Our Paul Gauguin Tahiti Experience in Depth Part 1
(390 Reviews)
98% Recommended
Pam MacIntyre
Maple Grove, MN
Australia & New Zealand Specialist
New Zealand
In all my years as a Travel Professional, with curiosity I've asked several the question "What are your must see countries?" I was hard pressed to find one that did not list New Zealand! I mean who wouldn't wa...
New Zealand
In all my years as a Travel Professional, with curiosity I've asked several the question "What are your must see countries?" I was hard pressed to find one that did not list New Zealand! I mean who wouldn't want to experience this majestic part of the world?
Recently I was able to explore several areas of this amazing country, being fortunate in visiting both the North & South Island. What I love is New Zealand can be mellow or action-packed, yet it will still always be epic!
From the endless national parks, dynamic Maori culture, to experiencing the sounds aboard a yacht while gazing upon dolphins. And let’s not forget about laying witness to the majestic beauty of a sperm whale off the coast of Kaikoura.
Wait, did you say you enjoy wine? They have some of THE best in the world....how do I know? Because how could I go all the way to New Zealand and not visit a winery or two. New Zealand offers the deliciousness of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnays, Pinot Noir, Merlot and many more!
I really could go on and on, but no need if you're reading this you already KNOW you want to explore this part of the world. I would love to help you create the best version of New Zealand for you!
Australia
Let me start by saying, I have been wanting to go to Australia since I was a child. Why you ask? Well to pet a kangaroo of course! And I did! Not only did I pet kangaroos, but I fed 4 simultaneously! It was a childhood dream come true, and I cannot wait to go back and repeat the experience.
I was in Sydney during the spectacular International lights and music festival, Vivid Sydney. It was their 10th year, and all I've got to say is WOW! Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought Australia would be so perfect to visit during their winter season. Although being from Minnesota it was more like our fall temperatures. So again, perfect! It was extra special to experience VIVID Sydney and see the iconic Sydney Opera House light up. If you travel during this time of year, it truly is a must see.
The Blue Mountains region of Australia was truly lovely to walk amongst. Then headed to Hunter Valley (to locals known as "The Hunter") where wine in this region was flowing plentifully and was quite delicious!
After making a visit to Australia I now understand why many choose to go there for 2 - 4 weeks on a vacation. It's truly hard to grasp the sheer size of Australia until you have been there yourself. To give you an idea, think about the USA. Sydney would be in Florida; Cairns (Great Barrier Reef) would be in Maine; Uluru (Ayers Rock) would be in Kansas; Melbourne would be New Orleans; and Perth would be Los Angeles.
If you're looking to visit the world's largest Great Barrier Reef, immerse yourself in Aboriginal communities, swim with whale sharks or gaze upon the Uluru (Ayers Rock) the possibilities really are endless in Australia!
Together we'll create your dream trip to Australia that you'll remember for the rest of your days!
Can Be Reached At
1-763-231-8893
Children of Huahine Show - Photo taken by Pam
Several years ago I gazed upon the beauty of the French Polynesia vowing to one day return not once but as MANY times as possible—it's truly that INCREDIBLE! I was presented with the amazing opportunity to sail the islands aboard the Paul Gauguin ship, which in truth despite having fear of motion symptoms, it was simply a once in a lifetime experience!
I'm thrilled to report, with the use of over-the-counter patches for behind your ear - I had zero issues. With this revelation it has opened up a whole new world of travel for me.
Is this the right trip for YOU? I'd like to walk you through our day-to-day experiences, to help you determine just that …
Day 1:
We arrived in Papeete, Tahiti after a pleasant flight aboard Delta Airlines. We chose to stay one pre-night at the InterContinental Resort Tahiti. I'd previously stayed at this resort on my first trip and enjoyed my stay. A little jetlagged we wanted to relax, unwind and get ready to board the ship the next day. One of my all time favorite flowers, is indigenous to French Polynesia. Upon check-in we were greeted, with just that very scent in the form of an essential oil. The flower I speak of, is the tiaré flower, also known as the Tahitian gardenia. I insisted we go on a trek to the grocery store to purchase a few of these for my own bathroom. They sell these in their gift shop, however I enjoy checking out local stores to potentially find other goodies.
Day 2:
After a restful night’s sleep, we grabbed some breakfast then headed down to the infinity pool. We were in for quite a treat, with the locals hosting a kayak race and were able to witness hundreds of kayaks cruising by!
Now it was time to head to our home for the next 7 nights. The embarkation process, was a breeze. They sat us down for a quick orientation to go over a few key details and safety tips.
Before heading to dinner, we thought we'd enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail and we met Anthony, a top notch bartender! He brought us snacks, one of my favorites—potato chips. I jokingly said, "Ok, you can only bring me ONE bowl of these per day.” From that day forward I received a daily bowl of potato chips in front of me. He never missed a beat, and remembered exactly what both of us were drinking and would bring us drinks without even asking. We kick started our dining with a delectable steak in La Grill. We received impeccable service throughout or dining experience.
First night sleeping, we did feel a bit of motion yet nothing that caused us discomfort. Just felt a bit odd, and woke up a few extra times. By night two, this was of no issue for either of us.
Day 3:
We woke to the views of the island of Huahine. An island I hadn’t been to before, so was excited to check it out. The downside was it being Sunday everything closed down at Noon. This holds true for any of the islands in the French Polynesia, so it’s a good idea to have a shore excursion scheduled, such as Huahine Nui Safari Expedition. I’m a bit embarrassed to say, I got rather burned the first day so we just decided to lounge in the shade as all tours were sun surrounded.
You are delivered a schedule each day of all the activities going on. Including lectures, art classes (which include trinkets to take home), etc. I decided to check out making a Polynesia Coaster which isn’t normally my gig, but I really liked it. I even participated in a few more throughout my time aboard the ship.
That evening they had “The Children of Huahine,” which was one of the most adorable & wonderful shows I’ve seen to date. They will steal your heart!
Day 4:
Next up, a Private Island of Taha’a, one of our favorite days! We loved heading to the Private island for some beach time, which felt so exclusive. Even though I’ve been to the French Polynesia, this was an island experience unlike any other I’d had. They had a mini island-style floating bar in the ocean, a regular bar and put on a delicious BBQ! The food was so flavorful & there was a variety options for all palettes.
Before dinner, we decided to join in on a bar bingo which included a WIN!
Insider Tip from Sandy - Paul Gauguin Vice President, Sales & Guest Relations: "If you attend only one show, I recommend The Crew Show, I’ve been in this industry for over 25 years and it is by far the best crew show I’ve ever seen!" She was not wrong on this tip, the show this evening was spectacular and I'd highly recommend as well to be sure not to miss "The Crew Show"!
Insider Tips:
- Grab some snorkel gear from the marina on board to utilize on land. You can keep the gear until the day before your trip ends.
- Be on the first boat to get the pick of the beach chairs locations.
- If you or your companion suffer from seasickness, I would advise you to avoid eating in La Veranda on the evening we leave Bora Bora for Moorea, there will be movement.
Want more? See “Our Paul Gauguin Tahiti Experience in Depth Part 2” for the continuation. Already know this is the trip for you … let’s start planning.