Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# Do you need to pre-book accommodation before arriving in Rarotonga? Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Cook Islands
terry40poole 15:38 UTC 29 Jul 2011 | Hi everyone, I have a friend who is travelling to the Cook Islands next February. Does he need to have a hotel reservation pre-booked in order to enter the country, or can he find something when he arrives? When I was there in Oct. 1992 Air New Zealand would not allow me to leave Tahiti without a confirmed hotel reservation. I was just wondering if things have changed since then? Many thanks for any info. Terry |
aussie3 07:44 UTC 06 Aug 2011 | I was on a Cook Island tourism website yesterday and noticed that you still need to book accommodation prior to arrival in Rarotonga. | 1
h2ooh 15:39 UTC 06 Aug 2011 | For more flexibility you may want to find a place that does not require a deposit to confirm a reservation or at least accept a one-night reservation. I think many of the hotels on Raro now require a deposit and a commitment for the first night and some require a multi-day stay. I don't spend much time on Raro and most of the outer island accommodation providers don't require a deposit or firm commitment. I just take an email showing acknowledgement of the reservation but I've never been asked to provide it when I book a ticket nor when I arrive at Raro. | 2
terry40poole 01:44 UTC 04 Sep 2011 | Thanks guys, my friend will take an email print-out confirming his reservation at the Aremango guest house to show to immigration, in case they ask. Terry. | 3
musicalteacup 05:34 UTC 13 Jan 2012 | I have travelled to Raro 6 times. Never once have I been asked at customs were I am staying but you do need to put where you are staying on the immigration forms. :) | 4
danhenry 22:47 UTC 07 Mar 2012 | HI Folks, could you please assist with flights to and from Apia, Samoa and Rarotonga, Cooks, travel agents in Melbourne, Australia are not able to tell me which airlines fly between these Islands, apart from flying back to Auckland, NZ. I have checked websites for Air Rarotonga and Polynesian, but have not been able to find flights from Samoa to the Cooks. thanks Russel. | 5