We are now in the next stage of planning our trip to the South Seas to celebrate DH's 50th birthday in 2010. The question is French Polynesia or the Cook Islands, which specific islands and for how long. We are interested in walking, hiking,snorkeling and perhaps a bit of diving (definitely for DH, timidly maybe for me), plenty of time for doing nothing but take in the beauty . Usually when we travel, we are active in the mornings, relax over a long lunch followed by a nap or reading then out again in the late afternoon. We have between 10 days and two and a half weeks, a budget of about $15,000 not including airfare, and plan to go sometime in June. We would like to stay in at least two but not more than three islands, perhaps with some day trips to smaller less populated ones. If we go to French Polynesia, we are thinking of Moorea, Bora Bora and a more quiet outer island, have just gotten guidebooks to learn more about Cook Islands. Probably not a cruise, definitely not a big one. We're intrigued by over-the-water bungalows, but afraid that they are over the top when it comes to prices.

Mahalo.