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Supplier Kudos: Supporting Clients in Tahiti

Travelers this year need to stay on top of rapidly changing travel requirements, and make sure they know how to meet them to prevent problems like denied boarding or unexpected quarantine.  Our trusted travel partners once again have stepped in using their personal connections to give our clients an extra level of confidence while traveling.

French Polynesia unexpectedly announced they had to close their borders this week, but travelers currently in country are allowed to complete their travel plans.  Getting back to the US requires a negative COVID test, and day of flight testing is available at Faa’a airport.  But the hours are limited, presenting logistical challenges for travelers, especially those who have to fly or ferry back from outlying islands.

clear blue waters around the island of moorea with a lone swimmer

Would having to stay here be such a bad thing??

So I was thrilled to hear this news from our favorite supplier partner for French Polynesia:  They arranged for testing to stay open later for our clients, and are stationing a concierge at the airport. Someone who has our client’s itinerary will be watching for them, and guide them to the proper location. And they have made sure that testing does not close until all our clients are tested.

Map showing the many islands that comprise French Polynesia

There is much more to French Polynesia than just Tahiti.

I have always booked my Tahiti clients with this supplier because they’ve provided outstanding in-country support. I could trust my clients were in the best hands should they need assistance, and I even used them for my own trip.  This recent turn of events reinforces my confidence that they are capable of rapidly responding to quickly changing rules, and will go above and beyond to take care of my clients.

Painting on side of building on Raiatea. It's a woman laying on her back who appears to be floating, she's wearing a blue & shite thin striped dress.

The street art on Raiatea was a pleasant surprise.

Planning a trip is much more than just checking for the best rates and amenities and making reservations. We research HOW to book the trip, so that clients have the most flexible terms, the most appropriate travel insurance, and the most reliable support in their destination. And once booked, we continuously communicate with our supplier partners to make sure we have the latest and most accurate information.

Sunset seen from Windstar cruise ship over island in the distance

Goodbye, but I’ll be back!

Whether you’re ready to plan your next trip, or just want to talk about your travel dreams, I’m here for you.

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Tips For Picking The Perfect Wildlife Trip

If your goal is an authentic wildlife experience, then you need to choose your trip and your travel supplier carefully.  You want to be sure your trip was designed specifically with finding and viewing wildlife in mind, above everything else.  You are there for the experience, not the thread count!

Here are some of the key factors to look for:

Timing – You want to be in the right place at the right time. While you can see bears throughout the primary tourist season in Alaska, there is a specific time of year and location if you hope to see bears scooping salmon out of a river. The same goes for seeing baby penguins in Antarctica.

Black bears in British Columbia near a wilderness lodge

The bear viewing season is completely different in British Columbia. And there is one location unlike all others. Photo credit: The Chilko Experience

Size – Smaller is better for the group size, accommodations, and transportation. The less disturbance you make in the environment, the better chance you won’t scare wildlife away. In properly managed locations, wildlife is not fearful of humans which allows for close interaction.

Gray whale encounter in Magadalena Bay with Lindblad Expeditions

One of the most memorable wildlife encounters I’ve had was in Magadalena Bay with Lindblad Expeditions. Within their lifetime, the gray whales here were hunted. So it’s amazing they are eager to interact with humans now.

Expert Guides–  You want experienced guides familiar with the area and the behavior of the local wildlife, as they will know where to go, and can read the physical and environmental clues. Some guides in Africa are very well known and sought after by the many companies who plan custom touring, so you need to plan ahead to hire them for your trip.

Vermejo ranch elk safari

We got up before dawn to head out on an elk safari with our Vermejo Ranch guide.

Flexibility  – Wildlife does not appear on schedule. Even when you’re in the right place, you often have to wait for the wildlife to show up. Or you have to be able to quickly move to where the wildlife is spotted. So don’t be alarmed if your travel itinerary doesn’t appear to have a lot of structure.  You need to have patience, but with that comes great rewards.

Pod of whales in Alaska

An expedition cruise will re-route the ship or stop dinner service to see a pod of whales. Photo credit: Lindblad Expeditions client in Alaska.

Remote Location– It makes sense that there is more pristine wildlife viewing when there are fewer people, so find a supplier who has exclusive permits or access to private land. The best Africa safari experiences are on private concessions instead of in the national parks.

Galapagos islands collage with Lindblad Expeditions ship and blue footed booby and baby

The Galapagos Islands are the perfect place to stay socially distanced. Except from the animals

Luxury safari lodge in Africa

Though you can’t always expect luxury, it doesn’t mean you can’t get it along with a great wildlife experience. Photo credit: Africa Inscribed Private Travel

Sustainability– It’s critical that tourism does not adversely impact the environment or the behavior of animals in order to preserve both. Most of the top suppliers in the industry have a solid reputation as good stewards of their destinations, but do a little research to be sure. You want to be sure your tourism dollars are helping, not harming.

