Another Comparison - Cooks vs. Fiji
 

Ok, so we've eliminated Hawaii in our quest for a romantic, exotic vacation next year. Now, down to the finale - Cook Islands vs. Fiji (Yasawa). For anyone who has been to both, can you offer a comparison. What are the differecnes between Rarotonga and Aitutaki? Which place (Fiji or Cooks) has the better beaches, better accommodations, more lush surroundings. Are the islands is good shape - meaning is pollution and poverty a problem like certain aread in the caribbean (like St. Lucia)? How about the water - is it safe to drink? Best food? Best scenery? Most authentic south pacific experience. What are the pros and cons of each. Any comments would be appreciated.

Fiji is a bigger place with more ethnic diversity-thus a more varied and tasty cuisine.Ditto scenery and accommodations-300+ inhabited Islands.
Fijians are also friendlier more outgoing than Cook Islanders.
Neither place is rich but people have the land to work/provide food as opposed to the kind of crushing hopelessness on display in many Caribbean locales.

Anyone else? Most interested in any information about the environment and culture of each. Specifically, are the islands clean, is pollution a problem, clear waters ,etc.

Bosco - Check out a thread I just posted on Lonely Planets' Thorntree Board (http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/ca...s.cfm?catid=20).

Ken

Hi - my experience of Fiji (main island and Ovalau) and the Cooks (Raro and Aitutaki) is limited to 10 days spent in each country almost 6 years ago. But as you asked for further thoughts, here's my 10 cents' worth!

Of course Fiji is far bigger and has the ethnic mix that means varied cuisine and culture (though if you are going straight to the Yasawas this probably isn't very relevant). I'm not sure I would agree that Fijians are more friendly than Cook Islanders. I found people welcoming everywhere.

So it's really a comparison between islands (or are you thinking of island hopping?). Aitutaki is not lush the way Raro is. It doesn't have a great big mountain in the middle - but it still has the usual tropical trees and flowers. I think it is one of the most beautiful and laid back places I've ever been. There's much more to do on Raro but imho the beaches there are nice whereas Aitutaki lagoon is very special - and there's the added bonus of boat trips out to the small islands in it (motus).

If you choose Aitutaki and are there on a Sunday, try to get to a service at the church in the main town - the music is wonderful.

Don't let him bother you Bosco. If you still have questions, post them. That's what this board is for. If people are discouraged from posting, the board will dry-up and blow away.

Ken

Robrook - too bad you don't have anything nice to say. Sounds like the only "spoiled brats" are those that feel the need to offer unwanted comments and spoil the spirit of this board are people like yourself. You sound like a very unhappy person. Too bad you're so off base.

Thanks to everyone else for your most helpful thoughts and advice. This board has been a great resource for helping me (and others)to weed through the many options that may be available. Thanks to everyone's advice on this board, my husband and I are going to Antigua next week and are hoping to venture to Fiji sometime in the future. Thanks again.

Bosco

To answer your original questions as regards Fiji and the Cooks and a bit of a comparison between the two.

As far as cleanliness is concerned we found both to be reasonably clean though I think Cook Islanders seem to take better care of their country than Fijians. Not to say that Fijians are necessarily destructive or polluting.

Actually in Fiji if you go to some of the outer islands the locals are very active in conservation. In the lower Mamanuca Islands around Malolo, Castaway and Malolo Lai Lai they have placed a fishing ban in order to increase fish stocks in the area. Around Navini Island (Where I have just returned from) there is a marine reserve with all coral and fish protected. The result is a reef that is so alive that you have trouble seeing the reef for the fish. This is only a marginal exageration, see my post on Navini.

There is poverty in Fiji as you would expect in any developing nation but I would not desribe it as the grinding sort wher people are living cheek by jowl in cardboard boxes. Actually if tourists were to avoid Fiji because of poverty then the end result would surely only be more poverty.

As an aside it is often too easy for western eyes to perceive peoples living conditions as being poor when we try to compare them to our own with two cars in the garage and the pool out back. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that for other sectors of the community that is not the norm.

Onto the Cooks. Lord Balfor is more of a specialist here. We have stayed there and thouroughly enjoyed ourselves. I would recommend the south and south estern sides of Rarotonga for beaches. they are great. The water was fine we did not detect any pollution there. The jewel in the Cooks crown is for me Aitutaki. the lagoon has to be seen to be believed. The water is amazing, the outer island on the lagoon even more so.

As far as the basics are concerned. I have drunk the water in both the Cooks and Fiji. Still here to tell the tale.

The water in Nadi, Fiji tastes a bit naff, too much chlorine but I don't think it will see you off. In the outlying areas take care and drink bottled.

On the Cooks again we drank the water. On Aitutaki I did not, though there was a short term problem with the supply.

To be perfectly honest we were on holiday so the alcohol content of all other drinks probably killed any lurgy lurking in the water.

Other pros and cons. It is cheaper in the Cooks than Fiji. We find Fijians to be slightly friendlier than Cook Islanders. Food is slightly better in Fiji. (If only for fantastic curries). Accomodation wise the sky is the limit in Fiji. Accomodation is good in the Cooks but certainly not at Vatulele or Yasawa level.

Hope this post gives you some pointers and adds to the pot in any future decision making.

As a personal vote on wher to stay.

In Fiji I cannot recommend Navini Island highly enough. In the Cooks try Palm Grove, very friendly and right on the beach.

Steve

Kiwi_acct:

Thanks so much for the information you provided. What a great comparison and certainly very helpful!

Thanks also to Lord Balfor for the comparison on the Cooks and other islands. Your input has been invaluable!