Crashing a Club Med in French Polynesia, nonpaying guest intruder John M. Edwards discovers life is no picnic. . . . I awoke on the rooftop of Tahiti’s international airport with a heavy jackboot nudging me in my ribs–! “Monsieur, Monsieur, allons-y!” All of the other sleeping backpackers, alerted by a piping yelp evocative of a vicious French poodle being savagely rogered insensate, rubbed the sleepy seeds from their eyes and gloomily gathered up their gear. “Monsieur, allons-y, allons-y!” The grim-faced Tahitian security guard, resembling Rousseau’s “Noble Savage” stuffed into […]

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The Caribbean is one of the world’s most popular places for those in search of pearly beaches, lush foliage, high-end hotels, world-class hospitality, rich and traditional cuisine, great diving spots and water sports. There’s as much opportunity to party as to relax. You can find all these things and more on the tropical island paradise that is the Dominican Republic. Read on to gain a greater idea of what you can expect and experience in this magical, palm-fringed place. With its rugged mountain ranges, cays, mangroves, white sandy beaches, spangled […]

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Into the Wild Wild East of “Europe Minor” John M. Edwards becomes a “stringer” and steeps himself in suspense-novel intrigue in the Estonian capital, where a post-communist parable of “The Baltic Dream” seems pegged less to illusory pyrite and more to ubiquitous amber… Of course in Estonia everyone is a spy! Ah yes, so true, and that includes the suspicious-looking mustached man over there, with the Coke-bottle specs and tan Burberry trench coat, rifling through an unread Pravda on a park bench in Medieval “Old Town” Tallinn, the newly capitalist […]

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No two destinations are exactly the same, so it’s no surprise that Club Med villages have stayed away from a “cookie cutter” model. There are a few items you’ll find at every village and many different types of villages to choose from. What You’ll Find at Every Village CM has been around since the 1950s, and in that time have established a more-than-just-popular resort routine. Here are some elements you’ll find in every village. GOs: The staff members, known as GOs (Gentils Organisateurs—which means “kind organizers”), fill the normal roles […]

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Johnny Jet (John E. DiScala) is a go-to travel expert for both media and travelers alike. He is the founder of the popular online portal, JohnnyJet.com. Recently we had the opportunity to ask him about some of his travel experiences while on the road.   Q. You run the popular online travel portal JohnnyJet.com which contains an extensive collection of travel links and resources the world over. Your free newsletters are an important feature of your site and date back to 1999. Tell us a little about your newsletters and […]

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