Rhino conservation project in Africa

“We were so privileged to be part of this conservation programme which was, without a doubt, one of our career highlights.” Photo credit: Africa Inscribed Private Travel

The best wildlife trips that incorporate all these elements:

Expedition cruises – Companies like Lindblad Expeditions and Aqua Expeditions have ships designed for this purpose, with only 30-100 passsengers that can get into remote locations, and launch zodiacs and kayaks to provide close-up experiences in very small groups.

Photographic gear that Lindblad Expedition guests can borrow for free.

Lindblad Expedition stocks a locker with high end photography gear and binoculars that clients can borrow for no charge.

Aqu Expeditions ship in Indonesia

Aqua Expeditions newest ship, Aqu Blu, was designed to travel in Indonesia year-round, including Komodo National Park.   Photo credit: Aqua Expeditions

Small group escorted wildlife tours – A great example is Natural Habitat Adventures, with a group size averaging only 9 people.  Their polar bear excursions in Canada are outfitted with vehicles and lodging designed specifically for the environment.

Polar bear checking out Natural Habitat expedition vehicle

Who’s the tourist here?   Photo credit: Natural Habitat Adventures

Private wildlife tours– This is the ultimate wildlife experience catered to your special interests and abilities. They can even take you off the beaten path in popular tourist areas like national parks.  (You can book many Nat Hab trips as a private tour at little to no extra cost, depending on your group size!) Booking a private car and guide in Africa offers a richer safari experience than the group game drives.

Bison in Vermejo Park Ranch

Looks like Yellowstone but it’s Vermejo Ranch in New Mexico! It’s larger than most national parks, and has its own herd of bison.

If you are traveling independently and want a great wildlife experience, splurge by booking a private tour with an expert guide. This is also ideal for photographers, as they can guide you to the wildlife, and you don’t have to jostle for position with other tourists.

For expert assistance with a wildlife-focused trip, contact me at suzette@suzettemacktravel.com.

Manta ray in Bora Bora seen on private snorkeling trip

In Bora Bora we booked a private snorkeling tour. The guide asked us what we wanted to see, and drove the speedboat to the perfect location. We visited five sites including this manta ray “cleaning station.”

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Behind the Scenes With Suzette: My First Virtual Travel Conference

Virtuoso Travel Week wrapped up recently, a huge event normally held in Las Vegas, which went virtual for the first time. While I missed seeing my colleagues and travel partners in person, the outcome was the same:  strong connections with the people who have the most influence over my clients’ travel experience, who will hand select their hotel room and VIP them, and who I will call on for support with a special request or a problem.

Suzette Mack with team from Africa

A supplier’s network of contacts and personal relationships with hotels in the destination are my most important consideration when selecting who to partner with for my clients’ trips.

Of course it’s a sales event as well, and I love getting the inside scoop on what’s new and what’s going on behind the scenes that you won’t find on the internet.

Some highlights this year:

  • An adventure tour operator has structured their pricing so 6-7 travelers can take over many of their tour dates as a private trip with no increase in cost. How great for family groups or couples traveling together!
  • A sneak peak at two new resorts: one opening soon in Sonoma wine country, and something completely unique on the Pacific Coast of Mexico.
New hotels in Sonoma Wine Country and the Pacific Coast of Mexico

Exciting new hotels opening in late 2020 – reservations being accepted now!

  • Suppliers are working on vetting more private luxury beach houses, villas, and apartments so we can book them with confidence for our clients.
  • Some resorts have interconnecting 2-4 bedroom options, but they are not advertised on their website because they have to manually block them. We must contact our sales reps to book these.
  • A luxury cycling company has the motto is BIKE – EAT – DRINK – SLEEP.  You can choose your priorities!
Cycling tour in Zion National Park

A Southwest national parks trip includes a visit to lesser known Snow Canyon State Park.

  • Hotels are coming up with creative ways to make the vacation experience special while still social distancing:  private movie nights offered on bungalow patios, mobile bar carts instead of public bars.
  • A Sedona resort is debuting a new adventure center for hikers and mountain bikers. Talk with an expert to pick the right trail, and rent top of the line gear.
  • Several guest ranches are open through winter with fun programs for families.
Guest ranch lodge with christmas tree

Ranches offer a “home away from home” winter experience, with accommodations from lodge rooms to cozy private cabins to multi-bedroom fully-equipped homes.

  • One of the most exciting and innovative developments: A few resorts have announced homeschool packages, where they will provide remote learning space and staff so kids can keep up with coursework while the parents work.

Holiday space is starting to book up, and I can confirm that as I have had two clients this week find out the resort they wanted is not available. But many properties which normally sell out by now do have space.  Cancellation policies are more flexible than usual (some even up 24-48 hours prior to arrival), so planning now is risk-free for at least several months.

St Regis Bora Bora overwater bungalow

Virtuoso exclusives in Bora Bora include 4th night free, daily breakfast (some  with dinner, too), $100 hotel credit, and roundtrip airport shuttle.

Also check out Virtuoso’s recap of the 9 Best Things Learned at Virtuoso Travel Week.

I didn’t attend any cocktail parties, but I did get martini tips from a bartender in London. And I bonded over a love of boxers with the owner of a beautiful Tuscany resort who’s also a Michelin chef. (I don’t speak Italian, but I think  our dogs may be betrothed now??)

