This conversation reaches beyond a single destination to examine an important travel principle: even a well-planned trip needs room for the unexpected. Normand describes a real journey in which a ferry was canceled for two days because of weather. The travelers were supposed to reach Bora Bora from …This conversation reaches beyond a single destination to examine an important travel principle: even a well-planned trip needs room for the unexpected. Normand describes a real journey in which a ferry was canceled for two days because of weather. The travelers were supposed to reach Bora Bora from Maupiti, so the original transportation arrangements could no longer work.
A canceled ferry in French Polynesia can change an entire island-hopping itinerary. Valerie from Tahiti Tours and host Normand Schafer explore what happens when travel plans encounter bad weather, changing flight arrangements, and difficult decisions. Through Far and Away Adventures.com, https://farandawayadventures.com/, travelers can seek expert help designing and coordinating customized vacations.
An alternative flight connection was arranged, only for that flight to be canceled the following day. A subsequent direct flight ultimately allowed the travelers to reach Bora Bora on the same day they had originally expected to travel. The transportation changed, and several arrangements needed attention, but the central travel plan was preserved.
Before discussing the disruption, Normand and Valerie consider how trips should be designed in the first place. Valerie believes the traveler’s interests are the starting point. Hiking, lagoon experiences, local culture, and preferred accommodation styles all influence which islands belong in an itinerary. Transportation planning follows those decisions and helps turn an appealing collection of destinations into a workable vacation.
Valerie explains that these situations require quick communication and decisions. New transportation or accommodation arrangements may involve additional costs, and travelers sometimes need time to decide what they can afford. That delay can become part of the challenge when circumstances are already changing.
The discussion also touches on travel insurance, remote destinations, and the importance of people who can assist when unexpected circumstances arise.
For a vacation designed with your priorities and practical connections in mind, ask Far and Away Adventures for personalized planning assistance.
Get a free trip quote from Far and Away Adventures: https://farandawayadventures.com/form/quick-trip-request/?dest=French%20Polynesia&src=spotifymore
In this episode we talk about the practical side of moving between the islands of French Polynesia with Edouard Wong Fat, CEO of Air Tahiti. Host Normand Schafer looks beyond the postcard view to examine how a thoughtful flight plan can make a Tahiti vacation easier, calmer, and far more rewarding. …In this episode we talk about the practical side of moving between the islands of French Polynesia with Edouard Wong Fat, CEO of Air Tahiti. Host Normand Schafer looks beyond the postcard view to examine how a thoughtful flight plan can make a Tahiti vacation easier, calmer, and far more rewarding. For tailored island-hopping advice, visit Far and Away Adventures.com: https://farandawayadventures.com.
For independent-minded travellers, a trip to Tahiti often begins with a deceptively simple question: where should you go after landing? Air Tahiti is the inter-island carrier that links Tahiti with places such as Moorea, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Huahine, Rangiroa, and many smaller communities. Edouard explains why those flights are not merely transfers between hotels. They connect families, students, patients, local businesses, and travellers across an enormous area of ocean, so a route network has to balance daily life with the needs of visitors.
The interview gives a useful reality check for anyone designing a French Polynesia itinerary. It is tempting to add every famous island to a trip, but a better journey usually begins with priorities: the kind of lagoon or landscape you want to experience, the pace that suits your group, the number of internal flights you are comfortable taking, and the amount of time you want to spend in each place. Normand and Edouard discuss how flight schedules, weather, aircraft availability, runways, and seasonality all shape what is possible on a given day.
You will also hear why a domestic flight pass can be helpful for some itineraries but is not automatically the right choice for every traveller. The value depends on the islands, dates, route order, and the way you want to travel. This conversation encourages listeners to build an itinerary around a logical sequence rather than trying to force the islands into an overpacked checklist. A well-planned route leaves room for connections, transfers, weather changes, and the relaxed rhythm that makes French Polynesia special.
Edouard shares a leadership perspective on operating an essential service in a destination with a remarkable geographical spread. Air Tahiti’s work supports more than tourism: it makes everyday movement between islands possible and helps communities stay connected. That larger role explains why reliability, safety, sustainability, staffing, and future fleet decisions matter to both residents and visitors. It is a valuable way to understand the people and infrastructure behind an effortless-looking island holiday.
Whether you are deciding between Bora Bora and Raiatea, considering a wider Tahiti and Moorea itinerary, or trying to reach more remote islands, this episode helps you ask better planning questions. Which connections are practical? How much time should you allow before an international departure? Which islands fit your travel style? When should you slow down instead of adding another flight? Far and Away Adventures can help turn those answers into a trip designed around your own priorities.
Listen for a grounded discussion about Tahiti travel, inter-island aviation, and how to make the journey part of the adventure. For personalized French Polynesia planning, connect with Far and Away Adventures at https://farandawayadventures.com. Flight schedules, requirements, and availability can change, so always confirm current details before booking.
