proudfam

Author: proudfam
Date: 04/13/2004, 02:31 pm
Message: After reading all the reports on Cooks Island, I am wondering if my husband and I should be going there after our FP cruise instead of stopping at Moorea or Bora Bora....we want to spend three days somewhere in vicinity. Cook Islands sounds very friendly, and more economical?
Thanks

ALF

I think that the Cooks are generally a better choice than FP, but if you are already there (I assume that your cruise ends in Papeete) and have only 3 more days, I would spend them on Moorea. It is only 45 minutes by ferry from Papeete, and there is plenty to do for 3 days. It is true that FP is expensive, but you can do an awful lot of expensive things before you reach the cost of airfare from Papeete to Rarotonga.

LordBalfor

If your cruise ends up on Tahiti then do as ALF suggests and spend the remaining time over on Moorea. Though I do prefer the Cooks over French Polynesia (for the reasons I mentioned in the previous post), the fact is that FP is indeed more beautiful - in a part of the world where ALL if it is simply incredible. Unless you are looking for a lot of nightlife (which there is little of), you will almost certainly be blown away by all of it. So go, enjoy it, and if you like what you see, then return to the Cooks for another vacation.

Ken

proudfam

Thanks...guess i didn't realize how far Cook Islands were from Papeete...Am considering Pearl Beach Resort on Moorea after all the good reviews. I also am thinking that the beach bungalows are the better idea for privacy.

LordBalfor

Proudfam - Which islands is your cruise taking you to? I can't remember if you mentioned it already?

Ken

proudfam

We are going to Raiatea, huashine, bora bora, moorea in that order. All three hotels in Moorea sound good...Sofitel, Intercontinental, and new Pearl Beach....would like privacy but with a view. So therefore am thinking against the over the water..I appreciate all your advice, have read several of your reviews, and printed them out for future.

proudfam

Also, cruise begins and ends in Papeete.

LordBalfor

Sounds like a great trip (I'm envious). Afraid I can't be of too much help in regards to choosing a resort on Moorea. As you probably already know I was only on the island briefly (though I was much impressed), and it was few years back now (the Moorea Pearl Beach wasn't even there). Having said that, between the Sofitel and the Intercontinental I would probably choose the Sofitel because I really liked the view from there (looking out across the "Sea of the Moon" (is that a romantic-sounding name or what?) to Tahiti. On the other hand, I know the Intercontinental was recently refurbished but not sure about the Sofitel. You might also ask this question on the Tahiti-Explorer.com board. Lots of very knowledgable folks there. It can get kind of nasty there sometimes, but if you stay out of the "mud" it can be pretty helpful.

Ken

LordBalfor

PS - Glad you found the reviews/trip reports helpful.

Ken

Kiwi_acct

Proudfam

Something else that may help you decide to stay on in Tahiti is that the flights from Tahiti to Rarotonga (of which tere are about three a week) leave at either 4 or 5 in the morning.

The Cooks are a fantastic place to have a holiday. I would suggest that you do holiday there sometime, just not this time.

Steve