beautifully with local fresh flowers for all of us to enjoy. That was such a great surprise.

Next we moved onto the pineapple field, which consequently had the "honeymooner’s mountain" behind it (just another very green mountain). Moorea is one of the largest pineapple exporters in the world. Their pineapple also differs from the fruit we eat in the States because the center is tasty/edible and not hard. We didn’t do much here other than take pictures, but it was interesting to see. It is interesting to note, though, that this trip is great for plant lovers as well. I cannot even begin to describe the amount of plant life we saw—palm trees, ferns, purau, pineapple bushes, Tahitian chestnut trees, gardenias, hibiscus, etc, etc, etc.

The pineapple juice distillery was next. They make liquors, mixed drinks, jams, candy, etc, from the local fruits such as coconut, banana, grapefruit, mango, pineapple, and many others. They have free samples available, and everything is for sale. The jams are incredible; we brought some home for family and were disappointed that we didn’t buy any for ourselves. I would say that leaving here without buying a drink would be a mistake. This isn’t your normal fruit smoothie—there are no pina coladas for sale at this hut. The last stop was a black pearl shop—not like there were any incredible deals there or anything. I’ve heard that every 4X4 tour stops at a black pearl shop. I would definitely recommend doing this excursion early in your trip, for no other reason than to have the chance to revisit places you saw along the way. It’s a really fun way to see the whole island and get some great pictures. However, it is bumpy, the truck is not covered (you are in the sun), and there is potential hiking involved, so keep that in mind before you book.

Moorea is one of the most exotic, lush islands in the South Pacific. With its high mountain peaks, crystal-clear water, green plant life, and excellent snorkeling, we felt we were truly in paradise. The island is undeveloped. It probably looked about the same…Read More

Moorea is one of the most exotic, lush islands in the South Pacific. With its high mountain peaks, crystal-clear water, green plant life, and excellent snorkeling, we felt we were truly in paradise. The island is undeveloped. It probably looked about the same when Captain Cook arrived in Moorea. The French and French Polynesians are friendly. They welcomed us to their island. This is a once-in-a-lifetime vacation.

We decided to take a safari tour with a company called Moorea Explorer to see this magnificent island. Early in the morning, Romeo, our tour guide, picked us up at our hotel. We loaded into the four-wheel-drive vehicle and we were on our way to a great and exciting adventure. Our first destination was on the other side of the island. We pass through Cooks Bay and Opunohu Bay, this was our first glance of them. The water so blue with the mountains in the background - it was more beautiful than we could imagine.

We reached the dirt road to the mountain peak we will go up. Romeo told us to stand on our seats and hold on. This was a very, very bumpy ride. We were bounced around like a basketball. The ride was worth it. We got out of the Jeep and we stood on top of Magic Mountain, having an unbelievable view of the island. After taking pictures, we got back into the jeep to head down this dirt road. This was even more exciting because we had to back down. We held on tight and we were on our way to our next destination.

The next stop was Belvedere Point. Here you have a magnificent view of both bays, Cooks and Opunohu. This was truly of Kodak moment. If you rent a car, you can take this road to the top because it is paved. We then headed down the mountain and about midway down you have a great view of Mouaroa Peak, this is the famous peak you see in the movie South Pacific. It is one of the most photographed and famous areas on the entire island.

We then went off road into a pineapple field. Here we saw how pineapples grow on the island. Moorea is one of the leading producers of pineapple. It is different from Hawaii’s because you can eat the center. Romeo set up snacks of fresh pineapple and coconut. It was refreshing after the heat of the sun.

Our last stop was a distillery. Here you get free samples of their alcohol. Your first shot is a low proof alcohol and you work your way up to 100 proof. In all you have about 12 to 16 shots. After that bumpy ride, we were not up for too many shots.

The safari tour is a great and exciting way to see some of the island. You go to most of the major scenic areas on Moorea. I would take this trip again the next time I visit.

Editor's Note: As of March 1 2006, the Kahala Mandarin Oriental became an independent hotel. The name of the resort is The Kahala Hotel & Resort, and the new website is www.kahalaresort.com. Experiencing a dolphin encounter is something you will never forget. Dolphin Quest is…Read More

Editor's Note: As of March 1 2006, the Kahala Mandarin Oriental became an independent hotel. The name of the resort is The Kahala Hotel & Resort, and the new website is www.kahalaresort.com.

