French Polynesia > French Polynesia Experience

Advantages: Beauty beyond compare
Disadvantages: The French and the cost

...miles from the capital of Tahiti is everybody's dream of a South Pacific Island whilst Bora Bora's scenery never fails to leave me gasping. Bora Bora is an atoll similar to the one the French test thier bombs on. It is surrounded by a coral reef that traps delicously warm sea water creating the perfect beach envirioment. On land, a massive rock is the center piece of the island. You can cycle around the atoll on the only road in about 4 hours, stopping ...
...Being so remote and indeed exclusive, it is of course hiddously expensive. A bootle of beer will cost you £4 and expect food to be similarly expensive. But, if you can afford to get there, you can afford to be there. By the way, I ate the Mahi Mahi and am using all 15 fingers to type this. ... Read review

Advantages: Pristine rainforest and beaches, amazing diving, welcoming locals
Disadvantages: Not for those who cannot make their own entertainment

...♣♣♣Fact Box♣♣♣ Country: Independent Samoa Capital: Apia Location: 13 .5 S & 171.5 W, in the South Pacific between New Zealand and Hawaii Time: GMT-12hours Neighbours: American Samoa, Fiji, Cook Islands, French Polynesia Language: Samoan, English People: Polynesian Currency: Samoan tala Getting there (from U.K.): Use Qantas/BA to Australia, then Polynesian Blue to Apia, or Air New Zealand from London to ... Read review

Advantages: Lush rainforests, turquoise waters
Disadvantages: Numerous earth tremors

...halfway between Australia and Fiji, Vanuatu is a Y-shaped Chain of about 80 islands in the southwest pacific. According to geologists, massive tectonic plates in the earth crust collided at this point to form lofty mountains that are mainly underwater. The peaks of the tallest of these rose above the ocean surface creating Vanuatu’s rugged islands. Today, the geologic crunch and grind triggers numerous earth tremors and fuel nine active volcanoes. ...
...European explorers first arrived in Vanuatu in 1606. Fierce tribes inhabited the islands and cannibalism was widely practiced. At the time, forest of sandalwood, an aromatic wood prized in Asia, carpeted the landscape. Smelling profit, European traders systematically plundered the trees. They then turned their hands to blackbirding. Blackbirding involved recruiting indigenous islanders to work on sugar and cotton plantations in Samoa, Fiji and Australia. ... Read review

Advantages: Pristine beaches, clear seas, tropical fish.
Disadvantages: Mosquitos, humidity, some negative male attention, nothing to do per se.

American Samoa. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ American or Western Samoa, as I will refer to it here, is composed of a group of six islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand. Western Samoa is composed of two main islands (Savaii and Upolu), several smaller inhabited islands and a number of other uninhabited islets The islands are mostly coastal naturally although ...
...such as The Cook Islands and Fiji. The islands re volcanic, they are rocky and rugged with steep mountainous interiors. The population is around 60,000 and this is gradually declining. I visited Western Samoa for about 8 days in between August and September 2000 while I was on a back packing trip (see my other review on New Zealand) with my best friend. Clearly this was quite a while ago although it should be bourn in mind that this review was first ... Read review

Advantages: Beautiful, breathtaking scenery.
Disadvantages: Expensive to get to!

HISTORY New Caledonia is a little part of France in the South Pacific. The island was named by Captain Cook on his famous voyage of exploration. He named it Caledonia as he thought it reminded him of the Scottish highlands, this couldn't be further from the truth. New Caledonia is one of the most picturesque of the Pacific Islands and also one of the largest. It is positioned between New Zealand, Australia and Fiji. It was claimed as a French colony ...
...GETTING THERE Getting to New Caledonia can be problematic if you live in the UK. Air France fly direct from Paris, but the flight costs between £700-800. From the UK you can either fly to France and get a flight there or you can fly to Eastern Australia of New Zealand and pick up a connecting flight. these are generally inexpensive and can cost as little as £100. However, the filght out to Australia can be very expensive depending on which time ... Read review