Welcome to Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com Bethany and thanks for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.

NORM:

Please tell our readers something about yourself and your expertise pertaining to New England States.

Bethany:

My pleasure, Norm. Thanks for invitation. I grew up in New England, with family about region, so I had travelled quite a bit of area from early on. I lived near Thoreau's Walden Pond cabin, summered in a cabin in Lakes Region of New Hampshire, and have always been fond of exploring rivers, ocean, mountains and woods in every season. However, while writing New England Cabins & Cottages I was constantly surprised and amazed by beauty of area I thought I knew so well, and I fell in love with it all over again.

NORM:

Where are New England states?

Bethany:

New England is made up of six most northeastern states in United States: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. It is bordered by Canada, New York, and Atlantic Ocean.

NORM:

Why would you consider a stay in a cabin or cottage in New England states a good choice for a romantic getaway or honeymoon destination?

Bethany:

Well, added privacy is obvious, but it's also easier to feel part of natural area you are in when you are in a cabin or cottage than when you're in some anonymous hotel room. When your natural area could include crashing waves, blinking lighthouses, mountain top vistas, or astounding fall foliage, this connection to your surroundings really adds to exuberance of your visit. Imagine you are in a characterless hotel somewhere and forecast is for pouring rain you may feel trapped or depressed. Imagine you are in a cabin, and you feel like you have a great excuse to stay under blankets with your significant other!

When I married this summer, I rented an old summer camp. My guests played in lake, ate, danced in main lodge, and stayed over in cabins. Everyone had a deliriously childlike and cozy experience. Cabins and cottages allow for that nice combination of carefree enthusiasm, us-against-the-elements adventuring spirit, and romance somehow. (And it doesn't hurt that many of them have fireplaces, wood stoves, or hot tubs.)

NORM:

When is best time to visit New England states from point of view of weather, costs, crowds, and availability of flights from USA, Canada and Europe and Australia, etc?

Bethany:

New England is extremely accessible its biggest airport is in Boston, Massachusetts, but there are also major airports in most of states. Since dollar is not at its best, it has made US a less expensive trip for many visitors.

My favorite season here is fall and not just for bright colors of trees. There is that magical snap in crisp air that adds excitement to bundling up and lessens your inhibitions about feasting in a season of roasts and apple pies. While masses flock to Vermont, Massachusetts Berkshire Hills, and White Mountains of New Hampshire to "leaf peep" as we say, try heading to Maine. Fall is one of least crowded and most beautiful times to visit Acadia National Park, for instance. (And let's face it; you never were planning on swimming while on Maine coast if you went during summer anyway, brrr.) By way, seafood is great here year round, and some lobstermen in Maine do not even put their boats in water until its cold out.

NORM:

If you had to choose 5 unequalled venues in New England states for a romantic getaway, honeymoon or wedding destination, what would they be and why?

Bethany:

Tough question, Norm! There are so many. I'll name some off top of my head.

Good day David and thank you for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.

NORM:

Please tell our readers something about yourself, your expertise and books you have authored pertaining to South Pacific.

David:

I've earned a living from travel guidebooks since 1979, when Moon Publications of Rutland published 1st edition of SOUTH PACIFIC HANDBOOK . In November 2004, Avalon Travel Publishing of Emeryville, California, brought out 8th edition of Moon Handbooks South Pacific. I've also written Lonely Planet guides to Eastern Europe, Cuba, and Canada's Maritime Provinces. Lately I've been exploiting power of Internet with sites like SOUTH PACIFIC.ORG: MAP SOUTH PACIFIC and CUBA PICTURES.

NORM:

When we talk about South Pacific what exactly are we referring to and where is it situated in relation to USA or Canada?

David:

The "South Pacific" brochures printed by tour operators often focus on Australia and New Zealand, but those countries are quite different from tropical Pacific islands. Moon Handbooks South Pacific covers 15 insular countries and territories from Easter Island to Solomons. People tend to consider this region remote, yet it takes only two hours longer to fly from Los Angeles to Tahiti than it does to fly to Honolulu. Fiji is midway between Hawaii and New Zealand, to west of Tahiti.

NORM:

Would you consider South Pacific a good choice for a romantic getaway or wedding and honeymoon destination? Why?

David:

All of main South Pacific destinations have attempted to market themselves as wedding or honeymoon destinations. Fiji and Cook Islands have been most successful as weddings can be arranged locally with little fuss. In French Polynesia, marriages can only be performed for persons with 30 days residency, which excludes most tourists. Instead, French Polynesia has developed an active honeymoon industry with Bora Bora highly favored by bridal magazine writers who enjoyed hospitality of luxury resorts. In my opinion, Moorea is Bora Bora's equal in all but name and is far less expensive. For a romantic getaway, I recommend Rarotonga in Cook Islands. There is a lot to see and do within a compact area, and prices are fair.

NORM:

What is best time to visit South Pacific from point of view of weather, costs, crowds, and availability of flights from USA, Canada and Europe?

David:

Officially, hurricane season in South Pacific is from December to April, although with global warming it's starting earlier and ending later. Winter (May to October) is generally cooler, drier, and less humid throughout region, best time to go. May to August is off-season in Australia and New Zealand; hence Air New Zealand's low season South Pacific airfares apply those months. So by a happy coincidence, you can enjoy best weather for lowest price if you schedule your trip at that time.

NORM:

How safe is it to travel to South Pacific?

David: