Leisure travel is back and travelers have more international airline routes available. Non-stop flight options from the United States to hard-to-reach destinations in Europe and Asia are highlighted. While Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand are popular South Pacific destinations, French Polynesia's islands like Bora Bora and Tahiti offer a legendary experience that is more challenging to reach. Delta Air Lines now offers non-stop flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to Papeete, Tahiti (PPT) on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, which may be operated by Air France.
Travelers should not scoff at other people's inflight habits, as the cramped and often undignified nature of flying makes it essential to make the experience more comfortable. Instead of sniggering at someone trying to make their flight comfortable, passengers should emulate them by creating their own version of business class. The author suggests packing a large scarf, all-purpose cream, a temperature-preserving bottle, a foot hammock, an eye mask, and noise-canceling headphones. Passengers should also consider downloading a meditation session or soothing podcast to help them relax.
Trips and tricks are shared by a flight attendant to survive long-haul flights comfortably. These tips include choosing the right seat, staying hydrated, bringing a neck pillow, wearing comfortable clothes, using noise-canceling headphones, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, and taking breaks to stretch and move around. The article also highlights the importance of practicing good hygiene and maintaining a positive attitude during the flight.
Business Traveller's Cellars in the Sky Awards 2022, which was sponsored by Whispering Angel, recognizes the best wines served by airlines on their flights. Singapore Airlines was the biggest winner, taking five gold medals, while Qantas, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Oman Air, Air Tahiti Nui, and Oneworld also received awards. The competition, which is in its 37th year, saw 22 airlines entering their best wines for consideration by a panel of expert judges, who selected the winners after a normal judging process following two years of disruptions due to travel restrictions.
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As international tourist arrivals approach pre-pandemic levels, 2023 is expected to be a major rebound year for the travel industry. New and exciting international airline routes are being launched, and carriers are expanding their route networks, making it a great year for travel. Delta launched a new nonstop service from Los Angeles to Papeete, Tahiti, three times per week in December 2022, making it easier for travelers to visit the South Pacific archipelago.
Been dreaming of a bucket list getaway to French Polynesia? With United MileagePlus miles, you can use them to pay for your initial far-flung journey — and we’re not just talking about your travel essentials. You can even fly directly from the US because United Airlines flies nonstop on the nearly nine-hour flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Papeete, Tahiti (PPT). Award prices on this route vary widely, so you’ll want to shop around for availability and costs by date.
Air Tahiti Nui's last Airbus A340 retired in September 2019 and parts have since been upcycled into key tags. The airline now runs Boeing 787s, which are much more fuel-efficient. The upcycled pieces of the fuselage turned key tags are now for sale for €32.95 ($35.78).
In response to the new regulations, requirements and entry protocols updated and clarified by the authorities in French Polynesia on April 22, 2021, Air Tahiti Nui has updated the guidance provided on their website. We have provided a helpful updated summary of Air Tahiti Nui's policies in our Tahiti Travel Tip called, "Air Tahiti Nui | COVID-19 Policies & Protocols". It is also found in our COVID-19 Travel Resources section. Air Tahiti Nui's source documents can be found through the link above or below.
United Airlines streamlines boarding process for its San Francisco to Tahiti flights by integrating the new Entry Requirements into their "Travel Ready Center". Click the link below to view the Travel Ready Center on UA's website. This does not eliminate the need to complete the Tahitian government's online forms. But, it does streamline things, add some peace of mind, and allow you to check-in from another domestic US airport.
Does Travel Insurance cover COVID-19? What exactly is covered? Which policy should I buy? These are questions we are often asked at Venture Tahiti. The professionals at Yonder Insurance have put together a nice summary of how Travel Insurance companies treat COVID-19 related issues. Click the link above or below for the details. If you are interested in comparing policies for yourself, click here. You can also learn more about Travel Insurance in our article titled, "Should I buy Travel Insurance".
