cookbound

Hi All,

I have been reading all the posts and changed my decision from Fiji to Cooks by reading LordBalfor's and all the rest of your posts and we are very excited to see the Cooks in August! We will be staying at Reflections in Raro then head to Pacific Resort in Aitutaki, split 4 nights at each.

I would love any info. you could give me on any other excursions or must sees other than snorkeling, the trek tour and One Foot Island. Also, any suggestions on things I should make sure and pack. My sister is headed to Tahiti and has a huge list of things she should take!

Any feedback from Ken, Bill, Lynda,Peggy or anyone else I would sure appreciate it!

Thanks!

ALF

Go to dinner and a dance show at one of the night spots on Raro, such as Club Raro. Also, I'd suggest a tour and lunch (with great dance performances) at the Cultural Centre. Finally, try a motu/lunch tour at Muri Beach.

PeggyE

I think the pub crawl on Friday nights was great. We went on the one from The Rarotongan. I know our "guide" Sunshine made the evening fun & hysterial but he has gone to New Zealand. Charlie our bus driver was at the airport last trip working for Air Rarotongan so not sure if it was the company or the extursion but we had a ball.
Also we both had shirts made for us at the store on the main street that carries fabrics. It was a cool thing to bring home, it just took 2 days & were customized to our fabric choice & buttons.
Have dinner at Flame Tree one night. Try the cheese fries at Ronnie's in town. Great, inexpensive place to eat. Ronnie, the Samoan owner & his son Maui (only about 6 yrs old) are very nice people.
For packing it is one of the easiest islands to melt into. Nothing that fancy, just comfortable. In May it was still cool at night & I needed a sweater sometimes. Most anything you feel you may need there is available. Go to the big grocery store north (?) of town towards the airport. For fruits & breads buy fresh from the many stands around the island. On Aitutaki just take the time to enjoy the atmosphere & that fantastic lagoon.
Enjoy yourself & I'll be interested to hear about Reflections when you return!

cytrav2000

Hi there,

We will be going to the Cooks on August 2.
We will be staying at the Rarotongan Beach Resort ( 4 nights), Pearl Beach R. Aitutaki (3 nigths) and Pacific Resort Aitutaki (2 nights). Then we will stay on the Moorea Sheraton for 3 nights.
It would be interesting to discuss each other plans and expenses. We are from Portugal (Europe).
You can send me an email me to
[email protected]

LordBalfor

Actually, I think Fiji would have been wonderful as well. I'm of the opinion that you probably really can't go wrong with either place.

I'm sure you'll have a great time. You've chosen absolute top notch places. Reflections is quite literally like something out of "lifestyles of the rich and famous". Absolutely wonderful inside. As I'm sure you already know, Pacific Resort on Aitutaki was not yet done when we were there, but an E-mail friend has managed to get a hold of some terrific photos of the completed place which he sent to me. I'd be glad to pass them on to you if you want. Just e-mail me at:

[email protected]

(note that due to a buyout of my ISP, this will soon change).

Ken

cookbound

Thanks to all of you for your feedback, so helpful! I'll check it all out! Peggy, that sounds so cool, your own handmade shirts from the Cooks, how can I pass that up?! I'll definetly give you all some feedback on the resorts. I'm curious myself, when I spoke to Reflections, they were so friendly and said that I wouldn't be disappointed. I'm afraid I couldn't afford their beachfront bungalow, so I had to settle for the waterfall villa, we'll see how it is! Thanks again, Aug. can't get here soon enough!!!!

BillJ

Dear Cookbound: You'll love it, I bet. I second the recommendation for the Flame Tree on Raro, although others I have talked to weren't so keen. We had a very good meal. Also, Portofino's, a highly recommended Italian restaurant near "town." We also had a very romantic dinner out on the sand of Muri Beach in front of the Pacific Resort, under a full moon. I'm not sure how good the food was; it really didn't matter to us.
On Aitutaki, be sure to have one dinner and/or lunch at the Cafe Tupuna, up on the hill in the center of the island. You can arrange for them to pick you up and take you back to your hotel for $5 NZ one way. Be sure to make reservations. There are only a few tables, the food is outstanding, and the other reason is if no one makes a reservation, she doesn't open up.
For a taste of Aitutaki life, check out http://www.uua.org/CLF/members/quest....html#richards We met and talked with Larry Richards, the author of this web post. He's a facinating guy. In fact, I think I will put this little gem on a separate post here in Fodor's.
Have fun in the Cooks.

cookbound

Thanks Bill, wow the dinner at the top of the hill on Aitutaki sounds amamzing, and the beach dinner on Raro! Sure appreciate your info., I'll check out that site you listed too!