24 - Sunday, October 19, 1986 - North Shore News Travel EXPLORING THE SOUTH PACIFIC LAST COLUMN I gave you some general information on Fiji. Now, here are some specifics. To get the most out of your stay you should consider (1) a cruise through the smaller islands or (2) a stay on one of the small islands. I'd heartily recommend a com- bination of both. If you’ve made up your mind to go this route these can be booked through any travel agent. To start out, remember that your flight to Fiji is a marathon. The air time is roughly 12 hours but this is apt to include a stop- over in Hawaii which extends the travel time. You'll be very tired. Just across from Nadi airport is a motel called the Gateway. It’s pleasant, reasonably priced, has a pool and (when I was there) the food was good. It is a pick-up point for buses that shuttle pas- sengers to the port of Lautoka where you get both cruise ships and small boats to islands resorts. by Barbara McCreadie If I were returning to Fiji, I’d book my first night at the Gateway, get a good night’s sleep and carry on the next day. Proba- bly on: Blue Lagoon Cruises — I could kick myself for missing this when I visited Fiji but, just like any other first-time visitor | made a few mistakes. Since then I’ve talked to scores of people who were a bit smarter and I've heard nothing but raves about Blue Lagoon. You can choose either four-day or seven-day packages. The ships carry 66 passengers. Packages in- clude one night at an airport hotel (not the Gateway). You may also combine the cruise with a stay at a number of island resorts as well as many resorts on the main island of Vitu Levu. In fact, there are so many possibilities that there is no point in listing them here — if you're serious about visiting Fiji, a travel agent has all the details. Cost: As an example, an eight- day, seven-night cruise package in- cluding one night in a hotel in Nadi will cost $845 (Hotel-Regent of Fiji) or $810 (Nadi Travelodge). In addition, cruise meals are $185 whici: must be paid at the time of booking. . Prices quoted are Canadian dollars per person, twin occupan- cy, on B-deck. A- deck is $75 per person more. Every Friday with Tim Renshaw in Table Hopping If you wish to extend your stay at your hotel it’s best to arrange it at the time of booking. The Regent of Fiji costs $79 per person. The Nadi Travelodge is $49 per person. The Regent isn’t cheap but it's fuxury. If you get a chance, take in their Lovo (out- door banquet with entertainment). Island Resorts — Remember, these can be combined in a package with a Blue Lagoon cruise. These are some of the possibilities. For a complete list, check with a travel agent. Many of these islands are so small you can walk from one side to the other in five minutes or less. Prices quoted are Canadian dollars, per person, twin occupan- cy and do not include meals. All include one night at an airport hotel, four nights on the island. By day, the emphasis is on water sports, beach games, sunbathing or chugging around in glass-bottom boats. Some islands have swimm- ing pools —- others don’t. Night life is live music and other enter- tainment. Beachcomber Island — !’m men- tioning this first because it’s one of the most reasonably priced islands. It offers rock-bottom prices for travellers who don’t mind sleeping in dorms. There are some private cabins (bures) available with private facilities. When I visited Beachcomber the crowd was mainly a youth group although I heard from one couple in their 60s who went on my rec- ommendation and had a blast. [ found the food good, the management great and the at- mosphere relaxed. There is no pool but the beach surrounds the entire island and is lovely. There were no hot water taps when I visited, but the cold. taps were tepid. Cost: five nights $300 plus $25 per day for food. Treasure Island — a ‘sister-island “to Beachcomber, Tr2asure is a bit more luxurious. All accommoda- tion is private bures with plumb- ‘ing. There is a nice pool and lots of beach. The bures reminded me of your average motel in 1955. Nice dining room. The crowd was a mixed bag — honeymooners, families with kids and the rest of us. Cost: five nights $375. Food at restaurant prices. Castaway Island — I haven't visited this one but I’ve heard some good reports. No pool. All accommodation private. Meals at restaurant prices. Cost: $349, five nights, in- Careers in Trave @ We can open the door to the & m exciting world of travel for YOU DAY AND EVENING COURSES B “ ‘ ' TRAVEL COUNSELLING SALES & MARKETING RESERVEC COMPUTERS “. with on-site installations 4 @ TRAVEL TRAINING CENTRES f Ste. 2-1583 Pemberton Ave. §& HM North Vancouver 986-2221 cluding one night at the Gateway. Toberua Island — this is another one | haven’t seen. It’s one of the more expensive resorts, but it seems to me that the reason for the higher cost is that all the bures are beachfront. Cost: five nights, $599, meals at restaurant prices. SAVE $840+ ON THIS CRUISE! Avoid the huge single supplement, benefit from group rate savings, and meet other single travellers who love to cruise on this unique departure. SHIP: DATE: PLACE: and during the cruise. Sitmar’s FAIRSEA January 15 - 24, 1987 Mexican Riviera 9 day cruise We will arrange for shared accommodaticn as well as special ‘‘singles’’ events before Cali now for details: 926-4344 _ It’s yours Fly to Hawaii and the South Pacific wit FZ Continental Airlines 6 and you'll get the feeling, “qa, you've arrived in paradise 77". long before you actually get there. You'll also yet something no other airline is offering you. Its our unique “Pub in the sky.” As the name suguests, it's a very friendly place in which to stand and walk and sip ot Kc and talk and generally make time pass " alot quicker than you thought possible. But there are still AX more reasons to fly to” the South Pacifie with us. So read itand reap: GOOD TIMING ~. 1S HAD BY ALL. * Faet is Continental offers up to-S regularly scheduled flights a week from Vancouver to Honoluluand -*~f onward connes tions to Fiji, Departures on Thursday, Friday; Saturday, and Sunday. - GREAT CONNECTIONS. Continental fares are from ‘anada with connecting service supplied by our t Air Canada, Canadian Pacific Air Lines, friends at : cific Western and Time Air aa) as eos 477 er c.sounne iad HONOLULU « — n Ny E>. 1 PERT NOW #106-100 Park Royal South : when you fly to paradise with us. “Nery MANY HAPPY « RETURNS. - ANGaneisco When returning gt SSSL0S ANGELES from the South : acific you won't be s subjected to back- acking, We fly directly to either * * Australia or New Zealand, You're going to love us for this one, ' | GOODIES GALORE. In addition to : N\} our always superb service you can Pepi count on free bar service, choice of entrees, free headsets and free movies. Are you listening, Mr Ward? ROUND TRIF-FROM VANCOUVER $1076. Sydney . Applies for.travel originating April through November. Certain restrictions apply. Add-ons fan ether cites avinlabte. «) No subcontracting here, Check-in services in Vancouver are operated at a Continental ee a RESERVATIONS PLEASE, General Reservations 1-800-525-0280, International Desk 1-800-231-0856. THE BOTTOM LINE. After all is said, it comes down to this, No one has better fares or better service to the South Pacific than Continental Airlines, Just ask 1 ‘g , Uy counter by a very qualified Continental statf, Ce Za anybody in that great little pub 5 miles above the cific. €2CONTINENTAL AIRLINES Proof that man was meant to fly. 51 US. Cities * Mexico © Canada + South Pacific * Micronesia + Hawaii « The Far East + London Bares quoted subject ta ves croment approvid and are subject to change without notice