1 week or 2 in paradise?

Hi all the posts in this forum make really interesting reading!

I am in the process of planning my world trip and am going to book a great escapade star alliance ticket which gives me the option of a stop over in the Cooks.

I am having a dilema between staying for 1 or 2 weeks. I would like to spend a day or 2 on Raro and then fly to Aitutaki and back.

My main concern is a financial one as this will be right at the end of my trip and i don't want to be stuck somewhere expensive.

Would £500 be realisting to cover eveything for 2 weeks including raro flight to Aitutaki and back?

i am not planning to dive or anything so just food, accomm, scooter hire and that kind of thing.

I will be there from 25th April 2009 for either 1 or 2 weeks.

one final quesiton:

i have been looking at average climate for the Cooks and get mixed reports. Is end of April / early May likely to be dry and warm?

Many thanks

Lex

Hi Lex. Although I can't answer this particular query for you, you may remember me from the Chinese pages. Can I ask you a coupl eof questions. As I am also planning an RTW trip for this Autumn, taking me first to S E Asia and then Australasia, like yourself, when exactly are you leaving and are you going alone or with friends?. Which precise ticket did you buy? Was it the cheap one with Air New Zealand?

Hi Lex, there are a number of budget lodgings in Aitutaki, but your budget leaves you little room to take a lagoon cruise or eat out much. If you convert your British pounds to NZ Dollars you have about NZ$1350.00. Bottom end lodging will be around NZ$40.00, figure NZ$20.00 for food for two weeks that is NZ$840.00. There are occasional last minute cheaper fares to Aitutaki, but your standard roundtrip airfare to Aitutaki is NZ$412.00. That leaves you with about NZ100.00 for scooter rental and incidentals. So I guess your answer is to spend a bit more or stay a few days less than your two weeks. The lagoon at Aitutaki is spectacular and I would hate to have you miss that when visiting Rarotonga. In any case have a great trip!

Papa Mike

Hi Papa Mike thanks very much for the info that is a really useful cost breakdown. On checking my itinerary i have noticed that by crossing the date / time line i actually gain 1 day flying from NZ to Raro so that will effectively give my 8 days if i go for a week. I think i will spend the first and last day on Raro but the rest on Aitutaki and use the same £500 budget to give me that little extra for incedentals and really get the best out of my stay.

thanks once again for the brekadown it has been really useful and i am sure others will think the same.

Nice one!

Lex

Is 25 April a Public Holiday in the Cooks as itis in Australia/NZ?

Well, it is ANZAC Day, and the NZ Consulate usually has a little party for employees, ex-pats, etc. But I honestly can't remember if the banks etc. were closed.

You can check the main website www.ck to see if it's an "official" holiday. Also, the govt websites will indicate this. They can be found via that www.ck

If it is a public holiday, it affects the banks and PO and govt offices, but the village shops will still be open, as will restaurants, etc, and most tours.

As to the OP's question--Mike hit most of it. I don't think it will matter budget-wise too much if you are on Aitutaki or Raro, but food prices are a little higher on Aitutaki. Both places have backpacker places which can be down to NZ$25/night for a bed, maybe NZ$20/night on a weekly basis.