Kitesurfing holiday

Hi,

It'd be great to get anyones views..

My girlfriend and I (living in the U.K.) are looking at a 3 week holiday to the Cook Islands or nearby (possible island hopping but mainly in the cook islands) next year towards the end of July.

I think the idea is to try and be kitesurfing for 1-2 weeks and chilling for other week. we are only really beginners (just about getting up and riding for about 20m) at the moment but hopefully that will change by next year.

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas - should we go with flights / accommodation separately or package? Can anyone recommend any accommodation? If anyone has any ideas of rough costs etc. that would be really useful?

Cheers,

Two suggestions:

Sign up for Air New Zealand's newsletter. They'll send you notice of special deals. Plan on buying your ticket about four to six months out. I purchased two LAX-RAR RT tickets this year for $665US ea. from the ANZ web site.

It's possible to get a package deal from a 3rd party, but you'll usually do better dealing directly for accommodation. Go online and check the lodging web sites and call them directly.

Get your advice as to where to stay from this and other established forums. Be careful about taking the advice of posters with few posts or those that have a history of recommending just one place.

I believe in the simple rule that if you're the only person at the table paying money and everyone else there is receiving money, you want as few people at the table as possible.

Oh... and Aitutaki is THE place to go for kitesurfing.

H2ooh is right about Aitutaki being THE place to go for kitesurfing. You have to go out to the lagoon though. Haven't done it myself, but it looked awesome. If I remember well there's even a kitesurfing school.

I can recommend Matriki Beach Huts for accommodation. It is a small set up on a lovely beach, only three beach huts and a bigger room in the back. They can probably advise you how to arrange kitesurfing as well. Another good one, although not directly on the beach, but close, is Amuri Guesthouse. Both are budget friendly, if that's an issue. Look them up on tripadvisor, they get good reviews.

Most of the kitesurfing activity will be on the windward, (east) side of the island, near Samades.

Accommodation recommendations for a stay in the Ootu area of Aitutaki where best windsurfing is undertaken includes Ranginui's Retreat for s/c accommodation, and also Josie's Guesthouse for backpacker style. Both are at the water's edge, and sit side by side on Ootu channel.

Both Matriki and Amuri Guesthouse are very nice properties and very affordable. Weigh up whether you want to be a distance away from the best kitesurfing area, or right alongside the preferred (kitesurfing) lagoon area.

For air travel, look at booking fares all the way to Aitutaki island through Air New Zealand. Air NZ code-shares with Air Rarotonga on the Rarotonga-Aitutaki sector. Spend your initial holiday on Aitutaki, with the remaining week on Rarotonga for some very differenet experiences and adventures compared to Aitutaki.

Windsurfing on Raro is mainly on Muri lagoon. Big range of accommodation around Muri, with Shell Bungalows, Vara's Beach house, and Are Mango guesthouse being some of the more affordable options.