Got the job! Now more questions.

Hi all,

Thanks for all the excellent feedback on Aitutaki and the Cook Islands in general! We were offered the job and accepted without hesitation. So, at the end of Oct or beginning of early Nov, we are on our way. Hooray!!

One more question, I am thinking of shipping some of our larger/heavier stuff ahead of time (dive gear, etc.) and wondering about a shipping company? Checked with UPS, DHL and a few other conventional courier services and, wow, way too expensive! Found a few other "excess baggage" companies online but none that shipped out of Canada. Does anyone know of a company which will ship a small amount of stuff from western Canada at least as far as Raro? Sea shipping is fine as I have lots of time, whatever is the least costly.

Thanks in advance!
Kristene

Congratulations on getting the job!
Just remember to heed the earlier warnings re mozzies, in particular, as you'll be arriving at the beginning of the wetter season.

DHL etc to the Cooks are extremely expensive, and in fact the gear will arrive on exactly the same plane that regular postal baggage will arrive on! For the extra few hundred dollars, all you get is a van that will bring it from the airport to your house!

But shipping by sea from Canada to the Cooks will take 3 to 4 months, maybe longer. It will all go via New Zealand, and sit there until there is a container-full of stuff being shipped to RAR. So, it may get there before you, or it may get there a month or two after you arrive.

The safest bet is to see how much Air NZ will charge you to carry it on as excess baggage. If you can afford it, I'd do that.

From NZ they also have an "unaccompanied" baggage rate for people flying into RAR on a flight during the same week or two. You would get it a few days later, and the rate is half the regular rate.

However, as you are coming from Canada, I don't think that special system applies. You'd have to phone Air NZ to see if they offer something like this (the website wonlt usually address these unique things).

You might try to contact Davem Shipping in Auckland NZ (Martin is the boss). You may be able to ship things via sea (or maybe air if not too much $$$ to NZ) to them, and then he will make sure it gets over to RAR on their next container. They have their own containers from AKL to RAR. I don't have their e-mail address. But I used them for about two dozen shipments when I owned Shangri-La on RAR, and they were very good.

But remember, a lot of tourists bring their dive gear with them, so that is not uncommon. the Air NZ rate can't be that high for that stuff, as it would discourage tourism. So, for the dive gear, see if Air NZ has a special rate. I am pretty sure they do for surfboards, etc.

For your other heavy or large gear----well, I'd leave most of it in Canada, unless it was absolutely necessary. Not sure what you are thinking of bringing, but TV's and VCR's from Canada/US won't work in the Cooks, wrong system. (Yours are NTSC, Cooks are PAL).

You can get most things you'll need on RAR, but the selection of goods on Aitutaki is pretty small, aside from basic food items.

Where is the job, if you don't mind my asking?

Raro

Matriki Beach Huts. Seems like a nice little place with the kind of clients we love - adventurous! Can't wait, but will def heed you warning regarding mozzies. Hate DEET but what can you do? Also bringing some all natural stuff - not as effective but can be sprayed on face, hair, clothing, etc.

Thanks for the advice on shipping, I will do some further research!

Cheers
K

You're going to be running Matriki's?

Are you working for Mattias and Riki (all their ex-guests are going Why not ME?) or did you buy the place?

Re mozzies--- You'll be in shorts and t-shirts etc most of the time on AIT. I used to just put a little DEET on my forearms, back of the neck, and ankles. A little is all that is needed. You can try the natural stuff---Skin So soft, etc., if it works for you, fine.

I found that if I ate a lot fo fruit---esp. those great mangoes on AIT---the mozzies would be after me soon thereafter as soon as I started to sweat, esp late afternoon. Try eating some onions or garlic, your sweat will help keep them away. And if all your friends also do the same, you won't drive them away!

Wathc out if you head along the south coast and then inland, in the Taravao district (where Survivor had it's council meetings.) It's the worst spot in all of the Cooks for mozzies, that's why no one lives there (and thus why the Survicor guys icked it, no houses in the camera shots!).

Have fun!

Congrats on getting the job! I hope you will have an awesome experience! Re bringing sporting equipment over... my family always travel with surfboards and are eligible for an extra 5kg (per ticket) for sporting equipment with Air NZ. It is not often offered, but is available if you ask. Also, depending on the flight loads, sometimes Air NZ will allocate a little extra for people actually moving to Raro. I didn't realise this until, while paying excess baggage last time we were coming back from Australia, the check-in person advised me to ring ahead next time and ask to be given a few kg extra. I haven't tried it yet, but it may be worth a go! We used a company called Jetta, to move our stuff from Australia. It was reasonably inexpensive airfreight and all our boxes arrived here the day after we did. I'm not sure if they are available from Canada..? Good luck with the move.

We will be working for Matthias and Riki (who sound like absolutely amazing people from the emails we have exchanged). Really looking forward to meeting them and all the guests!

Thanks for all the mozzie tips and the shipping advice. I will call Air NZ and ask about the extra kg. Most of the extra stuff I want to bring is scuba gear, sushi supplies, and a few (non electronic) household items. As for the mozzies, I love garlic...but ooooo, I love mangoes too...darn it!!!

Cheers - you guys have been super helpful!