December 2, 2007
French Polynesian Islands
Since 2002, the number of weekly flights from California to Papeete has grown from eight to 14. Thirteen of those are flown from Los Angeles by Air France, AOM French Airlines, Air New Zealand and the scheduled charter carrier New Frontiers/Corsair, which sells most of its tickets through via tour operators. Hawaiian Airlines also flies to Tahiti from Oahu. Round-trip Los Angeles-Papeete air fares begin at about $700. Tour packages: Delta Dream Vacations last year started offering Tahitian itineraries (relying on Air New Zealand to carry passengers from Los Angeles to the islands). Runaway Tours, another major tour operator in Hawaii (which sells trips only through travel agents), started offering Tahiti packages in May. And Pleasant Holidays, the dominant American tour operator in Hawaii for more than 35 years, in September will dispatch its first tours to seven French Polynesian islands. Additional Info: Camping Hammocks
