South Pacific Travels with Lori

Beautiful Bora Bora

2010-09-07T11:16:00.000-07:00

From the moment you step off the plane in Tahiti you are greeted with a heartwarming "Ia Orana"! (This is the Tahitian way to say Hello..welcome!)

There is a trio of smiling musicians, singing and strumming guitar and ukulele and two local beauties dancing for you as you make your way to claim your bags. The balmy, fragrant, tropical air immediately begins to caress your face and you breathe it in and smile as you realize that you have just entered French Polynesian paradise!

While I could literally fill a book with details of each place I visited in 14 days and all the fun activities that I enjoyed and the delicious meals that I consumed, I will begin with giving you some highlights of my time spent at some of the truly incredible resorts in Bora Bora..

Le Meridien Bora Bora-

I really loved my stay here in one of their 2 bedroom beachfront bungalows with private plunge pool! These 5 Beach bungalows share their own beautiful beach overlooking the resort's private lagoon, and Mt Otemanu behind. The lagoon at this resort is also the home of a wonderful turtle sanctuary! Guests can learn all about them, from the on-staff naturalist and participate in the daily feeding PLUS you are able to swim and snorkel with them and there are literally dozens of them! The staff is so warm and friendly and you feel like a member of their family.

Le Taha'a

This private island resort, home of the famous Taha'a vanilla is truly a lover's paradise.

Be sure to bring some vanilla beans home to put in your bottle of rum or other favorite beverage to enhance the flavor and remind you of your time spent there in paradise! Cheers!

This top of the line Pearl Resort has thought of everything to make a couple's experience heavenly. My Taha'a over water bungalow had a luscious king bed facing out the giant picture window overlooking the lagoon with Bora Bora in background!

The Tahitian delicacy, Poisson Cru Raw fish marinated in lime and coconut juice, prepared right in front of you by the executive chef was the very best I've ever had!

Four Seasons Bora Bora;

This is a truly stunning property with undoubtedly the largest and nicest beaches in all of French Polynesia. The level of quality and service and attention to detail here is in keeping with the trademark that is Four Seasons.

I luxuriated in my Mountain view Over-water bungalow that perfectly framed Mt Otemanu in the background. Not only was it wonderful to wake up to the incredible view of the lagoon each morning out my bungalow window, but it was sheer heaven to be able to sit in the giant soaking tub with a glass of wine and watch the sunset.

You name it and it is available here for the asking.. breakfast in your bungalow delivered by canoe, wave runners, private beach dinners, kayaks, bicycles, and on and on...

They have state of the art gym with such technologically advanced equipment that you don't really even notice you are working out it is so smooth and easy to use! They have heavenly spa nestled in a very private area of the lagoon with every treatment imaginable and a wonderful yoga salon.

The complimentary "Kids For All Seasons" club and will fulfill your child's' dreams. I was really impressed by their awesome teens club, with it's own pool and entertainment area, and their own private teen's only beach .. so that your teen can hang out and be totally cool with their "like kind". What parents with teens wouldn't consider that heaven sent too?

Needless to say the cuisine was incredible. One of my favorite places to dine there for a lighter meal was the Sunset Restaurant and Bar for sushi, and other Asian-inspired small tapas.

Intercontinental Thalasso Resort and Spa

This was my final night in Bora Bora and it was a wonderful finale to say the least. The Sapphire over-water bungalow I had here was exquisite and had every creature comfort with giant walk-in closet, multiple shower heads in the walk-in shower, Cleopatra style soaking tub overlooking the lagoon and nice big deck split level deck for sunning and swimming in the pristine. My favorite thing of all though, was spending several hours enjoying their Deep Ocean Spa. This incredible sanctuary for the mind and body has glass floored over-water treatment rooms so as I had the signature 90 minute Deep Blue massage I was watching the marine life swim beneath me! This incredible spa uses hydrotherapy with water drawn from the Pacific ocean at a depth of 900 M!

Stay tuned for more to come ..the island of Moorea!
Lori Evans
213-784-6135 or 866-369-4068

My Trip to Rome

2009-05-21T15:24:00.000-07:00

In April, I went with my coworker, Sue on a Perillo Tour to Rome. It was fabulous!
We stayed at a charming boutique hotel, the Rose Garden, right by the Via Veneto. The stately pines of Villa Borghese, the Spanish Steps, the elegant shops on Via Condotti, the fashionable bars on Via Veneto, the Trevi Fountain and Tritone Fountain, baroque churches and the masterpieces of the Borghese Gallery are all in walking distance.
During the day, we had a marvelous tour guide who led us through the Colosseum and Vatican, past all of the crowds waiting to enter. Seeing these major tourist destinations with a tour guide is a must, not only because we learned so much. But otherwise, you've got quite a wait--the groups go in seperately. And our guide was hilarious, so he made it lots of fun!
At night, we got together with our group for some wonderful italian meals and lots of flowing red wine! On our own, we visited the Pantheon, had a delightful lunch in the Piazza Navonna, threw a coin in the Trevi Fountain, and walked the Spanish Steps. And of course, made time to shop for leather gloves!
One of the more macabre experiences I've had: we went to the Capuchin Crypt beneath the Capuchin Church of the Immaculate Conception (1645), located on Via Veneto. The bones in the six-room crypt represent over 4,000 individual monks. It is said monks fled the French Revolution (1793-94) and took refuge at the Church in Roma. The bones are arranged in decorative patterns: cross, floral, arch, triangle and circle, as well as forming objects. Truly bizarre, but definitely memorable.
Call me for more details and I'd love to help you with your great trip!
Lori
866-369-4068 or 213-784-6135

Lori Evans Travels June 2008

2008-06-05T11:20:00.000-07:00

Warm Aloha from sunny Maui,

I hope this finds you enjoying the first days of summer! As your travel consultant I like to stay in touch with you to share important travel news and give you firsthand reports of places I’ve visited recently. I do this to help you with suggestions of where to go, and the best values and experiences offered there. I know how time consuming and overwhelming it can be looking at all the website's and information... after awhile they all start to look the same!

I take my role as your personal travel consultant very seriously, using my resources to “shop” for the best resort options for you and best air fares. This saves you time and money and gives you peace of mind that your vacation will be stress free! Consider me your “ travel advocate” both before and during your travel, as I look out for you every step of the way. Having that assurance is critical these days with rapidly changing events. Both ATA and Aloha Airlines went bankrupt suddenly this year, within a few days of each other. Those who booked their flights on their own suffered the loss as they were left stranded and had to buy new tickets on other carriers. I am happy to say that each of my clients who were booked on those airlines were all reassigned and had little to no loss at all..

While airfares have increased due to fuel costs, the resorts in most destinations are being responsive to that so there are some very good specials for the destinations you would want to visit. Many top resorts in Hawaii, Mexico, Caribbean, Fiji and Tahiti are offering some great packages. There are good last minute specials too. If you haven't booked your Holiday travel yet you need to do so immediately. Call now to talk about your options.

Toll free 800/588-3454 ext.105 Direct: 213/784-6135

Fiji has some really great specials! Some resorts are offering all meals free.
Many are offering multiple nights Free! The famous Vatulele Island Resort , now being managed by the renowned Six Senses Resorts has a introductory special they are offering some two for one nights in their Deluxe Beach bures! Stay for 8 and pay for only 4! Unbelievable! Is Vatulele calling you, now is the time to answer!

A new 5 star resort called Taunovo Bay Resort & Spa on the main island in Pacific Harbor features gorgeous private villas and suites, each with private pools and spa tubs. They have a grand opening special now till Dec 23.. a 50% savings on nightly rates! This 1000 acre property is stunning and convenient to lots of activities..white water rafting and world class diving in the famous Beqa lagoon are just a few.

In April, I visited the beautiful Shangri-la Fijian Resort on the Coral Coast in Fiji. Their new Chi Village Spa is the only one like it in the South Pacific. Their signature treatment is called “Dusk till Dawn”. The name gives you a hint of the heavenly experience awaiting you. You enter your private Spa bure at dusk (5:30PM) and have numerous treatments, are fed a delicious meal and then put to bed afterwards in that same private bure. Talk about sweet dreams! You are awakened the next morning and served breakfast on your spa bure deck followed by a one hour facial. I literally floated out after 14 hours of sheer relaxation and treatments. Oh and the same night I stayed, a couple who had gotten married in the beautiful resort wedding chapel were spending their wedding night with a couple’s Dusk till Dawn treatment. How romantic is that?

I spent 10 days in New Zealand and it was wonderful. If you have not yet visited NZ and have the desire to go..call me. Typically, the early months of the year are the best weather. February and March had exceptionally warm and sunny weather this year.

To see some photos from these recent trips and others please click here.

Thank you again for allowing me to help plan your vacations and finding the perfect destinations for you. Hearing about your trips and seeing pictures is such a joy! Did you know that you can receive “referral bonuses” of $100 in travel credit towards your future vacation for each travel package I help your friends book? Be sure they mention you referred them so the credit will be yours!

Mahalo Nui Loa!

Lori Evans,
Toll Free 866-369-4068 on Maui: 213-784-6143 x105