If you're sitting at your desk having Robinson Crusoe daydreams, the Cook Islands might be a great vacation place for you. It doesn't get much more remote or more beautiful—what with the perfect beaches, deep jungle and coral lagoons. Each of the 15 islands seems more breathtaking than the last.
Things to do in Cook Islands
4.5 based on 123 reviews
Atiu Villas is located on Atiu Island at the edge of a central plateau overlooking a tropical garden, pineapple fields, jungle and has distant views down a valley of the Pacific Ocean. The villas are built in the native style out of polished native timbers of mango, mahogany, red peanut, cedar and coconut in 6 well separated villas and includes a villa suitable for families. A tour desk, restaurant, bar, entertainment area, swimming pool, floodlit tennis court, property wide free Wifi, rental bicycles, scooters and car are all available on site.
We spent 3 nights at Atiu Villas during our stay in Atiu and were very happy with our stay. We were met at the airport by our host, Jackie, whose enthusiasm and friendliness made us feel very welcome. The villas comprise 6 units set in a beautiful tropical garden and fruit trees. The attractive wooden bungalows were spacious and comfortable, although a bit dark inside, fully screened for insects. The units have a very nice veranda with picnic table overlooking the gardens. Each room has a small kitchenette with stove, fridge, and a big supply of basic foodstuffs which can be paid for at the end of your stay (like a mini-bar). There was electricity 24/7 and solar hot water (meaning no sun, no hot water). Wifi was available (free 100Mb/day) and there was also good 3G connection there for mobile data. Also on site is a nice clean swimming pool and a couple of very friendly cats that kept us company during our stay. For meals, Jackie can prepare dinner meals for $33/person but in addition, there are a few places to eat on the island. We ate some excellent burger and chips meals at Super Brown ($15), the local takeaway shop, and there is also a small café a km or so up the road with a basic menu. Car, scooters, and bicycles can be rented from the villas as well. We rented the bicycles ($10/day) for the duration of our stay and they got us everywhere we wanted to go. Overall we had an amazing stay and would highly recommend this place to other travelers.
4 based on 86 reviews
AIRPORT MOTEL-Tiare Village is nestled in the secluded wooded hills of Rarotonga, approx 2.5 kilometres from AVARUA, the main town on the inland road, north side of the island. We are conveniently situated 1.5 kilometres from the airport, shopping centre, banks, market, nightlife, the Cross Island Walk and the beach in Nikao. We have a reputation with travellers and tourists alike, as being a friendly, clean and comfortable establishment. Fresh fruit (pawpaw, passion fruit, coconut, bread fruit, bananas, mangos, avocados, guavas and chillies) can be picked fresh from the trees in our garden when in season. We like to introduce each of our new guests hopefully to make one feel more comfortable. It can be lonely travelling on your own. You can chose to join the other guests Or you can read a book and admire the peaceful tropical surroundings and relax.
A great little spot close to town. Clean and simple with friendly staff. I'm in a good sized studio unit, which is all I need and at a bargain price. Pool is fairly shallow and small, however it's plenty to cool off and relax in on a hot day Thanks
5 based on 13 reviews
Akaiami Paradise Limited is located on a beautiful islet(motu) on the island of Aitutaki (Cook Islands). We are a private accommodation consisting of a lodge and a villa. The island itself is a historical site being the former landing strip for TEAL flying boats which regularly stopped for servicing or weather conditions during the coral route in the 1940's and 50's. The lodge has been built exactly on the spot where the original TEAL terminal stood and it has been built to keep in line with the original design. The lodge accommodates a maximum of six people on request, it has 1 bedroom, 2 double beds, a lounge area, fully equipped kitchen, dinning area, mini library, en-suite, deck, snorkeling gear, insect screened, daily service and complimentary seasonal fruit. The Villa comprises of two units, one unit houses a bedroom and bathroom and the other houses a bedroom(on request) and kitchen. The villa accommodates a maximum of 2 people (3-4 people on request) and it contains a queen bed, kitchen, en suite, waterfront deck, deck shower, snorkeling gear, daily service and complimentary seasonal fruit. There is no TV, no DVD, no Radio or any other gadgets to distract you from truly enjoying peach and quiet on the spectacular white sandy beach. We also have a special offer, where if you stay with us for 3+nights, you are entitled to a 1 Day Lagoon Cruise and 1 Sunset BBQ. All transfers are included in the total payment and we include a stop at a convenience store before your 15 minute ferry to Akaiami Island. Paradise awaits....
If you are thinking about going to Aitutaki, then look no further! It’s the closest thing you’ll ever find to living out your Robinson Crusoe fantasy! You’ll be staying on a small islet fringed with palm trees, perfect white sand and the most turquoise water I have ever seen in my life. What makes it even more special is that you are the only person on the island (together with the owners, who feel more like friends than business owners). We enjoyed our time so much. My husband and I travelled with our 6 month old baby and we loved staying in the beautiful old lodge, swimming in the warm water, kayaking, chilling out and chatting with the owners and doing some of the best snorkelling we ever had. I should say that the lodge does not have air conditioning and only has fans but we did not miss this and the kitchen was fully equipped. Before you arrive, you are taken to different stores to buy food provisions for your stay as there are no restaurants etc. In the mornings, we received freshly caught fish from the owners; the freshest sashimi ever! We got to try so many different specialties (Ika Mata (fish in coconut cream), bread food soup and more). We were given fresh passion fruit, coconuts from the island (I’m still dreaming of the freshly grated coconut on papaya). I also really recommend to book a trip with them to take you on a boat tour to see the other islets and go snorkelling. There is only 2 tour companies that do this trip and it’s easy to avoid them and have all this beauty without the crowds. I really cannot recommend staying there enough, it is a completely different experience to staying in one of the hotels on the main island (which feel like just another resort) and the beaches aren’t comparable either. Other than the setting, what made it even more special were the owners, it’s a really lovely family and it felt that they really enjoyed us being there. There are a lot of guests that come back year on year and it’s no surprise, you won’t have stayed anywhere like this before!
