I am planning our wedding/ honeymoon now and would love some feedback.

I would like to make this a special trip, as law school has prevented us from taking any major vacations for the last several years.

We're from Boston and I would like to go to the Cook Islands (Etu Moana in Aitutaki looks lovely to me) - I think I would like to combine this with a trip to French Polynesia.

I would welcome suggestions - how long & which Island to stay in French Polynesia, how long the flight is from there to Cooks, and how long I should spend in Cooks. Should I combine Etu Moana w/some time in Rarotonga?

Is there a better combination of Islands that I am not considering?

HELP!

As I mentioned on another board that I think you posted on, I wouldn't both trying to combine the two (French Polynesia and the Cooks). Their similarities far outweigh their differences and there's plenty to experience in either one.

Ken

Congratulations on your wedding! I think Aitutaki should be a top honeymoon destination! We went for a week last March and stayed at the Etu Moana. It was such a lovely week...the owners are super nice, the villas are *perfect* and we met lots of nice people staying there.

We only spent our last full day on Rarotonga so I'm a bit biased. I have no regrets about spending our entire vacation on Aitutaki. Very relaxing.

As for combining FP and Cooks, I'm not sure what flight options you're getting. But when we flew out of LAX using Air New Zealand, we stopped each way, at Papeete. So, if you have a strong desire to see FP in the same trip and the flights work out, that seems like a good plan. However, if you only have a week, I would probably advise against it.

Hi Lisa!

We had our honeymoon on Rarotonga two years ago and absolutely fell in love with the place. A few tips though -

Make sure you stay with a locally run resort. The staff are far friendlier and caring than at foreign owned resorts because the dollar stays put. We stayed at the Pacific Island Resort and loved it. It has a sister resort in Aitutaki.

We chose Rarotonga over Aitutaki because it had a little more to do. You can fly to Aitutaki from Raro for day trips, etc. We chose not to go, but my parents went the year before and said that unless all you wanted to do was sunbathe, there wasn't much else.

If you do decide on Raro, hire a scooter! You'll need to get your motorbike licence - which is as easy as sitting in the sun, but it's a very inexpensive and entertaining way to get around. The only other way is the bus.

Our honeymoon was in March - the tail end of the cyclone season. Make sure your timing is right. Our resort was half destroyed a few weeks before we arrived - the Rarotongans are quick to repair, but I wouldn't have liked to have been there during the storms.

Good luck with planning your wedding!

We have been to both Cooks and FP. You don't say how long your trip is, but I agree with Lord Balfor. Unless you like constant packing and unpacking and new hotels every few days, relax. Do just one and enjoy your time. You deserve to dial it down some, which is what the South Pacific is all about. South Pacific islands are great for doing nothing. Languishing with the one you love in a hammock strung between two palm trees with a drink that has a little umbrella staring out at emerald green water is my idea of time well spent.

7-10 days at either can combine two islands nicely. Come back to the other one for an anniversary.

In the Cooks, that's usually Rarotonga and Aitutaki. Both have much to offer. You get the drift from the above poster, it's what you want of your vacation that will determine where you spend most of the time. Raro has a bit more activities and choices of accomodations and restaurants. Aitutaki is very laid back, with a gorgeous lagoon. We liked Aitutaki most because of that, but to each his own.

On FP, that usually means Morea and Bora Bora. Similar in comparison in that Bora Bora is the more laid back of the two. Major dis-similar in $$$$'s.

Good luck on your choice and congratulations.

Aitutaki was wonderful very laid back. If we went back we would spend more time in Aitutaki. Raro was nice but the traffic I found a bit busy. You won't go wrong with Etu or Pacific Resort.