This episode is for travellers who want less guesswork and more confidence before they start choosing islands. The right trip is not the one that covers the most ground; it is the one that gives you the experiences you care about, with enough time to enjoy them.more
In this episode, we’re heading from chaos to calm as Ashley shares the much brighter side of her French Polynesia trip—this time in beautiful Bora Bora. After last week’s wild experience in Moorea, this stay was exactly the reset she needed. Ashley gives us the full rundown of her time at the stunni…In this episode, we’re heading from chaos to calm as Ashley shares the much brighter side of her French Polynesia trip—this time in beautiful Bora Bora. After last week’s wild experience in Moorea, this stay was exactly the reset she needed. Ashley gives us the full rundown of her time at the stunning The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa, including a few minor bumps at the beginning and why the overall experience more than made up for it. From snorkeling in crystal-clear water to visiting a ...more
Today on Travel Chat with Ashley and Emily, Emily picks up with the second part of her incredible French Polynesian honeymoon — this time in dreamy Bora Bora. She shares how she scored an amazing deal at the Westin Bora Bora using points and gives a fantastic tip for flying between islands on Air Ta…Today on Travel Chat with Ashley and Emily, Emily picks up with the second part of her incredible French Polynesian honeymoon — this time in dreamy Bora Bora. She shares how she scored an amazing deal at the Westin Bora Bora using points and gives a fantastic tip for flying between islands on Air Tahiti that every traveler should know. Emily walks through the check-in and resort tour process, including the unexpected shenanigans required just to get a bike, and shares her honest take on the h...more
🎙️ Drop A Pin: French Polynesia Vlogcast 🌺✈️
🚨 This week’s episode is a one-plane-cockpit special—just @DonnieDoesWorld & @UncleChaps taking you on a tropical ride through French Polynesia! It’s our first-ever VLOGCAST (be sure to checkout the episode on youtube), packed with never-before-seen foota…🎙️ Drop A Pin: French Polynesia Vlogcast 🌺✈️
🚨 This week’s episode is a one-plane-cockpit special—just @DonnieDoesWorld & @UncleChaps taking you on a tropical ride through French Polynesia! It’s our first-ever VLOGCAST (be sure to checkout the episode on youtube), packed with never-before-seen footage, fresh dad updates, and a tiki-bar legend that kicked it all off. 🪑🎥
Timestamps:
1:06-10:57 Intro/Housekeeping
10:58-32:25 French Polynesia Discussion
32:26-1:38:43 Honeymoon Talk
1:38:44-1:50:50 Gettin’ Cultured with PFT
🎤 The Solo Flight: Chaps & Donnie Catch Up
🔹 Fact-Check & Feedback – The guys tackle some spicy comments about past episodes’ “accuracy,” and set the record straight
🔹 Baby on Board – Donnie reveals the wild play-by-play from his first ultrasound (spoiler: it was wild). 🤰📈
🌺 Don the Beachcomber & the Honeymoon Game Plan
🔹 How a 1930s tiki pioneer inspired Donnie’s dream honeymoon locale. 🍹🏝️
🔹 Deep cuts on tiki culture, cocktail lore, and why French Polynesia still feels like vintage escapism.
🎥 Vlogcast Premiere: French Polynesia Honeymoon Highlights
🔹 Abandoned Resorts, peak hippo mode, over-water bungalows—raw travel footage straight from Donnie’s camera roll.
🔹 Unexpected mishaps (ever try driving a boat with zero instruction?) and the ultimate sunset flex. 🌅🚤
🎙️ THEN… PFT Commenter Drops In for Gettin’ Cultured 🎰🌎
@PFTCommenter joins the cockpit to ask: “Is there Las Vegas of every country?”
🔹 Rapid-fire lightning round—Paris? Macau? Punta del Este? Who wins the neon crown?
🔹 The fellas draft their top “sin cities” around the world and debate which ones actually pay off in vibes.
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Send us Fan Mail Travel Expert Onanta Forbes has returned from her semi world cruise and I have returned from last week's Travel South USA Global Week Conference in Louisville. Kentucky so on this week's podcast we'll get caught up on the latest travel news about traveling to the US. Then we'll chat…Send us Fan Mail Travel Expert Onanta Forbes has returned from her semi world cruise and I have returned from last week's Travel South USA Global Week Conference in Louisville. Kentucky so on this week's podcast we'll get caught up on the latest travel news about traveling to the US. Then we'll chat with travel writer and blogger Linda King about the island of Bora Bora in the South Pacific. She's the founder of the Smart Travelista website Smarttravelista.com and that's where you'll find her...more
In Episode 109 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, hosts Angie Sparks and Mike Zaccheo discuss a variety of travel-related topics. Angie highlights a member's trip report on using AMEX Marriott Bonvoy card rewards to stay at the Westin Bora Bora, while Mike shares exciting news about new Capital One an…In Episode 109 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, hosts Angie Sparks and Mike Zaccheo discuss a variety of travel-related topics. Angie highlights a member's trip report on using AMEX Marriott Bonvoy card rewards to stay at the Westin Bora Bora, while Mike shares exciting news about new Capital One and Chase Sapphire lounges in Las Vegas and Philadelphia respectively. They also cover updates on CapitalOne's partnership with JetBlue, the reintroduction of United Premier luggage tags, and a South...more
