Dear Ageless Traveler,

A year ago this week, I embarked on an unforgettable journey through the South Pacific—a region celebrated for world-class snorkeling, diving, and azure lagoons. But here’s the secret no one talks about: you don’t need to swim—or even love the beach—to fall head over heels for the South Pacific.

I don’t swim…. I’m from Brooklyn… Hey, try to find a pool… Fuhgeddaboudit!
And yet… my sojourn in the South Pacific Islands was one of the richest trips of my life.

From botanical sanctuaries to hidden villages, rare orchids, the tales of Robert Louis Stevenson, and air scented with vanilla and ylang-ylang, the South Pacific revealed itself in ways that had nothing to do with the ocean. You can read all about my adventures in Forget Your Bathing Suit.

Staying ever curious means looking beyond the expected. When everyone else is headed toward the shore, sometimes the most incredible wonders are inland.

This week’s newsletter is full of that spirit.

Here’s what’s inside this issue:

Ask Adriane: How to plan a trip when you don’t swim—yes, even in beach destinations!
​News You Can Use: Major updates on Japan tourism fees, new U.S. passport processing changes, and two travel scams on the rise.
​Luxury Travel for Less: How to enjoy high-end South Pacific experiences without paying resort prices.
​Culture Vulture: Tonga’s astonishing botanical heritage—plants with stories older than recorded history.

And yes—this week’s Ageless Traveler Podcast takes us to one of the most extraordinary non-beach treasures in the entire Pacific… Join me for a journey deep into the heart of Tonga—to the Eneio Botanical Garden, a remarkable private sanctuary created by a visionary horticulturist.

Cheers,

Adriane

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This Week's Highlights

On Our Podcast The Tonga Botanical Garden

This week, join me for a journey deep into the heart of Tonga—to the Enieo Botanical Garden, a remarkable private sanctuary created by a visionary horticulturist.

You’ll hear about:

• Ancient Polynesian medicinal plants
• Rare palms found only in Tonga and nowhere else in the world
• Fragrance walks through vanilla, taro, and breadfruit
• Tonga’s cultural tradition of honoring plants as living ancestors

Find the episode on: Apple Podcasts; Spotify; or wherever you listen to podcasts.

For anyone who loves nature, culture, healing traditions, or off-the-beaten-path experiences, this episode is pure joy.

Plants That Tell Stories — Tonga’s Living Heritage

Long before writing arrived in the Pacific, plants were the storytellers.

In Tonga, each plant is tied to identity, lineage, healing, and mythology. At the Tonga Botanical Garden, you’ll discover:

• The Heilala Flower--Tonga’s national flower—linked to royal ceremony and legendary love stories.

• Ancient Root Medicines--Kava, noni, and dozens of other medicinal roots are still used in traditional healing practices.

• The Breadfruit “Family Tree”--In Polynesian ancestral culture, planting a breadfruit tree was the equivalent of building a home.

• Women’s Weaving Plants--Pandanus leaves—stripped, dried, and woven into some of the most intricate mats in the Pacific.

These gardens aren’t just gardens. They’re living museums.

And this week’s podcast brings them beautifully to life.

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Luxury Travel for Less

South Pacific Experiences Without Resort Prices

Everyone dreams of overwater bungalows—but did you know the most magical South Pacific experiences often cost a fraction of luxury resort stays?

1. Stay in Botanical Retreats or Eco-Lodges--Places like Tonga’s botanical homestays or Fiji’s interior eco-havens offer private verandas in nature for $65–$120/night.

2. Book Local-Led Cultural Days--Instead of pricey resort excursions:

• garden walks
• weaving workshops
• kava ceremonies
• permaculture tours
• traditional cooking classes

These are usually $20–$60 and far more authentic.

3. Eat where families eat--South Pacific home kitchens and market stalls serve great dishes for a tenth of resort dining prices. I am a pescatarian and sometimes a vegetarian, so I love these treats:

• fresh-caught fish
• taro chips
• lu pulu (Tongan coconut beef)

4. Travel with regenerative companies--Look for programs that support community gardens, reef-safe agriculture, or forest restoration with your fee.

Do you ever feel like there has to be more, but you just feel stuck in uncertainty?

You're aware there’s more you want to give and grow into—more creativity, more connection, more meaning. But when you lean into that thought...

You freeze.
You hesitate.
You stop.

My friend, Wendy Green, host of the Boomer Banter podcast, created The “What’s Keeping Me Stuck” Quiz to help you name your stuck-ness.
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Then, over 5 brief emails, you get customized tools to help you get unstuck.

Try it out.

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