We have decided to go to French Polynesia in the summer of 2003. After much reading and research we pretty much know which islands we would like to visit and in which hotels we would like to stay (although I will consider other suggestions from a good TA if we find one).<BR>Now we need to find a travel agent who offers good service and good prices to put this trip together for us.<BR>If you have used an agency that you can recommend, please post the details here. Thanks.

Iza,<BR>You'll have a blast in French Polynesia. My husband and I spent our honeymoon at the Hotel Bora Bora and highly recommend it. If you're at all interested in that resort, I'll give more detail later.<BR><BR>As for getting good prices....we have had our best luck working WITHOUT a travel agent. Often times, you can begin discussions directly with the resort (managers) and get special upgrades, rates, etc., all because you've established a relationship with them and they are definitely incented to fill the hotel! You also get more personal service and are able to select a specific room based on views etc. Remember, the guys ON the property are the experts and they control the purse strings.<BR><BR>(TAs stop reading).... If you've been doing as much research as you say (books, internet) you don't need a travel agent. TAs are used mostly by people who don't have the time or interest in doing the research. They can't get you better plane fares than what's on the internet. Also, most everyone speaks English in French Polynesia so you won't have a language barrier.<BR><BR>One more tip - while in French Polynesia, think French. They have the BEST breads and cheeses. And of course, the expected fruit.

Iza,<BR>Summer in FP = June-July? or Nov -Dec?<BR>If you mean June-July, I hope you have coordinated your stay with the Heiva events to take advantage of the various competitions taking place at the time. The Heiva dance competitions, for example, offer larger shows than anything you can see at hotels, but without explanations offered at hotel shows since the competitions are for the locals.<BR><BR>We have used Islands in the Sun package last time. I researched all the flights and places we wanted to stay on our own but they happened to have exactly what I wanted at a lower cost than if I bought them individually myself. Of course, since it is a dynamic industry, you need to do your own math.

Thanks, I do usually plan and execute our own trips without getting TAs involved but thought I could get a better deal with a TA and have less to worry about. I guess I'll price it both ways and see what's better.<BR><BR>As to islands / hotel choices here is what we want to do:<BR>4 nights Bora Bora at Sofitel Motu (not 100% decided on this hotel but seems like the best option for us)<BR>4 nights Huahine at Te Tiare<BR>4 nights Tikehau at Pearl Beach<BR>plus any necessary nights on Tahiti due to flight times.<BR>Any comments as to our choices and itinerary (order of islands) would also be appreciated.<BR>Ericka, what are your suggestion for communicating with the hotels: e-mail, phone calls?<BR><BR>Greg, we're thinking North American summer - I keep forgetting that this is the Southern Hemisphere board;-) - July or August.<BR>

Iza,<BR>When talking to the hotels in another country, I like to use e-mail. Whenever I try to call, people's accents are so thick that I have trouble understanding them! And then the phone bill comes and I'm especially sorry. The e-mails get everything in writing and give you time to think how you can best phrase something.

We used Plesant Holidays. Another popular agent is Island In The Sun.<BR><BR>Either way, this was my experience with the islands. <BR><BR>I just returned from my honeymoon in New Zealand and the FP Islands.<BR><BR>If you go to Bora Bora, my advice is to stay anywhere but le Meridian. In addition to the horrible service, we had roaches in our over-the-water bungalow, they had roaches in their restaurant (two fell on me while I was eating), and they had no A/C in the room. On a brighter note, I hear that The Bora Bora Lagoon Resort is very nice.<BR><BR>As far as Moorea is concerned, we stayed at the Pearl Beach Resort. The hotel rooms and service was great, but the beach/ocean was terrible. It was virtually inaccessible, as the ocean floor was covered with sharp coral. Also, it smelled bad. I did, however, hear AMAZING things about the new Sheraton. If had to do it again, I would skip Bora Bora and spend my entire vacation in Moorea's Sheraton.<BR><BR>