In May of 2016, I enjoyed a lovely Paul Gauguin sailing in Tahiti. In one wonderful week, I explored the best of the South Pacific, with stops in lush Huahine, beautiful Bora Bora, and postcard-perfect Moorea!

The Paul Gauguin was a wonderful small ship experience which gives you the opportunity to get up close to many ports that you wouldn’t be able to if you were sailing on a large ship.  The Paul Gauguin held only 350 passengers and 250 crew, which made the experience very intimate and the service wonderful.

Paul Gauguin offered a private motu on Bora-Bora with complimentary tender service which ran every ½ hour - wonderful experience offering snorkeling, paddleboards and kayaks for our use.  They also had a private motu experience on Taha’a where we enjoyed a barbeque lunch provided by Paul Gauguin.  The excursions tend to be on the expensive side, but this is due to the destination.  There were not many activities on board the ship while in port.  They offered a wide variety of dvd’s that you could sign out with a dvd player in each cabin. 

I would recommend this cruise specifically for the small ship experience…loved never having to wait for anything!!

To say Joy Oelke likes the beautiful islands of Hawaii is certainly an understatement!  Joy traveled to Hawaii for the third time in May 2013 and stayed at the Honua Kai on Maui and Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu.

With almost five miles of beachfront, Turtle Bay is the perfect place to take in the azure beauty of Kawela Bay, Bay View Beach Lawn and, of course, Turtle Bay.  Oahu's spectacular ocean views are on display from every one of the Resort's 452 magnificent accommodations, including our beach cottages, villas, guest rooms and suites. A luxury beach resort, Turtle Bay also features two lushly landscaped pools, championship golf courses by Fazio and Palmer, tennis courts, horseback riding, hiking and mountain bike trails, a surfing school, world-class dining and shopping.

Joy has stayed multiple times on all of the islands and has first-hand knowledge of each island’s attractions, resorts, and restaurants. 

In November of 2014, I stayed at Turtle Bay Resort again and visited Kauai at the Poipu Sands Condos. Turtle Bay is located on the northernmost point of Oahu, a 15-minute drive from the Polynesian Cultural Center and the only major hotel to survive on Oahu's wet, wild and windy side, this castaway resort is one of the islands' best-kept secrets.  Select gatherings and families and couples who can appreciate the area's abundance of nature will be happy here, as will golfers, tennis players, surfers, sailboarders, snorkelers, and swimmers. This is the least-visited part of the island, but Turtle Bay Resort gives travelers a reason to visit.

The beautiful Poipu Sands condo complex overlooks Shipwreck beach and is one of only a handful of beachside resorts in Poipu. A pleasant stroll leads to the Grand Hyatt offering many amenities including spa and restaurants.  Beyond shipwreck is the start of the Mahaulepu Coastal Trail, an undeveloped area of lithified sand dunes and beaches. Poipu Sands has its own swimming pool and tennis court as well as the use of the Poipu Kai community swimming pool, hot tub, and tennis courts. 

In April of 2012, I visited Tahiti with Starwood Hotels and Resorts. In Papette I stayed at Le Meridien Tahiti, a modern and luxurious resort offering you the opportunity to awaken each of your senses. The hotel, renovated in 2010/2011, will bathe your senses in exceptional views of the lagoon, the island of Moorea and the coral garden. Le Méridien Bora Bora offered over-water bungalows that were spectacular.  Our bungalow faced Mount Otemanu on Bora Bora.  It was absolutely the most beautiful place I had ever seen!

We then continued to The St Regis. After experiencing the exhilaration of world-class snorkeling in the private lagoon at The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, we enjoyed a delightful lunch and the adults-only Oasis Pool with secluded private cabanas.  The sunset views at our beachside bar—Aparima were amazing. Outside of The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, you may enjoy jet skiing, jeep safaris, shark & ray feeding, sailing, diving, hiking & sunset cocktail cruises. 

I had the opportunity to stay at the Sunset at the Palms located in Negril, Jamaica September 2012. Here, time stands still and serenity reigns. Set amidst gardens of trees and flowering plants at the edge of Negril, Jamaica's laid-back resort area. Where intimate, chic and serene best describe this unique all-inclusive property. Although you'll find yourself one with nature, your accommodations are elegantly appointed and the environment so tranquil and calm, it will leave you breathless.

Sunset at the Palms features a trendy, new design, sumptuously appointed guestrooms, new amenities and lush landscaping. Just 85 "treehouse-style" guestrooms stand in a ten-acre tropical garden, a design praised by Architectural Digest. And it's all just steps from the resorts five acres of beachfront, two miles of white, sandy beach, hailed as the most blissful beach in Jamaica. As you can see, I enjoy beach destinations and experiencing all of the different cultures of the island

In October of 2012, I vacationed at the St James Club located in Antigua.  This is a beautiful resort located on both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean with lovely beaches and all-inclusive features. Tucked away on a secluded 100-acre peninsula on the southeastern coast of Antigua, the St. James's Club Resort & Villas exudes a casual, club-like ambiance.

This exclusive hideaway caters to couples, families, and singles with plenty of amenities and activities. The resort has a longstanding reputation for exceptional, caring service. Here, guests can retreat from the world or enjoy a wide array of island and water-based diversions.