Romance in the South Pacific
By Rita Cook and A. Anthony Mastracchio

continued from Tahiti’s Marquesas Islands

Helpful Advice

Take every opportunity to use the toilet; you never know when there might be another one.

Take every opportunity to use the pay phone; you never know when there might be another one and if it will work.

If you're on shore and want to go back to the boat, take the first whale boat back. Don't depend on the next one coming; it could take awhile leaving you stuck on shore when you are really ready to get back to your cabin.

When you ask a question the answer will probably be "yes." However, yes means yes, no or maybe depending on who you ask.

Take money out from the ship’s purser. If you go to a bank on one of the islands then you will find a service charge and a minimum transaction fee, which might be more than you intend to spend.

Beware of the tiny bugs called No Nos. They live on several of the islands and are pesky like mosquitoes only causing far more trouble. If they bite you and you scratch the wound it will swell leaving you to look as if you have the measles.

Photos by A. Anthony Mastracchio

Related pages:

• Paradise in French Polynesia
• When in Moorea: Sights the two of you can't miss
• Map of French Polynesia

Rita Cook is the editor-in-chief of Insider Magazine and enjoys spending her time traveling on freelance assignments as well. Living in Los Angeles, Cook is also a film producer who currently has a film in development, "The Kiss of the Vampire."