Tahiti

Jerry Hulse's "Tahiti, the Temptress" (Sept. 6) recalled memories of our three weeks' visit there in 1966 when we explored Tahiti, spent a week on Moorea with the Bali Hai Boys, then a week at their place in Raitea, followed by a final week at the glorious Hotel Bora Bora. I can appreciate Michener's enthusiasm for beautiful Bora Bora, but I, too, prefer Moorea. FRANK ALEXANDER Rancho Palos Verdes

The free stopover in Tahiti is back. Each year Air Tahiti Nui offers a free three-night stay in Tahiti for travelers who book a trip to New Zealand or Australia. It's a great way to break up the trip and explore a bit of French Polynesia, too. The deal: The airline, the official carrier of Tahiti and the islands, offers three nights at Le Meridien Tahiti or Manava Suite Resort Tahiti . The add-on is good for those who book round-trip airfare from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand, or Sydney and other cities in Australia.

"Polynesia: Afloat on Society's Fringe" [Oct. 19] brought back memories: In October 1964, on the way to Australia, I flew UTA French Airlines to Tahiti. Upon landing, I was surprised to find myself welcomed as Tahiti's first American jet tourist. It was night, and they put me up in a lovely hotel on Papeete's outskirts, where I awoke to a virgin paradise. Papeete was different then. I moved to the Green Hotel, six rustic rooms on the waterfront, with Stirling Hayden's Wanderer moored beside it. Jack Carpenter San Juan Capistrano Send letters to Travel, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012; fax (213)

If you are planning a trip to New Zealand or Australia , Air Tahiti Nui will fly you there and throw in a free three-night visit to Tahiti. Choose a Sofitel, Le Meridien or Radisson resort for your stay and take the time to explore the French Polynesian island. The deal: There's a lot of moving parts to reserve with this deal. Prices start at $1,298 per person from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand, and $1,666 per person to Sydney, Australia. Each package includes a three-day stopover in Tahiti either outbound or on the return flight.

I had never been to Tahiti, and after reading about it in your section and seeing those beautiful pictures I knew that I would have to see it. The trip turned out very well. The Maeva Beach is a fine hotel if you like big buildings. It is very clean and handled very well. The ferry to Moorea is a little rough, but not bad. The ride for close to an hour to Club Med in a diesel-fueled bus was not too good, but the Club Med was a pleasant surprise. It was rebuilt in March. It has a great beach and the food while not great was plentiful, with a large selection to choose from.

Elizabeth Wasserman's "Tahiti: Paradise on a Budget" (May 22), was right on the mark in regards to how expensive everything is. My husband and I spent a week in the South Pacific last August, visiting both Tahiti and Moorea. French Polynesia is very beautiful; however, the natives are not hospitable to tourists. Never once were we made to feel welcome; rather, we were treated like intruders. The accommodations also leave much to be desired. We stayed at the four-star Sofitel Maeva Beach in Papeete.

Veteran teacher Dick Jordan will get his trip to Tahiti after all. Since 1962, the history teacher had been inviting his students and former students to join him on the steps of the Denver Public Library on New Year's Day 2000. He also jokingly asked them to bring $1 each to pay for his retirement trip to Tahiti. More than 100 came, from all over the country, each bringing the $1, and in some cases more.

The catamaran belonging to missing former NBA player Bison Dele has been found docked in the Tahitian town of Taravao, a French police official said Thursday. Military and civilian police were expected to begin an investigation aboard the boat, Hakuna Matata, after receiving permission to board the craft from a French magistrate. It had been docked at the site since July 8, police said.

Doctors say the man who survived the 7 1/2-hour flight from French Polynesia inside the wheel well of an Air France jumbo jet is in good condition, eating and drinking, but hasn't revealed his reasons for risking his life to reach Los Angeles. The man, who can write and understand English, has had good vital signs since Friday, and doctors expected to release him by Sunday.

Marlon Brando's daughter, Cheyenne, has left the country and prosecutors voiced concern Monday that she has done so to avoid testifying in the murder case of her half-brother, Christian. Cheyenne Brando, whose half-brother is charged with killing her Tahitian boyfriend, flew to the Polynesian island the day after prosecutors first attempted to serve her with court papers naming her a material witness in the case.