Screenshots of meeting with Tuscany resort owner and luxury hotel in London

Il Falconiere, a Relais & Chateaux property in Cortona, and Egerton House, one of only 15 Forbes 5 star hotels in London.

Whether or not to plan travel now is a personal choice, but if you hope to get away in 2021 (or even 2022 for big trips like Africa), we should talk.  Drop me a note or give me a call at 408-223-6155, I’m always happy to talk travel!

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Behind the Scenes With Suzette: Navigating Travel Insurance

As I wrote previously, my colleagues and I have invested a lot of time learning about the various travel insurance products available. While similar on the surface, they have nuances that can determine whether or not they provide adequate coverage for a client’s particular trip. So I am amazed that anyone would book a trip and simply click a box saying they will purchase the insurance offered by that supplier.  (But at least they are buying some form of insurance!)

My clients tend to fall into two groups:

> Those that understand the value of travel protection, and expect me to send them a quote as soon as they’ve booked their trip.

> Those that say they have never purchased it because they’ve never had to cancel a trip, or it’s not worth the money.

First, I don’t know anyone who has a crystal ball that guarantees no unexpected emergency will happen that could cause them to cancel. Second, many clients are surprised to find out how inexpensive insurance can be.  (The rule of thumb is 5-7% of the trip cost, and families pay even less on policies that include free coverage for children.) And there are many other benefits offered besides trip cancellation coverage which can make having a policy pay off.

Zodiac boat on snorkeling tour in Hawaii

Reimbursement for dropping personal items in the ocean can recoup the costs of an insurance policy. Take it from my personal experience! (Photo credit: Ryan Mack)

♦ Expert Tip ♦
Buy a policy as soon as you make any payment on a trip, otherwise you can lose out on coverage
for pre-existing conditions or financial default. You can add more coverage
as you book other components of the trip. And be sure you
understand all the terms and conditions to qualify for that coverage.

What do my colleagues and I learn in training sessions and updates from our insurance reps?

  • How do we ensure clients are covered for pre-existing medical conditions, and what is considered a pre-existing condition?
  • How do we ensure clients are covered for financial default, and how is “financial default” defined?
  • How is “family member” defined?
  • What documents are needed to file a claim successfully?
  • Which suppliers offer “cancel for any reason” coverage and what are the terms?
  • What upgrades are available for unique situations not normally covered: pregnancy, a cancelled wedding, an ill pet, civil disorder?
Vacation home in Bodega Bay with view of ocean

Bliss in Bodega Bay, California.

♦ Expert Tip ♦
Losses related to a home, villa, or apartment rental booked directly with the owner are not ususally covered.
The booking must be made with a travel supplier, which include the companies travel advisors work with.

There are also travel packages that offer vacation protection plans with coverage that may be better than traditional travel insurance policies.  For example, one of my clients was able to cancel their trip with less than 24 hours notice when COVID-19 was just starting to spread, and they didn’t want to be out of the country, because they had “Cancel For Any Reason” coverage. Most insurance policies cut off this benefit 48 hrs or more prior to travel. This can be an important factor in determining the best way to book a client’s trip.

It’s true that there are some things travel insurance doesn’t cover. In fact, I was quoted in a Forbes article on this topic. While it doesn’t cover cancellation for pandemics or government restrictions, a traveler is generally covered if they get coronavirus or fail a COVID-19 test. And you definitely want coverage if you fall ill and/or are quarantined in a hospital or hotel while traveling. Some destinations now require visitors show proof of insurance and coverage for quarantine expenses and medical evacuation.

♦ Expert Tip ♦
If you don’t need or want trip cancellation coverage, buy a barebones policy
to get the other benefits including coverage for medical expenses, medical evacuation, baggage damage/loss,
24×7 emergency support, and more. This is especially recommended when traveling
to a destination that may require large advance payments for treatment.

Traveleres on Lindblad expedition in Svalbard viewing polar bear on ice floe

Cruising in a remote location? You need travel insurance to cover evacuation from the ship to the nearest medical facility, and medical evacuation coverage to pay for transportation to the hospital of your choice.  (Photo credit: Lindblad Expeditions client on Svaldbard polar bear cruise)

When it comes to travel insurance, most travelers don’t know what they don’t know. Our job as professional travel advisors is to know what questions to ask our clients, so we can recommend the products that would provide the best protection for their specific needs.

Disclaimer:  The information presented here may not apply to all travel insurance products, and can change at any time. Contact the insurance provider to answer technical questions about benefits, exclusions, and conditions of any of the insurance they offer.

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Behind the Scenes with Suzette: Doing Business During a Pandemic

It’s been a while since I wrote a blog post, January 29 to be exact.  I just reviewed it, and though the world has changed dramatically since then, it’s still relevant, as is the one before it (How to Travel Well in 2020). While travel is mostly paused right now, I’m going to pull back the curtain on the life of a travel advisor in a series of “behind the scenes” posts.

When people ask how I am doing, they are often surprised at how busy I continue to be, months after the crisis first erupted.