Experiencing a dolphin encounter is something you will never forget. Dolphin Quest is an international organization dedicated to education and conservation of marine mammals. They teach you about marine mammal behavior and conservation of our oceans.

We selected the training program. Our day began with a half hour orientation about dolphins and how they are trained. This is to prepare us for when we enter the water with the dolphin. The trainer thoroughly explains how they communicate with them and how important it is for us not to pollute our waters.

We are in a group of four, plus the trainer as we enter the water to meet Coco a young male dolphin. My heart was beating rapidly as the dolphin approached. You do not realize how large these mammals are. The trainer instructed us with some hand signals for the dolphin to swim up to each one of us. It was amazing how this dolphin will swim out 200 yards and swim back to the next person at top speed and stop on a dime when you put your hand into the water.

Our next hand signal was for Coco to come up out of the water so we could touch him. The trainer instructed us never to touch a dolphin in the face but behind his dorsal fin. Coco felt rubbery but you can feel he is a warm-blooded animal. Coco was then signaled to come up and kiss each one of us. My favorite photograph is the picture of him kissing me. We rewarded Coco with a fish, when he listened to our command. You can tell he enjoyed our interaction. Our group was in the water for about an hour with the dolphin doing various signals.

A dolphin encounter is truly an unforgettable experience. I would recommend this to anyone. Dolphin Quest and their trainers are very professional and keep you well informed. You know these marine mammals are in the best care and are loved.

Locations of Dolphin Quest:

Bermuda

15 Maritime Ln
Sandys, Bermuda dqbermuda@dolphinquest.org

Moorea

BP 1021, Papetoai, Moorea
French Polynesia dqmoorea@dolphinquest.org

Hawaii

Hilton Waikoloa Village
69-425 Waikoloa Dr
Waikoloa, Hawaii

Oahu
Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hawaii
5000 Kahala Ave
Honolulu, Hawaii dqoahu@dolphinquest.org

Our journey begins at the Pearl Resort on the other side of the island. We did not want to spend the money for a taxi, so we decided to hitchhike. We stopped at our favorite café for breakfast, Carameline’s. After breakfast we…Read More

Our journey begins at the Pearl Resort on the other side of the island. We did not want to spend the money for a taxi, so we decided to hitchhike. We stopped at our favorite café for breakfast, Carameline’s. After breakfast we ran into the guy who ran a safari tour, which we took the other day and asked if we could hitch a ride to the other side of the island. We jumped in on the back of the jeep and we were on our way. Romeo, the tour guide, would not take any money from us. This is the type of great people you meet in Moorea (The safari tour we took was Moorea Explorer).

We arrived at the Beachcomber Resort--this was where we picked up the water taxi to the Motu, a small island within the coral reef of the larger island. The boat ride was spectacular. The water was all different shades of blue and so amazingly clear you can see to the bottom. In the far distance we saw the motu.

Arriving on this small island, we were in all of its natural beauty. Looking back at Moorea, the view of the island was breathtaking, with the high peaks and valleys and the different shades of the ocean. We were going to sit on the beach before lunch and just relax and take in the view. We borrowed chairs from the restaurant, La Plage. The beach has beautiful white sand lined with trees. It is like having your own private beach. We sat back and relaxed until lunch.

Lunch at LaPlage is a very unique experience. This restaurant blends in with the natural beauty. It is a little thatch hut with picnic tables to sit on with an outstanding view of the ocean. They serve local Tahitian food, which was excellent. The owners bring in the food on a small boat every day and after 2pm they pack up and sail back. What a great way to make a living.

After lunch we decided to go snorkeling. We were in the water and my husband saw a large gray object. He got out of the water and saw this very large stingray. We got bread leftover from the restaurant and fed the stingray. He came right up to us. He hung around us for about a half hour. We could not believe how soft he felt.

Our boat is arriving for our trip home. Looking back at this small island, is a day we will never forget. This trip was a unique experience--the journey to get there, the boat ride, the stingray encounter, and lunch. You can spend the day relaxing and listening to the ocean. Visiting the motu is truly a French Polynesian experience.

Kayaking in the lagoon I used to have this fear about the kayak overturning...but we did not encounter this problem at all. The current is never very strong. It's lots of fun, it's free and it's a great workout. The Sunset Cruise The boat sails from…Read More

Kayaking in the lagoon

I used to have this fear about the kayak overturning...but we did not encounter this problem at all. The current is never very strong. It's lots of fun, it's free and it's a great workout.

The Sunset Cruise

The boat sails from Opunohu Bay to Cook's Bay in approx 3.5 hrs. Here you can sit back and enjoy traditional Tahitian songs and a glass of rum punch before experiencing a gorgeous sunset aboard a large sailboat. Bring a sweater for it tends to get chilly on the way back.

Snorkeling & Skin Diving

Snorkeling is by far my favorite pasttime in the islands. I love being able to explore the underwater flora and fauna. My husband is excellent at skin diving and getting lots of those deeper water photos. Sea urchins, grouper, wrasses, butterfly fish, puffer fish, convict fish, moorish idols, rays, octopus, etc...

Since this was our second trip back to Moorea and Bora Bora in one year, we didn't want to repeat the same excursions (4x4 Tour, Stingray tour, DolphinQuest). We decide to take it easy on the beginning of the trip, but I managed to miss out on parasailing here and in Bora Bora!   Close

We have fond memories of the dogs on Moorea. Fist, some background: dogs in Moorea seem not to be afforded the same lofty status in the family as in the U.S. You'll see many dogs just sort of running around or hanging about the yards.…Read More

We have fond memories of the dogs on Moorea. Fist, some background: dogs in Moorea seem not to be afforded the same lofty status in the family as in the U.S. You'll see many dogs just sort of running around or hanging about the yards. We didn't see any that looked truly neglected, but at the same time, we didn't see any that looked extremely well cared for. All the dogs on the island look related - like a huge, attractive mongrel pack! They are all friendly enough, as I think they need to beg for suppper at times, and two of these "scrapper dogs" captured our hearts.

The first was a female that hung out near our hotel. She was so friendly and gentle that we decided to approach her. We found out she was pregnant and brought some of our dinner back as a true doggie bag. After we fed her, she came back to our hotel door several more times - she had found some soft-hearted tourists and wasn't giving up her meal ticket!

The second scrapper dog ended up acting as a guide dog for us. We had trouble figuring out how to get to Afareaitu Falls, ending up off the trail several times. We encountered another friendly female and gave her a few scraps of sandwich meat. From then on, she stuck with us for the remainder of the walk, leading the way! We decided that she must know where she was going and followed her uphill for about 15 minutes to the basin pool of the falls. There, we swam, finished lunch, and took photos with her. She walked back with us until reaching the point where we had we met her and there she stayed behind. Hopefully, if you get lost on Moorea, you'll have a guide just as wonderful as ours.

Dining 1) Lunchtime on Moorea is like lunchtime in Europe, not the U.S. - this means that the restaurants close bewteen lunch and dinner. Don't miss out! 2) Don't eat dinner at the hotel every nite. The local cuisine is great! Environment 1) Please take care when snorkeling…Read More

Dining
1) Lunchtime on Moorea is like lunchtime in Europe, not the U.S. - this means that the restaurants close bewteen lunch and dinner. Don't miss out!
2) Don't eat dinner at the hotel every nite. The local cuisine is great!

Environment
1) Please take care when snorkeling - don't remove anything from the reef areas, touch the fish, or stand on coral. This place is beautiful and we should all work to keep it that way.
2) Don't pick fruit without care - someone may own the trees or plants you are taking from. Find a local fruit stand - they are friendly and cheap and your purchase keeps the economy thriving.
3) Although it's incredibly tempting, don't swim with the captive dolphins. It's just too cruel.

Transportation
1) Don't rent a moped or scooter - they can be dangerous! Rent a bike or a moke (open car) or take the local truck (bus type thingie).
2) Don't rent a car before you arrive. You won't need it more than a day or two and many rental places abound.