Driving along the southern coast of Tahiti that day, Nathan Fletcher saw things he had never seen before. The waves broke so big and hard that seawater crashed through berms, surging inland, scattering bits of coral across the road. Villagers pedaled their bicycles out to watch. Down at Teahupoo beach, a big-money contest with Kelly Slater and some of the best surfers in the world had been put on hold. Government officials had declared a "code red" for safety reasons. "Nobody wanted those waves," Fletcher said.

Small-ship line  Paul Gauguin Cruises has cut sale prices by  $750 on selected seven-night cruises to Tahiti. Prices start at $3,647 per person, including airfare from Los Angeles, but that rate will likely sell out quickly.  The deal: The cruise line operates Paul Gauguin, a ship named for the French artist who famously captured scenes of Tahiti on canvas. The vessel accommodates 332 guests and 217 staff members. Stops on the Tahitii & Society Islands trip include Papeete, Raiatea, Taha'a (Motu Mahana)

CENTRAL ASIA Slide show Gary and Kathy Symons will explore Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, follow the route of the Silk Road and visit the Nukus Museum. When, where: 7:30 p.m. Monday at Distant Lands, 20 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Admission, info: Free. RSVP to (626) 449-3220. POLYNESIA Slide show Mort Loveman will present "Tahiti and Her Islands" When, where: 1 p.m. Wednesday at Roxbury Park Community Center, 471 S. Roxbury Drive, Beverly Hills.

There's no question Michael Bay can crush giant robots. Now the "Transformers" director has flattened Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. Though reviews for Bay's "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" were scarcely glowing, they were nonetheless superior on average to the notices given Hanks and Roberts' "Larry Crowne," the romantic comedy that Hanks also directed and is opening this weekend against "Transformers. " According to two of the three most prominent movie review aggregation sites — Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic — the third "Transformers" film received better marks than "Larry Crowne" by a slim but consistent margin.

If you're really stuck for a Valentine's Day gift and have deep pockets, Paul Gauguin Cruises can make shopping simple. Book a cruise before Feb. 19 and score romantic extras such as Champagne and chocolates. That and a cruise of the stunning South Pacific , of course. The deal: The Valentine's Day Gift offer includes the following extras when you make a reservation for any 2011 sailing: a Tahitian black pearl and sterling silver pendant, a bottle of Champagne, Leonides chocolates and flower turndown service.

Mau Piailug Traditional Polynesian ocean navigator Mau Piailug, 78, a traditional navigator who in the 1970s began teaching Native Hawaiians how to use the stars, moon, wind, birds and currents to find their way around the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, died Sunday on Satawal, his tiny home island in the Federated States of Micronesia. He had diabetes.

A stowaway who survived a freezing, 7 1/2-hour flight in the wheel well of a jetliner traveling to Los Angeles from French Polynesia was recovering from his ordeal, authorities said Friday. Doctors said the man was suffering from "very severe hypothermia" with a core body temperature of 79 degrees when he arrived in serious condition at UCLA Medical Center. A body temperature below 85 degrees is normally fatal, according to experts.

Delaplane makes the serious error of saying there is no air service to the Cook Islands from North America. Please make sure that he knows that Air New Zealand flies into the Cooks every Tuesday from Tahiti. Therefore, there is easy access from Los Angeles to the Cook Islands via Tahiti every week. Furthermore, Rarotonga has had access from North America, via Tahiti, for over 10 years. TED COOK, chairman Islands in the Sun Newport Beach

Soar with the Liberty Belle You can relive history on the Liberty Belle, a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber from World War II. It will make a two-week swing through Southern California, including Sunday in San Diego County, Saturday and next Sunday in Long Beach, and March 13 and 14 in Burbank. Half-hour rides cost $430 per person. Seven people can ride on each flight. If you don't want to spend $430, you can, free of charge, watch the warplane take off and land and tour it after the last flight of the day. Reservations are accepted at (918)

If you're longing for an island escape to a faraway place, Air Tahiti Nui may have just the ticket. The airline, partnering with tour vendors, is offering "early bird" pricing for trips next year to French Polynesia. You need to book by Thursday and travel between Jan. 11 and June 11. The deal: One of the cheaper packages starts at $1,298 per person, double occupancy, for a six-night stay at the new Manava Suite Resort Tahiti, near Papeete. The price covers round-trip economy airfare from Los Angeles and daily breakfast; taxes are extra.