Once again, our friends at Air Tahiti Nui win Gold in the Business Traveler In-Flight Wine Awards. This year it is for Best Business Class White Wine, Best Business Class Sparkling Wine, and Best Business Class Cellar. They also brought home a "Highly Commended" for the Best-Presented Business Class Wine List. Click the link below to learn more.
Inflation is impacting several sectors of the economy. Is it happening in travel as well? According to CNBC, airfare and hotel rates are rising as demand for vacations rise and COVID-19 cases fall. Book now for travel next year and lock in current rates!
Lists, lists, and more lists. Venture Tahiti has made the Entry Requirements for Tahiti easier with our own Pre-Flight Checklist. But, Travel + Leisure have provided another list - The TOP 25 Things to do Before Your Flight! There are some great tips inside.
French Polynesia is open once again and the planes are lining up on the taxi way to get you there. An increasing number of flights are coming online as the opening ramps up. Click below for the full article by Travel Weekly. For more information on flights offered by Air Tahiti Nui, United Airlines, French Bee, and Air France, see our Tahiti Travel Tips article called, "How to Get There | Flights to Bora Bora and Tahiti".
The world is slowly reopening and travel is coming back...but, the new COVID-19 rules and protocols can get confusing. According to Travel Pulse, the biggest mistake travelers are making right now is not consulting with a Travel Specialist or Advisor. At Venture Tahiti, we work with clients in many different ways...
We often have clients use points or miles to book part of their stay or their international flights. Bora Bora remains on the list of one of the most exclusive destinations where this is possible.
You don't have to be independently wealthy and buy out a private island resort to experience "private travel". Now more than ever, private travel moments are becoming more accessible and more popular among travelers. From airport lounge access to private tours to private airport transfers, the luxury of private travel is within reach. Feel free to ask your Venture Tahiti Specialist about ways to enhance your trip with more private experiences that won't break the bank.
Travel insurance policies are adapting to the new world of travel protocols, including COVID-19 testing and potential quarantine. AIG has introduced a new optional rider that would cover the accommodations expense incurred should you test positive for Coronavirus prior to returning to the United States. We encourage you to carefully consider the inclusions and coverage of several insurance offerings prior to making a decision on which policy to buy. Yonder Insurance makes it very easy to compare and contrast the policies and pricing of major carriers.
Conde Nast explains why a good Travel Specialist is more important now than ever before. (We happen to agree.)
The Centers for Disease Control have announced that traveling presents a low-risk of COVID-19 among those that have been fully-vaccinated. They even go so far as saying that vaccinated travelers do not have to be tested for COVID-19 before or after traveling, unless mandated by the airline or their destination.
You may already be hearing a lot about the potential of Vaccine Passport Requirements. 30 airlines are already testing one version of one. Okay, we know this is a controversial subject. But, it isn’t going away. Some advocates for digital health passports are in the camp of safety first. Others don’t care as long as they can travel again. Still others have grave concerns about government overreach and privacy issues, assuming Mark Zuckerberg doesn’t already know everything about you. CNBC gives a solid overview in the attached link.
The President of Tahiti suggests this latest border closure should only last 2-3 months. Tahiti has seen much improvement in their COVID trends and has implemented excellent protocols and standards for tourism during the pandemic. With this latest border closure being mandated for all French Territories, the President of Tahiti is stressing the importance of keeping this closure to no more than 2-3 months. Tahiti depends on tourism to survive. A closure longer in duration than 2-3 months would have a devastating effect on the nation's economy and citizens. Expectations are that the borders will be open for travel in April or early May.
Recently vaccinated Americans are ready to travel again. However, health officials are not ready to take their feet off the brakes, just yet. The debate continues on proper protocols once vaccinated.