Me in March 2020

I can only speak for myself, but I suspect my life has been similar to most travel advisors.  Here’s how I spend my time:

Managing cancelled trips – Unraveling all arrangements, re-booking for 2021 where possible. Requesting and tracking refunds and credits.  Assisting with travel insurance claims, or  transferring/pausing unused policies.

Managing upcoming trips – Staying on top of new payment and cancellation policies, preparing to pivot to a new plan as conditions change.  Monitoring COVID-19 updates and restrictions for destinations.

♦ Expert Tip ♦
Passport applications and renewals have been on hold
since mid-March, and it’s expected to take months to catch up.
See the State Dept website for updates.

Educating myself –  Attending webinars on the domestic trips that are in high demand as the country opens up, such as national parks, RV vacations, ranches and lodges, and private home and villa rentals. Keeping up with industry news to stay on top of new developments.
bison at vermejo park rank

Vermejo Park Ranch, a Ted Turner Reserve

Communicating with colleagues – Sharing resources for finding the most accurate information about suppliers, destinations, and health and travel advisories.  Sharing personal anecdotes about airline and hotel experiences so we can best advise our clients. And sharing news on our personal lives, to feel more connected during this difficult time.

Meeting with hotels – Learning when are they opening, what services are they offering, what health and sanitation procedures they are implementing.

presentation on hotel post-COVID 19 plans

An udpate from one of our California hotel partners. I hope to visit there soon!

Meeting with travel suppliers – Getting their expert insider information on destinations, updates on booking and cancellation terms, and their frank opinion on what to expect in the coming months.

Diving deep into travel insurance– Understanding COVID-19 coverage, staying up to date on procedures for claims and new policies, getting training on various insurance companies and their products.  Despite some bad press about coverage being limited in a pandemic, there are still many ways travel insurance can protect a traveler’s investment. More on that in a future post.

♦ Expert Tip ♦
It’s very important to get a policy as soon as you make ANY payment on a trip,
in order to be eligible for all the coverage available.
You can update it later if things change.

 

I created an Instagram poll last month to see how people were feeling about travel.  Here are the questions and the results.

travel survey during coronavirus

If you’d like to contribute, send your answers to suzette@suzettemacktravel.com.

Stay safe, stay healthy, and keep dreaming!

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How To Travel Well in 2020

In a podcast for travel professionals,  I recently heard a quote that resonated with me, and it came from someone I consider a friend and mentor:

“In service experiences you don’t get do-overs”
Kerry Dyer, Brownell Travel

What immediately followed in my mind was that you don’t get a do-over on your dream vacation, either. I, like most of my colleagues,  gave up a successful career to start anew in the travel industry, because we wanted to help make travel dreams come true for others. Yes, we are running a business with the goal of making money.  But we chose travel because we love building the relationship with our clients, understanding their priorities and needs, and designing the perfect trip just for them.  However there is no joy in finding out they were disappointed, or worse, they ran into serious problems.  No amount of money makes up for the feeling that we let our clients down.

Meeting a baby gray whale Magdalena Bay in Baja (Lindblad Expeditions, March 2019)

Fortunately things don’t go wrong often. But it’s also not an accident that things go right most of the time.  And I strongly believe the key to that is in my supplier partnerships, the people I entrust to take care of my clients wherever they are in the world, no matter what happens.

So my responsibilities to my clients are:

  • Select the suppliers carefully depending on my client’s needs, the type of trip they desire, and the destination.
  • Cultivate strong relationships with these suppliers so we have mutual trust and respect, and can work effectively and efficiently to make our client’s trip the best it can be.

Tahiti Cruise (Windstar, August 2019)

Why is this important going into 2020?  Because travel demand continues to grow at a rapid pace.  I celebrated my best year ever in 2019, earning a place in Brownell’s 1887 Club.  But this growth also meant there were more challenges in booking and managing travel, and who I choose to partner with in 2020 and beyond is becoming more important than ever.

Frozen Charles River (Boston, Jan 2019)

Suppliers are competing for resources.  A supplier who has their own guides and vehicles, and also has strong personal connections, and is highly regarded by his or her colleagues,  can more reliably offer the best service versus suppliers who are outsource everything to third parties.  This really comes to light when problems occur, asthe true test of a supplier’s worthiness is how they handle a crisis.

Most recently we’ve seen travelers throughout France finding it difficult to rely on public transportation.  Our suppliers have been lining up private drivers on short notice so our clients’ touring plans are not impacted. Airline strikes have forced clients to rebook or reroute their trips, and incur additional costs. While this is a “gray area” with travel insurance suppliers, our strong relationship with our insurance rep has smoothed the path to quickly resolve claims.

Lovely evening stroll in Antibes (Dec, 2019)

Private home and apartment rentals are growing in popularity, but they are prone to fraud, and quality control is difficult. I can attest from personal experience (before I was in the industry and knew better) to the panic that ensues when you show up at your rental, late at night, with no key to be found, and the management office closed. Fortunately my problem was resolved in a few hours once I was able to reach the homeowner and get a spare key from a nearby relative.  We seek out partners who have direct relationships with the property owners/managers, provide 24×7 emergency support, and have demonstrated a commitment to customer service.

