How do I lovE SofItEl? lEt mE count tHE wAyS.

Issue Eight | August 2009
IN THIS ISSUE
GREETINGS FROM ROMANCE TRAVEL CONCIERGE!
Midsummer is the perfect time for a little fun + romance, as
Shakespeare would certainly agree. Where better, then, to
celebrate your love than in French Polynesia? Whether in
Bora Bora, Tahiti, or Moorea, our preferred vendor in French
Polynesia, Sofitel Luxury Hotels, will provide you with the
perfect backdrop for a bit of comedy + a lot of love.
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HOW DO I LOVE SOFITEL?
DESTINATION WEDDING TO GO™ - BORA BORA
SAME SERVICE, DIFFERENT VIEWS
HONEYMOON #130: BORA BORA
OFF TO FRENCH POLYNESIA (TIPS)
LOVEGIFT OF THE MONTH
How do I love Sofitel? Let me count the ways.
Actually, we count four. Sofitel Luxury Hotels has four resorts in French Polynesia: Sofitel Tahiti, Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora Beach
Resort, Softel Bora Bora Marara + Sofitel Bora Bora Motu Private Island, each with a distinct personality yet the same hospitality,
island spirit + modern comfort.
When choosing an airport transfer, we typically request from a variety of vehicles – Mercedes, Escalade, or charter buses. For
your airport transfer in Bora Bora, however, it won’t be a four-wheeled vehicle. Instead, a motorized boat will take you directly
from the baggage claim to Sofitel Bora Bora Marara + Motu Private Island. As the boat zooms over glassy waters + the wind
tussles your hair, you can sit + watch the wake of the boat while it makes its mark on a never-ending plane of blue seas. This
is just the beginning of the trip of a lifetime.
As the boat arrives at the dock of Sofitel Bora Bora Motu Private Island, a staff will greet you with cold towels, welcome drinks
+ a homey hospitality. The resort occupies its own island, with just 32 bungalows in all. Its overwater bungalows offer not just
a view of the endless ocean, but also a mountain view. The secluded location is perfect for couples on their honeymoon or for
a private destination wedding, accommodating to guest lists as small as two + as large as 62. When you’re not busy jumping
off your deck for a swim or lounging in your overwater bungalow, you can take a short boat ride to Sofitel Marara for dinner
buffet, spa treatment, or an assortment of activities.
Situated on a nearby + larger island, Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort offers a great deal of activities such as snorkeling,
4x4 safari island tour, + a swim with stingrays + sharks followed by a private picnic by the beach. At night, be sure to join the
Momma Show, an authentic Polynesian celebration with music, dancing, + a lot of laughter. On this island, there are also small
grocery shops where you can purchase snacks + drinks, allowing you to feel right at home.
Because we love Softel so much, + we love French Polynesia just the same, we are presenting our entire line of French Polynesia
products in this LoveLetter. So whether you’re in for a destination wedding, a honeymoon, or just a trip for two, there’s a bit
of French Polynesia for all.
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Destination Wedding To Go™ - Bora Bora
Turn your 1-day event into a 5-day celebration
Most wedding celebrations end in a single day. The bride gets ready in the morning, the groom goes for a round of golf, then
they exchange vows, rush to the reception, eat dinner, toss the bouquet, cut the cake, do some dancing + bid farewell. Out of
the 250 guests, it would be amazing if the couple conversed with more than 25% of them (the toast doesn’t count).
What if you could have a wedding with just 8 of your closest friends (the ones you really want to invite), on a private island, +
celebrate your union for 5 days / 4 nights instead of just one? What if you don’t have to pay for decoration, because you will
have the blue sky as your ceiling, the mountain as your backdrop, + the sunset as your lighting? Our $23K USD Destination
Wedding To Go™ in Bora Bora allows just that.
For bride + groom + all guests, this includes round trip airport transfer; sting ray + shark safari with picnic; 4x4 safari island tour;
+ accommodation in overwater bungalows where guests can jump off their decks + join the fish at any time. This also includes
daily breakfast + dinner, which could add up quickly in Bora Bora. For just the bride + groom, we have included spa treatment,
romantic dinner on the beach, + in room sunset canapés + champagne. Most importantly, this also includes your ceremony
(flowers, officiant, musicians, + fruit juice cocktails), reception (dinner, flowers, wedding cake, + champagne) + a Romance Travel
Concierge to put everything together.
So, if you’re interested in celebrating a five-day wedding, call us to learn more about our Bora Bora Destination Wedding To
Go™. Price is available November 1 - December 22, 2009. For all other dates, please contact one of our Romance Travel
Concierges for pricing.