Millions of travelers have been disappointed over the last year due to canceled or postponed trips as a result of the Coronavirus. Adding to the disappointment was the realization that most travel insurance policies did not provide much, or any, coverage if the trip was canceled or delayed due to the pandemic. Thankfully, companies are offering more coverage options with regard to contracting COVID-19, being denied access to flights, or being quarantined. Since the pandemic, Venture Tahiti has expanded the available insurance options that they recommend to clients to help address some of these issues. Our specialists recommend that you compare policies very carefully and fully-understand what is and what is not covered. We recommend using a trusted comparison tool like Yonder to help you gather several quotes and select the best plan for your personal circumstances.
French Bee’s no-frills, discounted fares have been a crowd pleaser for a few years now. They are becoming even more efficient with their new Airbus. Now, French Bee has brought more capacity and cheaper fares along the California to Tahiti routes. While we have always been focused on luxury travel to Tahiti, French Bee's Premium Economy has a comfortable cabin, more amenities and does represent a good value. The coach class remains the choice for the die hard frugal travelers who are not dismayed by fewer amenities on an overnight flight. The airline has stepped up their efficiency even more with their latest Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. It now boasts the most efficient passenger plane in operation in terms of "per seat operating costs" with 488 seats (40 of which are premium economy). If you are looking for a great fare and don't mind sharing space with almost 500 other people, look no further. One Mile at a Time explores this new aircraft in more detail in the linked article. As for our team at Venture Tahiti, our recommendation to upgrade to the Premium Economy seats on French Bee remains intact. In this class, you'll find more comfort at a great value.
The CDC has now mandated that all passengers must wear masks on public transportation - Effective Immediately. Most transportation providers were making sure of this already, but now its official.
Leave it to The Points Guy to give a nice synopsis of the new COVID-19 testing requirements prior to returning to the US. Never fear, the government of Tahiti, Tahiti Tourisme, and Air Tahiti Nui have already taken steps to make this very easy on its American visitors as well.
COVID-19 testing is becoming ubiquitous with international travel. Testing is here to stay, at least for a little while. Now, LAX has made it a bit easier by introducing rapid result PCR testing right at the airport. Results available in 3-5 hours.
In November of 2020, Travel + Leisure put out a nice article titled, "What It's Like to Travel to Bora Bora During the Pandemic, According to an American Who Went". For those of you wondering what the experience may be like with social distancing and new protocols in place, this is a nice piece to read. Please keep in mind this was prior to the new Entry Requirements that will go into effect on May 1, 2021.
Was your Air Tahiti Nui flight cancelled due to COVID-19? Please click the link below for Air Tahiti Nui's COVID-19 Flight and Rebooking Information. Also visit our COVID-19 Travel Resources page for helpful articles as well.
Ok, we like The Points Guy. They have some excellent writers and usually throw some nice compliments out to Bora Bora and The Islands of Tahiti. In this recent piece, they include French Polynesia as one of the six locations that you really need to book at least a year in advance. We agree. The sooner the better when it comes to a Bora Bora vacation or Tahiti Honeymoon.
COVID-19 has definitely been unprecedented. It has created a lot of new "firsts". Unfortunately, most of them have been negative. We do have a fun "first" to share with you though. Air Tahiti Nui has set the world's record for the longest non-stop flight with paying passengers as they ferried French nationals back home at the onset of the pandemic. This first flight non-stop from Tahiti to Paris covered 9,765 miles in 15 hours and 45 minutes.
Simple Flying provides a deep dive into how Air Tahiti Nui became a business model to envy - a boutique airline that actually makes money!
We happen to be big fans of Air Tahiti Nui's livery (i.e. paint job). It has become one of the most iconic Boeing 787 Dreamliners in service today.Simple Flying dives into the symbolism and heritage behind the incredible designs - Polynesian Tattoos.
Are you in the mood for love? One of our favorite places to stay, The Brando, makes Conde Nast's List of the 21 Most Romantic Places to Stay. Surprise your loved one with a trip of your own. We'd be glad to help.
Recent research study by ILTM finds that restarting the $2.05 trillion luxury travel market (worldwide) will be critical to the post COVID-19 economic recovery of many world nations.