Meeting the Vermejo Ranch residents (New Mexico, Sep 2019)

Yesterday an article came out advising travelers where they should not go in 2020. The primary reasons were overtourism, which was becoming detrimental to the environment or residents, to the traveler experience, or both.  The concerns are legitimate, but rather than avoid these destinations, they can be experienced in a different way.  Our supplier’s personal contacts, resources, and innovative ideas can get my clients away from the crowds, and often provide a more authentic experience. But I won’t send a client “off the beaten track” with just anybody.

Christmas Market on Marienplatz (Munich, Dec 2019)

The last industry event I attended in 2019 was the International Luxury Travel Market in Cannes. It’s not just a networking event, it was an opportunity for me to meet one on one with potential suppliers to ask hard questions about how they run their business and what advantage they offer over their competitors. And now I have a name and a face, and a shared experience, which has created a connection between us when I reach out to talk about a potential trip. (Spending an hour trying to find your Uber driver in Antibes who doesn’t speak English is a good team building exercise!)  In ANY business, building relationships is crucial, but even more so in the hospitality industry.

Walking up the same red carpet as the film stars in Cannes (ILTM, Dec 2019)

The good news is that I have many wonderful suppliers who are great partners, that care just as much as I do about my clients.  So I look forward to helping clients fulfill their travel dreams in 2020 and beyond.

~ Happy New Year From My Family To Yours!!  ~

 

Boston University Graduation (May, 2019)

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10 Fun Facts About Vermejo Ranch, a Ted Turner Reserve

I had the great pleasure to visit Vermejo Park Ranch in northern New Mexico recently. I had heard of Ted Turner Reserves, and assumed they were just another luxury guest ranch.  I learned they are so much more, and why Vermejo is often referred to as a private national park.

  1. Exceeding 550,000 acres, the ranch is approximately the size of Rhode Island, and only six National Parks are larger.

    map of vermejo ranch

    The yellow arrow marks the location of the main lodge.

  2. When the ranch is at full capacity, every guest would have over 8000 acres to themselves. It is the largest contiguous ranch in the US.
    view of vermejo landscape while hiking

    Views for miles, and we can only see a small part!

    bar and lounge in vermejo ranch lodge

    Our favorite gathering place after a day of activity.

  3. The driveway is 45 miles long (the road starts at the far right of the map, near the border with Colorado).

    entrance sign to vermejo ranch

    Entering the boundaries of the ranch. Our adventure begins soon!

  4. There were only 97 bison when Ted Turner bought the property. Now there are approximately 1500, including some genetically pure Yellowstone bison. There are >50,000 bison across all Ted Turner properties.

    bison crossing road in vermejo

    Looks like Yellowstone, but without the traffic and crowds.

  5. Botanical specimens from the early 1900’s were discovered in the attic by Jane Fonda, and are now on display in historic Casa Grande mansion.
    framed botanic specimens in casa grande at vermejo ranch

    The label says “Plants of New Mexico” and the date is September 1913.

    casa grande exterior at vermejo ranch

    Casa Grande is 25,000 sq ft with rooms and suites for guests, plus gorgeous public spaces. Another historic building is being restored and will open in 2020.

  6. Rio Grande cutthroat trout were almost on the endangered species list until Ted Turner rehabilitated the creeks in Vermejo, removing non-native species. Now genetically pure Rio Grande cutthroats can be fished exclusively on the ranch.

    Wildlife and streams by the lodge at Vermejo

    Beautiful scenery and wildlife right out the front door of the lodge.

  7. Parts of the ranch are frozen in time with an old coal mine, charcoal kilns, abandoned homesteads, a turn of the century cemetery, and native American artifacts.

    coal kilns at vermejo

    A fun setting for a special lunch!

  8. Costilla Lodge is a certified LEED Silver solar-power ecolodge in a private location 45 minutes from the main lodge.  The lodge is available for full buyouts (occupany 16), and is perfect for corporate or family groups. You can even customize your menu!

    Costilla Lodge at Vermejo

    Imagine having this place all to yourself. Great food, great views, great guides.

  9. Casa Grande looks remarkbly much like it did a hundred years ago.

    The Grand Entry and Great Room in the earl 1900’s. Source: “Vermejo Park Ranch a History”

    Casa Grande interior

    Casa Grande today.

  10. Depending on the time of year, guests can go shed hunting, or on an early morning elk safari. And there are many other activities including biking, hiking, horseback riding, and geocaching.
    vermejo ranch scenery

    Ready for a scramble up Castle Rock. (And for those of you wondering, no ticks here!)

    alpine lake at vermejo ranch

    I love alpine lakes!

Vermejo is not just a place to spend an one of a kind vacation, but a chance to witness one of North America’s greatest conservation comeback stories.  Because each visit is customized, contact me for more information on what to expect and how to plan, and also to receive our exclusive Virtuoso amenities.

