Hostel advice please!

Hey!

I'm off to the Cook Islands from NZ in mid August. I'm a 29 year old backpacker and while I like a good night out I do not want to be in a 'party' hostel where I can't escape it! I want to meet people but avoid the rowdy drunken party scene that some hostels seem to have. I'm looking for a hostel right on the beach and a short walking distance to shops and amenities as I really just want to relax and unwind for most of the 12 days I'm there! Vara's keeps coming up as a good place to stay but i'm a little concerned about the lack of hot water and TV if it rains and you are staying in the beach part, which is where I'd want to stay! Does anyone have any advice on the best on the beach, fun but not 'party' hostel in Rarotonga?!

Also, if anyone had any advice on the best dive spots and companies to use, that would be great too.

Thanks!

Hot water and TV? LOL

You're only other choice would be Rarotonga Backpackers on the west side of the island.

Aremango by Muri is quite close to the beach (but not on it), they say they have a DVD room. You would have to check on the hot water.

Aquarius by the airport is on a non-swimming beach. They advertise a "Plasma TV Lounge (with Sky channels)" but I think they aren't a comfortable distance from shops,etc.

Vara's can be a party place, depending on who's staying there at the time. My cousin (31) recently stayed there and found it a bit over the top. I must say, when I went to pick her up one night it was definitely "party central" for drunk 19 year old RTW'ers. A few older people staying there looked a bit uncomfortable. This can happen anywhere though, it's really just luck of the draw regarding who you share a hostel with. Vara's position at Muri is great. Aquarius is clean and new and ideally suited for late night arrivals as you only have to walk across the road, thus saving a transfer cost. They have a reasonably priced restaurant (where we often choose to go for dinner) and a great view out over the water for a few drinks or a coffee. The beach is not very nice though, so I wouldn't recommend staying there for too long. I have heard some good reports about Rarotonga Backpackers. It is smaller than Vara's and slightly more isolated from town, but also on a good beach and has less of a party reputation.

I would highly recommend Pacific Divers in Muri. My kids both recently completed their open water certification through them and found the crew there to be really friendly and helpful.

Wanting hot water is reasonable, Silvanocat. It's been raining here (on and off - mainly on!) for the last three weeks and has been relatively cool. A warm shower is great after jumping off a motorbike, when you are soaking wet and cold. Cold showers, on the other hand, aren't much fun here at the moment.

I stayed at Aremango's in jan 07. Small, clean, pleasant, great newly remodeled kitchen, big rooms, easy access to beautiful Muri beach. The caretaker was Ron at that time who treated guests like visiting friends - those of us there shared food, went to see the sunset on the west side of the island in guesthouse van in evenings, Ron gave us rides from and to airport. It was in a kind of remodeling transition at the time - fullfilled all human needs - including hot water and new comfy beds, but was not "charming" - more like a college dorm. Don't remember a DVD, but wasnt' looking for it. Little internet cafe, scooter rental place, little convenience store nearby (very, very basic) - but there isn't shopping anywhere except in the town. Bus transport is easy to town.

It's nice to know that Aremangos is a nice place to stay now. It had a horrible reputation a few years ago. I'm glad it's under new management.

I spent a week at Vara's at the end of March this year and loved it.

The place is very clean and the staff were friendly - although the office closes at 3pm which was sometimes abit annoying.

It was very quiet while I was there - maybe a few people drinking on the deck at night - but no real parties. People who wanted that went to the bars in town.

I was there on my own as part of a rtw and found it easy to meet people as I was staying in a dorm, but I also spent some time on my own exploring.

Muri beach and lagoon are really the best on the island and anywhere you go you will find it easy to relax and unwind but if you want to be right on the beach and in a laid-back atmosphere then I would definitely recommend Vara's. There is a cafe, small pharmacy, small grocery shop and the bus stop right at the end of the drive. A few more small grocery shops are about 5 minutes walk. If you want some better catering you can walk down the beach to the smarter hotels or take the bus somewhere.

Don't worry about lack of TV etc. You'll be exploring or lying in the sun during the day and most people chat, use the internet or read in the evenings.

If Ron Powell is still running Aremango, definitely stay there. It's only 80m walk to the best beach on the island, small shops, internet cafe, restaurants are all nearby. He is a great guy. [When "the Nazi" was in charge a few yrs ago, it was to be avoided at all costs].

Raro, I heard recently that they were looking for someone to run the place. I'm not sure what has happened - whether Ron is still there or not...

I don't know the lateat on Aremango, the OP should e-mail them.

Another thought is Papa Rau's guesthouse, on the south coast. A few bedrooms, across the road from a nice beach, very quiet place, friendly manager.

Thank you people! Most helpful!

I read very quickly and so can never quite carry enough books to keep me occupied on a beach holiday, and there's nothing worse than being stuck in a raining tropical paradise with nothing to do, hence why I was asking about the TV!

I've emailed Aremango,s to see if Ron is in charge and if not, will be Vara's I think, I definitely want to be on Muri beach.

Thanks for the Diving advice too.

Thanks all!

The internet cafe in Muri beach has a book swap. I also read quickly, and run out of books. New books in the Cook Islands are rather expensive.