Same Service, Different Views
Our $7.5K USD French Polynesia Trip for Two is perfect for the couple who wants to get the most out of French Polynesia. The
trip takes you through 4 days / 3 nights in Tahiti, 4 days / 3 nights in Moorea, + 5 days / 4 nights in Bora Bora.
A trip like this can usually cause some unease as it takes you through three different islands + hotels with numerous transfers
by car, plane + boat. To remedy that, we have pre-arranged everything so you don’t have to worry about it. Breakfast + most
dinners are included; all the transfers, whether by land, air or sea are pre-arranged; three different activities have been reserved;
+ a spa treatment plus sunset canapés are booked for relaxation. Most of all, your accommodations on all three islands are
booked in one of the Sofitel Luxury Hotels. You can expect the same kind of comfort + hospitality without wondering if your
next hotel is going to disappoint you. At the same time, each resort is packed with a distinct personality. Sofitel Tahiti is located
on the main island filled with shops; Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora Beach Resort has best snorkeling spot; + Sofitel Bora Bora Marara
+ Motu Private Island are havens for privacy.
If you’re feeling up to some sun, snorkeling + island hopping, contact one of our Romance Travel Concierges for more details.
Price is available from September 1 – December 20, 2009. For different dates, please contact us for pricing.
w w w. R o m a n c e Tr av e l C o n c i e r g e . c o m | S a l e s @ R o m a n c e Tr av e l C o n c i e r g e . c o m | + 1 . 6 2 6 . 3 8 9 . 1 7 7 0
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Off to French Polynesia
Passport + Visa Requirements Valid passport; no visa required for stay up to one month
for U.S. citizens.
Currency
CFP franc (XPF)
Official Langauge
French (but most people speak English)
Time Zone
UTC-10
Honeymoon #130: Bora Bora
If you’ve had a traditional wedding, then you know the
madness it entails – an ever-growing guest list (+ probably
a few uninvited guests), difficult vendors, + the aunt no one
wants to sit with. At some point in the wedding planning
process, most couples just want to get it over with + skip
to the honeymoon.
Our $5000 USD Bora Bora Honeymoon is designed for
couples seeking a private sanctuary for their post-wedding
retreat. We have included everything romantic for this
trip of a lifetime: snorkeling with private picnic, couple
spa treatment, sunset canapés with champagne in your
bungalow, + most of all, a romantic dinner set on the beach,
decorated with flowers + lit by torchlight. The overwater
bungalows offer a unique view of not just the ocean but
also of the Mount Otemanu.
But the best part is the privacy. With only 32 bungalows in
all (30 overwater bungalows + 2 hillside bungalows), Sofitel
does not share the island with any other resort. There will
be times when it seems like no one else is on the island
save you + the staff. It would be 5 days/ 4 nights with just
the ocean, mountain view, tropical fish, + you.
So if you’re looking forward to a post-wedding retreat, call
us to pencil in your honeymoon. Price is available from
November 1 through December 22, 2009. For all other
dates, please contact one of our Romance Travel Concierges
for pricing.
Tipping Etiquette
Tipping is not required in most places. Services fees
are already included in restaurants + hotels. However,
it is a great way to show your appreciation for receiving
exemplary services.
Must Brings
swimwear, sunscreen, camera (we suggest inexpensive,
disposable underwater cameras), flip flops/sandals.
Quick Tip
Scope out local markets to buy snacks + drinks. A can
of soda can cost as much as $4 USD in a hotel, while the
same price can buy you two liters of the same soda in a
small market.
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LOVEGIFT OF THE MONTH
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There’s nothing like a familiar scent to evoke a certain
memory. Sunscreen mixed with chlorine reminds
one of summer swimming lessons; apple + cinnamon
herald the coming of Christmas; + the Tahitian gardenia,
known as the tiare, is a sweet reminder of the romantic
vacation in French Polynesia.
As part of our dedication to all things French Polynesia
in this issue, we are including a bottle of Eau de Toilette
Tiare (3.3 fl. oz/98 mL) by Reva de Tahiti, who also offer
tiare scented soap + lotion.
We discovered this little gem on the way home from
Bora Bora in Air Tahiti Nui’s in-flight catalogue. Sad to
be leaving a memorable trip behind, we had to bring
this scent home, so whatever happened in Bora Bora,
doesn’t just stay in Bora Bora.
w w w. R o m a n c e Tr av e l C o n c i e r g e . c o m | S a l e s @ R o m a n c e Tr av e l C o n c i e r g e . c o m | + 1 . 6 2 6 . 3 8 9 . 1 7 7 0
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