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Why A Windstar Tahiti Cruise is Ideal for Active Travelers

Our family unanimously agreed that this was one of our best vacations ever.  We love to snorkel, and being in the water in general, and my husband and kids got certified to dive just for the trip.  We liked that it was very active during the day, but relaxed at night.   Service was exceptional, and the staff came to know all of us within the first day (the bartender could tell me the last time one of my kids came by for a beverage).   The food was excellent and abundant, and I was impressed with the design of the cabin.  It was small, but comfortable, and we had more storage space than we could use.  (I recently posted about how to pack for it.)  So it’s a great trip for just about anybody.

Windstar Wind Spirit anchored in Moorea

Beautiful Wind Spirit anchored in Moorea.

But here is why I especially recommend a Windstar Tahiti cruise for travelers who like to be active on vacation:

Relaxed luxury – It’s upscale in terms of service, amenities, food, and decor, yet casual.   You feel pampered without the pressure of having to dress up, even in the dining room. It’s perfect for honeymoons and celebrations, where you want the setting to feel special but not pretentious.

Cocktail at sunset on deck of Wind Spirit

Cocktails at sunset on deck never gets boring. And is great for meeting people!

 

Dining on the deck of the Windstar wind spirit

“Specialty dining” is when they turn the deck into a restaurant. Shorts are acceptable!

Adventurous excursions – And the variety!  Hiking, diving, snorkeling, cycling, jet-skiing, to name a few.  Though it’s ideal for travelers who want to be in the water every day like us, there are plenty of land and cultural activities as well.  It’s great for families with older children who like to be on the go, even those who say they “don’t cruise.”  (It’s nothing like a big ship cruise.) Divers have opportunities almost every day to do easy to advanced diving, and they also offered beginner excursions which required no certification.

diving in french polynesia

First offical dive after certification!

Insider tip:    I recommend that more advanced adventurers hire a private guide. They can tailor activities to your experience level, and you can do more in the same period of time. We are experienced snorkelers, so we went out in a speedboat instead of catamaran, and visited 5 locations in a 2 hour period. We also had a private jet ski tour which was really fun, and I felt more comfortable zipping around in a smaller group.

jet skiing in bora bora

The best way to travel around Bora Bora, literally all the way around it.

snorkeling pictures of manta ray, eagle rays and lemon shark

On our private “snorkel safari” we saw eagle rays, manta rays, and lemon sharks in just a few hours. And snorkeled through a gorgeous coral garden (cover photo).

Lots of beach time – Being on a cruise often means giving up beach time.  No worries with Windstar, there were three opportunities for the entire ship to hang out on a private island, equipped with all amenities.  Passengers could spend an entire day swimming, snorkeling, and using the kayaks and paddleboards.  And they set up a full bar!

beach in french polynesia

Happy to be stranded on this private beach all day.

bartenders on beach

Especially with these guys taking care of us!

There were also excursions to private motus, we enjoyed one in Huahine which was led by a lifelong resident.  It was interesting to hear about her life on the island, and she made it fun, too.

Learning to make poisson cru.

Learning to make poisson cru .

Flexibility – Most of the islands are easy to explore on your own. I do caution travelers to attend the shore talks the night before to get tips and safety advice.  Or you can just hang out on the ship and enjoy the water sports platform for swimming, sailing, SUP and kayaking. Even tendering was easy, as it was fast and there were never lines.

street art in french polynesia

Amazing street art in Raiatea

sports platform on wind spirit

Hanging out off the back of the boat with all the “toys.” They even have sailboats.

Camaraderie – The small size (<150 passengers) means you get to know people who also enjoy the same type of adventures.  We found ourselves on the same excursions with a couple other families who had kids the same age, so we naturally hit it off.

french polynesia snorkel tour with clear blue waters

The die hard snorkel group heads out on their first excursion.

pareo tying lesson on snorkel tour

Pareo tying lesson on the catamaran

Cultural activities– Locals came onboard or met the ship at the dock to share their culture and demonstrate crafts.  And on every Windstar sailing there is a special Destination Discovery Event. Ours was a celebration feast on a private motu in Bora Bora, with fantastic food and authentic Tahitian entertainment.

table set for dinner in bora bora

Ready to party!

bora bora feast

Tahitian dancers at our private Bora Bora feast

tahitian fire dancers

Have to admit, I was nervous sitting in the front row when some of these flaming sticks were being tossed around.

Year-round destination – There is a rainy season from December to March, but like most tropical areas, it can often mean just occasional, isolated showers. We had a few short showers but they did not interrupt any of the activities.  So you can pick the best time of year for your schedule, or plan around airfare deals.

sunset in french polynesia after rain

You don’t get sunsets like this without some rain.

vanilla plantation on ta'haa

Or lush vanilla plantations.

 

Fun and relaxing, with spectacular scenery, lots of outdoor activities on land and water, unique cultural experiences, and lots of good food and drink at the end of the day.  What more could an adventure traveler want?

To find out if Tahiti is the right fit for your family, send an email to suzette@suzettemacktravel.com.

sunset on windstar wind spirit

There’s never a bad sunset when you’re on a Windstar Tahiti cruise.