Tourists
1) Don't take a tour bus! It's so much more romantic and relaxing to go at your own slow pace - the island is so small you'll be able to see it all even if you lollygag!
2) Don't go casually into a church for photos. Be respectful, dress properly (no shorts for example) and ask permission.
3) Don't spend all of your time on the northwest side of the island (near the Club Med). It's tacky.
4) Don't spend too much time on Tahiti proper - it's become very dirty, touristy, and developed - they even have a McDonald's now! Yuck!

This entry is a month after my RCI exchanged timeshare. I stayed at Fiji Palms the week before. Then visited Rarotonga (one of the Cook Islands); overnight in Auckland, NZ, and four days in Australia before an exchanged RCI timeshare week in Maui and a…Read More

This entry is a month after my RCI exchanged timeshare. I stayed at Fiji Palms the week before. Then visited Rarotonga (one of the Cook Islands); overnight in Auckland, NZ, and four days in Australia before an exchanged RCI timeshare week in Maui and a last timeshare week in Waikiki, Honolulu. All well worth the trip! Enjoyable to see so many different ocean beaches.

They each were unique: Fiji, almost pure white, private, few people, and one day a local Fijiian family's piglets (three) ventured out onto the beach only to scurry back to their beach front property as I approached. Moorea's sand was creamy white right at Club Bali Hai Moorea timeshare and pretty white at the beach for snorkeling and where the rays were. Maui was golden sugary sand, quite windy, but Embassy Stes (Ka'anapoli Shores, Maui) had the best beachfront of Maui. Rarotonga's beach was white, jellyfish free, and fine coral at water's edge.

I had a two day layover with Air NZ there, not a timeshare but recommend one of Pat and Don Hawks' bungalows at Oasis Village for stopover accommodations if you do Fiji-Moorea return or vice-versa. They have a website for this quaint place. Waikiki beach was beautiful, creamy sand and so sunny BUT if you can't stand sharing a beach with the whole town of tourists and residents the former beaches are better suited to the private beach seeker. Waikiki as many know is a lively town - wall to wall skin on the sand by day and it seems miles of shoppers til 11pm by night and I know by others' comments nightlife is in the city for those looking for such! For sun, Oahu is the island! For tranquility and intimacy other, Maui is your isle! Both timeshares, Embassy Vacation Resort (Suites)at Ka'anapoli Shores, is a fabulous (Hilton) resort. They have one Koi fish that's 3 feet long amongst others, 18-24" easy! I almost forgot: talk to Alex the parrot, if he's in the mood he may have lots to say!

The grounds are immaculately landscaped with mini-waterfalls amongst lush tropical foliage blooming with beauty. Hibiscus hedges with the largest yellow blooms are hard to miss. Food was close to tops (try a burger) and a variety from the beach grill and bar to the dining room overlooking the ocean beach through floor to ceiling windows. Catch their early bird specials for dinner between 5:30 and 6pm (25% discount). I know first hand their prime beef with yorkshire pudding was exceptional for under $27USD.

Staff at the Beach Grill and Bar were good, and the tropical drinks I had were virgins: Sunset Ste., Lava Flow, Pina Colada, all great.

Want nightlife, shopping til you drop, and a great tan with crowds? Waikiki's the answer and The Royal Kuhio Hotel is an exceptional place. Security 24/7 guard on duty, chandeliers hanging brightly in the large, open, marbled floor foyer greet you there first! My only complaint was waiting for the elevator since I was on the 23rd floor. The view of both the mountains and ocean waves was no less spectacular than the Maui view from the sixth floor at Embassy Stes. The service for any repairs was exceptional there. Just look in Maui weekly booklet for savings on tours like helicopter trips to save about $60, using Activity World instead of booking through the hotel Concierge.

In Maui there's only one bus ($2) to Whalers Mall, wait about 15 minutes for another bus that goes to next mall; if you stay on it, takes you right into Lahaina (town) with last stop at Fisherman's Wharf if you want to go on a glass bottom boat. Activity World sold me a glass bottom ticket for $27 instead of $32. It's fun even for the kids unless they're phobic to enclosed places.