4.5 based on 5 reviews
This review goes back quite a number of years now but I'd like to remember and share this with you. Arrived on a midnight flight and got picked up by local friends who arranged this accommodation for us two couples. Shona, our host, stayed up way after midnight to greet us, we had a shared unit with basic self catering facilities, jug, toaster etc. and a small fridge, some chairs and table and outdoor seating. Sufficient enough for us, rustic and basic but set in a nice tropical garden with a (rocky) beach across the road and the beautiful mountains of Rarotonga in the back, we once again thought we're back in paradise. Close enough to fishing club and town and some shops and cafes in nearby Matavera to walk a few kilometres, we decided to get a small rental car to show our friends the island and visit people. This lodge is used by mainly backpackers and other people who like value for money and thats what they get. The units might be bit too close together for absolute privacy, but sooner or later most of the guests don't seem to mind that at all. Sure, a little tolerance towards "late night arrivals" is to be expected, the whole atmosphere of the place is quite casual. For the budget minded traveler, this place has to be one of the top choices on the island.
4 based on 4 reviews
Taparere Lodge is located in the village of Mapumai. We were fortunate enough to select the right accommodation for us. The bungalow we stayed in had all the amenities we needed as well as a verandah at the back which we spent a lot of time on to admire the beautiful nature and listen to the vibrant bird life. Thank you! for accommodating us and we will definitely be back.
3.5 based on 6 reviews
We enjoyed our recent stay at Kopeka lodge. The room is fantastic for families, the property is huge and the owner was kind enough to meet us at the airport in Rarotonga with a bag of food. The host on the island went out of her way to help with anything we needed. However, the property was just a little bit too run down to be enjoyable for e.g. bathroom tap didn't work at all, no hot water, large holes in fly screens etc.
Everything you need for that perfect idyllic Rarotonga South Pacific Holiday is right here. With 4 only unique, fully self contained Quality Apartments, nestled in lush tropical gardens, a private & peaceful Haven. Spectacular water & mountain views. Situated in best location in Rarotonga "Muri Beach Village". Your affordable Island Haven. Perfect for Couples, Great for Singles.
4.5 based on 241 reviews
Quiet budget rustic self contained absolute beachfront huts on the nicest natural snorkeling and swimming beach on beautiful Aitutaki, Cook Islands.
We stayed for 8 nights in this absolute beach front hut. This is not the place if you want aircon and other luxuries, but these back to basic huts were perfect. A few metres to the beach, SUPs available, and on a beach that was fantastic for the sunsets and the snorkelling out from the huts. We took a lagoon cruise with the owner- great all day cruise to beautiful spots- highly recommended. We hope to return and do it all over again.
3.5 based on 43 reviews
Gina’s has two properties on Aitutaki Island, Cook Islands. One - Gina's Garden Lodges, is on the main island, and is about 5 minutes walk from the Tautu landing, on the Eastern shores of Aitutaki lagoon. The second, beach side property is situated on one of the reef islands at Akaiami Island - 5 miles across the lagoon. This is Gina's Akaiami Beach Lodge. We are family friendly and welcome children of all ages. Both of these locales offer an environment that is special to Eastern Polynesia, and in their own way give reality to those Pacific dreams which travelers seek, and which cannot be found at Resort Hotels.
I booked to stay here, but before we stayed there, we had read the reviews, which read REALLY poorly about management and the reception you could except, so I cancelled WITHIN the correct period. Luckily we didn't stay there! What transpired was this: Upon going back over my bank statement at a later date, I saw that I had been billed $600 for a non existent stay - we DID NOT stay there! So, I rung gGina's, and had a conversation with a VERY rude, belligerent man, who swore to god that no one but no one had booked the week I said I had, told there was no monies accpeted AT ALL that week, and no onoe had stayed. Fine. I left it, stewed on it, and tried again a week later. Low and behold, he knew EXACTLY who I was, and who he was talking to, knew that I had initially booked in that week, even though he lied to me and initially said that NO ONE had booked that week at all, told me I was a no show (even though I had cancelled), that he was entitled to my money, told me to shut up, and hung up on me!! So, I am now out of pocket $600, and I am furious! I am taking steps to enlist the help of the Auitataki Police, Expedia and Consumers Rights NZ, and I WILL NOT stop until I get the monies owed to me.Sadly for him, my bank statement has got Gina Garden Lodges clearly on it, so it is proof that he pcoketed the money. I am determined to get my monies back, as I am not a walking ATM! The below is copied and pasted from my internet bank statement Visa Purchase Ginas Garden Card number: 4835 **** **** 6269 $600.00 16 Sept 2021
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