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Packing Lessons Learned On A Windstar Tahiti Cruise

The packing guidelines for our 7-night Windstar Dreams of Tahiti voyage seemed pretty straightforward: beachwear/casual during the day, resort casual in the dining room. But as I thought about the various excursions we booked, my packing list became quite long, and I still wasn’t sure what to expect on board. As I unpacked, I couldn’t help but judge how I did. Here’s my breakdown,

What I Should Have Brought

More sunscreen – We just barely had enough. Brought 2 tubes of lotion and 1 can of spray (Costco sized) for 4 adults. By the second to last day we were using more sparingly since we worried about running out.

More casual clothes – I needed more options for the downtime between the end of excursions and happy hour/dinner. While many people were lounging in swimsuits, we usually were in the water all day so we would shower as soon as we boarded. I could have used a bigger variety of t-shirts, tanks, and shorts for relaxing on deck.

Cultural show onboard Windstar Wind Spirit in Tahiti

A typical afternoon onboard the Wind Spirit, where the aft deck and pool bar was a gathering place for socializing and events.

A baseball cap – My wide-brimmed sun hat got a lot of use, but I didn’t want to wear it unless I was out on an excursion.  And with the wind and humidity, I pretty much wanted my hair covered at all times.  I now have a nice souvenir from Bloody Mary’s on Bora Bora!

On a catamaran with the Wind Spirit in the background in Moorea

In this sun it’s essential to keep your head covered and make sure hats won’t fly off in the wind.

Suzette Mack outside Bloody Mary's in Bora Bora

Bloody Mary’s is a must-see in Bora Bora, it’s such a unique place. And has great food!

Travel coffee mug – From past cruise experience I knew I would want one, but forgot to pack it. I am early riser and LOVE my morning coffee. A larger travel mug would have saved me extra trips between the espresso bar and upper deck where I enjoyed watching the sun rise or the ship pull into port.

Espresso bar on Windstar Wind Spirit

My first stop each morning, it opened at 6:30 am!

Special mention:
Rain gear – I actually did not need this, since it only rained once and stopped before we went ashore. And all our activities were water based, anyway. But I dodged a bullet because when it did rain one brief time, it poured. My hat and travel umbrella were fine for a light rain or quick trip outside, but if I had signed up for a hike or other land excursion, I would have been miserable. (Full size umbrellas are provided in the cabins.)

What I Should Have Left Home

“Special” deck shoes – I had bought a pair of slip-on closed toe deck shoes just for the trip. I ended up wearing my favorite cute Birkenstocks (yes, they exist!) when I wasn’t wearing my water shoes, and also had tan and black sandals for dinner.  Moral of the story: just bring one pair of non-skid, comfortable shoes for hanging out on deck.

Sunset over Raiatea from the Windstar Wind Spirit cruise ship

The deck was often wet around the pool and hot tub, or after mopping by the crew. They kept the yacht immaculate!

A few dinner outfits – I could have gotten away with 2 fewer blouses and one less pair of cropped pants. There were 3 casual evenings for dinner, so I really only needed resort casual outfits 4 times.

Dinner at Candles on the Windstar Wind Spirit yacht

This was a casual dining evening on deck, but these clothes also were suitable in the dining room, except the guys would change into long pants. Some guests even wore t-shirts and shorts.

My sweater – I was prepared to be cold in air-conditioned areas, but that was not the case. I never needed more than a blouse to pull on over a tank top if I felt cool (which was rare).  A light scarf would have been fine, too.  But my daughter wore a sweatshirt quite often in the air-conditioned cabin, so it depends on how sensitive you are to that.

A few hundred francs – I really only needed about half of what I obtained in advance from my bank. And I should have asked for more small bills, as I only used it for tour and transfer gratuities, and small purchases from local vendors. They were usually happy to take a mix of USD and XPF, or even USD only.

10000 French Polynesia currency

Currency conversion was easy. 100 XPF (or CFP) is approximately 1 USD

An extra purse – My go-to travel purse is a small, water repellent cross-body with several pockets that I can stuff in my carry-on bag when boarding a plane. I packed a larger “cute” purse thinking I would use it on shore for shopping. I never took it out of the closet. Most of the time my beach bag was my purse, since I also was carrying sunscreen, insect repellent, a phone charger, and flip flops or water shoes.

What I Was Glad To Have

Insect repellent – The wind kept many bugs away, but there were a few places where I would have been miserable without repellant. And After Bite saves me when I do get bit, since I react badly to mosquitoes.

Vanilla plantation demonstration

We really enjoyed our visit to a vanilla plantation. The insect repellent in those bottles is made from the nuts on the plate.

Lots of swimwear – I had 3 swimsuits, 2 pairs of water shorts, 1 long sleeve and 2 short sleeve rash guards, and a cover up. Since we were in the water every day, that allowed 2 days for each suit to dry which was necessary because there was no place outside to hang them.  I swapped the coverup for the rash guard when we were done snorkeling.

Reef shoes – I already had closed-toe Tevas, so I had the rest of the family buy inexpensive reef shoes. These protected our feet from the coral on many beaches, and while snorkeling with sharks and stingrays in shallow water without fins. We also had flip flops for sandy beaches.

Beach on a remote motu in Tahiti

The coral on this beach and in the water is sharp! The elegant Wind Spirit is in the background.

I should note that I lean towards minimalism, and prefer to dress casually whenever I can get away with it. The beauty of the Windstar Cruise is that almost anything goes. There were many people who dressed up more, and they didn’t look out of place, either. The only attire I didn’t see on board were formal gowns, suits, ties, and sports jackets.  The only exception was the crew, for special occasions. Some women wore lots of jewelry and accessories, some had none, and I made do with one set each of gold and silver.

Crew of the Windstar Wind Spirit

Our fearless crew, with the captain on the far right who is from Bulgaria. (He has a wonderful accent!) On our last night they sang a farewell song to us.

The most important advice I can give is be sure to protect your feet and your skin from the elements, especially on shore excursions. It is practically impossible to be underdressed, even in the dining room.  As long as you make an effort, you are fine!

Pareo tying demonstration in Tahiti

After a lesson on how to tie and wear a pareo, we had to bring some home as souvenirs!

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My Wild and Wonderful Whale Encounter with Lindblad

This spring I had the honor of accompanying Sven Lindblad on a special Lindblad voyage to give feedback on new experiences and itinerary modifications for their Baja whale expeditions.  Getting to travel with Sven and his family is a one of a kind adventure in itself.   But even when he’s not on board, this experience needs to be on every wildlife-lover’s bucket list.

Lindblad Sea Bird in Magdalena Bay

The beautiful and classic National Geographic Sea Bird (photo credit: Lesa Bain)

First, let me get one thing straight up front.  This is NOT a whale watch trip.  This is a whale encounter.  And I might even go so far as to say a once in a lifetime wildlife experience, as it’s not too often one gets to have this type of interaction with animals in the wild.

On the first day I was already psyched because we were going to visit a part of Magdalena Bay that no other tours go to, and Lindblad had not visited in at least 15 years.   It ended up being quite impressive as we found ourselves surrounded by more whales than I had ever seen on any of the many whale watching trips I have been on. And I was sitting in a smallish boat, close to the water, with about 10-12 people versus being on a large vessel with at least 50 others jostling for position when there was an occasional sighting.

Lindblad whale watching in Baja California

The “smoke” all around us was the fading mist from a whale spout.

Whale spyhopping in Baja California

We even saw an albino whale this day, but I couldn’t get a good picture.

The talk in the dining room that evening was about the sheer number of whales spouting, breeching, and generally frolicking around us.  And the one lucky guest who got to “pet” an adult gray whale and proclaimed she would never wash that hand again.  I actually worried a bit that we had peaked already, this was more amazing than I had expected.

You can’t appreciate the size until they swim right next to you!

Expedition cruising does not mean roughing it!

Fast forward to the end of the week, I had need not worry.  Every day got better and better.  While we were surrounded by adults on that first day, when we moved north, we were in the midst of the mothers and babies who were biding their time until they had to head north along the coast of California.  (For a demonstration on how to summon a whale, click here.)

Well hello there!

This never gets old.

Eventually everyone, including me, was able to touch a whale at least once, and often touch both a mother and her offspring. (They do feel very different, I can tell them apart now with my eyes closed.)

That’s me trying to pet a baby gray and not drop my son’s GoPro into the ocean!

As I mentioned earlier, we were also tasked with trying out new activities and experiences for our clients.  All of them were met with rave reviews, from exploring new sand dunes to cruising along a deserted beach on fat tire bikes.

Bike or hike, your choice!

When Sven Lindblad asks if anyone wants to explore a new route to the beach, there is only one right answer.

The National Geographic staff was amazing as always.  They helped us with our cameras and were always on hand for an impromptu photography lesson. And the educational talks every evening were fascinating, and made exploring on shore so much more interesting and meaningful.

The level of training they receive is exceptional. I had no idea how much so until a few weeks later, I saw some of our guides posting on Instagram from the NASA Neutral Bouyancy Lab in Houston.  They were part of the Lindblad Expeditions Undersea team getting additional training on ROV operation, divemaster skills, and rescue drills.  In the same pool astronauts use!

I learned so much about sand dollars, and yes it was very interesting.

These are huge!

A comment from one of the guides really stuck with me.  He pointed out that most of the whales we were seeing are old enough to have been alive when they were hunted in this bay.  In their lifetime, they have gone from seeing humans as enemies and attacking boats, to encouraging their offspring to approach and engage with us. They were literally pushing them ahead to reach us, where they’d raise their head to get a better look, and we reached as far as we could (sometimes with a companion holding our ankles), to give a rub on their back or nose.

The only thing better than an ocean sunset, is one with a whale in it.

I became even more in awe of these beautiful and magnificent creatures when I realized their capacity to understand that we were no longer a threat. And grateful that we learned our lesson soon enough that we did not drive them all to extinction.

What gentle and beautiful creatures!

You can view more pictures and videos from the expedition on my Facebook page.

The best way to celebrate the end of a successful expedition is a beach barbecue!

Sunset view from my cabin.

To get started on your next adventure, contact me at suzette@suzettemacktravel.com

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